West Ham Should Just ‘Go For It’

So after a resilient defensive display last weekend, West Ham United find themselves on their travels again this Saturday to Southampton. I must say, I am looking forward to our trip to the south coast (although I hear we are leaving at a ridiculously early time, just for a change).

I think it is fair to say that West Ham have been hugely disappointing away from home this year. Having said that, I think we all got a bit too comfortable winning away last season and we have been brought back down to earth with a crash. Don’t get me wrong we have picked up some pretty impressive points at times this season, Newcastle and Stoke being the two standout results, but in the same breath we have had some absolute shockers. So what can we expect this weekend against our fellow newly promoted rivals?

I think this is a game where we need to set up like we do at home and really put Southampton under some serious pressure. With Premier League safety all but secure wouldn’t it be nice to hit the magic 40 points mark on the road, with 6 games to play. Southampton have a very useful attacking side but their defence is rather vulnerable. In all honesty, games like Southampton away are ones that we should really be aiming to win, not nick a draw and I believe if we can get in their ‘faces’ from the off then they will have a very difficult task on their hands.

In the reverse fixture at Upton Park early on this season, we played them off the park from start to finish. Even when they got a goal back, to make the score 2-1, we still looked in total control. What was particularly pleasing for me in that game was that not only did we beat them 4-1, but we kept the ball on the floor and played some really good football. Not bad going for a team that just play hoof ball (according to the Southampton fans.) I think as long as we don’t needlessly give the ball away in the middle of the park, we have a real good chance of doing our first double of the season. So let’s go for it.

Something else this week that I have also noticed, and was also quite shocked and equally unaware of is the Southampton’s fans hate for us. Anyone else know of this?

Now I know we had a few little incidents last season with Billy Sharp throwing himself to the floor and in turn getting Matt Taylor sent off but I was unaware of this ‘fierce’ rivalry that these fans claim we have. If anything, shouldn’t we dislike them for that reason? I like to think I know a fair bit about who we do and don’t like and the reasons behind it but it seems that the Saints fans have just made this one up.

Is it because their real rivals are on the brink of extinction? Could it be because West Ham United were getting all the headlines last season? Maybe it’s not aimed at us, but our manager, who people love to hate. I get the fact that we had a few heated games with them last season in the push for promotion. We both got what we wanted which was top flight football so you would think that would be the end of it. Some of the things I have read this week have absolutely shocked me. Maybe we are just becoming a club people love to hate.

If that’s the case then so be it but whatever the reason might be I’m hoping that we go down there Saturday and give them a real reason to hate us. I’m hoping for yet again, a game in which we play them off the park and putting a few goals past them would be the icing on the cake. Here’s to hoping!

Come On You Irons!!!!