Theo & Ox to Star

August 9, 2015

We have a treat as our season opening Pre-Match-, Young Bob has written another post. I hope you enjoy his analysis of today’s opposition ……

Big Raddy and I sat in a bar/restaurant in the Malmo sunshine last Wednesday eagerly anticipating Mission Impossible II (Malmo needing to win by three clear goals vs Red Bull Salzburg) and our thoughts turned to the season opener back in blighty where the mighty hammers are due to arrive at the Emirates as cannon fodder for the 2015/16 Gooners.

Following my article last year when I described 10 memorable Arsenal vs West Ham clashes, Raddy posed the question as to what I might like to write about this time.  “How about a look at players who have played for both clubs” I replied.  We then sat and named at least 10 players who had worn the finest silks of North and East London clubs (can you?).  And interestingly we couldn’t think of a single player who moved from East to North!  Anyway on my return home I decided to do a little more research and found some other smart arse had already written said article.  See link below.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2871/special/2010/03/19/1839103/premier-league-special-any-old-iron-the-arsenal-players-west-ham-

So, as an alternative, I thought it might be interesting to preview the game from the perspective of a die hard hammer.

The Hammers arrive at the Emirates with a new manager – ‘Honest Slaven Bilic’ (just ask Laurent Blanc) and the promise of a return to The West Ham way, something Big Fat Sam decided didn’t exist.  And the pre-season signs have been promising with build ups from the back and short passing through midfield.

At the back will be a debutant by the name of Angelo Agbonna, signed from Juventus for approx £6,000,000.  The jury is out as he’s looked a little ropey in pre-season, but an Italian defender can’t be all bad can they?  Joining Angelo at the back will be Arron Creswell (great going forward and average at the back) Joey O’Brien (just cack at everything he does) and one of James Collins, Winston Reid or James Tomkins with Reid being the pick of the three.

Our midfield is expected to feature two holding players in Mark Noble and Cheik Kayoute and three more forward thinking players in Mario Zarate, Matt Jarvis and Dimitri Payet.  Up front, ploughing a lonely furrow will be Diafra Sakho.

Noble will look like a decent player for 30 minutes or so, but for all his positive attributes, he’s incredibly one paced and chasing Arsenal’s quick moving passing game around the Emirates will end up with him looking like Hattie Jaques chasing Benny Hills Angels around a hospital car park.  Kayoute is an excellent player with leg’s longer than Jerry Hall’s.  I expect him to move on to better things within the year.

Moving on to the attacking prowess of the rip roaring hammers.

Jarvis used to be one of the best crossers of a football since Georgie Armstrong.  Now he just runs down blind alleys and the end product is non-existent.  Zarate could be anything, but most likely shit!  Signed by the porn brothers, discarded on-loan to QPR by BFS at the beginning of January, he was deemed unfit by Rangers, and nearly sent back to West Ham before the end of January.  Loves to pass, mostly to himself.  Payet however looks to be different gravy.  Top of the assists stats in France, he looks more like a Gooner than a Hammer, but if he sees enough of the ball, may just cause your lot a few problems.

And up front will be our outstanding success of last season.  Sakho could of course turn out to be a one season wonder, but I’ve got a feeling he’ll score another decent number of goals, ably assisted by Payet.

So, to my prediction.  Unfortunately I think Walcott and The Ox are likely to rip us a new one and I expect Arsenal to win by 3 clear goals.  However, in the spirit of last Wednesday when Malmo beat Red Bull 3-0 to progress to the next round of CL qualifying – you just never know!!

written by West Ham Bob

As to Big Raddy – well my initial focus this afternoon will be the team selection. Mr.Wenger has the “luxury”(?) of JW and Sanchez being unavailable, however when all are fit how will he arrange the team? Will we play with a front line of Walcott up top and Ozil, Sanchez and Ox zipping about behind him. Or will it be OG who is the fulcrum with Theo terrifying the opposition FB’s? Personally, I would pick The Ox as our right sided forward as I think he is about to develop into a true world-class player which will bring our complement up to 4 (Kos, Ozil, Sanchez or 7 if you include Santi, Cech and Aaron)

This is Cech first PL game as an Gooner, a fine signing and a top player. I wish him well.

