This will be short as I don’t have much time. Gianfranco Zola has a full squad to choose from, with the exception of the long term injured. The only likely change is for Scott Parker to return in place of the injured Kovac. Franco will continue up front alongside Cole with Diamanti on the bench.
You can see from Steve Clarke’s demeanour in the Tuesday press conference how fired up he is. Zola was incandescent after the Sunderland game and let the players know it. Hopefully this will have the desired effect tonight as we badly need three points. I still believe the Arsenal game was a turning point, and there were enough encouraging things to come out of the Sunderland game to give us hope for tonight. Villa have been doing well but apparently Milner is injured and he seems to be their lynchpin.
I’m going to stick my neckout for 2-0, with a brace from Carlton Cole. Six in ten for him so far.
All the players seem very fired up for this, along with Steve Clarke as you said. It was a positive sign having Upson do an interview with the club, as it's a good thing having the captain associate with their role outside of the field. He seemed very eager to get the win as well and I believe the same could be said for all the players. Hoping for the best
. Come on West Ham!
Diamanti still on the bench, but I bet Noble starts?
Begs belief!
I love Nobes but if he ain't performing so consistently, drop him and give him a break!
No more silly mistakes from Green or Upson, please!
Come on you IRONS!
I can not wait filled with renewed optimism, we are creating a lot at the moment.
Living in Poland don’t get to watch West Ham at Upton Park, luckly it is live tonight on Sat network so looking forward to good match.
Come On You Irons!!!!!
With parker back and fresh it gives me renewed belief.coley and franco yes but diamanti must get more time to produce his magic.a blinder from berhami and collison would be great and upson and tomkins need to come to the party.2-1 coyi !
we have all been there before guys…….. it's going to be a hard game,o'neill is no fool… i really can't see us getting more than a draw from this one,especially with diamanti on the bench. our best bet is from freekicks tonight,and with him not on the pitch,noble taking them is a no no!!!!!!!! sorry to be a pessimist but these are hard facts at the moment……… i truely hope i'm wrong though!!!!………
romehammer, I take it that you live in Rome? If so, whereabouts?
Didn't you know the Pope supports West Ham??? lol
Given the reactionary piffle that this one comes out with I always thought that he was an Arsenal fan. Personally, I'll stick with Obama rooting for the Hammers.
Apparently Obama has deserted us and moved on to some Middle East team! lol
Don't you believe it! Once a Hammer always a Hammer!
If Green, Tomkins and Upson can get through this game with no silly mistakes, I'm quite optimistic about tonight! But that's a big IF lately! Especially for Green and Upson!
I definitely think Diamanti should start though! Just behind Cole and Hines/Franco (who will prob be filled with optimism).
With Behrami, Parker and Collison in Midfield.
And Tomkins, Upson, Spector and Illunga at the back!
Depending on how the game is going and how well we are playing, I'd quite like to see Deprella and Dixon on the bench!
I know you will slate me for this but I think Noble and Kovac should stay home!
The both played last night for the reserves, Dixon got 80+mins and Daprela played the full game so not sure they will be selected for tonight. The good news is that Dixon seems to be getting better with every game and shouldnt be too far away from getting a call up to the first team.
Yeah, I just thought that maybe as they both seem to be doing a good job for the reserves, it might be a good game to give one or both of them 10/15 mins in the
Yeah, I just thought that maybe as they both seem to be doing a good job for the reserves, it might be a good game to give one or both of them 10/15 mins in the first team?
But, it all depends of the score line and how well we are playing at 80 mins
If Spector starts at right back tonight they he is going to be torn apart by Ashley Young. He couldnt handly Andy Reid on saturday so has absolutely no chance against someone with Young's pace. Faubert has the pace but after his showing against stoke I wouldnt be rushing him into the starting line up.
The options then are to either move Tomka to right back and bring Gabbs in to partner Upson which would definately add more organisation to the defence but on the few occassions I have seen Tomkins at right back he has looked positionally naive.
The option I would go for is to bring DaCosta in at fullback. He has played there before and from watching him at Citeh he has a lot of pace for a big guy and is probably the least likely to be exposed by a winger with pace like Young, or for that matter Milner, Petrov or even Agbonglahor.
