Midfield didn't look mid-table

Scott Parker can't make his Hammers debut soon enough. West Ham were outclassed in the midfield, particularly when Lee Bowyer played, in their Premier League opener, losing 0-2 to Manchester City at Upton Park.

Elano, a Brazilian midfielder that City signed in the close season, ran roughshod through the midfield on a counterattack to set up the first City goal, in the 18th minute. Luis Boa Morte, another midfielder who had a rough day, had lost possession about 35 yards out from the City goal. Elano received a pass near the half line and then burst toward the goal. At the edge of the box, Elano feinted to his left and then darted to his right, going around Matthew Upson like the defender was nailed to the pitch. Elano slid a diagonal pass to the left side of the net for a tap in by City's new Italian striker, Rolando Bianchi. Another new signing, Geovanni, scored late to salt away the match for City.

Bowyer was poor throughout the first half, his passes errant and his possession poor. He kicked one long ball that was "aimless" in the words of one of the announcers. Bowyer also had a handball in the City box on a free kick. He was replaced at halftime by Hayden Mullins. Boa Morte was replaced by Matthew Etherington, also at halftime, and then he moved to left back later in the game. Lucas Neill joined Parker on the sidelines. Jonathan Spector filled in for Neill.

Freddy Ljungberg, making his Hammers debut, wore the captain's armband in place of Neill. I was encouraged by Ljungberg's play. I don't know if he will stay healthy and still have that kind of spring in his step as the season wears on, but Saturday, Ljungberg had good pace and still looked to have plenty of quality and creativity to offer West Ham. In the 61st minute, Bobby Zamora found Etherington with a lob on the left side of the box, and Etherington got to the goal line and slid the ball across for Ljungberg. The boot on his sliding leg seemed to catch on the grass, unfortunately, and the ball went untouched and out of play. That should have been Ljungberg's first Hammers goal.

Another new signing, Craig Bellamy, had a decent day. I had not watched him play before. He showed the great pace that I had read about. He is energetic and similar in height to Carlos Tévez, so he reminded me a bit of Carlos as he chased the ball all over City's end. Bellamy made a great run in the 28th minute, winning a corner from the left. Bobby Zamora screwed up an excellent diagonal ball in just after that corner, failing to get his header online for Bellamy, who would have been alone with the keeper in the box if the header had been on target.

The appearance that was most anticipated, of course, was Dean Ashton's. Shortly after Ashton began warming on the sidelines -- first shown on TV around 52 minutes -- the Hammers faithful began serenading him, "¡Ooo-lé! ¡Olé! ¡Olé! ¡Olé! Dean-o! Dean-o!" As the clock ticked over 63 minutes, Ashton came on for George McCartney with Etherington moving to left-back. Ashton and Zamora played up front, with Ljungberg shifting to the left side and Bellamy playing on the right side. Zamora and Ashton just missed connecting on a chance, and then, in the 78th minute, Ljungberg reached Zamora for a decent one. Just after that, Etherington found Ashton in the box on a brilliant diagonal ball, and Ashton's shot off the volley went over the bar, unfortunately.

The other really good chances for West Ham that I haven't mentioned came at the outset of the second half. Mark Noble, who had some trouble with possession himself, won a corner, taken by Ljungberg, and Upson headed over the bar in the 49th minute. The Irons had a couple of nice chances in the 50th minute, too, thanks to good work from Etherington and Ljungberg, who put a ball to the far post for Bellamy, but defender Micah Richards headed away, as he did several more times when West Ham had chances in the air. A moment later, Zamora and Mullins had it at the top of the box, with Zamora ultimately shooting wide. They sort of got in each other's way, unfortunately.

Like the match that I went to see in February, I had a lot of excitement in the build-up to Opening Day, and I am somewhat deflated by the loss this time, too. At least this time, however, there are 37 fixtures remaining. I'm already looking forward to next Saturday's match away to Birmingham City.