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

[chaddyrovers]

west ham manager say that they must beat Blackburn Rovers or they are going down

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Beat-Blackburn-or-we-re-down-admits-West-Ham-boss-Avram-Grant-after-defeat-at-Manchester-City-article730851.html

let's beat them and send them down!

[Mc Love]

Excellent preview - a joy to read and funny too.

C'mon rovers!!

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Emerton to right back, Nzonzi and Jones in the centre. Rochina playing off Santa, Hoilett and Olsson on the wings all being fit

----------Robinson

Emerton Samba P.Jones Givet

--------Nzonzi J.Jones

--Hoilett---Rochina---Olsson

----------Santa Cruz

Roberts has a use but will never score. Benjani needs to be on top form to be effective and Kalinic has good technique but doesn't hold the ball up well enough. Santa has scored goals in the division which none of our other strikers can point to. That is why he gets the nod.

Could start with Dunn in place of Rochina if you wanted to be defensively minded.

[danielwhite813]

Reading there forum you would think they are Barca. Would love to beat them and send them down. If we can get the team out that played against Arsenal minus Nelsen. I think we can do them

[daveoftherovers]

I hate West Ham with an absolute passion

Kalinic will start, and Kalinic will finish the job.

He will also run Kean's nose in it.

MGP will also turn up for this game

I know we are pooh, but so are they, and with no parker, they are a turd without any sweetcorn to solidify it. They are for the taking.

On what basis do you make this Dave?

The whole football franternity is with us on this, it is their time to go down and take their medicine!

Our keeper is better and is not David James in diguise (With a bigger chin, granted)

Our defence is MUCH better than theirs

Without Scott Parker their midfield is worse than our's

Their need from this game is even more than our's, if they don't win, they've had it = more pressure on them

As for the rest, In Samba we trust!

[danielwhite813]

Well said dave. We shouldnt be worried about west ham. They are all over the shop at the mo. If we have Hoilett and Olsson on the wings. They will cause havoc. COYB

[Hekla]

Exactly, Olsson against Jacobsen? That would be interesting!

[roversmum]

I know it is an expensive trip, but this is a call to arms, for all Rovers who possibly can to GET DOWN TO THE BOLEYN AND CHEER THE LADS. COYB

[Roversi]

big game, like many of us, heart says win but head says draw. we all know west ham are our bogey team, im going for a 1-1 draw. i think Holiett will be back, hamstrings are the most difficult injury to manage, once you have ripped it, chances are you will have consistent problems. Nelsen had hamstring problems i remember then he had the surgery to fix it for good. and for a guy like holiett who needs his pace it is not worth it. im sure he will be back in the 16 atleast. this is the team i would play

GK: Robinson

DL: Givet

DR: Emerton (on the fact salgado is a doubt)

DC: P.Jones

DC: Samba

MR: Holiett (if he is not ready then Pedersen, but i think Kean would prefer Diouf)

MC: J.Jones

MC: N'Zonzi

ML: Olsson

ST: Benjani

ST: Cruz / Kalinic

also according to sky sports, we have tabled a bid for Papiss Cisse, a striker who plays for Freiburg in the bundesliga. he has scored 22 in 30 league games. good physical player who can score at a proven level. Shows Venkys are putting thier money where thier mouth is, cus this guy wont come cheap, 13 million is being quoted!

[m1st]

Absolutely brilliant preview, Beta Ray Bill!

And thanks, PAFELL, for the warning about tube works; My link might be useful for those who, like me, are making a weekend of it in London.

There's much in the preview to give us, specially those of us who've seen quite a few of those "L"s mentioned in the preview, cause for hope. If you ever wanted an example of something being less than the sum of its parts, surely WHam 2010/2011 is it! For goodness sake, if we can't get something out of these on Saturday, then we deserve to be er, "sweating ourselves" about where we are in the table.

Following the way the weekend results went, with us being the only team down there to get more than one point and, in the process, improve that goal difference which must surely be worth an extra point at this stage of the season, I'm hopeful that the only change in the team from last Saturday will be the return of Hoilett [i'm confused/worried by all this talk of him possibly having already played his last game in blue and white; where's that coming from?] with Emerton dropping back to replace Salgado.

I think our best chance will be to take the game to them. My heart says 1-0 to us, although my head knows that a draw wouldn't be a disaster, given the situation of the other teams in our vicinity. In either case, we'll be the ones blowing bubbles!!

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

1-1..as tough a game as they come.

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

I'd take a draw right now, but a win would be heaven.

Surely we've got to beat them eventually. Now would be perfect.

[PAFELL]

Absolutely brilliant preview, Beta Ray Bill!

And thanks, PAFELL, for the warning about tube works; My link might be useful for those who, like me, are making a weekend of it in London.

There's much in the preview to give us, specially those of us who've seen quite a few of those "L"s mentioned in the preview, cause for hope. If you ever wanted an example of something being less than the sum of its parts, surely WHam 2010/2011 is it! For goodness sake, if we can't get something out of these on Saturday, then we deserve to be er, "sweating ourselves" about where we are in the table.

