The first match of the season against Spurs will be reviewed with mixed emotions amongst West Ham fans. On the positive side we played some nice football at times and the energy and enthusiasm was there to see on the pitch and the crowd responded, generating a good atmosphere around the Boleyn. The promising debuts of Kayoute and Cresswell have already been well documented and discussed and the general view is that we have secured a couple of very good additions to the squad. The downsides were obviously the loss itself to our arch rivals and our inability technically and tactically to score the goal that would have almost certainly put the game to bed before our last minute heartache. I blame myself for Noble’s penalty miss. I always close my eyes for West Ham penalties but have become so confident in recent times that I decided to watch the one against Spurs. Sorry Mark!
So this weekend we have a chance to put things right in our second London derby of the week against Crystal Palace. As a newly promoted team to the Premier League last season, Palace’s first thirteen games only secured seven points and they looked doomed even before Christmas. The Tony Pulis revolution that followed actually saw them go on and finish eleventh and some five points ahead of the Hammers. The football World never ceases to amaze but it again threw up a bombshell when Pulis and Palace parted company just two days before the new season started last week. My heart goes out to those who backed Sam in the sack race as they did not even get a run for their money. Most pundits had Palace safe in their pre-season tips and many were sent running to make changes, if they could, as the bookies prices tumbled on their relegation probabilities.
The transfer window has not seen too many new faces arrive at Selhurst Park. Martin Kelly from Liverpool and Brede Hangeland from Fulham have been brought in to bolster the defence and Fraizer Campbell arrived from Cardiff City. Another amazing football fact is that both Kelly and Campbell each have an England cap to their name. What is not so surprising is that both do not have two!
Despite the turmoil, Crystal Palace put in a valiant effort on the weekend away to Arsenal. Taking the lead from a Hangeland header from a corner they finally succumbed to injury time goals at the end of both halves to go down 2-1. It was a typical Palace performance. Hard to break down, score from a set piece and put in an effort that was full of heart and desire. Pretty much what Sam wants from our boys to be honest. At the time of writing the dogs are barking that Malky Mackay is the man to take over from Tony Pulis. The bad news for us is that the ”new manager always wins his first game” scenario looms large if the appointment is made this week. James Collins suspension from his red card against Spurs, together with a lingering injury to James Tomkins have caused concern as to who will partner Winston Reid at the heart of the defence. Perhaps a phone call to “relegation Roger” will help mirror last seasons embarrassing phone call to Carlton? Palace will also be without the suspended Jason Puncheon.
Our recent history against Crystal Palace is not good. They did a 1-0 double over us last season and we have failed to beat them in the past six meetings including the play off final back in 2004. You have to go back to 2003 for the last time we beat them and indeed back to 1991 for the last time we beat them away. One advantage that Palace do have in their home games is their brilliant crowd support. They break the trend where so many Premier League home grounds are practically sterile nowadays and the noisy vocals of the Palace supporters are the envy of many. Our own excellent away support should ensure a great match day atmosphere in what may already be termed by some as a vital six pointer. COYI.