What do we make of West Ham?

A club with a clear plan built on the West Ham Way or a Premier League club with ambition but not knowing how quite to get there? It is easy to cast aspersions on rival clubs, but that is not why I am talking about West Ham who have done well to establish themselves in the Premier League and even to win a place in the Europa League at the end of last season, albeit on fair play rules. But what are we to make about the start to this season? A Europa League exit to Astra Giurgui, then a dramatic two-nil thumping of Arsenal on the opening day, a 16 -year-old who makes the first XI, Joey Barton's deal then no-deal, the Charlie Austin saga and a manager that must try to ensure that the club reaches the Olympic stadium while still in the Premier League. It's not exactly quiet down the East End at the moment.

West Ham players at Dean Court a couple of years ago
for Stephen Purches' Testimonial match. They've signed a few players since then.

West Ham have always had aspirations to be more of a major force in the capital and now is their time to kick on and ensure that they have the team and the manager in place to become a Premier League club that is no longer looking over its shoulder at where the relegation places are. It will have been considered a risk by many to have parted company with Sam Allardyce for the bullish swagger of Slaven Bilic, but perhaps the bold move was the right time to take a gamble. Judging by the start against Astra Giurgui some will have predicted the worse this season and yet Bilic turned this around with one brilliant away win against Arsenal and everything appears fabulous now at Upton Park, even if Leicester City got the better of them last week.

There is a new Reece Oxford on the scene at 16 who has belied his age to turn in a stunning performance against the Gunners and there are signs that the West Ham Academy is doing very well again. While the injury to Enner Valancia was a big blow in pre-season, they have Andy Carroll on the path to full fitness again and up front they will certainly have Diafra Sakho this weekend who is likely to be even better this season than last, if they can keep hold of him before the transfer window shuts. 

It is a little harder to explain some goings on at the club like the Joey Barton escapade, but I guess all clubs will look at players with Premier League experience when they could come in on a free transfer. I can see the attraction for Barton but the Hammers probably made the right decision eventually.  

Meanwhile, chairman David Sullivan's intervention this week on the possible transfer of Charlie Austin rather scuppered that target if Slaven Bilic really wanted Charlie to join them. It appears that Alex Song is likely to join the Hammers soon if everyone can stay friendly and West Ham actually decide they don't want to scupper another deal, but you never know what is really going on at Upton Park.

But looking at the positives, what about that win against Arsenal! West Ham did what the Cherries didn't in their first game and took their chances. It is such a simple game when things go right and the boost that will have given the Boleyn ground faithful should make it easier for Slaven Bilic. Yet having slipped up at home against Leicester, another defeat against the new boys from the south coast and a lot of the good work will have been undone. The strength and physicality of the Hammers side worries me a little, but AFCB have to find a way of dealing with that and standing up to such teams. 

I expect West Ham to try and make it a tough battle, but they can also play great football on the floor so the Cherries are going to have to play with a lot of thought. We could find that West Ham are the Jekyll and Hyde side of the division, they could be the team that blow hot and cold all season as Bilic looks to get a consistent formula. I just hope Bournemouth get them on a day when they are feeling slightly below par.

Injury worries for West Ham mean Mauro Zarte is out with a pulled hamstring, while keeper Adrian is of course suspended for his straight red card against Leicester City.

Enjoy the game if you are going. It should be an entertaining on as Slaven Bilic has already said with both teams having attacking set ups. Perhaps this is a score draw on your scorecard? My boss is a West Ham fan, so do us a favour AFCB - Monday mornings are hard enough as it is. UTCIAD!

West Ham probable XI selected by Evening Standard:
Randolph, Jenkinson, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Kouyate, Noble, Payet, Nolan, Maiga, Sakho.

My AFCB probable XI:
Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie, O'Kane, Surman, Gradel, King, Wilson

AFCB Subs: Federici, Smith, Distin, Gosling, Pugh, Atsu, Tomlin

Personally, I'd like Pugh to start for the Cherries as I think he could stand up the the physical side of West Ham's game better than Gradel, but I suspect that Eddie will want to give Max another opportunity with his second start.  

Rival Lines: West Ham Til I Die - Bilic's gambles sometimes pay off

Rival Lines

Match Preview

West Ham Utd v AFCB

Blogger Interview: West Ham Till I Die
Twitter: @westhamfootball

It's hard for the Cherries to keep under the radar these days and us fans seem to be equally in high demand so when Sean Whetstone of the West Ham Til I Die blog asked me to share my views with his readers on the fortunes of AFCB so far it was a good opportunity to get a little more information on West Ham's preparations for the match against AFC Bournemouth and to see what another Hammer fan thought about how Slaven Bilic would do this season. So here you go - some more Rival Lines.

CC: Were you pleased to have a change of manager over the summer?