Whomever lines up in the famous shirt will be expected to start the season in style and with 3 points. We need to win games like today and not give our rivals a head start as we did last season.

My hope and expectation that Bob is right ….. Theo and Ox will rip them a new one (but I expect OG to start)

BTW Can you think of any players who have moved from West Ham to Arsenal, we couldn’t!

COYRRG


WHU: Jump

December 28, 2014

This is going to be short as Mrs Raddy has plans 😦

West Ham. The Boleyn ground. Unhappy memories of this place. Bananas thrown at Kevin Campbell. The Chicken Run and the Inner City Firm (look them up). Returning to the car and finding it keyed. Liam Brady playing against us. Can you believe that in the late ’90’s the men’s toilets had nowhere to wash hands? Hateful place.

Of course it wasn’t always thus; there were the days post-’66 with Peters, Moore and Hurst. The Football Academy developing the skills of Trevor Brooking, Alan Devonshire etc etc.

Sadly, new ownership and poor management ruined the club. Until now….

I hate to say this but Allardyce is doing a great job. He may be a gum-chewing walrus but his team are punching way above their weight and this is due to his management. Teamwork, pace, strong defence and midfield, and hard work have pushed WHU to the top 4. Add to this the attacking power of Carroll, Sakho and Valencia and we can see West Ham have the potential to surprise

Yet, we have a fine record against the happy Hammers and should not be cowed by their physicality. Admittedly we are down to the bare bones in certain areas of the pitch (defence and midfield) but we have enough to compete.

Then there is Alex Song. A majority of Gooners seem to think we should have taken him back – especially as it is a loan deal. Why didn’t we? My guess is that AW feels we have enough midfielders and that Song was simply not improvement upon what we have. I think he was wrong  – just as I think he was wrong not to re-sign Fabregas. Rumour has it that Song became Jimmy Big Bollocks in the dressing room and the players were happy to see him leave. Could be true.

Given the 3 game ban for OG there is a possibility of playing an extraordinarily fast forward line of Welbz, Theo and Alexis. Could be very exciting.

My concerns are the set pieces. We have a nasty habit of giving away free-kicks around our area and WHU have the personnel to take advantage. Allardyce knows this, so does every Tom, D & H, and if we all know it why can’t it be fixed?? Buy. Buy. Buy.

A tough fixture against a team bang in form. A win at the Boleyn would be an unexpected Xmas Sale gift.

COYRRG

written by Big Raddy

 

 


Why did we loan out Jenkinson and buy Welbeck?

September 7, 2014

I am perplexed by all this loanee stuff. I understand that loaning a player helps the balance sheet and allows the loaning side to get a player off the paylist, whilst at the same time allowing the signing team to get a player without the transfer fee and risk but sometimes it is illogical.

Two things come to mind …. why have AFC not loaned Welbeck rather than buy him and why loan out Jenkinson when we are so short of bodies in defence?

Let’s look at Jenks first; we all know he is not ready to play as our first choice RB. However, he was signed to a long contract less than a year ago which indicates the Boss must have faith in him. Getting regular first team play at WHU under Fat Sam (who is a specialist at defensive play) can only assist the young man and assist his development. But why now?

We have just 6 defenders to get us through the season – or until the January transfer window – which given our players proclivity to injury is at best foolhardy. Jenkinson is a big lad and can cover for BFG (in emergencies), plus he has PL experience for when Debuchy get knacked.

You are all thinking “what about Chambers”? And you are right but what happens if one of our CB’s gets injured at the same time as Debuchy  as is inevitable goes into the red zone? Is it better to trust Gibbs will stay fit  and Monreal covers? Not in my opinion.

Perhaps there is a clause in Jenkinson’s loan deal which allows him to return to AFC  with immediate notice, I hope so.

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Which raises the question – is a loan deal contract a fixed loan? In other words if Monaco go tits up in La Ligue can they insist upon the return of Falcao? Or Negredo back to MC?

Onto Welback. Who insisted it was a sale as opposed to a loan? Did Mr Wenger get forced into the purchase by MU knowing the seriousness of our centre forward predicament with the injury to Giroud? In this case a loan with a possible purchase clause at the end of the season was the obvious course, Welbeck may well be the dog’s nuts but why take a £16m gamble?

