|
View From The Opposition - West Ham United
Ahead of our first home game of the season we spoke to West Ham United fan Stuart Plant from the popular fan site Iron Views. We thank Stuart for taking on our Q&A. The questions were answered before the news on Pulis broke.
Q. Ahead of the season kicking off, fans always have hopes and dreams for their team. What are yours for West Ham this season?
In true West Ham fashion, everything was going well and optimism was flowing. Then the 'Sam Out' campaign started coming back after a poor pre-season Tour of New Zealand, striker Andy Carroll out injured until Christmas at the earliest and Ravel Morrison in custody for assault. However, we have had a brilliant transfer window thus far and I think a top ten finish and to win more games than last season would be the marker of better football in a roundabout way.
Q. What do you make of the squad that Big Sam has put together?
Brilliant. Our back five was not a massive issue but we have strengthened with Creswell and Jenkinson. Zarate will provide a spark, who bought out his own contract to join us. Valencia is a speedy direct goal poacher who has the leap of a genetically mutated super salmon! Kouyate will provide what Diame was bought for and failed to do and a little bit extra. Poyet may get a decent bit of game time but he is really one the future.
Q. A lot of criticism was aimed at Big Sam last season and more interestingly, in the build up to the new season. Do you see your future without him?
Yes. I cannot see him getting another full season regardless of how he does this season. The owners are divided on him, as are the fans. The constant sniping/media attention/fans demanding XYZ all because of having Sam in charge is just too much. I do not think he has done anywhere near as bad as some like to make out, but hey, it is football!
Q. The curious case of Andy Carroll. He was a big signing but has been injury plagued ever since. Does his still have a future at Upton Park?
I am not sure. First time round everyone was borderline ready for a breakdown as we did not have any strikers to turn to and we spent our remaining budget on winger Stuart Downing. This time around we have two more strikers in Zarate and Valencia. If his troubles continue, we may see the owners try to cut their losses on a player that has not been worth his wages or transfer fee so far.
Q. If there was one former player (retired or not) that you would bring back that would make a difference to the current team, who would it be and why?
To fit in with needing a target man who scores goals, under Big Sam, I would go for John Hartson. To shut the fans up who keep calling for him as manager, Paolo do Canio, to remind everyone he was a brilliant player.
Q. Going into the game against Palace, who do you consider the one player that we should look out for?
I would have said Andy Carroll, now I will say Zarate. Or surprisingly, Cresswell. He had a brilliant season last year in the Championship for Ipswich Town and he does like to go forward at every opportunity.
Q. Which player from the Palace line up do consider a threat to West Ham?
I have always rated your winger Yannick Bolasie highly, he was overshadowed by Wilfried Zaha in your promotion season. Dwight Gayle is clinical but is he ready to start more games this season? Jason Puncheon is always a bit lively as is that Jimmy Kebe - we have previous with the latter!
Q. After a successful return to the Premier League last season, how do you see Palace doing this season?
Much more of the same, second season is always tough and Tony Pulis will know that. He will try to consolidate your position as a Premier League club, whilst hoping to move up a few places. I would guess most Palace fans would take that too.
Q. Your prediction for this game?
It is tough to predict a result so early in the season as the teams are still trying to get going properly, whilst still adding new faces to the club. I will go for a 2-1 West Ham away win, Zarate to score his first goal of the season too.
Q. And finally, tell us a little about yourself and anything that you wish to promote.
With the start of he new season we will be having our new feature IronviewsTV rolled out. It will be a weekly show which will have my colleague running it, with special guests every week. In the pilot we had Ian 'Moose' Abrahams from TalkSport as well as former player Rob Lee. There will undoubtedly be talk on the latest matches so it could be of interest to you guys too twice a season.
|
