|
Ahead of the game on New Year's Day at Upton Park, we
caught up with Stu from the West Ham blog
Iron Views.
He gives his views on the Hammers' season so far, the first game between the
clubs, Morgan Amalfitano, the
Baggies,
and more. You can follow Stu
on twitter @IronViewsStu.
WE’RE NOW AT THE HALFWAY STAGE OF
THE SEASON, THOUGHTS ON THE HAMMERS’ SO FAR?
I think we've been brilliant. Most fans would have expected
moderately building into a top 10 finish - nothing close to what we've built
squad-wise or position-wise though!
It's easily the best squad I've seen in my 23 years and it's a really exciting
time to be a fan of this club considering our move to the Olympic Stadium soon
too.
YOU’RE CURRENTLY SITTING IN 6TH
PLACE, ARE YOU CONFIDENT YOU CAN MAINTAIN THAT POSITION UNTIL THE END OF THE
SEASON?
The top four place we'd been occupying wasn't false - but you
knew it would at the most last until January when Manchester United and Arsenal
would strengthen. A top six finish would be incredible, but what’s more
incredible is the fact it is very achievable with the squad we've got. For me,
it'll all depend on how we deal with the African Cup of Nations; Sakho and
Kouyate will definitely be gone whilst Song wasn't initially chosen but there
are rumours Cameroon
may ask him to go after all. We have a good squad, but without Song we aren't
the same team.
THOUGHTS ON THE FIRST GAME
BETWEEN THE CLUBS? WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF ALBION?
The first game was during a period where we were either
playing well and not winning, or coasting through games and winning.
Unfortunately for you, it was the latter at the Hawthorns. I thought the second
half was incredible, in that it was just your XI fully going for it - I believe
you had six or seven strikers on the pitch at the end? Whether that shows how
desperate Irvine was for
the points, or, how deep and defensive we were playing is up for debate.
To be brutally honest, you should have equalised and got the draw but when
things aren't going your way, they aren't going your way!
DID ANY ALBION PLAYER STAND OUT
IN THAT FIRST MEETING?
Varela when he came on. Pace, direct, all he wanted to do was
get into the box and make things happen. It was that side of the pitch I was
worried about when you were attacking us wave after wave.
HOW HAVE PERFORMANCES BEEN SINCE
THAT WIN AT THE HAWTHORNS?
So-so. We coasted past
Swansea, made tough work of
Leicester's visit to Upton Park and in all honesty should have beaten
Sunderland. The
Chelsea
and Arsenal games were 'bonus point' games. We didn't turn up at all (for only
the second time this season) against Chelsea and against Arsenal we were on the
end of some very poor reffing.
HOW’S FORMER ALBION WINGER MORGAN
AMALFITANO DONE FOR YOU SO FAR?
I think he is very deceiving.
He is an extremely technical player; passing, dribbling and finishing is
brilliant. The only worry is his slight frame and his strength on the ball. Otherwise, he is a fine player to have as a squad/first XI player.
ANYTHING THE CLUB NEED TO DO
DURING THE JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW?
Get a definitive answer from Winston Reid what he wants to
do. If he doesn't want to stay, we need to start looking for a replacement for
either January or the summer.
Zarate looks set to go out on loan, so possibly loan in a
Striker to cover his leaving. Otherwise, I feel pretty confident in the squad to
go through the rest of the season.
WHAT TEAM AND TACTICS ARE WE
LIKELY TO SEE FROM THE HAMMERS ON NEW YEAR’S DAY?
A lot of people are hoping to see a return to our earlier
set-ups in the season. The 4-1-2-1-2 with
Valencia and Sakho up front and
Downing in the advanced midfielder role was effectively what got us into this
fine position this season.
With Carroll not 'really' doing anything wrong, I can't see
him being dropped. So I'd expect Sakho to start with
Valencia. Another hope amongst
the fans is that Nolan is dropped - I can't see it happening though.
We will play a lot more attacking regardless than we did
during our trip to the Hawthorns. Despite the recent home loss to Arsenal we
have been very impressive at Upton Park.
HAVING NOW PLAYED ALL OTHER
TEAMS, WHICH ONE HAS IMPRESSED YOU THE MOST THIS SEASON AND WHY?
It's annoying to say it, as I'm sure it will be most peoples
answer, but Southampton.
Up until the Chelsea game we had been in, and thoroughly contested all of our
games. A lot of the games we'd lost/drawn we should have won but Southampton
played us completely off the pitch at Upton Park.
No other team has done that, so for that alone, I have to pick them.
PREDICTION AND THOUGHTS ON THE
GAME?
With a new manager, or even an interim, any team is a deadly
proposition. It'll either have a galvanising effect or you'll continue as you
are.
However, the way we've played the last two games, I'm sure we'll want to return
to the form we've been in for the majority of the season.
Not to sound arrogant, but I can only see a Home win.
|
