West Ham head up north to Burnley. A quick look on Google Maps tells me its north of Manchester. I have found my knowledge of English geography is diabolical but then again why should it be any different? It’s not like I’m ever going to be able to get an Away match ticket through West Ham, being an overseas fan!
Strangely enough, I’m writing this preview from an airport bar having been over to Old Trafford to watch Man United v Partizan in the Europa League. I was a ‘tourist fan’, well, I was at the match with a Serbian work colleague, so had some sort of attachment to the game.
If our fans complain about ‘tourist fans’ at the London Stadium they would burst a blood vessel if they were a Man U fan! That place is crazy!
For every corner / free kick / attack there was an ocean (a sea doesn’t do it justice) of mobile phones in the air, trying to ‘capture the moment’ Personally I prefer to ‘live the moment’.
I’m not lying when I say, there was that many phones up around the whole stadium at one point it looked like a concert! You know when they wave about the flash on the phone at some soppy song?
But that’s their problem, we have enough of our own to worry about without me going on anymore about Man Utd!
And our next big problem is our trip to Turf Moor. Not our favourite of places to play as per the stats at the end of my last blog.
Both teams are on a poor run of form, Burnley having lost their last 3 and West Ham having lost 3 out of their last 4. Who’s going to end their run first?
TEAM NEWS
A few positives from this week’s press conference.
Antonio could be back for the Spurs game, he’s said to be ‘buzzing’ to get back training. Perhaps one of our owner’s merchandising has been used in his rehab?
Wilshere looks to be set for a late fitness test. It would be good to have him at least on the bench so we don’t have to bring on Fornals.
Reid has had more game time under his belt for the U23’s, he just needs to come through a full game. Easier said than done when it comes to Winston.
And Pellegrini has mentioned Fabianski could be back in a month / month and a half! Please be the month!
PREDICTED LINE UP
Has our poor run of form forced Pellegrini to go with something different for Burnley? I doubt it.
I would safely put my money on being able to name 10 starters easily. The only one I don’t know what is going on in Pellegrini’s head is the Zabaleta over Fredericks. He has to go back to Fredericks for this weekend surely?
Everything else will stay the same:
Oh, but now I say that, I get a feeling he’ll do something crazy to match his hairstyle and go with Lanzini instead of Snodgrass or Masuaku instead of Cresswell or possibly even Ogbonna back in for Balbuena.
Whatever happens we will go with the same formation allowing, 40 Regal a day, Sean Dyche to counteract us and stop us playing.
I really can’t see us getting anything out of this game. Remember Burnley have lost their last 3 and they now play West Ham. What normally happens when a team is in this sort of situation?
Despite thinking we are on a hiding to nothing, I’ll still plop myself in front of the TV tomorrow at 3pm to watch the Mighty Hammers! Who knows both Pellegrini and West Ham could surprise us…..doubtful all the same!
COYI!
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