And only vote if you actually SAW the match live or on a stream.

The result will be published tomorrow.

http://westhamtillidie.com

When I started this blog a couple of years ago, I didn’t expect it to grow in the way that it has. According to Wikio it is now the fourth most popular football blog in the country. But using the standard WordPress system is increasingly unproductive and inflexible. A couple of months ago I commissioned Rouse Media to design a new look with new functionality. There will be a video box, a better system of links and much more besides, as well as the ability to take advertising.

All the previous blogpost here should be transferred across, but this process is never an exact science, so please bear with me over the next few days. Hopefully you will like the new design!

The good news is that Kieron Dyer is likely to play some part, as he now recovered from his latest injury setback. Diego Tristan is also likely to play, I’d say. Blackburn are a very big, physical side and I’m not sure a front two of Di Michele and Sears would work. Indeed, it may be that Zola opts for a 4-5-1 formation as Cole is still suspended.

In midfield, both Stanislas and Savio are said to have minor knocks. Personally, I’d like to see more of Stanislas but recognise it is very unfair to drop Savio after one start. But if he is likely to break down injured, then best not to start at all.

In defence I have no idea if Matty Upson is likely to have recovered or not. If not, as I suspect is the case, Lucas Neill will deputise in the centre, with Jonathan Spector continuing at right back.

This is very much a second string eleven, but Blackburn are in a bad place at the moment and there is certainly the potential to get something from this game. We need to keep a gap between us and Fulham, Man City and Wigan, so three points this afternoon would do very nicely. This would be the team I would pick…

Green
Neill
Ilunga
Tomkins
Spector
Stanislas
Kovac
Noble
Parker
Di Michele
Tristan

Discuss.

I was very tempted to skip this match and watch it on TV. But you know me… Wrong decision every time. It was the worst match I have seen at Upton Park since, well, the last one – probably Spurs in December. Frankly, there are very few positives to pick out from this game, but I’ll do my best.

Firstly, the debut of Junior Stanislas promised much. He whipped in a couple of excellent crosses, which, had Cole been playing, he would have been on the end of. He also showed some neat trickery on the left and seemed at home from the word go. In fact, in 20 minutes he looked more dangerous than Savio had in the previous 70. Which wasn’t difficult. More on Savio in a moment.

The second positive was the solid performance of Radoslav Kovac. He seems to improve with each game. He won some excellent tackles and was the only West Ham player to win any headers. I’d say he was Man of the Match.

James Tomkins had a busy and solid game, as did Lucas Neill. Otherwise, dear oh dear. Upson was stretchered off – it seems we lose one player a game at the moment.

Ilunga had a complete off day, losing the ball on countless occasions. As did Mark Noble, who looks a shadow of his former self. Even Scott Parker had a spate of giving needless balls away, although otherwise he had a reasonable game.

Savio showed the occasional neat bit of trickery but far too often lost out when in possession. He is shoved off the ball all too easily. I still think he is being played in the wrong position, though. He needs to play behind the lead striker in the centre. I just don’t see him on the wing.

Up front Di Michele had a few mazy runs which amounted to nothing. He was busy but ineffective. Sears looked brighter than in previous games but didn’t have a serious shot in the whole game.

All in all, you have to give credit to West Brom. They came to do a job and they did it with relative ease. They shut us down brilliantly and allowed our midfield very little time on the ball. They won everything in the air. Their only problem was that they had nothing up front either. They squandered two golden chances. It pains me to say it, but they were the better side. But let’s put it in perspective. We were without our leading striker, two of our three best midfielders, our first choice centre back and played half the game without the other one.

It’s two points lost, but I can remember many similar games when we’d have lost a game like this.

Green 7
Ilunga 4
Spector 5
Upson 6
Tomkins 7
Noble 4
Parker 7
Kovac 7
Savio 5
Stanislas 7
Di Michele 5
Sears 6
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Rate the players’ performances HERE
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In midfield Savio may get his first start on the left due to the injuries to Collison and Behrami. However, it appears that Boa Moarte might be fit again, so I wouldn’t put it past Zola to start with him. Kieron Dyer could feature too, although most likely from the subs bench. A more negative formation would be to put Jonathan Spector into midfield alongside Kovac, Noble and Parker.

In defence, the usual four of Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga and Neill will play.

I suppose a deal of this sort was inevtiable but it creates a very bad precedent and leaves a terrible taste in the mouth. It cements Sheffield United’s reputation as our most hated team, I guess.

I think the main thing is that the settlement of this dispute means that it will be easier for the club’s owners to seek a sale. No one was going to buy us until this was resolved. I suspect that a deal will now go ahead sooner rather than later.

What’s your view?

What do the rest of you think?