I agree that Diamanti has to start, and if that means leaving Noble on the bench then so be it. He played better against Sunderland but is still no where near his top form. I think Stan is unlucky to find himself out of the first team as he has scored 3goals this season and has really done nothing wrong. He would be my first choice midfield sub tonight.
My team for tonight would be
Green
Ilunga
Upson
Tomka
DaCosta
Parker
Behrami
Collison
Diamanti
Franco
Cole
I cant say I am over confident about this one as I think Villa are superbly organised at the back and have the ability to punish any of the lapses we can be guaranteed to have in defence.
Personally I would bring Gabbidon back into the starting line-up at the expense if Tompkins, who I feel has been punished for his mistakes recently. I'd also stick Faubert back into the team – his form start of season was excellent, and as you said he has the pace to keep up with young etc.
Other than that I agree with the rest of your team, and the assesment that it is going to be tough tonight.
If you're going to pick DaCosta as Right Back I have to laugh my ass off. The lad's too slow, I wonder if you remember Lucas Neill…
You'd pick Franco over Hines? Is that to give us some legs in the second half?
I think Franco is a better link up player than Hines who I think should be used off the bench later on as the game gets stretched. Dunne and Ginge dont have a lot of pace and Hines could undo them late on after they get tired from dealing with Cole.
Hmmmmmm the census is still out on Franco for me at the moment! Need to see more of him to make a full judgement! I just think he will be full of confidence at the moment and he could start brightly (IF he starts).
The thing with Hines is, if he starts, teams can usually adjust to him and by 60/70 mins, they usually do a little better at keeping him at bay as he tires! So by bringing him on at 60 ish mins, after the defence have committed themselves to covering Franco who isn't the fastest, Hine's pace could cause big problems .
I am nervous about tonight. The last midweek league game I remember us winning was Liverpool the season before last (Noble penalty 92nd minute). I haven't missed one as far as I know and I may have blanked out a blissful victory – please let me know if I have.
CH I agree with you about Stan, he is unlucky not to have played recently. I think we should have him and Hines on the left against Neill on Saturday. With their pace they will be able to do a lap of honour before he catches them – hee hee!
Kim Lucas may not have a whole lot of pace (or any at all for that matter) but I would welcome him back with open arms for his ability to captain a team and organise a defence!
Neill and Upson are about on parr as captains for me, both quite useless! But hate him or love him, Lucas did a good job! No one can really argue that! He wasn't the fastest by any means but he was solid and his mistake to game ratio was a pretty low!
Matt…so let me get this straight. Neill was useless, but did a good job.
He wasn't fast but he was solid. He made mistakes…but not a lot.
Thanks for clearing that one up, pal. LOL
If you bothered to read the post, it said Neil and Upson are both useless as CAPTAINS! Which they are! Being colid has NOTHING to do with being fast! He did a good job in defense! And YES he made mistakes, but not a lot!
What part of that is too difficult to comprehend?
Touchy Matt. I managed to comprehend every part of your message.
I was merely musing, not trying to be a smart arse or even take issue. Your juxtaposition just made me smile, that's all…hence the LOL.
Glad to see the aggression pills are working.
Lol I'm not touchy mate! It was all said with a smile and a rouch of Sarcasm!
I took the LOL as it was in jest mate!
Working tonight! But have my laptop in staff room so hopefully it'll be quiet!
Hope you find a feed. Just leaving from the ground now.
If Upson or Green blx it up tonight I may need your medical skills to revive me after I hand myself from the main stand.
COYI
Result: 0-2
When you say HAND yourself from the main stand, can I assume mean HANG? That I can deal with but if you decide to HAND yourslef, there's not much I can do for you mate! lol!
I will try to get a feed, I'm doing overtime and supposed to be stand-by so should hopefully be quiet! BUT…I'm in Newham so might get called to the ground! lol
Neill was probably our best player in the last 10games of last season. He was a very good captain both on and off the pitch. All you need to do is look at how desperately short of leadership and unity we are since he left.
