West Ham United Blog

West Ham v Middlesbrough Preview

The fat lady is clearing her throat at Upton Park this weekend, as we approach the final game of the season.  Eyes will be on Upton Park, as our visitors Middlesbrough need a good result and for others to be defeated in order to avoid relegation.  To be honest, I feel a bit sorry for Gareth Southgate.  As managers go, he seems an honest one and does not spend too much time playing silly mind games and winding up refs.  However, I think Boro and the Barcodes will be Championship sides by the end of Sunday afternoon. 

Of course, Newcastle getting relegated fills me and most others with joy.  I slated them for getting rid of Allardyce, who then went on to save Blackburn.  Their latest messiah has not turned out to be that at all, they are finally getting the success their fans ‘deserve’, but it’s okay, they can blame the ‘cockney mafia’, hahaha.

West Ham team news – Cole to continue his comeback, Tomkins out suspended

Key man – Carlton Cole to finish off the season on a high

Middlesbrough team news – Downing out is a huge blow for them, Alves also to miss the match
Key man – Tuncay Sanli is a quality player and we should keep an eye on him, and then make a bid for him at the final whistle!

Anyway, on to Saturday’s game and I hope the Hammers go out with a bang rather than a whimper.  It would be nice to give someone a real thumping and with Cole and Collison back on the scene, no reason why we can’t.  Additionally, what a perfect opportunity to unleash Savio – no pressure on us, crown in good spirits, it really is time we got to see what this boy can do Frankie, so sort it out.  My line up....

Green

Illunga – Upson – Neill – Spector

Collison – Noble – Kovac – LBM

Cole – Savio

Bench: Lastuvka, Stanislas, Tristan, Reid, Payne, N’Gala, Sears

Really tough one to call.  If Boro get word that either the barcodes or the tigers are getting beaten, their tails could go up, but the opposite could also happen.  I can see them getting an early goal before heads go down and we come out 4-1 winners.  Come on West Ham, do it for pride and to send us into the Summer happy....oh and also the small chance that Spurs get hammered up at Liverpool and we finish above them!  For the last time this season.....Come on you Irons!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everton v West Ham Preview

Tough trip this weekend, as the season draws to a close and we push to finish as high as possible and even qualify for Europe.  Everton's Europa League place is secure and with the FA Cup drawing even nearer, I'm really hoping they have one eye on that and drop their form on Saturday.

It's never been a happy hunting ground for us, I can remember Tim Breaker getting a winner their on a New Year's Day but since then I think only a Zamora inspired 2-1 win has seen us come back with the full prize.  To be fair, I think David Moyes has been top class in his role there and like Zola has produced a team that works hard for each other and gets results.  He gets the best out of players who may in other teams, not necessarily shine.

Still, with nothing to fear, I'd like us to go up there and give them a real game.  In order to do this, some changes certainly have to be made.  My patience with Di Michele finally ran out last weekend and he needs to spend the next couple of games on the bench.  Come on Frankie Z, let's see what this Savio boy has to offer, give him a run out and let's see what he can do, the experience will do him good.

Team News;

Everton - quite a few injuries including former Ambulance chaser Jagielka, Hibbert, Anichebe and Arteta.  However, Saha is set to return.

Key Player - Fellanini is a real handful and Upson will do well hit the heights of his barnet on set pieces

West Ham - Great news is that Carlton Cole returns to the squad this weekend.  Still waiing to hear on Dyer, Collsion pushing for a start.

Key Player - If Tristan really wants a contract, he could do with popping up with a few more goals before the season end

My team;

Green

Illunga - Upson - Tomkins - Neill

Collison - Noble - Kovac - LBM

Tristan - Savio

Bench; Lastuvka, Cole, Di Michele, Sears, Spector, Hines and Payne

A real tough one this, in any other circumstances a draw would be a good result but as Spurs face Man City at home, we could with a win.  But a tough 2-2 might be what we have to settle for.  Come on you Irons!!!

West Ham v Liverpool Preview

A tough one this Saturday as the Hammers face title-win-chasing Liverpool at Upton Park.   With the Premier League title still a possibility and no other trophies left to compete for, the Scousers will be looking to keep the pressure on leaders Manchester United.  From the Hammers perspective, a place in Europe and finishing above ‘big club’ Spurs are the priorities for the rest of the season.

