We were all on a high after that late equaliser on Sunday but, listening to the manager and players and fans, you would think the Great Escape had began. We need some perspective here. We got a point. One point. And that is ONE POINT from the last 21. Hull play Burnley and Wigan play Portsmouth next up. If we don't get a result against Sunderland, we could be as good as dead and buried by next Sunday. That is the ugly truth of the matter. Even if we beat Sunderland, and that is a big if given our inability to keep a clean sheet, then we will still be deep in the mire if Hull and Wigan achieve anticipated victories.
That is the problem. Unless we win 3 games from 5, we are in desperate trouble. That means there is NO margin of error given one of those games is away to Liverpool. We HAVE to beat Sunderland and Wigan at home and probably Fulham away. I don't fancy us against Unreal City on the last day of the season.
And the big problem with that is that, unlike Hull and Wigan, we have not managed a victory for 7 games now. Our players have forgotten how to win it seems to me. Look at the Everton game. We played well. Green did not make a single save in 90 minutes. But he STILL picked the ball out of the net twice and Everton were denied a penalty. Had Webb pointed to the spot, as he should have done, we would probably have suffered a seventh straight defeat. I know we can reverse that and say if Mido had tucked away our penalty, but that was down to our incompetence, not to the incompetence of the referee.
The good news is that our record against Sunderland at Upton Park is good. Their form this season away from home is also poor. But they looked good against Tottenham and Bent is exactly the sort of player who has been causing us problems recently. Do we fancy Upson and Da Costa to achieve a "shut out"? If not, then we need to tuck away chances at the other end which is not something we have been doing lately at Upton Park.
The key will be to score first. If we go a goal behind at Upton Park with this group of players, God help us! Talk about living on a knife edge!
Come On You Can Do It Irons!
14 comments:
It really is a close call as to who gets relegated.Three points are vital against SUNDERLAND,the only worry is their forwards,JONES and particularly BENT who is really on form.Whether our defence can stand firm is debatable ,they are a real worry for me,leaking goals every week.Just have to hope we score more than we concede.The marking of their front two will be crucial,who will ZOLA opt for UPSON and TOMPKINS, UPSON and DA COSTA,or UPSON and GABBIDON,all the pairings have their weaknesses so its anyones guess. Not forgetting as well PARKER will be missing which is a big blow,he is the main driving force in the team.Hopefully NOBLE can rise to the occasion and play a blinder,like we know he can do,but this season has struggled with his form.KOVAC will probably get the nod to partner him in the middle.On the wings lets see if ZOLA has learnt something from SATURDAYS game with EVERTON and plays STANISLAS on his strongest side.Him and FAUBERT could make a great pairing down that wing.Its the other side that worries me with SPECTOR at left back and probably DIMANTI on the wing,that side is an obvious weakness in the team that SUNDERLAND will surely exploit.What other options are there though?
We need reliability and pace to win against Sunderland. This means, no Spector in defence - Daprela or Illunga if fit (Da Costa for me is a given next to Upson). In attack, we need the pace of Stanislas and maybe Collison (if fit to play). Diamanti should also play as of course Ilan. If Zola picks Mido or Spector again then we don't have a chance. I would also keep have Cole on shooting practice all this week because really his finishing is close to pathetic! We must win the game against Sunderland as we must the game against Wigan. If we don't get maximum points from these two games, not even a miracle can save us. COYI!
This was posted by one of your mates from the Org Turds Out. With friends lie that, who needs... (It's a gay porn site but I've removed the numbers)
Watch channel *** on sky its awsome. Say thanks lads. Lots of love from Turdsout
1986 World Cup. England start the tournament terribly. Then, in the second game, apparent disaster, as in a short space of time, Bryan Robson gets carried off with a serious injury and Ray Wilkins then gets sent off. EXCEPT it wasn't a disaster - in came the previously unheralded Steve Hodge, Peter Reid and Trevor Steven and suddenly - by accident - we look like a team - we have balance. Next game we thrash Poland 3-0 and then go from strength to strength.
Did we witness a similar moment on Sunday when Behrami pulled out and was replaced by Stani on the right?? Here's hoping!
He's back with a bang!
Seriously HF, I stand by my previous prediction that I think Wigan are in more trouble than us. I really cannot see them getting even two points. I know they play Pompey who are relegated and have no players, but Wigan seem a disjointed team and Pompey do play good football. This is all dependant on us beating Wigan that is.
Hull have Burnley on sat and we play Sunderland. This will give us a better idea of our fortunes. By Wednesday, when Wigan play Pompey, I think we will almost definitely know.
BIG WEEK BOYS!
...O I wish I could play Luke! I think I'd do pretty good. Let's start a campaign to get me in!
I agree with Stani. I think it is far more likely for us to stay at the expense of Wigan rather than any other club. Wolves are really out of it (thanks to our submission to them at Upton Park) as they have by far the easiest programme. In any case, Wolves have hit form at just the right time. There is an outside chance that Bolton may be dragged back in but it is unlikely. That leaves Hull and Wigan. Hull have some easy games coming up and if they don't do a "West Ham suicide at home" they should be able to get enough points. Wigan have still to play Arsenal and Chelsea. They also have to play us at Upton Park. I really fancy our chances if only we do not do harakiri at home again! Let's hope we grab 3 points against Sunderland this weekend and then beat Wigan. We should then be able to get 2-3 points from the remaining 3 games to make absolutely sure. I am assuming that Zola will not spoil it again by picking the wrong team when things are finally starting to look up for us.
Sunderland is must win if we are even considering staying in the Premier League. We cannot go out there thinking anything else. Sunderland have only won one game away back in August against Bolton & to let them take their second would be disastrous. They have had away draws with ManU Portsmouth Blackburn & Villa. We drew with them at the Stadium of Light & Bruce would like nothing more than to see us suffer. We must win this one & i hope our fans deafen the Sunderland players. I agree with going with Upson & Da Costa. Stanislas on the right, Cole & Ilan from the start, Noble & Kovac in the middle. Monsieur Le Faubert i'm sure will put the ball onto the point of Ilans nose from the right. We can win this Hammersfan, & set ourselves up for the great escape. I believe, now is the time.
I know we CAN win this Winston! We SHOULD have beaten Bolton and Wolves and could have beaten Stoke! No wins in 7 games says we won't! That's the worry! But I will be there shouting myself hoarse!
Half your luck being there HF. Yes we must win this. I think we will be up for it. I picked the draw against Everton & i'm having a good run on the horses, so i feel confident, but then i always do. I hope Diamanti is fit. If we win this, it sets us up for the Liverpool game. Parker will come back fresh. We Noble now, good Canning Town boy that he is. We can win by two or three clear goals i feel. Let's see. Enjoy the Boleyn you lucky bastard. I wish.
P.S. I just checked. It's on Foxsports here. I'll be watching on the devils eyeball. Can't yell much but, missus will be asleep matey. Good luck.
Parker is banned for 2 games Winston. The punishment is doubled for the second batch of 6 bookings.
we're all dooomed
Post a Comment