Burnley v West Ham Preview

I guess one good thing about the transfer window coming to an end on a Monday is that we can see some reasonably settled players starting in time for the weekend.  However, I’d be surprised if more than one of our three musketeers makes a start on Saturday, with the a fairly settled team beaten once in six.

Our opponents this Saturday are Burnley, who we stuttered to a 5-3 victory over just a couple of months back.  But that was during a rather un-settled period and things are a bit more settled at the club now, both on and off the pitch.  For all the idolising of Owen Coyle, I was amazed to see that Bunrley have not won a Premier League game since 31st October.  Although there are a few draws in there they have lost their last four on the trot.  They are there for the taking and we have to take advantage of that.

So, my line up;

Green

Spector – Upson – Tomkins – Faubert

Collison – Parker – Behrami – Diamanti

Cole – Mccarthy

Bench: Kurucz, Da Costa, Mido, Stanislas, Illunga, Ilan and Noble

I don’t think you can justify Noble and Kovac on the bench, so I’d go with two attacking options in Mido and Ilan, neither are probably fully fit but could do something un-expected if required.  This does also mean a return to the stiffs for Nouble and Sears, harsh but the circumstances dictate it.  I liken the strength of our bench however.

Mark Lawrenson has predicted 1-1 for this one, I’m going for a cheeky 1-2 to the Hammers with both the strikers pitching in.  SkyBet will give you 10/1 on that scoreline and a free bet, worth a punt for sure.  If we can win this then we can start to push away from the tentacles of relegation and rest under the wings of mid table mediocrity, that would suit me this season for sure.  It’s there for the taking lads, come on you Irons!!!

Comments

[Elliott Burton]

Id go for

Green

Faubert Tomkins Upson Illunga

Behrami Parker Collison Stanislas

Cole McCarthy

Kurucz, Spector, Noble, Diamanti, Kovac, Ilan, Mido

[Ken Stanford]

From WBA fan - Championship stuff : I see you have offloaded Frank Nouble - we just signed him on loan ... what's he like, is he any good ? We need to score a few more goals - KB, West London