Oh no! It's happened again!

West Ham signed Charlton’s reserve keeper Sasa Ilic to fill the role of the injured Shaka Hislop and brought back Ian Feuer, to sit on the bench.

The side set to play Everton was also missing 2 other key players. Paulo Di Canio was sidelined through injury (replaced by Kitson) and Frank Lampard was banned.

Once again I couldn’t pick the game up on the radio…Chelsea, Newcastle or Moan!!

Game started badly with a goal by Nick Barmby after just 8mins, apparently a blunder by the keeper. At half-time with only one good chance from the Hammers through Moncur’s 30yd drive, it seemed bleak but there was still hope. The second half started better with a more pressure from West Ham, but nothing decisive posing any real threat to the Everton keeper. Disaster struck on 64mins when Barmby added his second of the game and as the goal was reported a 3rd shot from Barmby evaded Ilic, putting Everton 3-0 up away from home. The day’s misery was compounded after 71mins when Max-Moore found a way past Ferdinand to score Everton’s fourth and final of the game. Calls for the groundsman to come on were ignored and Harry neglected to make any type of change.

I looked at Harry’s choice of substitutes in disbelief:- A replacement goalie, 3 defenders and a defensive midfielder..(and we were the home side!). I held out hope that he would push Rio up front (having played there before), bringing on one of his defensive subs (any). A fightback like the one witnessed against Bradford seemed out of the question as many supporters fled the ground.

….They were right the game finished with a very disappointing 0-4 result against the Hammers. Surely now this must prompt the board to insist upon purchasing another striker. This means buying one who can score goals, rather than one who was cheap, is too old, or has an injury problem.

So…we have now conceded four goals in the last two home games. This obviously shows the inspirational move for Ilic and Feuer, (players who can’t get into their lower division side’s first team), was well thought through and shows good vision…. for a sight impaired person!!

Back to the drawing board ‘arry. Also we have enough depth to provide midfield and striking subs. Gary Alexander in excellent form for Exeter certainly would have done better up front for us today. Even to draft some of the youth players onto the bench to provide cover…It was a home game!!

Oh well.. we’ll see what happens next time.

On another note, it was good to see Rio get a run-out for England against Argentina and Joe in the U21’s. Both played well and did themselves proud. Rio should make the squad for Euro 2000 and Sinclair might as well, although Keegan hasn’t really given him a chance. Instead we have seen the likes of Sherwood, Wilcox, Batty and Ince in the squad and side.

I believe the structure of the national side to be a great injustice. Guidelines for making the England squad.

Play for Moan UTD
Have played for the England coach when he was a domestic club’s manager.
Be someone like Anderton, Adams, Le Saux who can walk straight back into the side after injury.
Be really bad and overrated (or called David Batty, Andy Cole).
Not play for sides such as West Ham.
Not have v.short hair …. E.g. Dicksy.
Not be put in a team under H.Wilkinson’s control.

Me paranoid…no!

Unfortunately this kind of thing seems to be a reality in today’s game. Couple this together with the poor decisions made by the FA regarding such instances as the Di Canio case. Everything seems to be against the ‘so-called smaller clubs’. Not only are such clubs separated through lack of finance, but they suffer from the FA’s selective leniency towards the larger more powerful clubs. Equally players feel they must move from these clubs to fulfill their international potential.

That’s about it for this time, ramble ramble ramble!

Matt

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