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

[Athlete]

for Rovers fans going by train there are no services to upton Park on Saturday on either the hammersmith + City line or the district line...nearest tube station will be Stratford on the central line

[Gav]

Quite simply we don’t ever win at Upton park in the main, although I do recall Scott Sellars rifling one in from 25yrds, pity it was against Charlton who took up residency at Upton Park for a season......

I’m not sure WestHam are playing particularly badly, thought they equipped themselves well against City last week and looked great for 45 minutes against United.

All things taken into account, we lose this match 0-1 and are looking for more favours from the tripe thats at the bottom with us.

[John]

Reckon this is going to be a very hostile game/atmopshere, they know it is win or bust for them, plus they can kind of bring us firmly back into the mire if they give us a good beating.

[TimmyJimmy]

I thought WHam looked strong against ManC - after they went 2 down.

Looking at their squad it's tough to understand how they are where they are, lot's of their players would walk into our team. Parker will be back, the ground will be packed and loud. We never win there. As desperate as I am for a win or a draw the reality is that we will get humped - and also against ManU.

Just our luck in the last three games to come up against a team who need the win to take the championship and two teams who need to beat us to stay up.

Brace yourselves for the decider at Wolves (and take plenty of tissues).

[mode_m]

Just read that WHAM expect to have Parker back from his achilles and Upson to recover from his dead leg.

As for Hoilett, a real strange one. As flagged before, IMO, we may well have seen the last of him in a Rovers' shirt.

I haven't read this anywhere else but you believe that Hoilett is not truly injured and that he will not be playing the remaining games because he is on his way out?

[PAFELL]

The reason for confidence isn't simply down to the Bolton result. Its placed in the performances against City at home and Arsenal away. If we can keep out Arsenal at the Emirates then we can keep Wham out at Upton Park.

This is their last shot. If they haven't scored in the first 20 they'll get very very nervous. Parker will make a difference clearly but they'll need more than just him. Defensively they're shocking and there is very little pace in the team.

Only concern is our lack of a goalscorer. Our strikers are either out of touch or Jason Roberts. Hoilett being back would be a massive bonus.

I think its clear that we're going to be going into the Wolves game with something riding on it. Our next two fixtures need to ensure that we go to Molineux with as small amount of work to do as possible. A win at Upton Park will do it so I see no reason for not giving it a real go this weekend.

I think a lot of clubs would be happy to see whu going down. I actually think rovers will be up for this match. The win v bolton would have lifted some confidence. Even though against a poor bolton side, a win is a win after the winless streak we have had. If Man U beat Chelsea - man u may have a weaker side out. Wolves will be down by the time we play them.

[Wilko Rover]

We will play well, lots of chances, none converted. Demba Ba will score and we will deflate, game over!

[DP]

I think a draw keeps us up.... which is why I think we'll lose this one have to take a point against Utd at home instead...

[dcbrfc]

Who's going down and where are you drinking? I'm staying at a friend's in Wandsworth. Went last season and it's a right dump. Not many places to drink either so prob just have a few somewhere and hop on the tube to Upton Park in time for kick off.

for Rovers fans going by train there are no services to upton Park on Saturday on either the hammersmith + City line or the district line...nearest tube station will be Stratford on the central line

Just seen this. Bit of a balls up! It's walkable from Stratford though I think.

[patchrovers]

Who's going down and where are you drinking? I'm staying at a friend's in Wandsworth. Went last season and it's a right dump. Not many places to drink either so prob just have a few somewhere and hop on the tube to Upton Park in time for kick off.

Just seen this. Bit of a balls up! It's walkable from Stratford though I think.

Ive checked it out and it says there is a replacement bus

[Rovers Gals]

I'm expecting a point out of this game and time for men to play with vigour and pride !

[Kamy100]

Nervous about this game, if players show same pride, passion and commitment as last two games then we can get something from this game. Extremely important not to concede first goak and defensive unit has to be well organised, WHU on and off the pitch will come at us all guns blazing, it is do or die for them.

[Mc Love]

One of my UTD friends said today they will lose to rovers - i could only laugh and say they could relegate us for the second time

[Mr Maureen]

One of my UTD friends said today they will lose to rovers - i could only laugh and say they could relegate us for the second time

Cheerfull pair you are,bloody hell.

[pick32]

Im in a class with three United fans at uni and they all think they will lose to chelsea and draw with us giving chelsea the title.

[blue_and_white]

Cheerfull pair you are,bloody hell.

I'd love it if we stopped them winning the league again. Seeing the despair on Fergie's face in his post-match interview at Ewood last season was fantastic.

[Exiled_Rover]

Im in a class with three United fans at uni and they all think they will lose to chelsea and draw with us giving chelsea the title.

"I will love it if we 'draw against' them".

I'd love it if we stopped them winning the league again. Seeing the despair on Fergie's face in his post-match interview at Ewood last season was fantastic.

Nothing will make up for his "Oh it did?" response when asked if he knew the draw sent us down a decade ago. He bloody knew. Tosser.

[Stockport rover]

Any news on how the ticket sales are coming along?!?