We will never know how these transfer deals transpire which is a shame.  Were Arsenal (or MU) forced into the purchase? Did FFP have an influence (as they have at Monaco)?

What I do know is that AFC could use Jenkinson in the squad.

written by Big Raddy

 


Time to Man Up

April 15, 2014

If there is a team we do not want to play after a 120+ minute bruising game at Wembley it is any side managed by Allardyce. If there is one player we do not want to see it is Andy Carroll. Sometimes the  football Gods kick us in the goolies.

Can our battered and injury strewn team gain a vital victory in their quest towards another season of the Champions League? We shall find out tonight.

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Allardyce has stated that WHU are not safe yet which is true but I would be hugely surprised if they are relegated – there are some awful teams in the drop-zone and WHU  are not one of them. West Ham, as any Fat Sam team is, are well organised, battle for 90+ minutes and play dull, dull, football which sadly gets enough results to avoid Sam getting gardening leave. This season we have seen managers with attacking instincts being replaced by those with a more pragmatic view, perhaps clubs look at the survival expertise of Allardyce and think “sod pretty football, keep us in the PL” – an understandable viewpoint.

What do you think Sam will be telling his players to do tonight?  Do you think he will be saying, “let’s retain possession and pass it through their midfield”? Nope – IMO he will be saying “8 men behind the ball, look for the wingers and then lump it into the middle for the Big Man,” “if one of their Fancy Dans gets past you kick him hard”, and “look to get set pieces as often as possible”. Arsenal have to fight and stand up to the physical battle.

Would you like to see Andy Carroll at Arsenal? No, really – joking aside when fit he is a major handful, a proper old fashioned centre forward. If (huge IF) we had a player able to feed off knock downs he could do a job for us. Surely a better sub than Sanogo but a far more expensive one. Mr Wenger has identified stopping crosses into Carroll as being vital “Yes [we must take special care with him] because once the ball is up there, you do not find many people who can compete with him and win the challenge” – which means BFG is in for a tough night.

As to our team, I would like to see our Scandi Supersub get a start. He looks as though he can handle himself and deserves a reward for his excellent weekend penalty. Given that Flamina is still suspended and Arteta is knacked Kallstrom appears to be an inspired signing !

Unknown-1

SuperSub

Or could we see Vermaelen given the DM berth many have proposed for him? To play a back line of Sagna, BFG,  Kos, TV and Gibbs would allow Gibbs to act sit a little further forward. TV could help nullify the threat of Carroll and it gives us a chance to play 3 at the back. What do you think?

Upfront, we have to start with Giroud. We remain a blunt instrument but he is our sharpest blade. Sanogo or Podolski? Given the need to stop the supply of crosses, Podolski. But and this is a huge BUT, there is a chance that Ozil will return which would be brilliant for both us and OG.

Playing Fat Sam teams is never easy especially given the negative physical effect of an injury blighted season and the draining weekend but 3 points are very, very important.

written by Big Raddy

This is arnie’s suggested line up

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He is the Walrus, Is Arsene an Eggman? Plus Combined Arsenal/West Ham Team

December 26, 2013

Form is temporary, class is permanent. Think about it, it explains why AFC have been in the top league longer than any club. 94 years and counting …..

No real reason for starting with this fact except it is yet another to throw at a Spurs fan when they get uppity!

West Ham have done well under Fat Sam in terms of points and promotion but imagine having to watch SamBall every week, – difficult for us Gooners who are spoiled by Mr Wenger’s brand of free-flowing attacking football. Wenger’s tactics may not always work but he does understand that football is first and foremost entertainment.

Most people of my generation have a soft spot for the Hammers primarily because for many years they were known as the Academy. West Ham have a history of producing fine footballers and playing attractive football – no more thanks to Allardyce. People talk of MU’s golden generation of Becks, Scholes, Giggs etc but what of WHU’s – Carrick, Rio Ferdinand (and his brother), Jermaine Defoe, Frank Lampard, and Joe Cole (what a team they could have been!), since then who have West Ham brought through? …… I don’t know either 🙂

What does £52 million buy?  66 games in 3 years and a pile of trouble. Who does one feel sorry for the clubs who have wasted huge sums of money or the player whose career has been blighted by controversy and injury? I am of course writing about Andy Carroll. Not my favourite player but one whom I have a grudging admiration for, he is still young and has the physique and talent to be an outstanding CF but who really believes he will  reach his potential? I wish him a speedy recovery as he would be very useful in Brazil.

