Simple Yet Effective

The Hammers got off to a winning start to the season, after they defeated Cardiff 2-0, their fourth consecutive win over the Welsh side. West Ham were not brilliant on the day, but they were effective enough to get the job done. The Allardyce way of playing may not be easy on the eye, but it does get results and all West Ham fans want to see is three points and that is what the former Bolton boss delivered on Saturday.

Now, Allardyce makes his way back to St James Park next time around, in the hope the Hammers can get the same result they did last season. West Ham won 1-0 last time they faced the Magpies at St James Park, but without Carroll at the head of the attack, it will be hard to see three points making its way back to Upton Park. Carroll was at the pinnacle of his form against Newcastle, and the brilliance of his hold up play and defensive ability was one of the reasons, the Hammers won last season.

Saturday's game showed the width will not be an issue this year, as Matt Jarvis made his first assist of the season, twelve minutes into the game. Joe Cole was man of the match, and a goalscorer, showing he was back to fine form, and the cameo from Stewart Downing was good enough for fans to get overexcited about their new arrival. The only weakness was the forward line without Carroll, Maiga tried his best, but was not the greatest. Maiga looks more of a second striker than a man to hold up the line, a player who would rather be part of the build up than the finisher at the end. Luckily for the Hammers, the game was sealed through the finishing techniques of Kevin Nolan, who was more like the forward on Saturday.

Looking on to the game on Saturday, Newcastle will be looking to bounce back from a humiliating night against Man City. The Geordies were beaten comfortably 4-0, and there was no sign of any threat from the Magpies on the night. The situation got worse for Newcastle, as they lost Steven Taylor to a red card, and Jonas Gutierrez to an injury. They will join Loic Remy on the sidelines, and will miss the game against West Ham. The Hammers should be looking to attack the Geordies, as they are missing a key defender, and having to play an inexperienced left back in Paul Dummett. Gutierrez is a big loss, as he works hard up and down the flanks. Newcastle could also be without Yohan Cabaye after a transfer bid from Arsenal was rejected for the Frenchman.

It is very hard to judge a side against Man City, so the judgement on whether Newcastle are a threat depends on last season. They finished the season well, and worked hard in a 0-0 draw at Upton Park in May, a game where they could have taken the spoils. Newcastle will be using their key player Hatem Ben Arfa, as his electrifying pace will frighten the Hammers fairly slow defence. That is Newcastle's main threat, and will probably work the middle of the pitch to try and defeat the midfield trio of Noble, Diame and Nolan.

After a effective performance on Saturday, the Hammers are likely to drop Joe Cole and start Stewart Downing. The pace will be the key asset for West Ham, as Newcastle's defence can be opened up, especially with the clumsy Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and youngster Dummett. Again like on Saturday, Jarvis and Downing will be key, as will Diame, who will have a battle on his hands with Tiote, a battle to keep your eye on. The Hammers will obviously be relying on Nolan to score, as Maiga looks to be dropping deep to allow Nolan to hold the line. Pace and clinical finishing are key, as the Hammers will be on the counter attack most of the match, and will not get many chances. If the Hammers play as effectively as they did against Cardiff, a positive result is obtainable against Newcastle.

 

Come On You Irons!

This is a Feeling of Deja Vu

The season commences, another nine months of pure nervousness for thirty-eight games. The first of these thirty-eight games comes on Saturday where the season opener is against Cardiff at Upton Park. The second time in three years Cardiff will play the Hammers in the season opener at the Boleyn Ground. West Ham will be hoping it is not deja vu, as the last time these two met in the season opener of the 2011/2012 season, Cardiff took all three points with a late Kenny Miller goal. Allardyce's men will be hoping they can avoid defeat this time around.

Throughout the 2011/2012 season, West Ham demolished Cardiff on three occasions, in two 2-0 away wins, and a 3-0 win at Upton Park. So the Hammers will have the upper edge coming into this match after beating the Welsh side in the Playoff semi-final 5-0 which is the biggest one-sided aggregate score in Play-Off history. The omens are on the Hammers side, but Cardiff will be looking to prove themselves in their first ever Premier League game. If anyone is expecting an easy win, they are very much mistaken, Mackay's men will graft for a positive result on Saturday.

Cardiff have spent a bit in the summer window, bringing in some very decent acquisitions, some proven and some inexperienced. Starting with Steven Caulker from Tottenham. Caulker impressed last season, even earning himself an England call-up. They broke their transfer record several times throughout the window, finally breaking it for the final time was the signing of Gary Medel from Sevilla for £9.5 million. The Chilean international impressed during the Rio Ferdinand testimonial last week. They last main signing is Danish international Andreas Cornelius, the 20 year old is tall and stocky, but may not feature against the Hammers as he is still recovering from an injury. Cardiff's spending has been in the right areas, with needed improvement in defence and attacking areas, which looked to be their weaker areas last season.

The Welsh side won the Championship last year with 87 points, two more points than the Hammers the year before. Cardiff had a considerably weaker Championship title winning season last year, and may be seen as weaker than the Hammers and Southampton. The Red dragons however do have a strong squad from last season including former Hammers Craig Bellamy and Nicky Maynard. Cardiff are the favourites out of the promoted sides to stay up, and by my predictions they will avoid the drop. They are an organised side, but the question is, will they adapt to the step up from Championship football to Premier League football? Only time will tell with that one, at the start Cardiff will be working off of the momentum they gained from promotion, when that fades it will show whether Cardiff are good enough to avoid relegation this season.

The Hammers exceeded expectations last season, and will be hoping to do the same again, as Allardyce's men have been predicted to come 12th this season, two places lower than they did last year. Cardiff will be hoping to re-create the same exceeding expectations that West Ham and Southampton achieved. West Ham should not be threatened by Cardiff on Saturday, as they have improved, albeit marginally, with the signing of Razvan Rat, a steady and confident full back. Fans will be hoping that Andy Carroll will be fit, as well as new signing Stewart Downing to start the game on Saturday. Other players of interest will be Alou Diarra and Ravel Morrison, as both will be like new signings for the side, and the latter has shown signs of brilliance during pre-season with many fans expecting Morrison to break into the first team in the coming weeks. The Hammers have a strong side, and finished the season well, and should not sit back on their morals. A good start to the season will give the Hammers the incentive to carry that onto the next six fixtures which are winnable games.

The game will not be tense, West Ham are likely to take the game to Cardiff, and the same of the Welsh side. As a newly promoted team, they will be hoping to get points on the board as quickly as possible. However, the away side may look to be a bit more defensive against a team who only lost four times at home out of a possible nineteen. An incredible feat for a newly promoted side, and if the Hammers take this home form into the game on Saturday, they should have no worries for a positive result.

West Ham need to show they have a plan B, if Andy Carroll is not available for Saturday's fixture. This means signs of flair may be needed to defeat Cardiff, Jarvis and Downing will be vital in getting the three points this weekend. Cardiff will not be an easy ride, but the Hammers need to show their Premier League experience right from the off.

Come On You Irons!