Last time out, the Hammers battled and played their way to a great result at Stoke.  Hopefully Saturday will see more of a football match rather than fending off long balls for 90 minutes.  But the spirit of the club seems high and the way we have captured results despite the injury crisis is a great credit to Frankie and Stevie.

Team News;
West Ham: Collison could make a start having come on against Stoke – Kyle Reid and Jordan Spence have returned from loan spells and could make the bench

Key man: Let’s hope Tristan can continue to find his form, if he doesn’t, we may struggle to score

Liverpool:  Alonso likely to be out following Joey Barton’s horror challenge last weekend.  Torres and Mascherano hoping to be fit.

Key man: Think we will all be happy if Torres does not make the team sheet

Hammers line up:

After a pretty successful day at the office last weekend, I’m not sure we need too many changes.  Guess the question of whether Collison starts is Zola’s biggest headache, but I see no need to rush the guy back as we head towards the end of the season, so another bench place for him I reckon before maybe a start against Everton.
Green

Illunga – Upson – Tomkins – Neill

Stanislas – Noble – Kovac – LBM

Tristan – Di Michele

Bench: Lastuvka, Collison, Spector, Savio, Sears, Payne and Lopez

The game is live on Setanta and will kick off at 5.30pm.  It’s a tricky one to call, we can certainly give them a go and if the crowd get behind the lads it could be one of those evenings.  We are pretty resilient these days and Chelsea and Man Utd only went away with hard earned 1-0 victories.  I reckon we can do this 2-1 to the cockney boys!  Come on you Irons!!!

Stoke City v West Ham Preview

The Hanmmers travel to the Potteries this weekend for a tough away match at Stoke City.  Stoke can probably consider themselves safe in the Premier league, sitting at 12th as they are but will be looking for 3 more points to cement that. 

The Hammers on the other hand are still pushing for a European place.  I want to do another post on whether we should be pushing for Europe, but I do have concerns about the depth of our squad to deal with it.  More importantly for some is for the second season running finishing above our rivals Spurs.  Speaking to Spurs fans, they consider this the weekend that they will be climb above us, with them facing West Brom at home and us with this tricky match.

However, there is no reason why we can't push for 3 points here.  We gave Villa a tough game a couple of weeks ago and although we are still decimated by injuries, we're still hard to beat.  Stoke play a failry open game and this could benefit us and allow us hit them on the counter attack.

Stoke team news: Good news is that Beattie is struggling, he's a decent player and with 6 goals in 12 games is pretty key for them, he may not make it on Saturday.  Andy Wilkinson is out.  Matthew Etherington is set to face his old club.

West Ham team news: Squad will be unchanged from that which faced Chelsea.  Jack Collison is back in full training and though not ready for this game, may make an appearance before the end of the season.

I'd like to see us line up like this;

Green

Illunga - Upson - Tomkins - Neill

Stanislas - Dyer - Kovac - LBM

Tristan - Di Michele

Bench: Lastuvka, Savio, Sears, Noble, Spector, N'Gala, Payne

I imagine Zola will start with Noble rather than Dyer, but I'd like to see Kieron get more of a run out and perhaps Noble could do with a rest.

This team is perfectly capable of getting a result, and I'm going for us to sneak it 2-1.  Fancy a punt?  Skybet will give you 11/1 for that result, click the banner below for more.  Come on you Irons!!!!

West Ham v Chelsea Preview

As we head towards the final strait of the Premier League, there are still a number of issues to be decided at both the top and bottom.  With the Hammers yet to face Chelsea and Liverpool, we could have a real say in what happens and it starts this Saturday against Chelsea....

Aston Villa v West Ham Preview

It's the battle of the claret and blues this Saturday as the Hammers go to Villa Park hoping to keep more daylight between themselves and their UEFA chasing counterparts 'big club' Spurs.  Earlier in the season the lads would have been expecing a tonking at the hands of a buzzing Villa team but of late they have run out of puff and it's a good a time as any to be playing them, especially as they will be missing Agbonlahor, as well as Heskey up front.

The Hammers ran out of a bit of their own puff last Saturday at the lane as a patched up squad could not hold out against Spurs.  The inadequacies we have in terms of a squad have become much clearer and it is for Zola to address this in the Summer.  This is clearest up front where Cole's absence has hit us hard.  Ashton is permanently injured and Tristan appears way past his sell by date.  There is something I like about Di Michele but he does tend to mess up too many easy chances.  A quality target man must be added to the roster in the Summer.

