Match Day Preview: Bolton v West Ham
Posted by Ratbert in Bolton, West Ham | 10 March 2006
Reebok, Saturday 11 March, 3.00pm
So it’s a warm welcome to the Reebok – or not – for West Ham United. We are their pantomime villain team of choice, with many Hammers fans (and their sycophants in the media) still purple-faced with rage that us little northern oiks at Bolton had the gall to deny a London team its divine right of Premiership football all the way back in 2003.
But that’s old history now. Instead of a relegation battle, the two teams find themselves contending for European football, Wanderers of course harbouring Champion’s League ambitions so long as Arsenal don’t go and win the thing (and as long as we get full marks from our games in hand), whilst West Ham are unlikely UEFA contenders (though no doubt some of their fans consider it, again, a divine right). This, of course, is the first of two meetings in five days, with the FA Cup replay to follow next Wednesday.
I say unlikely because, as with all promoted teams and especially play-off winners, the prediction is usually ‘instant relegation.’ But the Hammers have proved otherwise – thanks to some decent football, and more importantly a team that works comfortably together, well managed by Alan Pardew, who also has the unfortunate ability to talk drivel when he opens his mouth – classics include his team being as good as Chelsea, that four of his players (incl. 97 year old Teddy Sheringham) are England standard, and that they ‘boss’ every game they play. He taken the art of ‘bigging up’ into the realms of fantasy…
As for BWFC, well after the gasping display of knackers yard proportions up in Newcastle, it can only be hoped that the batteries are recharged and a mighty backlash is ready to be dished out. Many are saying that two wins from ten makes us rubbish, but only two were defeats and the rest draws. I’d call that consistent if unspectacular. The important thing is to not get into a losing habit at a crucial time, with points needed in the bank ahead of looming scary fixtures against Chelsea, Man U and Liverpool. If we’re to keep pace in the top eight, games like tomorrow are must-wins.
Team news – it looks like ‘the return of Bruno’ (as Bruce Willis once sang) with the rock solid centre of defence set to, I hope, reclaim his rightful place ahead of that interloping liability Jaidi. No Diouf though – we could do with his pace right now – and Jay Jay has a late fitness test to deal with. Faye has been a bit under the weather, bless him, but should be OK, whilst Hunt is back from suspension. For West Ham, there’s a bit of a boost for us with Harewood and Reo Coker likely to be absent, though at least we can bait Benayoun for making the wrong choice in the summer, heh heh.
Prediction: 2-1 home win.
