West Ham Till I Die
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Match Preview

Match Preview: Chelsea v West Ham

I imagine most of us imagine a tonking tonight, but I suppose we all felt that when we played at Spurs and won 3-0. At least we have a squad to pick from tonight, even if there are still one or two absences.

What we are all wondering is if either of the two Italian signings will feature. I suspect both will at some stage, with Nocerino starting. It’s quite a match to make your debut in. Nocerino is a box to box player and it will be interesting to see where he fits into the midfield. Can he and Diame both play in the same team? I have to say I think Diame has underperformed massively this season both in the number of goals scored and his performances in general. He is a player easily capable of changing a game, but how often has he done that of late? I am a huge fan of his but he really needs to step up to the plate now.

The other interesting thing will be to see if Kevin Nolan returns for his first league game after his four match ban. If he doesn’t a lot will be read into it. Personally I’d leave him on the bench for this game, even if Andy Carroll starts. And that in itself is another selection dilemma for the manager. Assuming he can’t last a full match yet, do you start him and bring him off way when he tires or do you use him as an impact substitute?

In defence, it seems as though Demel and Winston Reid should return. If they do there’s no doubt that we can put out our strongest starting eleven for many a month.

As usual, if we lose we stay in the bottom three, but if we win and then win on Saturday we shoot up the table. But between now and then, of course, we have the final two days of the transfer window to look forward to.

COYI!

UPDATE: Team is Adrian, Demel, Tomkins, Collins, O’Brien, Noble, Taylor, Nolan ©, Downing, Diame, Carroll
Subs – Jaaskelainen, McCartney, Jarvis, Nocerino, Morrison, C.Cole, Borriello

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