In Focus: Lukasz Fabianski

Lukasz Fabianski was born on 18th April, 1985 and began his professional career at Legia Warsaw before transferring to Arsenal in 2007, then joining Swansea in 2014, playing 150 matches before moving to West Ham United for £7m.

Fabianski has made 16 appearances in the Premier League this season, keeping 5 clean sheets, conceding 22 goals, being on the winning side 5 times and on the losing side 7 times. This season Fabianski has been hindered by injury after an excellent season before and he started strongly with the Hammers 5th in the league, keeping 2 consecutive clean sheets by the end of September 2019. 

Replaced by Roberto after going down injured with a torn hip muscle at Bournemouth, Hammers form dipped immediately. Can we place our poor season form down to this injury? Remember Fab was voted player of the season at Swansea then the following season Hammer of the Year in 2019.

Returning to the squad on 28th December against Leicester Fab played the next two matches, going off after 15mins against Sheffield United in what looked like a repeat of the injury that sidelined him for months before. Would that be the end of the season for Fabianski?

Returning on 29th January 2020 against Liverpool at the London Stadium, Fabianski has played in goal for the remainder of what is now an incomplete season. But, with the season looking increasingly precarious for the Hammers, Fabianski has not been able to turn the tide in what was proving to be a miserable season for us. 

With the loss of Fabianski in goal, the very poor form of Roberto and the drop in form of other players within the team, did our season start imploding with the embarrassing defeat to Oxford United in the Carabao Cup at the end of September when our season was looking so good?

When in form, Fabianski is an excellent shot stopper, commands his area and is a great distributor of the ball, all of which builds confidence in the team from the defence to attack. Goalkeeping is one of many areas we need to have quality and Fabianski offers us that. The issue that has been highlighted for us this season is whether we have a good enough stand by to replace him if he suffers another major injury?

Through the Lens: Photographs From The Past Part 4: The Ghost Match

With the talk of potentially playing the final games of the season behind closed doors, I though it would be interesting to look back at a match the Hammers played behind closed doors, but for very different reasons.

On the back on our fantastic victory against Arsenal in the FA Cup, Hammers entered the Cup Winners Cup the following season. Our first round tie was against Spanish side Castilla Club de Futbol, primarily a feeder club for Real Madrid.

The first league was away in the Bernabeu Stadium, in front of a crowd of 40,000, but the occasion got the better of the Hammers. After Cross put the visitors ahead in 17th minute, it looked as if we were going to hold on to the lead for the second league at home. But that was all turned on its head in 12 second half minutes, with the home side scoring 3 goals to end the first leg 3-1. 

Leading up to the match, the Hammers hadn’t conceded in the previous 9 hours of football only to be torn apart after wasting several good chances to extend their lead. But, it wasn’t just the disappointment of the result that cast a shadow over the game.

Violence in the stadium by the visiting supporters lead to Spanish police removing 50 people from the crowd, and the trouble continued outside after the match with one fan losing their life after being hit by a bus.

UEFA came down with a fine of £7,750 and ordered West Ham play the next two home games 200km away from Boleyn Ground. At the time, the club worried they may be banned from the competition altogether and lodged an appeal. The appeal successfully lifted the fine and they were allowed to play at home, albeit behind closed doors.

Lyall was angry, saying “All our efforts that went into this game now mean nothing. We took every precaution possible and then this happens.”

Bonds, the captain who wrote an open letter to the fans before the match, said “Whatever we do, some don’t listen. The players were aware of what was going on, but I can’t that as an excuse.”

Despite over turning the fine and ban on playing at home for the second league, it wasn’t looking good for the Hammers. There were efforts to get the match shown live in cinema or another ground, but UEFA made it clear ‘behind closed doors meant no fans would be able to watch the game live.’