Carroll’s absence has led to WHU playing much of the season without a CF though Maiga has taken that role recently.

You know what to expect from WHU today, they are a team in Allardyce’s image. Big, fat and very ugly.

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A midfield of Noble, Nolan, Diame and Taylor  and two CB’s like Collins and Tomkins. These are not men renowned for their skill and technicality, they are bruisers who look to bully opposition – thankfully it is not working very well and a loss today could see West Ham in the relegation zone.

Arsenal: A win today is important, in recent weeks we have played 3 of our top 4 rivals and lost just once but we all know that is not good enough – we should have taken at least 2 more points. A confidence boosting win at the Boleyn would set us up for a tough trip to Newcastle and a relatively easy ride through January.

Rotation. Who gets a rest? The team had a 9 day break ahead of the Chelsea game so fatigue should not be an issue but we have players who need pitch time in order to regain match sharpness, as such I would start Cazorla and rest Ozil today, the LFG (Little Fabulous German) is used to an Xmas break and Mr Wenger can give him one. Giroud, who has started all our PL games could ride the pine, but are Podolski or Bendtner strong enough to lead the line against a team of Orcs?

The only other area of contention is at full back. Monreal will be pushing for a January move unless he gets games pre-World Cup and I would play him today. Sagna or Jenks? Not so simple. What do you think?

My Team:

wham v arse

Podolski to get on the pitch midway through the second half. I would like to see more of Gnabry as well.

Combined Team. Looking at the Hammers it is difficult to find a single player who would get into a combined side – plus there are at least 6 AFC players who will not start who would walk into WHU’s first team. I looked at Jarvis who is a decent winger and can certainly cross better than Theo but, be honest, if we signed him would you be happy? Similarly with Nolan – a good player but not top,top or even top.

It is some time since we lost at the Boleyn but that means nothing at 15.00 GMT. We need to win to go top as L’pool will surely drop points today.

Over the years I have had some horrible experiences as a Gooner at The Boleyn (the only ground I have ever been to which had no washing facilities in the toilets!!), it would give me great satisfaction to see our boys give the Hammers fans a sad trudge home as they languish in the Bottom Three.

Let it be So …..

written by Big Raddy


Any Given Wednesday.

January 23, 2013

These games are coming too fast and the inevitable result is injuries. Today we are without Coquelin, Arteta, Rosicky, , Gervinho, probably Diaby and Uncle Tom Cobblee. Thankfully, Podolski and Ox should be fit for duty but there are no guarantees, which leaves the squad very thin especially on the bench

UnknownA thin Bench. (no good for FFBW-Nasri)

After 2 awful results we “welcome” a Fat Sam side with the sublime skills of Nolan, C. Cole, Tomkins, Noble, etc to the Emirates. It will be a tough, cold night for our heroes. West Ham have become a typical Walrus team. Power, pace, aggression but with no small amount of skill provided by Joe Cole and Matt Jarvis. On Saturday, West Ham sent over 56 crosses into QPR’s box – yes, 56!!  With Chamakh, Cole, Nolan and Carroll to choose from upfront there is no doubting the tactics.

How do Hammers fans feel about having the Football Academy turned into The Home of Hoofball – a Southern Stoke? Well, it appears they are very happy. Allardyce will take WHU to a mid-table position which is highly satisfactory even if the football is poor.

Or is it? If you could win the FA Cup but had to play hoofball would you be happy? For many the answer would be Yes.

If – huge If – we can start as we finished in our last two games we will win tonight, but we have been saying this for too log. Arsenal, for some reason, find the first 40 + minutes tough going. They cannot find their rhythm, their passing is poor, their man-marking non-existent, their forward play toothless; all in all , crap. But second half …….

Runners & Riders:

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Many are saying this is a vital game and that 3 points are an essential. I have to agree. A draw is not good enough. The absence of a physically powerful DM is hurting us, and tonight we should see a potential AW target in Diame. Diame will be hoping to put in a good performance, after all he must be desperate to play for Wenger rather than the Walrus.