Remember the game at stanford bridge last Christmas. Our guys were really pumped up and flying into tackles. The ref got nervous about someone hurting one of chelskis millionaires and started pulling out yellow cards like they were going out of fashion. We were looking at getting someone sent for an early bath until Lucas went up and talked to the ref. It worked and we got a fantastic result. Tomkins looked better along side him as Lucas was always talking on the pitch, telling players where they needed to be and what they were doing good or what they were doing badly.
Upson has about as much communication skills as Hellen Keller.
Trying to cast my mind back to last Chrstmas, for some reason I thought we lost that 1-0 with Joe Cole scoring for Chelsea?
Anyway…….Compared to Upson, yes Neill did an OK job! But for me, he doesn't even nearly compare to the likes of Alvin MArtin and Steve Lomas! They were REAL captains! And of Course Billy!
Neil did take the captaincy seriously but I just don't think he had the leadership skills to do it adequately! Just like Reo-Coker!
Having said that, I'd have him back as a player tomorrow! (or tonight if possible!) lol
Oh I agree CH. He was much better when he played central defence and was an excellent captain (as we have seen by his absence). He was ok as a right back when Berhami was fit as he did all the running. Once Berhami got injured though…..
My vote for captain once Neill left went to Scottie but they didn't listen!
The only reason Upson got the arm band was to butter him up and try to convince him to stay! Shouldn't have bothered!
http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2009/07/19/…
Upson as Captain!
Celtic I find it amuzing how Spector is your person of blame for the poor defense form. I agree he hasn’t performed at first team level. Given that, Illunga is not at that level, Tompkins has had is issues. Upson has been the mainstay with the bulk of the scoring with him him in defence. Perhaps losing Collins has more to do with it. Spector does get beat, so did Neill last season, creating too many scoring chances.
Pretty early start for in Sacramento today mate! I am not saying that our defensive problems begin and end with Spector, I think we are lacking organisation and leadership in defense. Spector doesnt help matters, he is positionally poor, has trouble clearing his lines and without Behrami to protect him last weekend he got roasted time and again by Reid and Richardson. He was completely at fault for their second goal on saturday.
Sorry mate by I have never considered him a premier league player, not even in a squad role. I simply cant think of a good game he has had for the club.
I forgot to mention that Spector has been on the bench more than on the field with the hammers conceding goals. Also he didnt play too bad against Spain in last summers confed cup against players who I would rate higher than Ashley Young
Green
Faubert – Upson – Tomkins – Ilunga
Behrami – Parker – Noble – Collison
Diamanti
Cole
WHUFC: 3 Villa: 1
My team would be:
Faubert Tomkins Upson Ilunga
Behrami Parker Noble and tip of diamond – Collison
Hines Cole
I'd start Hines and tell him to run into the box at Dunne and Collins – both have a weakness at their feet. I think Faubert just ahead of Spector because of pace. And I'd try Collison at the point with the hard tackling trio of Noble, Parker and Behrami in central midfield.
Second half I'd add Diamanti and later Franco and Stanislas.
We have to boss the game in midfield. We also have to try and win more corners. Diamanti is brilliant at dead ball but is poor in the tackle and loses out too easily. He's still away from being match fit enough to start in my opinion.
They will look to soak up our pressure and hit us on the break using their pace. Parker needs to play a blinder to give us any chance tonight. Actually the whole lot of them need too!
If Diamanti isnt fit enough for a full 90mins then i would start him and try and get 60mins out of him. Surely its better to have him start a match and try and have him help us win a game than bring him on for 20mins at the end when he will probably be trying to save it.
Better he gives us something to defend and hold onto then being called on again to try and resuce us late on!
I understand what you are saying and it all depends on how Zola wants to try and set the game up. Villa have played more games and will tire. The problem is that playing Diamanti seriously weakens our midfield. From what I have seen he's poor in close but a threat when he has a little time to weigh up options or to shoot. But to give him that time we need to be in control of the game. Or you play him behind Cole but we have all seen the virtue in the last couple of games of playing two strikers up front.
If he was subbed on I'd give him at least half an hour but either way he offers something no other player in our squad has. If he starts I'd play Franco instead of Hines and instruct him to drop back and help the midfield at times. I don't think Diamanti and Hines together give us enough fight fo the ball.
But we'll wait and see mate, really we are splitting hairs and the game will be one or lost up in the players head! They've forgotten how to win, they certianly don't expect it, so they'll have to overcome a psychlogical barrier tonight to get there.
