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West Ham United - Portsmouth

by grey_til_I_dye (U3638132) 14 November 2008
Date:
15 November 2008
Venue:
Boleyn Ground
Competition:
Premier League
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West Ham - Portsmouth Match Preview UPDATED TEAM NEWS

Form

West Ham seem to have gone back to their old traditions - neat football, good to watch, and a soft touch for three points. With goals hard to come by (4 in our last 6 games), and a defence leaking an average of 2 goals a game over the same period, it is hard to see where our points are going to start coming from.

Over that same 6 game period Pompey have managed 2 wins and 2 draws, whilst misplacing their manager. Their more recent form has been patchy, with 2 defeats and what was, by all accounts, a fortuitous win over Sunderland.

History

We have never beaten Portsmouth in the 6 EPL games between us. Portsmouth are looking for ther 4th straight EPL win over us at the Boleyn. You have to go back to 1958 for our last top flight win over them at home (6-0 - what was the game like, Woosie?)

Team news

Behrami is back from injury and Cole is available again after suspension. Tristan is still recovering from a knock he picked up playing for the reserves. Upson is available after coming off against Everton.

Campbell is a doubt for Pompey, as is Utaka. Glen Little is available agian following injury.

Likely outcome.

Form suggests that West Ham will be lucky to get anything out of the game - but luckily form often means nothing. Portsmouth will have been boosted by their away win at Sunderland, and know that a win for them will help to cement them in mid-table safety. A win for the Hammers could move us back in to the top half, but a loss, or even a draw, could see us in the bottom three depending on other results.

The team should benefit from Cole's return (assuming he is picked). He has been involved in many of our goals this season, and we should at least create more chances with him in the team. Our defense, however, is in danger of self-destructing at any moment in a match, and I can't see us not shipping at least 2 goals, so I'll optimistically go for a 2-2 draw, and hope like hell for a change in our luck.

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comment by captainHammerhead (U12005314)

posted Nov 15, 2008

It's really strange how all the strikers we were linked with in the summer are now scoring for their new clubs. Cisse at Sunderland,Johnson at Fulham and Saha at Everton are proving their worth for their new employers,and us fans dismissed the idea of signing them. What do we know,ay? Maybe we could sign Zaki in January?!

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comment by budgieburns (U9216176)

posted Nov 15, 2008

The same old story lucky to get apoint at home,no money to buy top class players,same old players on injury vacation ,lucky to stay up.As fans enough is enough we are what counts at West Ham without the fans you have no job , we deserve a winning season,watch how Chelsea play maybe we might learn something I am tired and angry at the owners we deserve and demand better . Fifty years whatching a non winning club sucks.

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comment by Woosie (HammerSince1958(OCBAOFC)) (U10866003)

posted Nov 15, 2008

So where were you in the sixties then?

doh

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comment by TrevsDeftHeader (BAOFC - The other Founding Member) (U3280413)

posted Nov 15, 2008

50years?!! That's Cobblers!

1964 FA Cup
1965 CWC Cup
1975 FA Cup
1980 FA Cup
1985 - nothing but a blinding season.

But 24 years does seem a long time I guess. ?Unless you count the inter cocoa in 1999.

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comment by FIREBOYWHU (U13692776)

posted Nov 15, 2008

I like the things that Zola is trying to do, But it is just exposing the lack of quality that we currently have in the team. We all know about the chronic injury's but we are carrying too many that I would consider 'dead wood'.

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comment by BlueMoon (U12241506)

posted Nov 16, 2008

Man City fan here...
I thought Rob Green was very good today, as he usually is, what reason does Capello have to leave him out of the England squad?!
Its utter madness yikes

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comment by avcotrust (U13695483)

posted Nov 17, 2008

We've not had a really good striker for years now - or we have and they've got injured. Any successful team has a striker scoring regularly. We've not had that since ... Hartson and Kitson ...

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comment by malcfactor (U3591274)

posted Nov 17, 2008

I'm afraid Zola has turned into another Ramos...we could be in serious trouble soon.

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comment by Woosie (HammerSince1958(OCBAOFC)) (U10866003)

posted Nov 17, 2008

Even Hartson and Kitson were not that prolific

Oh for players Budgie Byrne and Vic Keeble or Clyde Best

Tony Cottee, Frank MacAvennie maybe?

sorry showing me age but it just seems that long since we had someone banging 'em in on a regular basis, even Geoff

erm

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comment by malcfactor (U3591274)

posted Nov 18, 2008

Nah, only one popped 'em in...Pop Robson!

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