Following the way the weekend results went, with us being the only team down there to get more than one point and, in the process, improve that goal difference which must surely be worth an extra point at this stage of the season, I'm hopeful that the only change in the team from last Saturday will be the return of Hoilett [i'm confused/worried by all this talk of him possibly having already played his last game in blue and white; where's that coming from?] with Emerton dropping back to replace Salgado.

I think our best chance will be to take the game to them. My heart says 1-0 to us, although my head knows that a draw wouldn't be a disaster, given the situation of the other teams in our vicinity. In either case, we'll be the ones blowing bubbles!!

I live two hours outside of London - south coast. Still trying to find best route to the ground, if tube not working - also pub for away supporters. went to Wham last season, but didn't find an away friendly pub. Any help on this would be grateful.

Heart always says a Rovers win - but expect a draw. I think the tension may get to both teams. would Rovers settle for a point? Wham have to try and win the match, they are in more trouble than Rovers. If Rovers take the game to wham from the start this would silence the home crowd and create more tension for wham. whams owner comments about their players may well be a worse own goal than what venkys did to Rovers. But whams may work in Rovers favour. 1 0 rovers.

[brian nelsen]

I don't think the team will change too much from Saturday. Benji and Roberts will hopefully look like World beaters against their poor defence. Salgados a toughy and he won't want to miss it. Then it all depends on Hoilett. 2-1 Rovers (if enough of us say it, it must happen).

[JAL]

I don't think the team will change too much from Saturday. Benji and Roberts will hopefully look like World beaters against their poor defence. (if enough of us say it, it must happen).

Dont think you could be so wrong, because of our very poor quality strikers, even a so called poor defence will look more than comfortable against your Benjani, Roberts and Kalinic's of this world.

Kean needs a five man midfield were all five can carry the ball, aswell as pass and move and most importantly take the ball off West Ham, creating swift, counter attacking, precision accurate, football at speed......this simply has to be the order of the day down at the Boleyn ground on saturday. Problem is who is the outlet striker ?

Is Cruz going to be earning his money or spending it this saturday.

[bastionRover]

I hate West Ham with an absolute passion

Kalinic will start, and Kalinic will finish the job.

He will also run Kean's nose in it.

MGP will also turn up for this game

I know we are pooh, but so are they, and with no parker, they are a turd without any sweetcorn to solidify it. They are for the taking.

On what basis do you make this Dave?

The whole football franternity is with us on this, it is their time to go down and take their medicine!

Our keeper is better and is not David James in diguise (With a bigger chin, granted)

Our defence is MUCH better than theirs

Without Scott Parker their midfield is worse than our's

Their need from this game is even more than our's, if they don't win, they've had it = more pressure on them

As for the rest, In Samba we trust!

..and their strikers make ours look like Conference strikers!

[brian nelsen]

Dont think you could be so wrong, because of our very poor quality strikers, even a so called poor defence will look more than comfortable against your Benjani, Roberts and Kalinic's of this world.

Kean needs a five man midfield were all five can carry the ball, aswell as pass and move and most importantly take the ball off West Ham, creating swift, counter attacking, precision accurate, football at speed......this simply has to be the order of the day down at the Boleyn ground on saturday. Problem is who is the outlet striker ?

Is Cruz going to be earning his money or spending it this saturday.

Spending it. And I did put the word 'hopefully' before the word 'worldbeaters'.

[AggyBlue]

Listening to spammers on 5 live this afternoon, they seem confident they'll avoid the drop. All thought they'd beat us. The general concensus was they'd get at least 7 points from their last three games.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Dont think you could be so wrong, because of our very poor quality strikers, even a so called poor defence will look more than comfortable against your Benjani, Roberts and Kalinic's of this world.

Kean needs a five man midfield were all five can carry the ball, aswell as pass and move and most importantly take the ball off West Ham, creating swift, counter attacking, precision accurate, football at speed......this simply has to be the order of the day down at the Boleyn ground on saturday. Problem is who is the outlet striker ?

Is Cruz going to be earning his money or spending it this saturday.

Problem is have we five fit midfielders who can do what you require ?

[Tom]

Thing is we are saying how West Ham will be up for it and need it, theres no reason to believe we wont be just as up for it, plus the pressure is truly on them.

We can go and play to ruin the game and make them make mistakes.

Still think we'll lose though but it's a tough tough game

[BuckyRover]

Souness said similar yesterday. He expects us to win. Saying that we can go for it and West Ham will be under tremendous pressure.

[John]

Love Souey!

[BuckyRover]

Jamie (Redknapp) was saying the opposite but who would expect differently.

[Mattyblue]

Souness just exudes gravitas when he's on Sky, Redknapp was in awe, making a point then saying 'what do you think Graeme?'. 'do you agree Graeme?'

[JAL]

Problem is have we five fit midfielders who can do what you require ?

Dont know ! though i'm more than glad that Dunny wont be there, plus I wouldnt put Pedersen in to begin with, rather see how the field or game pans out then see where he could be of maximum benefit if possible.

Just hope Junior is fit, though it should be interesting to see how Kean approaches it seeing what he does and who he plays.

Its another must not lose game.