In West Ham history, this game would be a nailed on Sunderland win: we've got the best away record in the league, most goals scored and least conceded... and they have the worst record AND have one of our ex-players bound to notch one against us! How could it be anything other than a Mackems win!?
So this will be a good test to see how far Slaven Bilic has changed us. Their captain has named this a 'must win' game for them. A dangerous tactic in only the 8th game of the season, because where does he go from there if they lose? Do we keep exactly the same tactics and try to hit them on the counter early (they might then collapse), or do we go at them fast and try to take the initiative and take the wind from their sails that way?
How do people think we should approach this game, and what side would you pick (Carroll and Reid might have small knocks and might not start)?

I have never really taken to the league format of this competition so normally don't bother with it until the knockout stages start but last night having nothing to do I put on the citeh game and have to say I enjoyed the game a lot it was open in citehs case way way open at the back thank god hart was in form for them....but listening to the radio afterwards I had to chuckle when they were saying how important the two manc sides were in winning yesterday as our 4 places in the competition was coming under pressure because of results over the last few years...does this affect us? and I don't mean just west ham but other clubs around us who have never been in the competition because the pundits would have you believe so I on the other hand don't the top 4 suddenly becomes the top 3 and you can see the fear in the eyes of those who think its there divine right to be in the competition as to what happens to the one who misses out woe is them(arsenal most likely)....they claim it will affect our league our standing in Europe etc utter nonsense the only affect it will have on those who miss out will be the lucrative tv and sponsorship deals do they spread this money through the leagues? nope they buy foreign so no money goes back into our game...so the club that misses out will have to cut there cloth accordingly like the majority of clubs and they will no longer be able to cherry pick players with the temptation of champions league football.....as much as I would like to see west ham in the champs league being cannon fodder on a Wednesday night may not be good viewing lol but hey if we make it at the expense of arsenal/chelski then bring it on

My first post on here, so just wanted to know opinions on this guy. We spent £7 million on him and so far he hasn't really had a sniff. I think he should have played last weekend against Norwich and given Lanzini a 'rest'. He ripped them apart last season and they would have been worried to see his name on the teamsheet, knowing his pace and physical power. I'd like Slav to start him against the Mackems on Saturday, but don't believe he will change the team.

Just been looking at the "my details" section of the Official site & according to them my age is 115 even though they have my date of birth correct.
That makes me older than my ole mum, not too many people can say that .

:o)

so we have made a great start to the season but being west ham not everybody is happy...we won at places unheard of but failing at home but here we are 3rd in the table but the grumbling around me in the stbl lower on Saturday was to me very annoying and surprising....even heard one guy call bilic clueless unbelieveable......if the results had gone as we all thought they would i.e lose those 3 remarkable victories away from home and replace them with 3 home wins would he have been happier? well from the way he was bitching I guess he would....don't ask me why people are like that because I cannot understand it....yes we are playing poor at home but nothing that cannot be changed.....and I have no doubt bilic and his staff will get it right as we have seen vast improvement on last season.
so the question is what would you change about the team to spark better performances at home? personally I would ask the team to play at least 10/15 yards up the pitch as we seem to be sitting to far back and so the opposition has more space and less pressure in there own half so they have time to get there heads up and play the ball easier...also I would try and get another striker on and play 442 is that to simple? or would it be the answer? I have deliberately not mentioned players who should or should not start as we all have our own views on that so what would you do?

Hi fellow orgers, havent been on for a while but Ive been reading the daily posts and discussions, pleased so far with our progress this Season under Bilic. Anyway the reason for my question is that Im flying to New York on the 1st October taking my wife on her birthday present- a week in the big Apple.
She has never been to the USA and Ive never been to New York, so it was an easy 50th birthday treat for her to think of.
Anyway, as part of our weeks trip she is allowing me to take her to the Smithfield Hall to meet up with the New York City Hammers Supporters and watch the game live on Sat 3rd !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I dont know any of them yet, but talk to them on Facebook, and am so looking forward to it, for me an Essex born Hammer to watch our team on tv on the other side of the world with like minded people is amazing.
Some are expats and some are Americans, no matter where you are born it seems WHU will be there.
The 3pm kick off is 10 am there, so its an early up and out of our Williamsburg apartment, and straight onto a few pints of whatever local brew there is, then in the afternoon we gong up the Empire State building.......hopefully!
So, wherever you are on Sat watching the game, Ill raise a glass or 3 for Hammers everywhere, and if- nay ! when we win there will be a rendition of the Bubbles in NYC sung by a true born Essex Hammer.
Just a thought, are there any NYC Hammers on here, or have any of you already met them ?
COYIs

When i looked at the premiership table this morning i have to say i was a small bit surprised at our position , fact is we have to get to the bottom of this and fast , not withstanding yesterdays get out of jail card and totalscum stealing our thunder in a kind of "anything you can do we can do better " the fact remains it shouldn't be like this , ok its grand and dandy that we beat the Arse ,Pooh and Shitty on their own manor but our home form is abysmal and it shouldn't be like this , in fact it should be the complete opposite, who would have batted an eye lid if we only got a couple of points from those games and got maximum points at uppers we would stiill be third and maybe higher , the thing is it might be ok if we could sustain it and who knows we might but its highly unlikely , so whats the reason for it ,personally i think its mega lethargy that sets in after fantastic results on our travels ,that coupled with the fact that sometimes it isn't easy in front of your home fans and most times its harder due to the expectations, and take into account one or two dubious performance from the players it all adds up to our new manager must knuckle down and sort it .

Disappointing draw with Norwich, we cannot keep making stupid mistakes as they always seem to cost us a goal, yes Nobes was at fault with both if their goals and I agree with many of the comments posted here, if he can't cut it I'm sorry but he will have to spend a time on the bench. This leads us to the game next Saturday. Sunderland away, who have not won a game this season, we have won all our away games against top rated opposition, obvious away win? Call me an old cynic but I hate these fixtures, as we all know our glorious club has the propensity to f##k up on this type of game.
It will be a good guide to how Slaven leads the team to avoid banana skins of this type. Back in the dark dismal past when Northampton Town were in the old First div, yes can you believe that. They were crap, losing every game by cricket scores, result, we lost 2 - 1 and I got arrested for calling a copper a twat, missed the coach back had to sleep in the rail station, no money, had to blag my way home, worst game I've ever been to. COYI!!!

I was wondering why there was such a lack of celebrating from Sakho after he scored that goal yesterday, he looked thoroughly pissed off, hope there's no issues there as I think he's one of the most important players in the side, his work rate is phenomenal

He doesn't get in that side anymore, let alone skipper it. When Song is back hes lucky to make the bench?
Could this be a Chicken Kev part II?