Will Irons (visitors) Be Saints Or Sinners?

Festive greetings and all that goes with them, now that's out the way it is time to concentrate on the tricky task of being a West Ham supporter at this moment in time. The team is currently in the middle of a 'relegation' warranting spell of just one win in five games and the visitors to Stratford this Boxing day are a club who love to 'disrupt' Hammers' momentum.

As the current momentum is an incredible downward spiral, interrupting it would NOT be a bad thing! Injuries and loss of form have contributed to the current state of affairs, but it is Lady Luck who has deserted the club at present. There can be no clearer example than the 1/4 final defeat over at the North London Gin Palace, but for Lloris having his 'game of the season', things could have turned out differently. Hammers fans will temporarily become Chelsea supporters en masse when their Semi final against Tottingham is being played.

The fact that Hammers currently sit FIFTH in the Premier League table is testament to how brilliantly the team were doing until the injuries hit home, the last match highlighted the dilemma perfectly as Hammers took on the club they love to beat, but were without FIVE essential first team players and yet still so nearly managed to get a positive result, losing against *'them players' hurt!

IF tomorrow's game goes ahead, there is every likelihood Hammers will still be without vital players, but at least Vladimir Coufal will be available, thus releasing Ben Johnson to cover for Aaron Cresswell should it be necessary. Young Harrison Ashby can then be on the bench to cover at right back, unfortunately cover for left back is another issue.

We at the Org always try to be positive about the players, none more so than Authur Masuaku, but his performances since being drafted in to the first team have been lamentable, save for his freak goal against Chelsea. Authur is a defensive LIABILITY and should NEVER play as an out and out defender, it comes as little surprise that both of Levy's boys goals came from down the flank that he was supposed to be guarding.

All the carpers who have been banging on about how 'useless' Michail Antonio has been since returning from the International break, were given a bleak reminder during Wednesday's narrow 2-1 defeat of how devoid of ideas and toothless the team is when he is not playing.

It seems as if every opponent Hammers face have had extra days of rest due to postponed games, Boxing Day's visitors Southampton are a case in point. However before turning an envious glance in the direction of teams that have had a 'jolly good rest', it should be remembered that ALL of those postponed games HAVE to be completed somehow within a scheduled timetable that had already been stretched to the limit before recent events.

A win against the Saints would go a long long way to make up for recent disappointments and help stabilise the ship, problem is that Southampton have always seen West Ham as an 'easy target' away from Home, as has been borne out historically.

Winning against teams who have held the Hex over the club has become one of David Moyes' managerial traits, the game on Boxing day would be a great time to kick start that particular element of his influence. Hopefully there will be happy hammers heading home in the late afternoon. They will however have to do so WITHOUT the use of the Overground, so expect plenty of delays as a 60,000 crowd attempt to get through the 'tentacles' of Stratford tube station alongside ALL the bargain hunters visiting Westfield shopping Mall.

We wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a Glorious New Year, but more importantly, THREE POINTS on Boxing Day! - Ed

* An homage to Glenn Hoddle's use of the English language