Birmingham City v West Ham Preview

Sorry I did not post after the Man United game, I was so angry at the result and the way we went about it.  I’m not one of those clamouring for Zola’s head after he didn’t take off Hines, it’s very common to wait on a substitution if there’s only a couple of minutes of the half left.  But the paucity of the team as a whole was there for all to see. 

I’m not one to jump on a player for the sake of it, but Kovac is meant to have some decent pedigree behind him, there was nothing to suggest that on Saturday.  And I still think Zola is playing Stanislas too much ahead of the more experienced Faubert.  Stan is a prospect, but his head goes down too easily when he gets found it.  Additionally, he is not yet a good deliverer of the ball when the opponent has not been beaten.  Faubert can it least deliver a good cross in that situation, even if it is occasionally wayward.

We really could do with a result against Birmingham City on Saturday, a team in good form.  City have won three on the trot and not lost in six, a run we really could do with.  They are not the most glamorous of teams, but they are clearly well drilled and working for each other.  Something we must be on Saturday.

As for the team, our injury list is as long as my arm at the moment, it remains to be seen if Green, Upson and Noble can make a return.  Behrami, Jiminez, Cole and Hines are all certainly out.  Kovac must go on the bench for this one, he does not seem to be offering us anything at the moment.  I think it was harsh that Da Costa was dropped and it interrupted our rhythm.  I’d hope we can line up along the lines of;

Green

Illunga – Upson – Da Costa – Spector

Collison – Parker – Dyer/Noble – Faubert

Franco – Diamanti

Bench: Kurucz, Tomkins, Kovac, Stanislas, Nouble, Gabbidon and one of Dyer/Noble

As a starting eleven, it could be worse, though the bench shows how badly we need to strengthen things in the Summer.

Prediction:  Tough one to call, this is such an important game.  A beating at this lot and we start to look like a club in trouble.  I’m going for an early Christmas Miracle and Diamanti to shine in a 2-1 win for the Hammers.  Please Santa, I’ve been a good boy, make it happen!  Up the ‘ammers....

Comments

[Stav]

i agree with the team the man u game was a discrace.. the whole team were poor.. but when i saw diamanti breaking his sack while 3 utd players had a nice little triangle going on around him at least he had the pride to put up a fight..and not one other west ham player helping him out... we attack together and defend together... WE NEED A STRIKER...FAST.

[Hank Kirsten]

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Infobettor Media