West Ham match preview and a chance for honour

By: j | September 19th, 2008

Lets cut straight to the chase Toon Army, things aren’t looking too peachy are they? The club is in disarray, players are falling to injury, management is running and hiding trying to find someone to buy themselves out of their problems and some fans have staged a mini-revolt. All of that, while impossible to ignore, must be pushed aside because Newcastle has a match to play against a very fine West Ham club.

Before going through a quick match preview let me mention while the activities off the pitch are impossible to ignore and while I might be the first to sound the charge against mismanagement, to protest a match inside the grounds does nothing for those on the pitch and in-fact works against them. To those who felt parading around St James’ last week during the match holding signs of protest was going to assist your wishes, you likely have never stepped onto the pitch much less a boardroom. By doing so and attempting to force a sale, you have virtually guaranteed Mike Ashley will not be offered his asking price and likely hold the “investment” with minimal increases of capital. You’ve also pretty much guaranteed the coaching fraternity will avoid Newcastle like the plague and realize to take this job is akin to heading into a firestorm. I’ve said from the start, while you might find Mike Ashley to easy target in this entire dance, the true problem stems from the hiring of Dennis Wise and if he had simply been eliminated from the picture all this would have went away. Finally and let me stress this, should a sale take place and it be to yet another foreign investor with no commitments to the community, you’ll rue the day you took the streets with pitchforks and torches.

Beyond that little rant of rants, Newcastle really does have a match to play and Hammer fans are in for a treat with Gianfranco Zola in-charge and East London is going to be the home to beautiful Football. Now before I break into a rambling, gushing comment of young Freddie Sears being one the Three Lions great hopes, this is a squad with oodles of talent and the claret to win. How they convinced Mr. Zola to leave beautiful Sardinia is question I’d really like to know but let me say not only is his move to West Ham good for the club but all of Football in England. His impact will be extraordinary and I relish the thought of him gracing the Academy and what it might mean for all of us. Oh I did it again, I promised myself I wasn’t going to rant and lo’ and behold I have…back to the match and recent form:

West Ham - combined (3 W, D, 1 L) (9 GS, 7 GA)
Aug 16 West Ham 2 - 1 Wigan
Aug 24 Man City 3 - 0 West Ham
Aug 30 West Ham 4 - 1 Blackburn
Sep 13 West Brom 3 - 2 West Ham

Newcastle - combined (1 W, 2 D, 2 L) (3 GS, 6 GA)
Aug 17 Man Utd 1 - 1 Newcastle review
Aug 23 Newcastle 1 - 0 Bolton review
Aug 30 Arsenal 3 - 0 Newcastle review
Sep 13 Newcastle 1 - 2 Hull review

On the injury front Newcastle’s infirmary has new entries with Jonás Gutiérrez and Allan Smith, who presumably now will be cutting back on the club-life and the club will be without Danny Guthrie who is really sorry about breaking someones leg. Obafemi Martins is questionable and we’ll be waiting for a match-fitness test to see if he is able. For West Ham Scott Parker and Wales International Craig Bellamy are healthy and will be chomping at the bit to go at the beleaguered and injured Magpies.

The test of this match will be won with tactics and I also must say the mettle of the man. Chris Hughton did a boffo job last week against Hull City and I dare say, how many men could stand up to what he did and not run-out a squad only to be destroyed? With West Ham likely to employ a more Zolaesque attack at Upton Park, patience and a tight defensive net is key. More then ever, look down at that crest and play with honour.

I will report on the match as it concludes.