West Ham v Newcastle United match banter!
Posted on October 23rd, 2010 | 253 Comments |
West Ham, despite having a pretty awful start, seem at last to be coming into some form as the Avram Grant medicine starts to take effect. With three draws and two wins in their last five games, things certainly seem to be looking up for the Hammers, and they will be no pushovers, especially at home. Meanwhile, on the Newcastle side, manager and ex West Ham player, Chris Hughton, has had something of a torrid week with the team booed in the draw against Wigan, the latest chapter of “Carrollgate”, and the departure of assistant, Colin Calderwood, to Hibs. Despite some disappointing home form this season though, the Magpies have have been quite strong on the road, and the game should be quite a tight affair.
Team news at the time of writing is that Danny Simpson is definitely back in contention for a place at right back, Captain, Kevin Nolan, is officially back to full fitness, Sol Campbell is definitely knacked for this game, along with the long term injuries which most of you will know about, ie Gosling and Ben Arfa, though Steven Taylor’s return should be very soon. Despite some silly rumours from a clown on Twitter, Jose Enrique WILL be fit for the game, unless he knacks himself in the warm up, falls off the plane steps or something like that.
On the West Ham side, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Zavon Hines and Jack Collison will be missing from the fray, with Matthew Upson being somewhat doubtful, though Valon Behrami should be back from his knee injury.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United manager, Chris Hughton, sounded as if he was going into the game with a positive approach, saying in a pre match interview:
“We’ve gone into every game with the thought of winning.
“That’s the way we set ourselves up.
“Yes, we are in a harder division.
“For whatever reason we haven’t got some of the results we’ve wanted, and it’s for us to identify, we need to put it right.
“With minuses come pluses.
“Our away form has been good, and we’ve managed to pick up an away win at Everton and Chelsea in the cup.
“For every negative this season there has been a positive, and these are things for us to address.”
Meanwhile on the other side, West Ham manager, Avram Grant, has been saying things which I’m sure will also resonate with many Magpies, on the subject of referees:
“Everybody needs to be aware that teams who don’t behave sportingly and always go to the referee have an advantage over teams that behave nicely,” Grant said, continuing:
“Last week it cost us two points and because there are so many decisions against us I start to think that because we are nice the other team has an advantage.”
“I don’t want to think it is because my players behave well and they don’t jump on the referees and we on the bench are very sporting – but it is affecting us.
“It is not in my way to say ‘Scott Parker, next time slide-tackle the referee’ – but I will think about this if I see it continue.
“I still believe if we continue to play the football we have played in the last weeks we will have enough points not to these things.
“If it happens again in the next game, I think we need to think about this. I don’t have a solution at the moment.”
On the game itself, Grunty Granty said:
“It can be a big week. It is a good challenge for us and we want to continue what we did last week and take points,” said Grant.
“Newcastle are a good team and having a good season. If we win against them we know what will happen.”
Recent form between the two clubs would tend to suggest a West Ham victory, especially with the home advantage. West Ham are unbeaten in their last three games against Newcastle, and have scored at least two goals in five of their last six Premier League home games against us. I am going to completely ignore this in my prediction for the game though.
My prediction 2-2.
What do YOU think? Vote in our poll!
Howay the Lads!
Referee: Chris Foy.
NUFCBlog Author: workyticket
workyticket has written 1084 articles on this blog.
Real nice warm welcome to start off the Banter which I thought was odd as Toonsy has been a right grumpy gadgie :) Then I realised it was by Worky :lol:
I think your prediction of a draw could be right ;) I just cant work out who is going to be out on the RW if Jays team is right
Howay the Lads