Spices
I think this is a forum for folks at all levels of cooking expertise. I'm certainly not a pro, though I think there are others here who are. The purpose of the forum it seems to me is to allow all of us to ask questions, share techniqes, share recipes, etc., etc., etc.
Regarding your question about spices:
Personally, though I like garlic very much, I don't think that it goes very well with ham at all. (And it seems that you've also arrived at that conclusion.)
For me, spices that go well with chicken and ham would include parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme (all included in most off-the-shelf Italian seasonings), as well as ground ginger, marjoram, tarragon, basil, and Chinese 5-spice.
Also consider ground mustard seed, various kinds of prepared mustard (particularly Dijon) and various kinds of prepared horseradish.
Just don't be afraid to experiment--you'll come up with some klinkers, as you've already experienced--but somewhere along the line you'll eventually find "the right stuff."