· Brian Judson's Preview
· The West Ham viewpoint
· Last Year's Worthington Cup 3rd round - Burnley 2 Spurs 1
· FA Cup Quarter Final 11.03.01 - West Ham 2 Spurs 3
The following views were passed by me to the West Ham Online site. See the link above for a reciprocal article by a West Ham fan
How are your club doing this season?
No doubt Hammers' fans have been following Spurs fortunes closely so far! It is of course well known that we made a pretty awful start under Glenn Hoddle and we conceded 10 goals in his last 3 games. However we have only conceded 1 goal in the five games that David Pleat has had "temporary" charge of the side, so things are on the up and up! Thanks very much for Fredi Kanoute, who has been not only a goal machine for us, but also a scorer of quite spectacular goals (e.g Everton and Leeds). We shall now miss him very much thanks to Muzzy Izzet's awful tackle at Leicester last week.
Who do you think's your best/most on form player(s)?
It was Fredi, but youngster Rohan Ricketts made his debut at the start of the season, and has had some great games, playing left side midfield especially. Loan signing Stephane Dalmat has had two good games at Leicester and at home against Middlesbrough. He will probably play on the right of midfield and skin your left back!
Your worst players?
We don't have them, do we! Bunjevcevic is not liked by the fans, and is not first choice at present as Richards, Gardner and King are all now fit. Anderton and Poyet are getting on a bit now in football terms and give the ball away too much in the middle of the park.
Any hidden gems or promising younsters in the squad?
I've mentioned Ricketts, but you might also see Jonathan Blondel as he did play in our previous Carling Cup game. He didn't play too well then, but I have since seen him being very effective in the middle. He has pace and can carry the ball round players, but also make good long passes.
What sort of line-up can we expect?
Taricco and Konchesky took knocks against Middlesborugh, and I shall guess at the following line-up on Wednesday - Keller; Carr, Richards, Gardner, Ziege (would be a return from injury); Dalmat, Anderton, Blondel, Ricketts; Keane, Postiga Subs:- Burch; King, Mabizela, Poyet, Zamora - not bad, eh?
How's ex-Hammer Kanoute doing for you?
Please see above - thanks again! It's just a great shame he won't play against you.
Your best chant(s)?
Too many to chose from. We don't bother with anti- Hammers chants, and spend too much time mentioning the team down the road and a certain ex-centre back of ours.
How do you think West Ham will do this season?
Despite the number of quality players off-loaded, I would expect you to be there or thereabouts for an immediate return. Your problem will then be to re-equip for the Premiership - life's a bitch, ain't it?
Any West Ham player's that will worry you?
I love Defoe, and am surprised he stayed at Upton Park in the end. I believe you will miss his striker partner - Connolly, so there is no-one else I fear, especially not your left winger who alleges he has gone to a bigger club. I mean to say - really! What was he on. Etherington had rubbed a certain quarter of Spurs fans up the wrong way in an incident last season, and usually failed to deliver the goods for us, so I do not expect much of him.
Predicted score?
I'll say 2-1 to Spurs, as neither Postiga or Zamora have managed to score yet.
Do you think it'll be a good game?
I should say so. The match is a sell-out, and a great atmosphere is assured!