The rest is history. With an official attendance as 262, including players and backroom staff, the game played out behind closed doors was one to remember. Goals from Pike, Cross and Goddard, before Bernal’s 35 yard screamer leading to extra time. Cross sealed the 6-4 aggregate win with two more goals to record a famous hat trick.

West Ham progressed to the quarter finals, losing to the eventual CWC winners Russian side Dinamo Tbilisi.

You can watch the goals form that match here: https://youtu.be/I1I2HGJXeLI

In Focus: Robert Snodgrass

Born in Glasgow on 7th September 1987, Snodgrass joined West Ham United in January 2017 on a 3 1/2 year deal for a fee of £10.2m. Robert extended his contract before the start of the season until the summer of 2021.

Robert began his professional career at Livingstone and has had spells at Stirling Albion before moving to Leeds United winning promotion to the Championship in 2010. He has also played for Norwich City and Hull City and rose up through the Scottish national side through the under-19, under-20 and under-21 side before joining the full international squad. Snodgrass missed the whole UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign after suffering a kneecap injury but returned in a friendly against Czech Republic in March 2016 and also scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 win against Malta during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. Robert retired from international duty in October 2019 having scored 7 goals in 28 caps.

Snodgrass spent most of the 2017/18 season on loan at Aston Villa in Championship, scoring 7 goals and providing 14 assists and being part of the team that won a play off final place after beating Middlesborough in the two legged semi final. But Villa failed to win promotion to the Premier League after losing 0-1 to Fulham in the final.

Snodgrass returned to West Ham the following season, scoring his first two goals in the EFL Cup match against Macclesfield on 26th September 2018. He has made 29 appearances in all competitions this season scoring 5 goals – including a brace in that memorable home match against Brighton & Hove Albion on 1st February 2020. 

In March 2019 Snodgrass was charged by the FA for allegedly abusing anti-doping officials who attended the clubs training ground to conduct out of competition testing on 6th February 2019. Snodgrass received a fine of £30k and served out a one match ban.

Snodgrass is a versatile player capable of playing across the midfield and delivering vital crosses into the box from the flanks, particularly with his left foot and from corners and free kicks. With a passing accuracy of 77.8% and averaging 21 passes per game, Snodgrass has hit form this season and is certainly a grafter on the pitch and rumour has it Moyes is looking to extend his contract for another year. A very different story to when Robert was told he could either leave the club or go out on loan in 2017.

Snodgrass is a hard working player who for me puts in a shift whenever he is on the field. There was a time at the start of his West Ham career when he seemed to struggle on the pitch and criticism was focused on whether he is at the right level in the Premier League. When he was on loan at Villa people said that the Championship was probably his level.

For me, over the last two seasons you can see his resurgence and commitment to the team and desire to win, whether he starts or comes on as a substitute. I believe he has become an important player for us and extending his contract could be good business for the club at the moment. 

Through the Lens: Photographs From Hammers History Part 2: Trevor Brooking

Trevor Brooking Scores Only Goal to Seal 1980 FA Cup Final Win Against Arsenal

Sir Trevor Brooking CBE was born on 2nd October 1948 and began his West Ham United career on the 24th July 1965 as a young apprentice, turning down both Chelsea and Spurs. Trevors status is legend within West Ham history and reputation as a gentleman, both on and off the pitch and as an ambassador for football is beyond reproach.

There are a number of photographs of Trevor Brookings goal that sealed the FA Cup against Arsenal, showing the before and after on a hot, sunny 10th May in 1980. But this shot shows the moment the ball crosses the line, Jennings diving late and Trevor surrounded by Arsenal players which shows was a fantastic goal it was. Trevor had to bend down to get at the low shot, he was perfectly positioned as play revolved around the six yard box. Not only has Trevor bent down, he has managed to get the perfect angle to head the ball between defender and keeper. 1-0 and the stadium is rocking!

