So, this Saturday sees the start of the new season of Premier League football; and what a fixture to kick-off West Ham United’s campaign – Tottenham Hotspur at home. Having defeated Spurs an unprecedented three times last season, the Hammers should be confident that they can get the better of the North Londoners yet again, and get the new season off to the perfect start.
There have been some changes at White Hart Lane since the last time the two sides met, however. Not too many transfers have been made though by Spurs standards, with only the acquisitions of Swansea City duo Michel Vorm and Ben Davies, as well as Eric Dier from Sporting Lisbon, signed so far in this summer transfer window – they’ve also signed DeAndre Yedlin from Seattle Sounders but he will remain in MLS for the time being. The biggest change instead has been in the managerial position, with Mauricio Pochettino drafted in from Southampton to fill the vacancy left by the sacking of Tim Sherwood. The changing of managers at Tottenham under Daniel Levy is, of course, nothing unusual.
Pochettino is famed for his possession-based approach to the game, which he developed well at Southampton last season. The Argentine will be hoping to rejuvenate the numerous signings last summer, who failed to have much impact for Spurs in the last campaign, and fit them into his style of play.
As for West Ham, they decided to stick with manager Sam Allardyce, albeit reluctantly, after much speculation about his position. The Hammers have been very active in the transfer market since, securing six signings so far; all of which look potentially exciting prospects for the club.
Despite the fact that there have been significant changes in both camps ahead of the season’s opener, I think West Ham can, and even should, emulate the result of last season, and get their campaign off to the best possible start.
During those three victories over our London rivals over the course of last season, the overwhelming reason for the 7-1 aggregate scoreline was, for me, the extra desire and effort of the West Ham players as opposed to their counterparts. It seemed as though the Hammers players knew they were participating in a big London derby match, and set about getting at the Tottenham players right from the off – not letting them settle at any stage. The Spurs players on the other hand, appeared to whimper away from the physical challenge presented by the Hammers, and particularly in the final fixture of the three at Upton Park, were quite simply bullied into submission.
This can happen again. Spurs have largely the same squad to pick their team from as last season, who are probably still having nightmares about their recent encounters with West Ham. Furthermore, Spurs have a manager whose Southampton side were similarly out muscled by Sam Allardyce’s team last February. It will also take Pochettino time to mould his team into his way of playing, which could also play into West Ham’s hands.
I fully expect the likes of Mohamed Diame, Cheikhou Kouyate and Mark Noble to fully impose themselves on the Spurs midfield and again dominate that area of the pitch, as well as strong defenders such as Winston Reid refusing to give any Spurs player an inch anywhere near the Hammers goalmouth. There is no Andy Carroll this time of course, who simply couldn’t be handled by the Tottenham defence during West Ham’s final home match of last season, but we have similarly physical presences up front in Carlton Cole and possibly Enner Valencia to play this role, looking for supply from the wings from Matthew Jarvis and Stewart Downing.
Over the years I have learned to be reserved when it comes to West Ham, but I am cautiously optimistic that the 4th win in a row will be achieved on Saturday. It is always an exciting affair when these two sides meet whatever happens, and I cannot wait!
You wish your team will get the same il-prepared lot again, you’re joking, Tottenham have quality in abundance and will comfortably beat up your sorry lot with your brand of thuggerish hoofing up at em football, mark my words, fourth win my ass!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Yeah they wont have carrol to foul our keeper
Adebayor and lamela to get on the score sheet. West Ham might edge it if they play the allardyce way but they will attempt to play football and their lack of talent will be clear for all to see.
LOL delusional Hammer…..
Having Pochettino as their manager and having AVB/Timmy is a HUGE difference.
Also, they have all of their starting lineup healthy except for Walker and Dembélé, as opposed to last year where they had the most injury stricken team in the PL (that’s a fact).
With Lamela, Vertonghen, Capoue and Holtby back and Davies replacing Rose, you guys have your work cut out for you.
Are you serious? How can you say that you think west ham are going to win from a professional perspective? All the other experts think tottenham are going to win tomorrow! They have a stronger team, better coach and everything in the club are on a higher level! Tottenham are going to destroy west ham tomorrow!
It dosnt matter if you beat Spurs they will still finish top 6 . The West Ham result is not really an issue. I think Spurs just see West Ham as another game that they should win but suffered from not likeing a punch up with a less tallented side . Hopefully this year that will be resolved . Either way the West Ham game is similar to playing Cardiff or Hull . Nothing special to Spurs.
Couldn’t have put it any better myself!
Don’t wanna get ahead of ourselves but surely Spurs will stop the rot tomorrow!
COYS!!!
