Reenergized West Ham United Smashes Blackpool at Bloomfield Road

There’s no predicting a London state of mind.

Two weeks ago, Avram Grant and West Ham United looked ready to throw in the towel. Tonight, a newly reenergized Hammers squad smashed Blackpool FC 3-1 at Bloomfield Road.

Tangerines captain Charlie Adam’s lone strike was not enough to trump an Obinna brace and Irishman Robbie Keane’s first goal as a Hammer.  

Obinna opened the scoring in the 24th minute on a corner. His strike went straight at Blackpool keeper Kingson, who committed a world-class howler by letting the ball slip through his body.

In the 37th minute, Robbie Keane notched his first goal as a Hammer on a ball that bounced from Piquionne to Obinna to Kingson and finally out to Keane, who found the back of the net.

West Ham keeper Rob Green missed a strike from Blackpool captain Charlie Adam in the 42nd minute for the Tangerines' loan goal.

Despite the goal, West Ham remained energized. Not two minutes later, midfield stalwart Scott Parker orchestrated an attack and assisted Obinna’s second goal of the night. Spirited play from defenders Tomkins and Bridge proved instrumental in shutting down goal scoring attempts from the Tangerines.

The three points earned at Bloomfield Road have lifted the Hammers from last place for only the second time this season; the side now sits ahead of Wigan and Wolves on 24 points. Birmingham also sits on 24 points after a draw to Man City though boasts superior goal difference than the Hammers.

The match marked West Ham’s first league win since a 2-0 defeat of Wolves on New Year’s Day and its second win in three days, following a 3-2 defeat of Nottingham in the FA Cup.

Previous to these wins, the squad notched crushing defeats from Newcastle and Arsenal, a dispiriting second-leg league cup loss to Birmingham and a well played a way draw to Everton.
 
In the last days of the transfer window, West Ham picked up Tottenham Hotspur striker Robbie Keane and Senegalese international Demba Ba. Keane proved instrumental in the Hammers’ win at Blackpool with his spirited play and enthusiastic attacking, which earned him a goal.

The acquisition of Ba and Keane was an abrupt about face in West Ham’s January 2011 transfer window dealings and marked a seismic shift in the club’s attitude.

Before acquiring its new pair of strikers, West Ham brought in aging defender Wayne Bridge on loan from Manchester City and pedestrian midfielder Gary O’Neil from Championship club Portsmouth.

By strengthening its defense and midfield at the expense of increasing its attacking potential, by bringing in mid-career players with little promise of development, the Hammers seemed a side determined not to lose more than a squad drive to win.

Dismal results against Newcastle (5-0) and Arsenal (3-0) seemed to reiterate this assessment.

In the three days before the transfer window closed, West Ham acquired both Ba and Keane. At only 25, Ba is a player coming into the prime of his footballing career. He is young, pacey and shows great potential. He is a player the Hammers will be able to develop into a true striking talent.

Despite turning 30 this year, Keane plays aggressive and spirited football. Though many feel the Irish national team captain is past his prime, the striker scored 17 goals in 19 games while on loan at Celtic in the spring of 2010.

If West Ham avoids relegation this season, Keane will stay on for two years. He may well prove integral in the Hammers' future.    

West Ham’s recent transfer dealings and aggressive defeat of Blackpool FC at Bloomfield shows the makings of a truly rejuvenated team. The Hammers face relegation battle rivals and League Cup nemeses Birmingham Saturday.