This weekend West Ham welcome Swansea City to the Olympic Stadium, where we can hopefully put ourselves back on the track that Spurs knocked us off. Ahead of the game I chatted to Matthew Bound and AzurriSwan from thejack.army to discuss the match.
You’ve had a poor run of home defeats so far this season; do you look forward to playing away?
Is that meant in general or for your game? If you mean Saturday then no.
It’s not so much the playing away as the day out though we do know how to park the bus away from home now.
Where do you think Swansea will finish at the end of the campaign?
Hopefully above the bottom 3 which is getting monotonous now, we haven’t really progressed to become a steady PL team which is a disappointment,
We must start scoring goals but realistically eleventh or twelfth would do.
Where do you think West Ham can realistically finish the season?
I can’t say I’ve seen much of you so far this season but I don’t think you have anything to fear, mid-table I suppose but no more.
The Hammers have a good squad on paper and should finish in the top ten.
Which three teams do you think will suffer relegation and who will lift the title this season?
Hopefully B/Mouth, Brighton and Southampton, with Man City to win it.
Palace, Bournemouth and Brighton to go down with Man City for the title.
Are you happy with your transfer dealings during the window? I suppose the return of Wilfred Bony caught our attention, but what about the rest?
Not really, uninspiring mediocre players and no real investment in areas where it is needed
Delays in the transfer of Sigurdsson caused tardiness in bringing players in. We were associated with what seems dozens of targets but each one seemed either to be bought by teams making higher offers or us showing a lack of ambition.
How do the fans rate Paul Clement as manager? Do you think he will last, or will he be discarded if you find yourselves in the bottom three?
I hope he does well and I’m sure he will be a success, whether the |Board and fans give him time is debatable, they (the board) gambled last season with Bradley but had the sense albeit late imo to get rid and if they see the golden egg of PL money being at risk I’m sure they’ll do what’s necessary to protect their investment .
PC seems to be the right man for the job suggesting that he wants to bring back the Swansea Way of a few years ago…great football…but at the moment he is concentrating on not conceding with little happening up front…irate supporters who want to be entertained not being so!
How do you rate West Ham’s Slaven Bilic as our manager?
He had a very good 1st season with you but seems to have lost his way , whether that’s down to your owners shenanigans during the summer I don’t know but it looks a bit fractured within at the moment
Slaven Bilic is a very passionate man and knows his job.
Any particular memories of West Ham/Swansea games of the past?
The FA Cup replay game in 1999 at the Vetch when Psycho Thomas (Martin) won the game for us 1-0, cold night under the lights and a packed out Vetch, how games were meant to be played.
Recently, the last time we played at Upton Park winning 4-1 at the end of the season having expected another thrashing due to resting international players.
If you could have any current West Ham player in your first team who would you choose and why?
Hernandez, he’s bulked up out of all recognition, he’s quick and talented and you’ve got one hell of a player.
Carroll because he appears to give 100%.
Which Swansea player(s) will be key to your hopes this season?
Unless Sanches comes good then its got to be Abrahams and Bony as a partnership
Bony, Abraham and Mesa.
How do you expect Swansea to setup against West Ham on Saturday/ Team/formation prediction?
5 at the back and hope to catch you on the break . Score 1 – 1
Probably park the bus with 5 at the back, frustrate you and break away with a winner. 0 -1
Thank you for your comments lads. Reading through them it seems that Swansea fans are having a worse time than us. I’m hoping for a 2 – 0 home victory. Come on you Irons!