West Ham Utd 1 Middlesbrough 1 (20/03/12)

[Stepney]

Surely this is the game where its all going to click? Surely. This home game hoodoo can't last forever. I predict a 3-1 win.

In the words of Al Pacino in 'Any Given Sunday'....

"Either we heal now as a team, or we will die as individuals"

Come On You Irons!

[Stepney]

Here is a link (for those that haven't seen it).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rFx6OFooCs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Always gets me going. Perhaps Sam can show the players this before the game?

p.s I know I am a soppy b*stard!!

[morrisey is a hammer]

Here is a link (for those that haven't seen it).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rFx6OFooCs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Always gets me going. Perhaps Sam can show the players this before the game?

p.s I know I am a soppy b*stard!!

I like that speech, but i fear BFS half time talk will be more like this. http://youtu.be/obixCOVTVwY"
or this http://youtu.be/zg_lPJ8hHP0

[morrisey is a hammer]

Im just hoping we can get more creative in attack against Boro. I hope Rav can have a full game.

[Stepney]

I like that speech, but i fear BFS half time talk will be more like this. http://youtu.be/obixCOVTVwY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;"
or this http://youtu.be/zg_lPJ8hHP0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

haha! Lets hope not! If I was one of those players I would be scared to go back on the pitch again!

[Cadenza]

This please:

--------------------------------Green
O´Brien-------Collins------Faye------Linda
Lansbury------Noble------Nolan-----Taylor
-------- ---------Baldock--------Maynard

Two quick strikers and Lansbury and Taylor on either wing to give them something else to think about..

[westham,eggyandchips]

IMO, our biggest game of the season, and a "must win". we've been treading water for some weeks now, but I believe that anything less than a win will surely end our automatic promotion hopes.

[Dyer's Leg]

Did you know Middlesbrough only has one 'O' in it, only just found out, typed Middlesborough and me spell checker flagged it up.

Crap name that has a ring of boring about it, so 0-0 on Tuesday and a dire match !!!

Well spotted Pop, been spelling it wrong all me life!

[bubbles1966]

I've always had Middlesbrough as a bit of a bogey team for us in my head* - so surprised to see our record is 7 wins and 1 draw at home in the last 8 against them.....


*One scorching day when we murdered them and lost 1-0 at home with Craig Forrest (?) in goal when we in with a chance of Europe in the last few games of the season sticks in my mind.

[Gummi]

Any update on Tomka?

I really believe this will be the turning point. Wins vs. Boro, Burnley and Posh would be fantastic and more important - we'd be waiting Reading at home in a top form. Hopefully no injuries, no red cards, a little more creativity in the midfield. I also hope Sam will be using Morrison, Baldock, Cole and Lansbury bit more. And I just can't see Turgott doing worse than Faubert. I know it's risky to give young players a chance in deciding matches towards the end of the season but can't Sam see some players are absolutely terrible?

I believe we'll go up as champions.

[Bobby Orangeboom]

I've always had Middlesbrough as a bit of a bogey team for us in my head* - so surprised to see our record is 7 wins and 1 draw at home in the last 8 against them.....

You still have Bernie Slaven in your mental psyche then Stu..

[EvilC]

You still have Bernie Slaven in your mental psyche then Stu..

I shudder at the mention of his name.

[indiehammer]

Any update on Tomka?

Judging by Sams comments in 'Manager on Monday' on the OS, Tomkins will be out but it doesn't sound too bad, trapped nerve.

Reid, Demel, Diop, Faubert all sound likely to be out. But he does mention Vaz being fit for Burnley (at the earliest), so that sounds positive.

Sounds like we're going to be very stretched but no more so than Boro. Two teams with rotten injuries, however, this is the time of the season where strength in depth counts and we do have it.

Wouldn't be surprised to see 442 tomorrow or 4411 with Maynard/Baldock behind Cole and Nolan sitting deeper. Options for the right wing are O'Neil/Collison/Lansbury and none of them offer much out there other than stability so to add more creativity, stick another striker in.

[englandsnumber13]

---------------------green----------------------

-------------------collins---faye-------------

--job-------------------------------------linda

------------------colinson-------------------

faubert-----------noble--------------taylor

-----------nolan-------------------------------

----------------------------maynard----------


subs henderson,cole,baldock,lansbury,morrison

[Gummi]

Faubert???? Why would anyone put him in the starting XI?

Hate to tell you this but he's injured and will miss this fixture.

[englandsnumber13]

Faubert???? Why would anyone put him in the starting XI?

Hate to tell you this but he's injured and will miss this fixture.

Ok but if he was fit we have no other potion for the right i think we need to exploit the width more clearly hoofing the ball long and trying to play through the middle with the likes of nolan are not working, all too often this season we have tried the same things over and over again and expecting different results, i think a wise man once said this is the deffintion of insanity!!!!

[Gummi]

Ok but if he was fit we have no other potion for the right i think we need to exploit the width more clearly hoofing the ball long and trying to play through the middle with the likes of nolan are not working, all too often this season we have tried the same things over and over again and expecting different results, i think a wise man once said this is the deffintion of insanity!!!!

I think I said this once already but...

Blair Turgott is a young player, quick, good with the ball, can actually beat a defender, scores goals and does well in defensive tasks. Sam has convinced himself that young players just cannot be tested at this point in the season but that's where he's wrong.

Instead of old, slow, non-creative player he could bring in a refreshment and I think Blair is the right person. And I'm sure he'd give 110% and would leave heart on the pitch. But no...

[Hammer83]

I think I said this once already but...

Blair Turgott is a young player, quick, good with the ball, can actually beat a defender, scores goals and does well in defensive tasks. Sam has convinced himself that young players just cannot be tested at this point in the season but that's where he's wrong.

Instead of old, slow, non-creative player he could bring in a refreshment and I think Blair is the right person. And I'm sure he'd give 110% and would leave heart on the pitch. But no...

Be paitent Blair if your good enough you will get a chance one day.

[Gummi]

Screw you guys, going to Dagenham and Redbridge

[fester]

Screw you guys, going to Dagenham and Redbridge

Gummi B(l)ear.

Well outed!