Saturday, August 08, 2009

West Ham 0 Napoli 1

West Ham started with what looks like Zola's first eleven of Green, Ilunga, Upson, Tomkins, Faubert, Collison, Parker, Noble, Dyer, Jimenez and Cole.

Napoli started the brighter and looked threatening in the opening minutes. After about 8 minutes West Ham woke up and began to have the better of the possession and territory.

In the 26th minute Jimenez broke into the box, Collison took it off him but the ball got stuck under his feet and his scuffed shot flew tamely wide of the goal from 8 yards. In the 34th minute West Ham's best chance fell to Parker, who was sent clear into the penalty box by Cole. Parker, however, skied his shot high and wide from ten yards out from the right hand side of the area.

Napoli were forced into playing on the break for most of the half but, despite not having as much possession, probably had more attempts on goal. Unlike West Ham Napoli didn't seem afraid to shoot from outside the box, although none of their shots ever looked like troubling Green.

Napoli's best chance actually came from a header. Hamsik got to a corner before the West Ham defence but headed wide from only four yards. His missed header was the last action of an entertaining half.


Collins came on for Tomkins at the start of the second half. Three minutes after the restart Dyer played a square ball to Noble who shot just over from 20 yards. In the 54th minute Cole played Parker free in the box for the second time in the game. Parker managed to round the keeper but played the ball a little wide and then fell over as he tried to screw the ball back into the box.

West Ham rang the changes throughout the second half, which disrupted the side a little and we didn't seem quite as in control of the game as in the first half. In the 78th minute Maggio launched a long hopeful ball into the box and Quagliarella beat Collins to the ball and his flicked header looped over Green from 10 yards.

In the 84th minute Blasi was given a second yellow card for a foul on Ilunga. West ham pressed their advantage for the remaining minutes and came close to an equaliser from a Stanislas shot from the edge of the area. His shot just missed the outside of the post to the left of the goal.

In the end West ham were beaten by a very well taken goal. They won't be too unhappy as they looked the better side for much of the game. However they will be slightly worried that they only managed one shot on target in the game.

2 Comments:

At 5:15 PM, Anonymous West Ham Till AFTER I Die (NOT IAIN DALE!) said...

May be Zola, Nani and Duxbury will work harder now to bring a striker in. I n that sense, it's good we didn't score or look like doing so for much of the game. At the moment, I'd even take Viduka if he lowers his wage demands.

 
At 7:36 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

thank funk for that -let that tonbridge rubbish rot in the desert.

Jimenex and Cole looked bright ,and despite the lack of a WHU goal ,we played some really good football at times. But agree,it is urgent that we get another forward,as the goals can't come solely from Cole. The midfields needs to be less timid about taking shots on goal,rather than try to walk it in the net.

On this evidence, IF we get a striker in by deadline day,and IF we have no further significant fitness issues ,we should improve slightly on last year s performance. Two big IFS....

 

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