We will win and Big Sam will spit EWT is chewy and be with Santa for Crimbo #SACKED
Win or loose, one thing we can be sure of is that Big Sam will play boring, awful football.
Where you on drugs when you wrote this dribble young man
I wasn’t surprised when so many of your lot crawled out from under their bridges to make T shits etc last season…after all when was the last time you did the treble over us (has it ever happened before?)?! But I’m really surprised you’re still so optimistic. You met a Spurs team in disarray last season and had arguably your two best performances in the league against us. Well done, but it won’t happen again…
Footballs a funny old game and we love beating Spurs more than anything. You lot would have been saying the same rubbish before the last three games too, I bet so before you put your money where your mouth is realise that we treat games with you differently to normal and will fight to our dying breath to make you eat the words you have just spoken. Good luck and may the best team win!!! COYI 😉
Oh look, the best team did win! COYS!
Oh Biilly;)
It’s one of those psychological games where the bubble blowers have the edge becauae of last season, however they are going to encounter a different mind set among spurs player’s this time round with a totally different system and players that might know a bit more about each other and how they play. WH know this and that’s where we have the edge. Interesting to see how it will pan out.
That was one of the best performances I’ve seen from West Ham in ages. They had a right good go. The only thing missing was West Ham deservedly finding the back of the net. The best team, without a shadow of a doubt lost yesterday. West Ham, you have no worries. This is a vastly strengthened squad. The game should have been out of sight at half time by at least 2 or 3 nil with the amount of chances you had, and with 18 shots on goal as opposed to Spurs 10 well the stats say it all eh. I mean when was the last time we saw West Ham have 18 shots on goal. Please don’t revert back to the previous boring old defense Sam. This is what we want, a very enjoyable game and this will pay off. Of all of the games you played against Spurs last season & this one, this game, even though you lost, was the best you have played of all 4 of them. The shot from Nolan that was blocked by Naughton for hand ball was goal bound, and when was the last time we saw Noble miss a penalty, I don’t remember. Spurs stole that game from a defensive slip right at the end. That was a tough game. Funny thing is that when Spurs went down to 10 men it was only then that they shifted through the gears & even with 10 men they, with Adebayor were a right handful. No complaints about James’s red card. He should have known better having already been booked. James’s sending off leveled things up & I had the cars keys out of my pocket & ready to go home, being resigned to a 0-0 draw & a point, but no that was tough lads. Hard luck. I was very impressed with the performances of our new signings. They just need time to gel. Great performance. The best team lost. COYI
I am sorry Maurichio, but you are a man full of delusion with your comment “it was a difficult game but we played like a team and in the end deserved to win” How deluded. You can take no credit from that desperate performance from a team full of world cup stars. Your statement cannot be any further from the truth & you damned well know it. Don’t jerk us around with naive stupid statements like that & Southampton are probably better off without you.
One of the best performances you’ve seen for years?????????
Are you serious, you couldn’t even beat us with 10 men.. We had more possession than you and as many shots on target.. oh and we also won..The ref tried his best to help you as usual, and that was the best peformance for years????
Oh dear, another long season for the poor people from East London.
Boing Boing Boing..
Hey Billy, I didn’t say best performance in years, I said ages. I take it that you are just another know it all Spurs fan prowling around on other fans sites. You guys & your owners musical chairs of mangers are a joke. For the amount of money your club spends you are nothing!!!!!! We had you done like a digs dinner mate. Your Spurs were sh*te. It was only because we didn’t have our best strikers playing that we let you off the hook, so take your front wheel skids off to the grabage tip were they belong, and geez your new manager couldn’t even speak English up untill about a year ago, so we couldn’t score as I said because of Andy injured & Enner not quite ready, so where were your strikers? If you think Spurs have a strike force then you are deluded just like your new manager mate, and don’t worry, this won’t be a long season, we’ll fill it up with good times & bounce straight back from that. What a jerk take your boing boing off, get away with you, or make a date and we’ll have it out on the street OK mate? so just f*ing well p*ss off you prowling Ars*hole. I’ll wait and check for your reply man or you probably haven’t even got the guts huh!!!
Hahahahahaha, Only a W*nk, Danny Dyer wanabe, Wet Spam Mong would say ” or make a date and we’ll have it out on the street OK mate?”
That has made my day… Laptop Warrior, oooooooo you’re so scary.
Your Boing Boing Boing team of over the hill rejects couldn’t even beat 10 men in your cup final.. You were even handed a penalty and still couldn’t manage it.. Oh dear… how sad is that.
Enjoy another relegation scrap you dirty, caravan dwelling, tarmac laying pikey scum.
1-0 in your cup final…. 1-0 in your cup final…hahahaha
Boing Boing Boing Boing Boing Boing Boing Boing..