Smells like team spirit for Kevin Nolan as he finds nirvana

 
P80 West Ham
Ken Dyer3 December 2012

The contrast between West Ham and Chelsea was there for all to see at Upton Park. Chelsea undoubtedly had the class, highlighted by the first-half performance of goalscorer Juan Mata.

West Ham, though, had the spirit, epitomised by second-half substitute Mohamed Diame, who terrorised a fragile Chelsea that first wobbled and then finally capitulated.

Sam Allardyce was delighted with his side’s 3-1 win but he refused to add to Rafa Benitez’s growing discomfort. All the West Ham manager would say was: “I think they’re missing John Terry. I think they’re missing leadership.”

Allardyce is a manager who places great store in the collective spirit. When he arrived at West Ham in the summer of 2011, he swiftly identified that the club had “no soul”.

He immediately signed Kevin Nolan, a useful goalscorer undoubtedly but, just as important, a leader.

While Allardyce’s two half-time substitutions at Upton Park on Saturday, Diame and Matt Taylor, turned the match on its head, it was the contrast between the attitudes of the two sets of players which was almost more telling.

Benitez, who could be given help in his increasingly difficult task at Stamford Bridge by the addition of former Chelsea and West Ham manager Avram Grant, admitted his team could not match “the physicality” of the opposition.

He needs players — leaders — like John Terry and Frank Lampard back as quickly as possible.

When Carlton Cole scored a 63rd-minute equaliser, one could sense Chelsea’s anxiety.

“When you see that, you’re buoyed by it,” said West Ham captain Nolan. “We have a tight-knit group of lads here at West Ham and it’s massively important to know that when you go out there, you know everyone is going to give their all.

“When things are not going right, you need to be able to look at your mate and ask yourself, ‘Is he giving everything?’

“It’s great to know your team-mates will step up and be prepared to go through a brick wall for you. Since myself and Sam have come into the club we’ve tried to build a good spirit, not just for the 11 who play but the whole squad.

“Carlton, for example, has a fantastic attitude. He has had to wait for his chance but he’s very much part of what happens on a daily basis. We have a great camaraderie — we all want to do well for each other and work for each other and this win proves that.

“I’m delighted for Carlton. It was a great result and something we needed.

“We believe we can beat anyone at the Boleyn but it was tough. The first half Chelsea played really well and we were clinging on. We had to make sure that we got in at half-time only one goal down.”

The third West Ham goal, scored by substitute Modibo Maiga, in injury time, was especially painful for Benitez, who has garnered just two points from his first three matches in charge.

Ashley Cole was so unsettled by Diame’s energetic presence that he gave the ball straight to Maiga, who passed to Taylor and then shot home as goalkeeper Petr Cech’s save from the West Ham midfielder rebounded into his path.

Benitez, who will be anticipating more terrace disaffection when Chelsea meet Nordsjaelland at home on Wednesday night, knows also that a successful team need personality, as well as talent.

“Always character and leadership is necessary in a team,” he said.

Allardyce and Nolan would agree.

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