Although West Ham went into this game on a relatively good run of form (unbeaten for three games, and, more tellingly coming from behind on two occasions - once to win and once to draw) we were still bottom of the league. And although we'd had a good Christmas period, Wolves had gone to Anfield and won. And although we all know that Liverpool is a team in crisis/transition/development (delete according to taste), we haven't managed a win there for half a century.
Our 'strengthening' for the Christmas period had included recalling Freddie Sears from a loan spell at Scunthorpe where he'd scored precisely no goals, to follow his equally unproductive loan spells at Crystal Palace and Coventry. He had played tidily on the right of midfield, keeping out Barrera (one of Avram's big summer signings who can't get in the team), but for this game Cole started and Obinna was on the bench, along with Mark Noble (whoa-oa-oa-oa). No sign again of the elusive Dyer (perhaps as well as the rumours of only training when he wishes, he only features in a match day squad when he wishes), and Ben Haim and Gabbidon returned as fullbacks.
But, as ever, there was Super Scott to drive the team on and it definitely needed driving. Wolves looked poor and so did we. When Cole gave the boo-boys their first half licence by missing when through on goal, it looked like being one of those days. But, just as against Everton, own goal scored for us (he's got more in the league that Obinna and Barrera together). And perfectly comical it was, unless your are a Wolves fan. Freddie Sears put a cross on a plate for Cole that all he had to do was touch and he'd scored. So he missed completely, thus fooling Zubar who was behind him, into bouncing the ball off his shin into the net. A goal greeted with delirious laughter. Thereafter son Jack urged West Ham to pass to Zubar when near the area, since he looked more threatening than Cole or Piquionne (who was also back to his cow's arse and banjo impersonations).
The og had come after Wolves had threatened to score a couple of times at the other end only to be denied by Robert Green back to his best. They were somewhat deflated by the goal, but came back pretty strongly unitl Freedie Sears scored. A second goal for us after two and a half years! There's a rhyme there somewhere. He coolly passed the ball into the net after Ben Haim played a peach of a cross exactly where Sears had asked for it. And although Wolves hit the bar and missed chances it looked easier to score, we were home and hosed and up to the giddy heights of 15th.
Not that we're secure there with the teams below having games in hand, but still better than being in the bottom three.
Now The Pornographers are promising to strengthen the team in the newly opened transfer window. It's still a bit too cold to have the window open for me, but The Pornographers claim to have fifteen irons in the fire. I don't know if this is some new range of dildos they're marketing, a witty play on the team's nickname, or a further dollop of the owner bullshit to make the supporters feel better (but I can guess), but they're promising three new arrivals.
Interestingly, two rumoured players are forwards from the German and French leagues who have as poor a scoring record as our present forwards. Still, since one of them rejoices in the first name of Dieumerci which my schoolboy French translates as Thank God, perhaps he'll be the answer to our prayers. We do need a saviour and King Carlos seems to be otherwise engaged.
But - new year, new hope. Out of the relegation places. In the quarter final of the Fizzypop Cup against a team that currently can't win at all. Playing a lower division team in the proper Cup. Away this week at Newcastle managed by our own Alan Pardew, and who have their leading goalscorer injured.
What could possibly go wrong??
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