WHTID: I think it was time for a change for both parties, Sam Allardyce did what he was asked (just) for the seasons he was in charge but we lost our passion and he never bonded with the fans really. His arrogance finally cost him his job but I don't wish ill as long as he keeps his mouth shut about his time at West Ham and saying we were ungrateful.

CC: What do you make of the disciplinary start you have had this season - unlucky or deserved?

WHTID: Slightly ironic that we win the fair play league last season and get a Europa league place then get three players sent off plus a manager. On top of that we lost Adrian at the weekend for three games. I think we have been slightly unlucky, we are not a dirty team.

CC: The Cherries stuck eight past Darren Randolph when he was last in a Birmingham shirt at St Andrews so I guess he might not feel overly confident going into this game?

WHTID: Actually you have put 16 goals past Randolph over the past three matches against him when in goal for Birmingham [Ed- don't worry it was only 12 he let in against the Cherries last season in total but who's counting? Robert Green is now said to be a target for the Hammers]. I think you will find our defence slightly more robust that Birmingham's. A few fans are worried about him after watching him in the Europa league. This is his one chance to shine. If he fails on Saturday he is unlikely to get another chance. He has big shoes to fill in the shape of Adrian but I wish him well.

CC: Your start against Arsenal was terrific what did Bilic get so right in that game?

WHTID: Bilic took a gamble and played Reece Oxford, everyone had Arsenal to win and we surprised them. Great team performance and worthy of the two nil win. Mauro Zarate has an excellent game too and showed his talent to his new manager.

CC: Do you think there is more pressure at home on the West Ham players as they started slowly against Leicester or is there another reason for that first half performance?

WHTID: Leicester City put 10 men behind the ball and made it very difficult for us to play our game, far play to them that's their job. The damage was down in the first half. We had a good second half but couldn't make up the ground. Yes the Ref had a part to play but no use moaning about it, swings and roundabouts, some decisions go your way and some don't. It usually evens itself out over the season.

CC: West Ham have brought in some quality players but which player will give AFC Bournemouth the most problems on Saturday?

WHTID: Dimtri Payet is amazing with one assist and one goal already, hoping he creates a fantastic partnership with Diafra Sakho who has yet score in the first two games. Lanizini is due to replace Zarate who is injured and both new boys Obiang and Ogbonna are likely to feature.

CC: What kind of view do fans get from the Trevor Brooking stand?

WHTID: My season ticket is the Sir Trevor Brooking lower stand so I bias, the atmosphere is amazing and it's the best place in the stadium for noise. Obviously it's behind the goal so the view is not the best but you can be guaranteed lots of banter with West Ham fans in the away section.

CC: Are you looking forward to moving to the Olympic stadium or are you apprehensive about it?

WHTID: I am very much pro stadium move and can't wait to move in. It is a real opportunity for us to move up a gear in the Premier League and it is a shame our move is dominated by talks of state aid and tax payers money. It would have been a white elephant had West Ham not bid to move in and people forget we only rent it for 25 days per year, so we have to get up our permanent home in a way. I recently visited the Stadium during the Athletics weekend and it still has that WOW factor!

CC: West Ham pinched Harry Redknapp from us in the past and there were whispers that you were chasing Eddie Howe this, but would you say most of the Hammers' fans want a manager that has played for the club?

WHTID: Well you have to remember, Harry is East end boy and West Ham through and through having played for us more than the Cherries. He joined us from Tottenham in 1962 as a boy and played for us between 1965 and 1972 before joining Bournemouth. So you pinched him from us first! As for Eddie Howe, I know our board greatly admire him and it was on a B list of candidates but I don't think they would take the gamble a year before the Olympic Stadium and I don't think Howe would leave you either in his moment of glory. I like Eddie Howe and hope it will became a great English manager.

CC: What is your score prediction for the game?

WHTID: Well you showed you can handle yourself with Liverpool and mix it with the big boys. I think you will stop us playing our game like Leicester City did and it is likely to be a low scoring game. I predict a 1-0 narrow win for the Hammers. From set play from a Payet corner and Sakho getting his first goal of the season.

CC: A pretty good set of answers there from Sean. I'm not sure about Eddie Howe ever being on a B list but I liked Sean's recovery! As for the Olympic stadium it looks like that story will run and run with eight London teams now deciding that they don't like the idea. I wonder where those clubs were when Leyton Orient were trying to make a stand a couple of years ago. Personally I'll be please that the stadium is being used and not being knocked down. West Ham are all about legacy with their great history and may be the Cherries can make some of their own history at Upton Park this weekend by getting their first win in the Premier League.

Please check out more of Sean's great words on the West Ham Till I Die Blog. Bianca Westwood has a good piece on Slaven Bilic and thoughts after their Arsenal and Leicester City games - From ecstasy to agony - well worth a read. You should also find my return answers up on the West Ham Til I Die site today.