The build up to the goal came after a slow start to the match, the Hammers gained possession from a free kick after Brady was caught offside. Keeping possession in the 12th minute West Ham’s Devonshire broke down the left wing firing over a cross into the Arsenal 6 yard box. Cross’s shot was blocked by Young but Pearson had a shot at goal. As the ball went across the goal Trevor’s quick reaction left the Arsenal defence stranded and he flicked a header past Jennings in the 13th minute. Trevor’s goal decided the match as the Hammers sealed a famous victory at Wembley, which remains the last time a team from outside the top flight has won the FA Cup Final.

Looking at the replay of the goal its amazing to see the crowd of photographers either side of the goal – there must have been about 30 at least, and a few hands raise up in celebration as the ball hits the back of the net and therefore missing a shot of a lifetime. You can even see some of the photographers switching cameras as Devonshire makes his cross and Jennings gets a hand to ball. In some respects, sport photography is quite different these days. And this is what makes this such a wonderful photo. But given how many photographers there were either side of the net, someone was bound to get a great shot. There is just a split second to get it right.

Through The Lens: Photographs From Hammers History No 1: Bobby Moore

Bobby Moore: First Gentleman of English Football

My first image in this series is of Hammers Legend Bobby Moore, which was displayed in the Bobby Moore: First Gentleman of English Football exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London from 27th February 2018 to 6th January 2019. The photographer is unknown and it was taken on the pitch inside the Boleyn Ground in 1962.

Its not the classic action photo, nor one of the more glamorous images of Bobby in the later years of his career, but a fresh faced younger player aged 21 years with the World Cup to look forward to in the summer after impressing Winterbottom in the England U23 squad. A year later from this photo Moore eventually captained England.

Sandwiched between ’61 and ’63 where he was voted Hammer of the Year, Moore played in the warm up match against Peru and remained in the squad for the duration of the 1962 World Cup in Chile, where England were beaten in the Quarter Finals by winners Brazil.

The country suffered the Big Freeze from late December ’61 until early March ’62 and The Beatles had their first hit with Love Me Do as the world came close to nuclear war with the Cuban missile crisis.

Moore’s impact on West Ham United and the England game is there for all to see and this photo is near the beginning of a football playing career that ended 1978 with his retirement from the pitch.

Once a national icon from the success of 1966 World Cup victory and winning BBC Sports Personality of The Year, its amazing to see this photo of Moore as a young player with all that ahead of him.

I love this portrait of Moore, he looks straight at the camera, confident, young and fresh faced with the Boleyn ground behind him with a wry smile on his face. A wonderful relaxed portrait.

In Focus: Jeremy Ngakia

In a season of few positives we have seen the introduction of the young Ngakia into the first team squad.

At only 19 years of age Ngakia has shown maturity in handling the pressure of playing for the first team in some big games in the second half of the season.

He is strong, has pace and shows composure going forward, with some skills and confidence in getting into the box, making crosses and breaking up the play with well timed tackles.

Joining the Hammers aged 14, Ngakia has played both right back and right wing and you can see how offensively he plays with some wonderful runs down the wing to give the forward players space and time on the attack.

Ngakia says he models his game on Antonio and he certainly offers the team some well needed pace when going forward in a counter attacking move.

To be honest, I’m struggling to understand why he wasn’t introduced into the first team squad earlier in the season as he seems to have shaken off the foot injury he suffered the previous season. 

Its been exciting watching Ngakia play and refreshing to see such a confident, pacey and skilful young player come up from the academy. 

I was looking forward to capturing some more shots of Ngakia as the season drew to a close, but only have photos from Southampton and Liverpool to show so far.

Let hope we get to see more form this talented young player in the future.

Match Day Roar Silenced As Top Flight Football Suspended Until April 4th

Firstly, I pray everyone who reads my blog are safe and well and your families are safe and well.

These are extraordinary times where the world is struggling with the Coronavirus pandemic that is having such a huge impact on how we live our lives.

During these difficult times, we put sport into perspective and take time to prioritise our families and that which is important to us.