In the middle of the park, Parker and Kovac have been missed, alongside Collison and Behrami, arguing our starting four.  Lucas Neill has been great this season and worked hard in his recent centre mid role, but it is not the part he was made to play.

So, on to the team and the club seem more confident of Kovac coming back than Parker.  both coming back would be an excellent bonus, but our up front troubles remain.  For me, I'd go with a simialr formation to the one I suggested against Spurs.  It's a risk starting with Dyer but I think one we should take.

                 Green

Illunga - Tomkins - Upson - Neill

           Parker - Kovac

LBM--------Dyer---------Stanislas

              Di Michele

Bench: Lastuvka, Noble, Tristan, Sears, N'gala, Payne and Lopez

This would give Villa plenty to worry about - our back four can cope with their pace but I think their defence is their weak spot.  If we work hard and create, we could get something out of this.  I'm predicting a little bit of a scrappy affair with the Hammers nicking a 1-0 win via Stanislas.  But I would take a draw right now as well.  Either way, I'm sure the lads will do us proud, come on you Irons!!!!!

Tottenham v West Ham Preview

It's the big one on Saturday, as we face arguably our biggest local rivals Spurs, click below to read the preview...

West Ham v West Brom Preview

West Ham face relegation candidates West Bromwich Albion live on Setanta on Monday night, read on for a full preview...

Wigan v West Ham preview

Just a quick one tonigh games coming thick and fast at the moment!  After Sunday's excellent result, the Hammers will be looking to push on further for a European place with a victory at the JJB.  Wigan are of course one of the whinger clubs who moaned about Carlos Tevez but then didn't really mind when they stayed up anyway, but I hate them regardless.  We gave them a footballing lesson in that season and it would be nice to poroduce the same again.  Although the club have improved under Steve Bruce, they are going through a bit of a dodgy run, without a win in seven games.

The Hammers can approach the game with confidence and I'd definitely like to see a positive approach.  Behrami is definitely out and is having a scan in Italy to see what the damage is.  Tristan is also out which is a bit of a shame as frankly I think Cole could do with a rest, but looks like he'll have to soldier on.  The interesting part will be the midfield, with Noble returning from suspension, who will be Behrami's replacement?  I've never been a huge fan of Noble playing out on the right, he seems a more natural centre mid to me.  Kovac did okay on Sunday but certainly not pulling up any trees as yet.  So I'd go;

Green

Illunga - Upson - Tomkins - Neill

Collison - Parker - Noble - Savio

Cole - Di Michele

Bench: Lastuvka, Spector, Sears, Stanislas, Kovac, N'Gala , Payne

Think this is as strong as we can go.  frankly a point would not be bad but I'd love us to get three, hmmm, will go for a 2-1 Hammers victory with Di Michele troubling the scorers.  Come on you Irons!

West Ham v Manchester City Preview

Well, we didn't quite recover against Boro did we?  Very disappointing, we don't seem to like the cameras very much do we?  Thankfully we seem to have a bit of a televisual break.  There were various things wrong last night and I pointed these out in the half time post.  Di Michele played a couple of loose balls when he came on but he still looked alot more dangerous than Sears.  Collison looked as if he knew where to play and wanted something to happen.  Like I said, I'm not going to have a go at Kovac at all, I just think it was the wrong game to blood him in.

Worst thing is, we're going to have an even sterner test on Sunday against City.  They have blown hot and cold of late, but with Robinho and Bellamy we better be awake and alive to their threats.  I don't think we've been found out as some have suggested, I think a combination of tired legs, players carrying knocks (Cole. Behrami), losing Collins and a lack of fringe quality have come to haunt us.  But we're going to have be both resilient and positive to break City down.

Okay, here's my team;

Green

Illunga - Upson - Tomkins - Neill

Savio - Spector - Parker - Behrami

Cole - Di Michele

Bench: Lastuvka, Noble, Boa-Morte, Kovac, Tristan, Sears, Collison

We spent no small amount on Savio and I think we have saved him enough.  I've been impressed with his touches when he as come on and some pace on the break will serve us well against City who will be looking to spring us in the same way.  I would attach Spector onto Stephen Ireland to shackle him and give Parker some space to drive forward.  Nothing wrong with Noble's performances of late, I just think we need to nullify City's threats.

So, a win at home followed by United tonking Spurs in the Carling Cup please lord.  I've been a good boy this week and helped old ladies across the street, please make it happen!  Actually, I can see a 1-1 at Upton Park, either way, come on you Irons!!!!