Saturday's high noon fixture against Newcastle could be a defining moment for both clubs, a win for the visitors would all but propel them towards Premier League survival, a win for David Moyes' West Ham would firm up the club's grip on a European top slot, something has to give, or does it?
The Toon are on the crest of their new found wealth wave, having secured three wins on the bounce that have seen them climb three points away from the relegation zone. They have however just lost their newest talisman, Kieran Trippier, to injury and there are doubts as to the fitness of Alain Saint Maxim ahead of the clash in Stratford.
Hammers have were out of sorts even BEFORE Zoumagate, the lucky win against sixth tier Kidderminster having been followed by a narrow victory over relegation doomed Watford and an even luckier point against Leicester. Unfortunately several key players seem to have ALL run out of form at the same time, most notably Hammers once imperious Czech contingent of Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal who are currently looking a shadow of their former selves.
It is not just the Czech Mates who are NOT living up to their own high standards, Mikey Antonio started the season on fire, but the goals and assists have dried up despite him maintaining his fitness to a superb degree, far superior to previous seasons, unfortunately his 'romance' with the Jamaica national team HAS impacted his performances which is understandable given the massive distances he has been required to travel. It must surely be time for Big Mick to call time on his International career and concentrate on his domestic obligations, after all it IS West Ham who are paying his wages.
We won't comment on Aaron Cresswell's game against Leicester, other than to say ALL players are capable of having a bad day at the office and that he had a very bad day at the office, but generally he has performed admirably, but somewhat predictably, as we have mentioned previously.
Saturday's game won't be without goals, but it could well end up being a draw which actually suits neither team, although it would continue the Toon's unbeaten run to four games. It will be interesting to see how the away fans treat Zouma if he is selected to play, they will be mindful of how their new owners are reviled by human rights groups across the Globe and as such will have to choose between hypocrisy and ignorance, or 'a rock and a hard place' if you know what we mean. - ED
Comments
Nev it was not long ago a
Nev it was not long ago a Newcastle fan was pictured punching a Police Horse!
No Wilson for the Barcodes but that other scurge Woods who alwats scores against us will be chewing at the bit.
Enfield
No Trippier either, regards how the Barcodes fans treat Zouma will be nothing compared to the home supports response regards the current regime in charge of their club, hardly paragons of virtue.
Ive been goin on relentlessly
Ive been goin on relentlessly lately about Ant and Souchec .the former ,well what can you say ,at the start of the season he was our new found striker we've been praying for ,if he wasnt scoring them he was assisting them so we rewarded him with the number 9 shirt and he goes kerplonk not only that but he was so sure of his new found talent that he felt he should be playing international football so off he goes and joins Jamaica, as if that was goin to get him recognised as an international player ,sinse then he really has gone south ,he just plods around up there hardly ever getting on the end of anything and as for holding the ball up ? Forget about it,it must be the bench for him.
And Souchec ??? He was an integral part of the revolution at the L S ,what i notice more than anything these days is he's hardly mentioned in the commentary, sure he still has a few interactions with Declan but nothing outstanding ,his performances are at best drab and at worse unenthusiastic, he needs to join Ant on the bench .
Glad we have 6 days rest.
Glad we have 6 days rest. Apart from Rice, Bowen Dawson and Diop the rest were knackered in the second half.
Looking forward to a better game on Saturday.