Team for me is:
Green
Faubert Upson Tomins Illunga
Behrami Parker Collison
Diamanti
Cole Franco
Faubert for pace and Diamanti for attacking influence (we're at home after all..and need to win games, not draw them).
I suspect Zola will start with Noble though.. and probably Spector as well.
Cut out the mistakes.. and the game is there for us. If not, then we could be in for another 2-2 draw.
COYI…
Is tonight's game on a livestream ? anyone know of ?
See everyone there, back of the Boleyn pub for a sing song!Guess will will start same team, cant grumble there's not much to choose from,like to see maybe Diamanti replace noble,who ever play's right back will need help,I wouldn't risk spector I would play a center half there,Hope Behrami makes it.COYI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope Hines is given at least half an our as an impact sub.Finger's crossed zola get's it right.
i doubt it thou.
Here's a thought ,and its only a thought before curtain poster's jump all over me,wonder if stanislas can play right back.
Anyone have any streans for tonight? It's not on any UK TV stations so it'll be hard to get one!
Maybe it's on TV abroad??
Its on TV in Poland, working on finding streams, will post if i get any
I might pop over there! lol! There's no one there, they all live in Kent! lol!
I posted a link below! Not sure if it will work yet though!
Now Now Matt, on some forums that may be construed as a totally factual comment but otherwise unpolitically correct!
Lol I actually like the Poles! I have a few aquainances from Poland and the ones I know are really hard working and genuinely nice people!
Of course, there probably are the not so great ones! But there are a hell of a load of british ones of them too!
I don't know how good it will be, it's not broadcasting yet but this might llink might work!
http://www.justin.tv/bshow001
Someone suggested I try this: http://www.livehdsport.co.uk
Anyone tried it before?
Thanks! I'll try it!
http://iraqgoals.net/ch5.html
Thank you muchly!
Hopefully, Milner won’t be fit -as I rate him highly – better than Ashley Young who wouldn’t be in my WC squad.
It’s not so much the personnel that needs changing at the back but how we deploy them. I’ve stated before that our full backs are too narrow allowing teams to attack us on the flanks. Our midfield also sits back and invites teams on – this has to stop and the results will turn round.
I have liked the look of Franco to date and would start with him, introducing Hines around the hour mark.
I agree with CH, that Stanislas has been hard done by and should get the nod ahead of Noble from the bench tonight.
Lots of goals – I’m going for a 2-2 draw but it could be 3-2 either way.
YOU should get the nod ahead of bloody Noble! lol
yes ive used http://www.livehdsport.co.uk before
its a good site
cheers Marky
Generally a good site is MyP2P. They will give a list of streams. Some work most not always, but depending on one's luck at least there is a chance of seeing something.
We have the benefit of winning more games against Vill athey they have won against us!
Played 89 games, West Ham 31. Villa 30, 27 Draws and one called off!
I don’t know why but I have a feeling of trepidation coming into tonight’s game. Am I feeling the pressure mounting as the number of games played is ticking on, but the points are not? I know that we have become very insecure in defence and in my opinion are not always fielding the strongest midfield available. I think Noble showed improvement against Sunderland but is far from his best. With him taking our attacking dead ball efforts you just know that nothing will dangerous will result. It appears that the manager sees the wisdom of partnering Carlton up front and I think that Franco till him runs out of puff followed by Hines as an impact sub can work provided he has the time to make an impact.
I am normally a glass half full person and have tries to remain positive in my posts when others have been shouting “we’re doomed”. I hope that the selections are right tonight and Upson shows some leadership on the pitch and organises the defence. We can’t afford to keep giving away soft goals, which has been the story so far this season. We are scoring now so if we can stop conceding then the result is obvious: 3 points!
The players need to be fired up as much as the manager and coaching staff are, play with passion tonight please lads. I know confidence plays a big part in this so I desperately hope that we secure a win tonight. It does not need to be pretty, but the team need to show that they are worth their salaries and worthy to put on the greatest shirt you can ever wear in the Premier League.
Will be out there looking for a working link with the rest of you – COYI!
cant find a stream so looks like winnin the prem with the hammers on fifa then