[Archived] West Ham United (away - 7th May)

[davulsukur]

I'd go 4-5-1 for this game. West Ham will be nervous and will seek to dominate the midfield as there best way of creating chances, therefore put the extra body in there and snuff it out. On the wings, I'd play Hoillet and Olsson and basically, their pace will almost make it a 3-pronged attack on the counter. I'd put Benjani up front as well because he's our best player at holding up the ball.

The key to this game is draining West Ham's will at all costs. They will be well up for this in the first twenty minutes, so if we can really crowd them out and dictate possession, we have a great chance of coming away with all three points. My team, therefore, would be:

Robinson

Salgado----Samba----Jones----Givet

Hoillet---J.Jones---Emerton---Nzonzi---Olsson

Benjani

I would probably do the same here. Maybe take Emerton out and swap in for Dunny, to try and get that little bit more creativity in the middle. If Sally doesn't make it, put Emo at right back.

There is always the option of Peds, playing on either wing or in the middle, giving the option of moving Junior into a more free role behind Benji.

[my_name_is_Earl]

I would probably do the same here. Maybe take Emerton out and swap in for Dunny, to try and get that little bit more creativity in the middle. If Sally doesn't make it, put Emo at right back.

There is always the option of Peds, playing on either wing or in the middle, giving the option of moving Junior into a more free role behind Benji.

The problem with Dunn is he is well short of match fitness and has looked very tired this season, especially since the turn of the year. I think he'd be too a big a risk to put in there. As for Salgado, if he isn't fit, then obviously Emo would have to shift in there and i'd put in Pedersen over Dunn, simply because of his delivery against a team notorious for being dreadful at defending set pieces.

[DE.]

Does anybody else get a strange feeling regarding West Ham at the moment? Usually, in this situation, the whole club would unite and give it one last throw of the dice yet all week we have heard stories of the fans hating the board, the board hating the players for not putting the effort in, the fans hating the players for feigning injury and bottling the situation, etc, etc. For me, it provides us with a great chance of wrapping up the points against a team completely in disarray and we have to take advantage of that.....or......is it the greatest soap opera ever and behind the scenes West Ham are focused and united on getting all three points?

It's bizarre. But they did it last season as well. Sullivan and Gold seem to love creating dissention between themselves & the squad. No idea why. I can only assume their logic is that it will fire them up to prove them wrong, but it could quite as easily backfire and leave the (let's face it, mostly mercenary) players low on morale and thinking 'screw you, even if the club gets relegated i'll be off anyway'.

It's fine for them to think and to an extent voice these thoughts in private, but doing it in public shows the lack of class they've become somewhat famous for.

[davulsukur]

I did think about Peds, he gives us the set piece delivery, which i suppose away from home would be vital. So maybe your right in that Peds would get the nod over Dunny. Our main attacking threats will be coming from the flanks anyway, so maybe that extra bit of creativity that Dunn would bring could be sacrificed.

[philipl]

Sold out last I heard

Oops!

OK anyone got a ticket going spare?

[A cup of beans]

Used to go there loads........great salt beef sarnies

Sat in the "inner sanctum" in the mid 80's - six of us - music far too loud....

Irish lass with us turned the volume down with a knob on the wall...

Four guys in their late 50's sat in the corner wearing black trench coats - glaring at us one stands up, walks over, and turns the music up to maximum...

Irish lass stands up and reaches for the knob - we pull her back down and calm her down - she may have relatives high up in the Republican movement back home but we know who are the bosses here............

She is now London's chief nurse ........... ( I'm not even going to talk about The artichoke ............)

great story.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

I work with plenty of WHAM fans in London and they've more or less written off their chances of staying up. They need 7 points from 3 games so its all over if they dont get a result on Saturday.

Salgado seems to be the likliest absentee so with that in mind

-----------Robinson

Emerton Samba P.Jones Givet

-------Nzonzi J.Jones

Hoilett Rochina Olsson

-----------Roque

I wont have Roberts in my team. Kalinic can't play up top on his own. Its between Benjani and Roque but Roque on his day is a far better striker then Benjani and lets face it, none of them are in form.

I know Roque has hardly set the world alight, but with Rochina, Olsson and Hoilett around him, they will create chances and who would you rather have at the end of a chance; Roque, Roberts, Benjani or Kalinic???????

Oh, and it seems as if two of our medical staff who agree that Hoilett shouldn't have been risked against Bolton are also in on the 'Hoilett is faking injury in order to engineer a move' conspiracy, so we better get them shipped out too.

[Boz]

-----------Robinson

Emerton Samba P.Jones Givet

-------Nzonzi J.Jones

Hoilett Rochina Olsson

-----------Roque

This seems to be a popular formation from the available players for tomorrow's game.

I though would have MGP instead of Rochina, for his experience and set pieces, though I hear Rochina'a free kicks are not too shabby. Morten did well when he came on last week, looked hungry and put himself about. I expect our senior experienced players to step up to the mark and put in solid performances; Robbo, Bert, Samba, Gael, MGP & RSC, don't leave it all for the youngsters to make things happen.

