We haven’t won away since beating Wolves on them opening day of the season. That’s the bad news. The good news is that we have to win away again sometime, and it might as well be today! I think the team is now beginning to believe in itself again, something which is important if our run of good form is to continue. The Portsmouth game was a vital one in so many different ways. It was a test and the team passed with flying colours. It may not have been the best performance of the season but it was the first time we have gone into a must win game and actually come out on top.
Spurs are a good time, especially going forward, but it is in midfield where we can win the game. Mark Noble is unlikely to feature so he will be replaced either by Jimenez or Behrami, with my bet going on the latter. We need to constantly get at them and that’s a task Behrami performs very well indeed. I don’t expect any further changes. Tomkins and Upson will have got a lot of pleasure out of our first clean sheet in 17 games and if we can keep another one against Spurs the defensive unit will have done very well indeed. And it will underline the importance of keeping Upson in the January transfer window.
There has been much talk on the site about the benefits of switching to a 3-5-2 formation. We haven’t played that since Harry Redknapp was wheelin’ and dealin’ at Upton Park so I doubt very much whether that is likely tomorrow. I can’t see Ilunga as a wing back and Faubert would be stretched to say the least. It is not a formation which would suit Jack Collison, who I really fancy to score against Spurs.
Fingers crossed, lads.
Good luck West Ham. I will be at the game (but amongst the Spurs fans) and have been reminding myself to act subdued when Diamanti scores our winner (on the stroke of full time).
0 – 1 Faubert to score first half
We will come away with something I am sure I can't see us being beat
Green upson and Tomkins will have their tails up after getting a clean sheet, Behrami is back and with the exception of Illunga the whole team are perfoming well. May be a bit scappy at times but it's points we need however we can get em
staying up is what matters now. 6 points out of the next 2 games will take the presure off and lift us both in league and on the pitch.
I just hope any money avaliable is spent on the defence we can worry about strikers in the summer what we have are good enough to win games imo .
Mica Richards wants out he would be a good buy and he can play RB & CB
Anyone got any ideas on a LB ? and maybe CM Kevin Nolan anyone he would be a better option than Kovac and along side parker could do a great job and if Parker was out he could fill in.
If anyone needs firing up for this one, just take a look here:
http://www.clubfanzine.com/tottenham_hotspur/v2.s…
Small club, bitter fans. Don't bother next time Hammerite.
I can see a high scoring game coming.,3-2 to us. Stop the from coming down the right wing and we will be good. I can see Franco doing some damage tomorrow (LA time). Up 04:30 am, will be waking the house up. COYI!!! Crazy nervous already!!
Can't see Franco playing ,saw him in the car park after the game on Saturday and he was limping quite baddly..
I love the story about Mark Hughes made manager if Gold gains ownership ,last week it was Curbs, next Benitez ,how do journalists minds work?
It's a no brainer ; They haven't got one!
Another Gold/Sullivan planted story. They truly are to be avoided like the plague.
Big game again today and now that the team has confidence they will want to get something out of this game for sure, Spurs are doing very well this season as much as it pains me to say it. So we are in for a very tough game, i think if we play play either really neat and tidy or scrappy football that we can pull out a win but if were just playing boot it everywhere then we will struggle, we play our best when we are on the deck and we have extremely clever players, i think we should get diamanti to take some uick lofted free kicks as it will really keep the spuds on their toes, i really believe that today we can pull it off so i will go for a 2-1 win for the hammers with diamanti scoring a free kick and a franco/collison header.
Enjoy the game guys!
Come on you irons!!!!!!!
We have not won at the lane this century ,at 4-9 on The Spuds obviously have a lot but they dont have Scott Parker whose will to win was only ever matched by a certain Billy Bonds, shame he cannot pull the boots back on Graham Roberts used to crap his pants being their tough guy,funny to watch.
We might not have won at the lane for several years, but who can ever forget Spuds 0 David (Psycho) Cross 4? I do feel a win there will be a very tall order, although always possible. I think more likely will be a draw and possibly with several goals scored. Reports that Franco might not play are worrying however as he is essential. For me the young lads played so far, Stan and Zavon, are just not up to it yet on their own (even if fit). Nouble & Dixon might be, but today is not the time to throw them in. So my head says a draw but my heart says win. I have taken so much abuse from spud 'friends' in recent times that my post win plans are very detailed!
This is going to be awful – I'm really nervous already. In saying that, though, I've got a feeling about today and think we can get something!
I've loved watching us the last few games – we look a different side to the disappointment of Bolton and Birmingham.
It will be interesting to see how Zola starts us if, as suspected, Franco is out. I want to see Diamanti in a nice forward role, hopefully higlighting the frailties of both Ledley King's knee and Gomez' confidence in goal!
