Subs: Randolph, Oxford, Obiang, Emenike, Henry, Moses, Jelavic
I don’t mind admitting that Norwich City are my second team. I have even written a book about them. They’re a fantastic club with a great tradition. As Dan Coker’s article pointed out yesterday there are a myriad of links between the two clubs and it will be interesting to see if Matt Jarvis and/or Gary O’Neil make the starting lineup.
In terms of the West Ham lineup it’s a bit of a make and mend, especially in defence, with Reid and Tomkins both absent. It’s a chance for Angelo Ogbonna to really show us what he can do. He’s been very reliable whenever he’s played and on Wednesday he became a bit of a legend for his winning goal. I’m looking forward to seeing him alongside James Collins. They may lack a bit of pace and I think Alex Song and Pedro Obiang (assuming both play) may need to provide some cover. It’s easy to predict Sam Byram will come into right back with Joey O’Brien also on the injury list.
The only other decision for Slaven to make is whether to restore Andy Carroll to the starting eleven. His form in his last two substitute appearances would point to that happening, but if Enner Valencia is dropped he would deserve to be rightly furious. His goalscoring and his assists have played a major role in our post Christmas games but if he plays who drops out? It would be scandalous if it were Michail Antonio, who must surely be running Payet second for player of the season.
Talking of Payet, I’d like him to play a more central, roaming role rather than being stuck out on the wing. I do wonder whether a 4-4-2, or even a 4-5-1, suits him more than a 4-3-3.
Somehow I have wangled some posh seats at Carrow Road so I’ll be sure to say hello to Delia, Stephen Fry and Ed Balls from you all.
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