Burnley 2 West Ham Utd 2 (24/03/12)

[EastleighHammer16]

*****Positive post of the day award winner******

Thought id try a different approach, everybody normally predicts 3 or 4-0 wins and we draw.

[Metal Hammer]

Hoping we have Vaz Te back as I think he would make a big difference.

[indiehammer]

Hoping Faubert or Vaz are back for this.

I think we will win.

[The Moth]

I like Burnley, they play some good stuff and will really go for this game - which will help us, especially with our excellent away record. Jay Rodriguez is the man to watch out for, I've been banging on about him for about 18 months now saying we should be looking to sign him. He really is a massive threat and will keep our defense busy all afternoon.

Rodriguez would be attainable at around 3mill, wouldnt be surpised to see him sold in the summer. Southampton bidded big for him in preseason but jay turn down the move. Definately having his best ever season to date but I still get the impression burnley fans dont rate him all that much (they can be a pretty negative bunch at times).

burnley announced a 4mill loss recently ,which given the size of the club and the fact they are getting parachute payments is pretty shocking IMO. However in eddie howe they have a quite outstanding coach and manager and hes a top bloke too. Cant speak highly enough about him.

Players to watch out for are trippier, bartley, rodriguez and wallace. Saw Zavon in a match the other week, he was excellent ....mind you he was playing against wrexham reserves!

Think itll be a good game, looking forward to it myself.

[RM6]

Rodriguez would be attainable at around 3mill, wouldnt be surpised to see him sold in the summer.

That's worth a serious look. I've liked what I've seen of him.

[warp]

i'm going to put a ludicrous amount of money on 1 - 1, so at least it won't happen! (doesn't mean we're going to win tho...).

still not sure wether to go or not, by train from oxford is a pain (not to mention costs)... anyone up for a lift?

[The Gibbins]

I think we will win this one. A break from The Boleyn and two games on the road, might do the players some good. i am going to for a 2-1 win.

I really enjoyed Turf Moore (despite the result) when i went there a couple of seasons back. Really old fashioned seats and a proper dingy little cabin where they serve beer, yet it was probably one of the quickest bars i have been to at an away ground.

[The Moth]

That's worth a serious look. I've liked what I've seen of him.

He lives round the corner from me, Ill pop in and have a word on my way home.

To be honest from limited time Ive spent in his company I get the impression playing in an allardyce team would be the last of his choices.

[D C]

Could he do a job on thw wing?

[ironsonthebrain]

Hope Faubert is available for this one.

Who'd have thought it, we'd live to see the day a post wanting Faubert in the team would come up! You're either the funniest poster on here or you've just highlighted how bad things have got!

[ironsonthebrain]

We're away so we'll win right?

[The Moth]

Could he do a job on thw wing?

Howe sometimes pushes him wide left leaving austin on his own up front when seeing a game out, but no hed be largely ineffective. They have got a young lad who can run with the ball, put in a good cross and has pace to burn,had a few injuries this season but would be great for us ...junior something or other ....

[rare as rockinghorse shat]

About as shat as Hines.

[Matt of iron]

If we draw this I'm gonna laugh my cock off.

[freddies shears]

When i read things like ( i hope faubert ) is back. It dawns on me how bad we really must be playing. I also have found myself thinking the same thing. 3 good games in 3 long drawn out years and we hope he is back nnnnnnnnooooooooooooooo

[rare as rockinghorse shat]

If we draw this I'm gonna laugh my cock off.

Is it you 'of' Iron or 'the' Iron who is the ugly Michael Reizeger looking muvfucker?

[The Moth]

About as shat as Hines.

In your opinion maybe, still better wide option than faubert maynard baldock or even piqiounne.

To be honest its hard to value the judgement of a bloke who chooses to shove vegetables up his dirtpipe.

[fjthegrey]

--------------------------Green-------------------------


----------Tomkins-----Faye------Collins----------

Faubert----------------------------------------Taylor

-------------------------Noble--------------------------

-----Ravel------------------------------Lansbury----

--------------Baldock---------Cole-------------------

I've been relatively vocal in my skepticism of this formation actually being effective, but **** it, I propose a radical change just for the hell of it. It gives any of the centrebacks a chance to bring the ball out of the back with adequate cover behind them, it gives us a relatively dynamic looking attack with a bit of guile and pace and it also gives the defenders and Noble options across the entire pitch when in possession in deep areas.

It would be susceptible to pacey wing play and would leave us fairly light in central midfield but whats ****ing new there. We always seem a little light in midfield even with 3 players there. I'm not setting this team up for it's solid shape, I'm setting it up because I believe in an attacking sense, no matter who we played, it would be difficult to contain.

Here's to fantasizing eh. In reality I expect the same team we put out yesterday and I think we will draw 1-1.

[Absentee Hammer]

For those who keep calling for Vaz Te - HE IS OUT INJURED, AND WILL BE OUT FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS AT LEAST.

Ok, finished shouting now, it just infuriates me how some true West Ham fans doesn't know about injuries........

Burnley are not all that, they are mid table and their recent form is not worrying. Last 8 games W1 D3 L4. Their 2012 Home form slightly better with P5 W1 D3 L1 against our away 2012 form of P5 W3 D1 L1.

Still got a game in hand away to the Posh next Tuesday, so a win on Sat and a win on Tues, we are 2nd again.

Reading have their nightmare fixtures coming up in the next few weeks;

Sat 24 Mar 2012 -Reading v Blackpool 15:00
Sat 31 Mar 2012 -West Ham v Reading 15:00
Fri 6 Apr 2012 - Reading v Leeds United 14:00
Tue 10 Apr 2012 -Brighton v Reading 19:45

I can see them possibly not winning any of them or drawing a few (incl us)

[Blood Iron]

For those who keep calling for Vaz Te - HE IS OUT INJURED, AND WILL BE OUT FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS AT LEAST.

The last i heard, Sam said on the WHU site that he could be back for Saturdays game against Burnley

"We're having a little struggle with injuries again. James Tomkins had to come off with a trapped nerve in the calf, Julien Faubert was at home with Winston Reid, Guy Demel and Papa Bouba Diop. The earliest we can expect Ricardo Vaz Te back is against Burnley on Saturday.

--------------------------Green-------------------------


----------Tomkins-----Faye------Collins----------

Faubert----------------------------------------Taylor

-------------------------Noble--------------------------

-----Ravel------------------------------Lansbury----

--------------Baldock---------Cole-------------------

And as for this formation, i reckon this would be a perfect idea to try at home where we are in dire need of something different. I've said for a long time we need two up top at home, although with Nolan in the side i think it more hinders us than does good. That midfield could be creative with the passing game, but with the wingbacks providing the crosses. Cole on the pitch still allows Big Sam to play his target man stylee too. I am a big fan of Baldock as well with his darting runs, but its the quick creative service that he needs to thrive.

Away from home tho is a different story. I believe Nolan has his advantages, but this only really works in a 5 man midfield where hes allowed to be pedestrian and roam around for the chance to pop up with a goal.

Stick with the 5 in midfield away from home where we have a little bit more space to bring the midfield forward through the lines, however at home we really need to try something like the above.