Today’s explorer: David Thompson (1770-1857). This man is hardly remembered and yet is one of histories great explorers and land geographers. He mapped 3.9 million sq.miles of North America! Originally working with the Hudson Bay Company as a fur trade, he started by surveying the Great Lakes and then headed South. He was the first to complete the length of the Columbia river and surveyed much of North-West America. Thompson once walked from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast. He had 13 surviving children and died of exhaustion in Montreal at the age of 86.

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Nice Hat.

So how should ARsenal approach this game? I would say with the knowledge that if the players underperform they will be told their parking bays have been withdrawn and they have to walk to the ground amongst the fans. We will let them know how important St. Totts day is. Maybe spending some time outside their bubble of luxury will spur them to come out the tunnel focussed and not in the land of fairies.

Get Steve Bould to give the pre-match motivational speech, or get back TA or TH or even better Al Pacino, but please lads, win tonight and win well.

Expect Jaaskalianen to give another brilliant performance.

COYRRG

Written by Big Raddy


Wham, Bam, Long Ball Sam

October 6, 2012

How would you feel if you had a car which was steeped in history; a car that you bought because it had a certain style, a bit of class, maybe a Jag XJ6 or a Saab. Then someone comes and sprays it yellow, lowers the suspension, fits some  furry dice, and a huge spoiler on the boot. That must be how West Ham fans must feel about their club.

Fat Sam’s WHU (note chewing gum on windscreen)

The Academy of Football and Fat Sam, hardly a marriage made in heaven but clearly one that is bearing fruit, they sit above us in the PL. The Jag has become a Toyota Corolla; efficient, goes through walls unscathed and never stops.

Allardyce’s teams have always caused us problems, the long ball, pacy wingers, monstrous centre forwards, hard working spiteful midfield and Easter Island figures at centreback are his trademark. Add to that a GK who invariably plays out of his skin and we can see why an artistic team would struggle.

I don’t like FSA or his teams, which is a shame because I have always had a soft spot for the Hammers. From the 3 world cup heroes to Alan Devonshire and Trevor Brooking and onto Macavennie and Cottee they have had style. A trip to the Boleyn guaranteed entertainment (not least from the Chicken Run). But Allardyce? Shame on the Director’s of this once classy club. They have become the London Orcs and why? Because the shouting, angry, gum-chewing Chewbacca is the anti-Christ of passing football.

I watched their away win at QPR and they look very strong, we will have to be at our best this afternoon and totally concentrated. Kevin Nolan has been a thorn in our side in the past and although he is close to the free bus pass he still causes problems. Jarvis is tricky and expensive, Carroll expensive and dangerous, and Vaz Te is just tricky (and a diver). Whether CArroll starts ahead of Cole is questionable but perhaps the Walrus will pick them both what with WHU being at home.

The midweek win will have re-assured the Arsenal that they are a quality team. I know many have been very critical of our CB’s display but I thought the Greek goal was very good – a superb cross finished off with a sublime header. Had Giroud scored it we would have been ecstatic. Apart from a little tweaking I think a  similar team will start today. Hopefully, BFG has recovered from his E.boue because his height and organizational skills will be important.

My concerns are about the power and strength of our midfield, it is a game which cries out for Diaby’s height and power, instead we have a choice of short people. Ramsey, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ox  – all short people. However, they are also clever and pacy and highly motivated.

My Team:

I really want to see Giroud start – he looks so sharp  and needs the chance to show what he is capable of over 90 minutes. Yes, The Swerve is on a run of goals but he can cut inside from either the left or right wings. Problem with this line-up is that it is essentially a 4-4-2 as Podolski drops so deep.

Concentration will be the key today, no silly yellows for daft tackles, no giving away free-kicks just outside the box, closing down the flanks so as few crosses come in as possible and clinical finishing.

My area of concern? Mannone. This is not a game for  a GK who doesn’t boss his area. If he plays well we win, if not ……

Our last 5 trips to Upton Park have resulted in 4 wins and a draw.

A difficult game today but one we can win.

COYRRG

Written by Big Raddy (who will be absent today)


Can Arsenal put the Hammers to the Sword?

January 15, 2011

A trip to the Boleyn on a cold January day – what delights the football calendar brings us. It is many years since I last visited that part of East London but I started my working career just down the road and still have many friends who support the Hammers.  More fool them.

