Well, it's been quite a week, but hopefully the focus can now turn to matters on the pitch. But before we move on, I just hope the away faithful will be on their best behaviour this Saturday, the last thing we need is the wrong kind of headlines. Games against Blackburn tend to be firm but fair and there is no reason for us to disgrace ourselves.
On to the game and Zola has some interesting selection issues following the game on Tuesday night. With Hines and Stanislas making names for themselves and Nouble bursting with potential, it's nice to have some decisions to make. My main thought however is that Jack Collison should be given a rest this weekend. Grief has a strange way of ctaching up with you and I imagine the boy is emotionally shattered, even if he does not admit to it himself. Zola and Clarke should put an arm round him, tell him to spend the weekend with his family and come back bright and breezy on Monday.
With that in mind, I think it should be 4-4-1-1 for us this weekend, in a similar way to how we lined up against Spurs. So...
Green
Spector - Upson - Collins - Faubert
Stanislas - Parker - Dyer - Noble
Jiminez
Cole
Bench: Kurucz, Baked Beans, Kovac, Nouble, Gabbidon, Tomkins and Savio
I'm assuming Illunga is still out and that Dyer is back. If not, we can expect to see Kovac in that Position. Jiminez was impressive against Spurs and I think he can push on from that perfomance. #
As for Rovers, they are yet to win a game this season, having lost to Man City and Sunderland, so will be looking to turn round their fortunes.
Key player: Cole can't get all the goals, so we'll be looking for LUIS JIMINEZ to start troubling the scorers
Key opponent: Despite their start, Blackburn are quite a strong side and EL-HADJ DIOUF is usually a handful
Prediction: The boys put on some great performances on the road last season, and I'm feeling good about this one, so a hard fought 2-1 win to the Hammers. Come on you Irons!
4-0 Jiminez,Noble, Cole, Jiminez
Posted by: Westham66 | 27/08/2009 at 21:25
I wouldn't mind seeing Hines make another appearance. I doubt he'll start, but he could come on for Noble or Dyer, with Jiminez sitting back at the tip of a diamond formation midfield.
I think Cole needs some support, he's done an excellent job so far, but is so isolated. Hines look fast and exciting, and perhaps should be given another opportunity before we, hopefully!!, bring in more strikers.
Posted by: Blitz | 27/08/2009 at 22:16