[PAFELL]

Nervous about this game, if players show same pride, passion and commitment as last two games then we can get something from this game. Extremely important not to concede first goak and defensive unit has to be well organised, WHU on and off the pitch will come at us all guns blazing, it is do or die for them.

I don't know about off the pitch. No problems at all last season.

[1864roverite]

The one good thing about this game is that Wham have to come at Rovers full throttle. That will mean the game is wide open in the middle and down the flanks and that is the reason why Rovers and Kean must employ a 4-5-1 system, particularly in the first half when the hammers will be at their most dangerous.

Employing a back 4 of Salgado, Samba, P Jones and Givet behind a midfield of Emerton or Hoilett, NZonzi, JJ, MGP and Olsson will give Rovers plenty of manoevrability. Granted, MGP has had a stinker but for this game he represents a major danger to wham with set peices and throw ins not too mention the ability for shoot on sight chances. Both Hoilett/Emerton and Olsson will create major propblems for wham down the flanks.

Up front I would go with Niko to begin with or indeed RSC. I do think it will be the second half that is pivotal in this game.

IF Rovers can keep a clean sheet in the first 45 or even better sneak ahead then wham will go to pieces, on and off the pitch. Their own crowd can be their downfall.

Saying that, if Rovers concede early then it will cause us major snags and we could become a very beaten team again.

Togetherness is the game, spirit and plenty of it will see us through.

Oh how I would take a 0-0 draw now thanks.

[Exiled in Toronto]

One of my UTD friends said today they will lose to rovers - i could only laugh and say they could relegate us for the second time

No they can't. We can't be 3 points behind at least 17 other teams by the end of the Utd game even assuming we lose an 8 goal positive difference

[Mercer]

I haven't read this anywhere else but you believe that Hoilett is not truly injured and that he will not be playing the remaining games because he is on his way out?

See article in today's LT:

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/blackburnrovers/news/9003563.Defender_Salgado_has_chance_for_West_Ham_clash/

"Boss Steve Kean had again been optimistic that the 20-year-old would return against Manchester City but Hoilett missed out once more and was again absent against Bolton.

Rovers are understood to be growing increasingly frustrated with the situation, with Hoilett still feeling pain in his hamstring. Kean is reluctant to rush the Canadian too early and risk him suffering further damage".

IMO, Hoilett will not sign a new contract in the summer and he will end-up being sold for just a fraction of his real value.

The boat sailed in Jan. and we missed it as too preoccupied worrying about the likes of Roberts, Nelsen & Salgado - now I wonder why that could be ?!?! Kean's excuse about wanting to keep Hoilett focussed, is, IMO, just bullsh1t. IMO, crass management with the real intention being to try to underpin Kean's tenuous grip on things.

As I have said already on at least two occasions, IMO, it would be no surprise if we do not see Hoilett in a Rovers' shirt again.

I desperately hope that I am wrong as he is the one player on our books who brings real excitement to the supporters.

[patrickvalery]

See article in today's LT:

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/blackburnrovers/news/9003563.Defender_Salgado_has_chance_for_West_Ham_clash/

"Boss Steve Kean had again been optimistic that the 20-year-old would return against Manchester City but Hoilett missed out once more and was again absent against Bolton.

Rovers are understood to be growing increasingly frustrated with the situation, with Hoilett still feeling pain in his hamstring. Kean is reluctant to rush the Canadian too early and risk him suffering further damage".

IMO, Hoilett will not sign a new contract in the summer and he will end-up being sold for just a fraction of his real value.

The boat sailed in Jan. and we missed it as too preoccupied worrying about the likes of Roberts, Nelsen & Salgado - now I wonder why that could be ?!?! Kean's excuse about wanting to keep Hoilett focussed, is, IMO, just bullsh1t. IMO, crass management with the real intention being to try to underpin Kean's tenuous grip on things.

As I have said already on at least two occasions, IMO, it would be no surprise if we do not see Hoilett in a Rovers' shirt again.

I desperately hope that I am wrong as he is the one player on our books who brings real excitement to the supporters.

I try very hard to never agree with you. But i think on this occassion you are probably right. Not in regards to poor management, but i think the lad had already made his mind up to move on. I suspect somebody might have had a word in his ear and he knows already where he's going to end up. I simply can't believe the subject wasn't brought up during that period we renewed a few contracts.

Wouldn't be at all surprised if he heads back to Germany. I believe Bayern Munich were sniffing around whilst he was at St Pauli.

[Mattyblue]

Wanting Hoilett to 'keep focused' was obvious bull$h!t, letting a contract situation roll on all season would be much more of a distraction, no?

[my_name_is_Earl]

Any news on how the ticket sales are coming along?!?

I went down to Ewood today for my tickets and I could only get front row! I was actually delighted that they were still available as the players will be right there in front of me as we're celebrating our premiership survival after sending the Hammers down.

Very concerned about the tube though, that's the only way i've ever gotten around London, anyone know the nearest tube station working and how long it will take to walk from there?

So, in response, ticket sales must be down to less than a hundred or so based on the fact I couldn't get a ticket anywhere else...