Good times for a change. Watching Ben Foster fumble the ball into the net on Tuesday night felt odd, as though the misfortune should be at our expense, not to our gain. It is not every game that the fans exit the stadium singing in unison. That hasn’t happened since, well, the last round.
That’s four wins and two draws in seven games. We have just signed one of the best left backs in the league, eliminating our greatest weakspot. We go into the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final with a one-goal lead. Should we reach the finals, Ipswich could be our opponents.
And yet, and yet. Guardian writer, Jacob Steinberg, summed up that post-match back-down-to-earth feeling, tweeting, "While it’s better to be leading after first leg, twenty mad minutes could end up costing West Ham. Really should be two or three goals up." Ben Foster was in inspired form in the first half, but there can be few excuses for how the players came out for the second half.
It is a worrying trend this season that we only seem able to play in fits and starts. We are capable of dominating for spells but as soon as we lose our momentum we sit back and allow the opposition to come at us. It is hard to imagine us ever scoring a first-half goal, killing the game and seeing out a one-goal win.
There was a certain amount of comedy at seeing Matthew Upson become the latest right-footed player to fill in at left back. Like Tal Ben-Haim before him, he steered clear of actually using his left foot, opting instead to kick with his trusty right, even if that meant conceding possession and looking a bit silly.
Julien Fauxpas, a good player turned bad, was at his infuriating worst. He must be as bewildered as anyone at finding himself playing at right back for the Premier League’s bottom side and making a bad job of it. Watching him duck out of tackles and concede possession, it is easy to forget that he has represented (and scored for) France and cost more than £6m.
One of the downsides of reaching the League Cup semi-final is the constant reminders of the Luton and Oldham semi-finals in 1989 and 1990. Just looking at a photo of the 6-0 drubbing at Boundary Park (with Phil Parkes and Alan Devonshire both in the side) sends shivers down my spine. The subsequent 3-0 fightback at Upton Park made for what must be one of the most contrary two-legged games in League Cup history. Fitting perhaps for a competition whose very name is an oxymoron.
On the subject of morons, Vic Obinna’s petulance was missed by most of us inside Upton Park. Without the benefit of a replay and with Phil Dowd barely bothering to hold the red card aloft, it was left to word of mouth to inform those of us in the Bobby Moore Upper as to what had actually happened. Having stormed out of Upton Park during the Barnsley game, he is quickly undoing his good work from the quarter-final.
Thankfully, a bit of perseverance and a large slice of luck made his dismissal academic. A draw at St Andrews is all that stands between us and the final. Our last Wembley appearance took place the year before I was born. Season ticket holders have already been guaranteed final tickets should we get there. So for once in my life, please, please, please, let us get to Wembley.
Fiscal responsibility
When Gold and Sullivan strode into Upton Park a year ago, few could argue with their damning assessment of the Icelandic owners and their financial mismanagement. Within days, these reassuring sentiments began to unravel as David Sullivan made public that we were looking to sign a striker, rumoured to be Ruud Van Nistelrooy, on loan at £100k/week wages.
It was therefore not too surprising to hear this week that we had agreed to take on Wayne Bridge’s £90k/week wages in full as well as paying Man City a one-off fee for a six-month loan. If there’s one other club that needs the money even less than Man City, it’s QPR.
According to the Guardian (other newspapers are available), QPR want to take Benni "Biggest Loser" McCarthy on loan. Will QPR be paying his wages in full and offering us a one-off fee? Er, not quite. Apparently, we will be subsidising his wages. Try not to think about us bending over backwards for the two richest clubs in the world as you’re saving up the £800 for next year’s season ticket.
Rumours
Being sacked just seven months into the job with a cup semi-final second leg looming is rather harsh. Unless of course you’re Lou Macari, in which case it’s completely justified.
The incessant rumours surrounding Avram’s future threaten to become as monotonous as David Beckham’s proposed move to Stratford Hotspur. It is scary to think that Avram is being judged on a game-by-game basis – a spill of Foster’s the difference between job security and a P45.
Something is very wrong when decisions over player recruitment are being made, not by the person employed as manager, but by Karren Brady. There is an argument for sacking Avram. There is an argument for sticking with him. There is not an argument for dithering and allowing uncertainty to rein. The reluctance of Gollivan’s preferred replacements to come anywhere near Upton Park should settle things once for all.
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