Coming into the festive period is always tough, though after the loss of Mohammad Diame in our gut wrenching defeat to Liverpool has left us in the lurk without one of our most influential players to the side.
To compound our woes we will shortly be arriving in the Christmas period of football, where the fans love the fact that they can escape the hectic shops, and feuding family to see their beloved sides compete over the traditional boxing day and New Years Day football matches. To add to this, the usual Saturday afternoon matches continue. Leaving the fans with 4 games in 9 days. Despite this, many managers in modern football despise this tradition claiming that we should adopt the style on the continent where we have a winter break. This will leave West Ham United in a period where squad rotation is vital without some very key players. Andy Carroll may be out until mid January and with the 12 week lay off of Diame; our problems will not be eased. Alou Diarra has hardly featured and Yossi Benayoun, Jack Collison may still be doubts, even though they are expected to return.
In our next six matches we will be facing West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, followed by Everton at home, Arsenal away on boxing day, Reading away the following Saturday and then Norwich at home on New Years Day. To add to this we then follow up with our much-anticipated tie with Manchester United at home in the FA cup. This is by no means a tough schedule and the side will be aiming to get over their unfortunate loss to Liverpool. The loss yesterday was totally unjust, though for all of our troubles over the past three to four years it’s a great feeling to be able to be gutted after losing to a side of Liverpool’s standard, Luis Suarez or no Suarez, that side are still one that has a wealth of international stars at a high quality.
The next few weeks will be a sharp test of character for some of the West Ham players as the festive period will either make or break a season. This could be time in a season where our players may really have to earn the points and their paychecks. West Ham United have made a great start with most of the strongest eleven dropping out of the side week by week. The loss of Ricardo Vaz Te is still showing, and Carroll and Diame will surely follow suit.
In my opinion our players who have been performing at a great standard such as Kevin Nolan, Winston Reid and at times Mark Noble, who I thought was excellent against Liverpool will have to continue their rich form, but also we will need squad members to stand up and define themselves as first team players. Modibo Maiga will need to step up to the plate if called upon, Matt Jarvis and Gary O’Neil alike. If called upon they will need to perform, if I was Sam Allardyce I would call Robert Hall back, this could be a great chance for him to stake a claim in the side and really cement himself as the big next thing out of the West Ham academy. We have very good players in the fringe and waiting to be called upon and with the losses of Diame, Carroll and Vaz Te, for a mid to long term, our side needs a boost and this will have to come if we are going to get out of this dreary, but festive period with some very positive results.
