You may well ask why i'm posting views on this pre-season friendly on here but i wanted to check out WH and Utrecht are in the UEFA Cup next season. Not sure if anyone's interested, but....

i'm staying with relatives in Jersey at the moment and went along. A [mildly] entertaining 0-0 draw [WH won 4-3 in a penalty shootout]. West Ham had the better of the first half and lined up in a 4-1-3-2 line-up with James in goal, Winterburn, Song, Dailly and Foxe as the back four, Moncur in the holding role and Carrick, Cole and Sinclair just in front. Kitson and the Bulgarian, Todorov, up front. No sign of Di Canio [on his way to Fulham?]

You'll all be glad to hear Kitson looked his usual self - a journeyman striker who ran a lot, got a few headers but ultimately didn't trouble the Utrecht defence. Todorov didn't do much either - certainly isn't anything special.

For me, the highlight of the first half [and match] was Carrick. The boy was EVERYWHERE. Took all the corners and a couple of free kicks and it could only have been down to the WH players lack of ability that they failed to score. Time and time again he put beautiful, teasing crosses in from set-pieces, only for it to be wasted as no-one would attack the ball. Tackling back, making himself available at every opportunity. SIGN HIM BOBBY AND SIGN HIM NOW! If only Sinclair [very fast & mouthy] and Cole had taken a leaf out of his book. Cole is definitely not fit and had to be subbed with 70 minutes on the clock. To be fair to him, he was playing on the left side of the three m/f slots but hardly ran and looked knackered when subbed. Sinclair looked okay but certainly nothing special - but they're very pacey down the right with Rigobert Song and Sinclair.

The Back four looked solid and comfortable enough and WH's best attacks came on a fast counter-attack, on the break. Dailly looked commanding enough but they're vulnerable. FC Utrecht dominated the 2nd half switching to a 5-3-2 formation. Sheer numbers meant they overran WH midfield and they hassled and harried them into mistakes when they didn't have the ball. when they did they passed it quickly, neatly and outplayed their opponents. Neat little interchanges in triangles - take note! Their players looked useful - technically very competent and could mix it up - matching WH physically and beating them for ability. Somebody also pointed out that they've had a pre-season game over here for the last three years. The PL teams being Blackburn and Coventry. Both were relegated in the coming season. Any takers....?

That's about it except to mention that there's an U21 Tournament over here this week with Celtic, ManUre, Blackburn Rovers, Benfica, Jersey and Barcelona playing. This tournament has been going a couple of years but it's obviously getting bigger and better and it'd be great to see NUFC sending over a team. They're all U21 teams except Jersey who get to play their er, 'national' side. I'll definitely be going to at least three of the games so if anyone's interested, i'll report back on promising players...

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001

Answers

alternative pre-season...?

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001

I'll definitely be going to at least three of the games so if anyone's interested, i'll report back on promising players...

Good lad

-- Anonymous, August 13, 2001

my pleasure...

;@)

-- Anonymous, August 13, 2001