There are not many positives with this West Ham team; Scott Parker, the running of Piquenne, Noble can be effective occasionally, Robert Green, but  the current Hammers deserve their current League position. The problem for us is can we get back to winning ways after a poor run of form over the last 2 weeks?

Looking at the WHU side one thinks back to this time last year when there was clammering on the AFC websites to sign Carlton Cole. What a difference a year makes! This season there has been talk of Scott Parker, a man who really is a diamond in the rough. Should we sign him when the Hammers take the inevitable drop at season’s end?  If so, where would he play?

Avram Grant is a strange manager, I cannot see any reason why he has the job. He appears to be a decent chap and has his coaching badges, but what is his footballing philosophy?  WHU have a sorry history with manager’s over the past few years, one which is well deserved because if AW and SAF reigns prove anything, it is that consistency to one’s principles as a club reaps rewards.  The future is bleak both for Grant and West Ham. Fat Sam is waiting in the wings !!

As to our team, I am still in shock over Wednesday’s debacle. AW looked totally exhausted after the game and for once really looked his age. Many more performances like that and I can see him walking away from the Grove because there has to be a point when the physical and psychological toll becomes too much to bear. This is a point I would like to emphasise, Arsenal should be grooming our next manager and at the moment there seems to be only Plan A – Wenger is manager as long as he wishes, but what happens when he has had enough?

My team:

We really have to take 3 points today and hope for a slip up by MU at Spurs (should be a cracking game) if we are to have title pretensions.

Ham was mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086) and the first mention of West  as opposed to East Ham occurred in 1186. Ham, meaning a place between rivers or marshes – in this case the Lea and Thames. Flatlands; murky, damp and without prospect, much like their team … hence the song , “And  like my dreams they fade and die!!”

COYRRG


The Academy in Free Fall

October 30, 2010

Written by Big Raddy

West Ham United at home. I love this fixture, a love going back to the ‘60’s when the East Enders brought a frisson of passion and violence both on and off the pitch.

West Ham. Take a moment, what do they mean to you? To me, the name evokes a different era – The Academy, The Famous Three, The Chicken Run, Ron Greenwood, The Inner City Firm (hooligans), I’m forever Blowing Bubbles, Trevor Brooking’s header in the 1980 FA Cup Final. And my mate Fat Bob, who has endured 40 years of hurt.

The current Hammers are in trouble; no money, a poor team held together by the excellent Scott Parker, and a likeable but hands-tied  manager. I fully expect them to be relegated this season in the wake of the financial meltdown of the club. No money means a poor squad, and the young talent developed in the Academy has yet to have an impact upon the team. “And like my dreams they fade and die” ….. because this afternoon we will assist in West Ham’s decent towards the Championship

We go into the game on a fine run of form. Clean sheets, loads of goals from a variety of scorers, playing superb football and yet with that traditional Arsenal fragility that has you biting your nails until we get at least a 2 goal cushion. And (whisper it) we have a goalkeeper in form. – make that 2 goalkeepers in form. Chesney was superb at Newcastle and staked his claim, but Fabiansky has been very solid and finally deserves his starting place. Could Almunia have played his last game for us? I doubt it, AW is a very loyal man and Almunia, despite being in my opinion a poor GK, has done little wrong this season (little, not nothing !!)

No Jack today. Nor the unlucky Gibbs. It is a hard team to pick. With the return of Koscielny, will JD return to the bench or the older Squillaci? And who will play upfront? Two goals in two games for Bendtner, Theo looking very dangerous and confident after his brace at Toon, Chamakh consistently scoring. It is difficult to imagine all 3 starting, thoough AW will have a good idea as to whether NB can play with Chamakh. Could Chamakh play left side and NB in the middle with Theo on the right? And what happens when RvP returns?

In midfield despite no Jack, we are so strong. Denilson has played very well in his last two appearances and is pushing for a starting place. I expect Rosicky to get a rest after Weds, and Arshavin to start following his rest.

My team:

We have an embarrassment of riches 🙂

Barak Obama is a confirmed West Ham fan (wiki) having been a supporter since 2003. And according to the Daily Mirror, so is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.  Not sure how many games they go to !

This is another must-win game for us. We cannot afford to drop points at home against relegation fodder.

COYRRG