Christian Dailly Hammers News

West Ham looking to capitalise on Crystal Palace’s turmoil

|
Image for West Ham looking to capitalise on Crystal Palace’s turmoil

Mohamed Diame Crystal PalaceWest Ham United will travel to Selhurst Park on Saturday to take on managerless Crystal Palace as both sides look to bounce back from last minute heartbreak on the opening day.

Both sides suffered late disappointment last Saturday as the Premier League kicked off, as Eric Dier stole three points for Spurs at Upton Park whilst Aaron Ramsey struck in the dying minutes to condemn Palace to defeat at the Emirates.

Stole is an apt word after the Hammers dominated large spells at the Boleyn last week, and could and probably should have walked away with three points.

A missed Mark Noble penalty and a host of missed opportunities meant the Hammers faithful walked away from the ground with a familiar feeling of disappointment.

The Hammers will hope that they can welcome Diafra Sakho and/or Enner Valencia into the starting eleven on Saturday as the Irons search for goals and three points in South London.

Sam Allardyce will hope to secure a defender in time for the game, as James Collins and James Tomkins could both be missing for the clash.

Frankly the need of a centre half is more of a priority than most fans even realise, James Collins is a liability at the back, and despite my frustration at Mark Noble last week he cannot be blamed for last week’s defeat. James Collins’ two moments of defensive suicide that led to his two yellows sucked all the momentum out of the Hammers.

Despite the result the Hammers can take a lot of positives out of game, and in Cheikhou Kouyate and Aaron Cresswell it seems the Irons have secured two high quality players. Kouyate who looked equally world class at defensive-midfield and centre-half looks like a steal at seven million.

The Senegalese man may well have to cover at centre half again if Tomkins doesn’t recover in time to start in the heart of defence.  For me this is a game that Sam Allardyce has to go for, he must show that we are better than the teams around us.

A midfield three of Cheikhou Kouyate, Mohamed Diame and Mark Noble could be a dynamic trio in the centre of midfield, which would allow the two wingers and the forward freedom to roam and interchange. Stewart Downing,  Enner Valencia and Ricardo Vaz Te would then be allowed to run at the heart of Palace back four at pace.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are in turmoil, the manager who saved their blushes last year Tony Pulis has left the club, their Sporting Director Iain Moody has resigned and they are no closer to appointing a new manager.

Much like last season when the Hammers travelled to Selhurst Park, I travelled with much anticipation of a simple three points, heck even the police officers outside the pub upon entrance suggested ‘an easy three points to you boys’.

That day it was Tony Pulis’ first game in charge; although these circumstances are a little different the Hammers will hope for a better outcome. That cold blustery evening was decided by a Marouane Chamakh header as that familiar feeling of disappointment hit me again. Still at least I got to visit Carlton Cole’s local Caribbean chicken shop – always look on the bright side and all that.

I watched Crystal Palace last week against Arsenal on the box and they were desperately unlucky not to walk away with a point. Well organised at the back and with some dangerous players on the counter the Hammers will have to be on their toes to pick up maximum points on Saturday.

Danger men:

Crystal Palace: Miles Jedinak , Yannick Bolasie, Brede Hangeland

West Ham United: Stewart Downing, Cheikhou Kouyate, Mark Noble

How they could line up:  

Crystal Palace: Speroni; Kelly, Hangeland, Delaney, Ward; Bolasie, Ledley, Jedinak, Bannan; Chamakh, Campbell

West Ham United: Adrian, Jenkinson, Reid, Tomkins, Cresswell, Noble, Kouyate, Downing, Nolan, Valencia, Vaz Te

How I would like to see the Hammers Line Up:

Adrian

Jenkinson Reid Tomkins Cresswell

Kouyate Diame Noble

Downing Sakho Valencia

Match form:

West Ham United: West Ham United 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Crystal Palace: Arsenal 2-1 Crystal Palace

Last Five:

19.04.14               PRE        West Ham          Crystal Palace    0 : 1

03.12.13               PRE        Crystal Palace    West Ham          1 : 0

25.02.12               CHA       West Ham          Crystal Palace    0 : 0

01.10.11               CHA       Crystal Palace    West Ham          2 : 2

29.05.04               CHA       Crystal Palace    West Ham          1 : 0

Match Odds:

Palace @ 7/5

Draw @ 11/5

West Ham @ 2/1

How to get there:

By rail: The nearest station is Selhurst or Thornton Heath which is accessible by London Victoria main line station, Clapham Junction, London Bridge (every 30 mins) and East Croydon (every 15 mins).

By road: Leave the M25 at Junction 7 and follow the signs for the A23 to Croydon. At Purley bear left onto the A23 at its junction with the A 235 (to Croydon). You will pass roundabouts and junctions with the A232 and A236 as you pass Croydon, after which the A23 bears left at Thornton Heath (at the Horseshoe pub roundabout). Here you must go straight over, into Brigstock Road (B266), passing Thornton Heath Station on your left and bearing right on to the High Street. At the next mini roundabout, (Whitehorse Road/Grange Road) go left into Whitehorse Lane. The ground is on your right.

With thanks to Footballgroundguide.com for the info.

Where to drink: The William Stanley near Norwood Junction station, the railway Telegraph near Thornton Heath station.

Bowdenwhu predicts: Crystal Palace 1-1 West Ham United

Come on you Irons!

Share this article