I grabbed my camera and drove off to the stadium not sure what I would find or what it would be like. It seemed, as like any other non-match day in the Olympic Park. People and their families were milling around the park, going about their normal lives but there really felt like a calm before the storm.

By that I mean we know the aggressive spread of the virus will continue, impacting our lives and the health of ourselves and those we love.

The match day noise and smell of food, music playing and children playing football all gone and cloak of silence surrounding the ground. I tried to imagine the match day, groups of people drinking and chatting, lining up for food, buying their programmes, voices of children calling and the sense of anticipation rising as fans poured into the stadium itself.

The storm is coming, we don’t know what it will be like or how ling it will last, I just pray that my family are not affected by it and that as a community we can look after each other as best we can.

When football does resume, which is will, there may be some empty seats and it will surely be a sad day that will put sport into perspective.

Hammers Ease Past Southampton To Move Out of The Relegation Zone

After the excellent performance at Anfield against runaway league leaders Liverpool, the Hammers followed that up with a convincing win against The Saints at the London Stadium.

New signing Bowen scores in his home debut, Haller and Antonio both get on the score sheet and the result offers some real hope of safety for the struggling Hammers.

Fans held a protest against the owners before the match, walking from Plaistow to Pudding Lane, mostly peaceful by around 4,500 people in all to hear speeches about how the current owners have sold the heart and soul of the club leaving in a desperate situation, especially on the pitch.

Credit to Ngakia who again showed his quality with some confident forward runs and crosses. Rice was back in the zone with a solid performance, Haller took his goal really well, beating the keeper with a header and managing to get the ball over the line. Fornals put in yet another quality shift with an assured performance and assists.

A special mention to Rice as well, who always stops outside the ground to speak to fans and sign shirts and programmes. A young fan called Yusuke waited patiently for Rice to come out and sign his shirt and talk to him about the match. Its wonderful to see this by the players who realise how important it is to keep in touch with the fans.

Hammers Throw Away Two Goal Lead and Drop Into The Relegation Zone

The draw against The Seagulls at London Stadium on Saturday felt like a defeat. After holding a 3-1 lead the shape of the team changed when Moyes replaced Antonio with Masuaku and put 5 at the back we lost the movement and danger we had going forward.

Defensive errors have cost us two important points at a time when we need to be winning games against those teams around us. But there was some positives from the performance – Antonio back in the team and showing what we have missed. Soucek, the new signing, having an influence in midfield and showing us his potential by winning headers and breaking up play. Hopefully he will link with Haller, who again struggled up front when there is no service. Snodgrass putting in a man of the match performance and Rice being more involved and influential in midfield.

But will it be enough, especially when Bowen joins the team, to keep us up? That really depends on results form other games – our destiny is not entirely in our hands, but with Liverpool and Man City coming up next, this was definitely and game we lost.

Hammers Slump To Third Successive Defeat As Young Ngakia Makes His Debut

Moyes set up the team to restrict Liverpool and the game plan worked until the penalty awarded to the opposition on 35mins. Until then the Hammers worked hard to keep Liverpool at bay and sit deep, venturing into wide and forward positions when able.

And it was this forward play that left us exposed at the back when on 52mins Oxlade-Chamberlain was able to strike into the bottom left hand corner after Henderson responded well from a Hammers corner. Liverpools pace and passing was too much for the committed team.

But, a lot of positives from the match in particular Rice being more involved and solid in midfield, defensively looking tighter – there are not many teams who will be able to stop Liverpool this season. But the big positive was the debut of Ngakia at right back. Pace, confidence, ideas and passing as well as running at players, willing to take them on and looking for a shot on goal as well. It was a wonderful first game for the lad and he showed his quality and what he could bring to the team in the future as he grew into his role. It was great to see Noble putting his arm around. him at the end of the game and having a talk.

There was a brief introduction to Soucek, signed from Slavia Prague, who must surely get some match time on Saturday against Brighton.