If we reach the will power and efforts of the last two games we can win this one, but I'd be pleased coming away with a draw. Am watching this one on TV but will be as vocal as if I was at the Lane.
Come on you Irons!!!
I like it Iain, but you missed out the 'Charlies' in 'Spurs are good time' (deleted the 'a' for effect!)
Oh well, this is one of those games we are all desperate to win, but would be quite happy coming away with a draw from. I have a feeling that we could just snatch a draw, I am going with 1-1, with Defoe doubtless scoring for them and probably missing a penalty too.
I will be out and about unfortunately, but my heart will be with all the Hammers at WHL.
COYI.
Will be leaving soon very excited,Guess it will be 4 5 1 or similar,I've got a feeling Diamanti won't start on the left today because of lennon.
Spurs are Going to be a real test i reckon they have the strongest forward line in the prem,I think it will either be a nil nil or we get a tonking,so not expecting much,and I won't jump down Zola's throat if we lose, spurs have spent millions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
heart says 2 1 west ham
head says tonking.
For scalyback and others…..
[youtube hdgNhNGk0hQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdgNhNGk0hQ youtube]
pleasure
Happy memories Devo. A repeat would be oh so nice.
Cheers Devo, I worshipped Pyscho, and that was why!
ilunga has got something to keep him very busy today ie lennon !!! i dont think we will see him over the half way line at all today !!! its about time we had a result against them and today is as good as any !!! coyi
I really wouldn't mess around with the team much as finally we are looking a more compact unit – harder to break down. I along with Devo Devo have advocated Faubert starting at right midfield with Behrami at right back but Faubert's I would be loathe to change anything about the back four now. I would leave it alone for a while as we need familiarity at the back.
I agree that Collison at left midfield would offer more cover for Illunga at left midfield. Guys, let's not forget how brilliant Illunga was last year for us so I don't think he is so much of a liability. Just needs to get games under his belt.
I don't know why, but I've got a good feeling about today. Ridiculous I know, but I just have.
I really should learn shouldn't I?
PS. What a wonderful addition Franco is proving to be. Imagine what a predicament we would be in if he wasn't in the team. Love his attitude and endeavor.
Got a good feeling about him today too- I think his aerial ability is much underplayed and might cause spurs problems today.
Devo Devo. Thanks for the clip. Although I was only very young, David Cross was one of my favourite players. I did a painting of him when I was 5 and unknown to me my aunt, who lived in forest gate, a stones throw from Upton Park, took it to David. He really liked it took it away,signed it and even framed it for me and gave it back to my aunt a day later. He was a real gentleman apparently.
Could you imagine many players now doing that?
Nice story, Andy – vastly underrated forward and nothing like his "psycho" persona on the pitch.
How good is that goal btw?
cracking goal. The move was classic west ham. How we could do with some of those players on the pitch now
It's always been a mystery how west ham haven't finished further up the leagues with the players they have had playing for them. Perhaps the graft was never quite there- more finesse
billy bonds
ray stewart
phil parkes
alvin martin
devonshire
goddard
brooking
geoff pike
what wonderful players – they could all play a bit too couldn't they!
right, time to head pubwards. It feels strange watching an evening (rather than wee hours) game on a working day…
Ok – reality time.
That's the problem with us as fand in general – we get 2 decent results and everyone thinks we are going to finish top 6!
The facts are – Tottenscum are presently 5th in the table, have won 6 of 9 home games scoring almost 3 goals per game whilst conceding less than 1 goal per game.
We are 17th with 1 away win all season from 9 attempts, we average 1 goal per game scored but average 1.5 in our own net.
Spuds have won 6 of the last 7 meetings between the teams and we haven't won at Sh*te Hart Lane since 1999.
Spuds had the opportunity to rotate the squad vs Fulham, our boys will be playing their 3rd game in 8 days 'cos we are down to Harry's old bare bones.
So……as much as i'd LOVE to win this game more than ANY other, it simply aint gonna happen – if we can stay compact in midfield and put pressure on them throughout the pitch we have a chance of getting a draw but i can see Lennon running rings around Illunga and feeding Judas Defoe for a couple.
Heart says 1-1
Head says 1-3
COYI!!!!
We didn’t even get out of first gear today and stuffed your poxy pikey team. Enjoy championship football… Or bankruptcy. Whichever comes first. Oh how we laugh.
Am I the only one who missed the chants that prompted H's indignation in the Sun (where else?). Sure, I heard "He's going to twitch in a minute", "Where's the money gone" and "Harry, Harry, give us a bung". Pretty harmless – or at least on a par to what was coming from the Spurs end. Oh, and "Does the taxman know you're here?". But "Filth"? H, you are getting tender and sensitive in your sixties, old son. That or ANY reference to your financial acumen really strikes a nerve…