A draw is all that's needed and fingers crossed we will redress our awful record down there and propel that mob down to the Championship where they should have ended up instead of Sheff Utd.

[Rover & Out]

The team as good picks itself this week (assuming fitness).

Robinson

Salgado----Samba----Jones----Givet

Hoillet---J.Jones---Nzonzi---Olsson

?--------?

2 from many --> Santa Cruz, Kalinic, Rochina, Benjani, Roberts, Diouf, Pedersen, Emerton, Dunn.

If we go one-up I'd opt for RSC with Pedersen for his set pieces.

Otherwise, I'd have Kalinic partnering RSC.

[my_name_is_Earl]

It's bizarre. But they did it last season as well. Sullivan and Gold seem to love creating dissention between themselves & the squad. No idea why. I can only assume their logic is that it will fire them up to prove them wrong, but it could quite as easily backfire and leave the (let's face it, mostly mercenary) players low on morale and thinking 'screw you, even if the club gets relegated i'll be off anyway'.

It's fine for them to think and to an extent voice these thoughts in private, but doing it in public shows the lack of class they've become somewhat famous for.

Totally agree DE4life, I honestly believe the players look at them and think why the hell should we put in the effort to help line the owners pockets. Although criticism is often a major motivator, the things that Sullivan, especially, has said and done, would leave me totally demoralised.

The mercenary players in that squad, which on the surface looks like most of the squad, will just wonder what's the point, especially with Gold's comments today that players will happily be free to leave in the summer if they go down - in other words, the owners wouldn't fight to keep them.

The only other things that would spur me on right now as a West Ham player would be to do it for the fans and for personal pride. After looking at some of the West Ham fans comments about some of their better, most loyal players, the only reason I'd put in a shift tomorrow as a West Ham player would be for personal pride and to get myself in the shop window.

Rovers should be going down there with a concerted effort to finally change the record - we have a great chance to bag survival tomorrow.

[jumpin']

Oops!

OK anyone got a ticket going spare?

Without getting your hopes up, I've a spare junior ticket due to the other half not wanting our 6 year old there.

In the past, the Rovers ticket office has obliged in giving me the adult tear off strip and making it a full ticket.

[duffbear]

Great preview on the West Ham website http://www.whufc.com/articles/20110506/blackburn-rovers-match-preview_2236884_2354130

Why dont we do this on our website (rovers.co.uk)?

[bob fleming]

Great preview on the West Ham website

It was alright, a bit light on stats though.

[DE.]

It was alright, a bit light on stats though.

I was stunned to see Salgado has made 34 PL appearances this year... at his age that's pretty impressive. Has he really only missed one game this season?

[A cup of beans]

I was stunned to see Salgado has made 34 PL appearances this year... at his age that's pretty impressive. Has he really only missed one game this season?

and that 1 game was through suspension. terrific record considering his age and the pace etc.. of the league.

[BlueWhiteDynamite]

I know people have said the Tube lines are closed due to engineering works for most of the lines. However I was looking and London Bridge to Upton Park via the Jubilee line seems fine to use, is this the case or have I missed something?

[PAFELL]

I know people have said the Tube lines are closed due to engineering works for most of the lines. However I was looking and London Bridge to Upton Park via the Jubilee line seems fine to use, is this the case or have I missed something?

My understanding is that from Channings town and stratford the jubilee line is having enginering works done. There is meant to be a replacement bus service from stratford to upton park.

[philipl]

Canning Town is just a 2 mile walk to Upton Park- allow 45 minutes according to Google maps

[John]

Football 365 preview - Boy oh boy what a crucial game. Not least because a defeat for West Ham could well mean the end for them

[jumpin']

The ticket office have some returns for sale, for any latecomers out there.

[Guest Wen Y Hu]

Kamy's pre-match preview has now been published on the front page. Stats included.

[Nafe_rovers]

this is going to be awesome! Where is everyone drinking tomorrow?

[Exiled_Rover]

God I'd love to relegate West Ham. Absolutely love it.

[TimmyJimmy]

Green, Jacobsen, Upson, Hitzlsperger, Piquionne, Spector, Ba, Boa Morte, Keane, Bridge, Parker - how on earth are WHam where they are with players like this to call on????

With the exception of the first two all the rest would walk into our first 11.

I've pondered on this game long and hard and whichever way I think about it we are going to get humped. If so and this is followed with nothing against ManU (who'll be looking to clinch the title) then the depressive in me sees nothing but a draw at Wolves and a descent into the Championship. Hopefully I'm just having a down-swing bi-polar day.

The Donut hasn't got the nous to set this team and strategy up to be effective. Several Hail Marys and a bottle of scotch for me tomorrow, we simply must get something from this game. Bugger it I'm so nervous I'm starting on that bottle right now.

[Mercer]

My heart says we will never have a better chance of overcoming our hoodoo at WHAM and there's at least a point in it for us. 1-1.

My head says WHAM are drinking in the last chance saloon, will be desperate and will throw the kitchen sink at us. They are not going to continue to lose. Not sure we will be able to handle it. I fear an early goal for WHAM and a Rovers collapse. 3-1 or 4-1.

It's going to be a long afternoon tomorrow.