Crystal Palace take on West Ham in the Premier League at Selhurst Park on Saturday evening and with an international break having just passed, the Eagles will be hoping to continue their form from beforehand whereas West Ham will be looking for a massive change of fortune.
Alan Padew’s side are unbeaten in five league games going into this fixture with eleven points during that period whereas the visitors have lost four and drawn one, picking up a single point, leaving them in 18th.
Ahead of the game, we’ve spoken to Michael Oliver, a West Ham United fan and editor of Read West Ham. Here is what he had to say:
West Ham have been disappointing in the Premier League this season, sitting in 18th. What are the underlying issues?
I think it’s just been the imperfect storm, if you catch my drift. The stadium move wasn’t ideal amongst many fans who didn’t want to leave a home we turned into a fortress last season.
A budding squad simply decemated by injuries to key players throughout the summer, complemented by a rather laughable search to sign a big-money striker (congrats on your efforts to secure Christian Benteke). With a fully-fit squad, we’re probably not in this mess, we’re playing better and our fans don’t have a reason to moan about the stadium.
Conceding three goals or more in four of the last six fixtures, would you say it’s fair to blame the players or are the tactics wrong?
Tactics and the set-up is a major issue. Slaven Bilic has finally seen the light now. Cheikhou Kouyate and Mark Noble aren’t good sitters. Both like to get on the ball and move it forward. Last time out against Middlesbrough we brought in Pedro Obiang to be the designated sitter in the midfield and we played a lot better than we had done.
The goal we conceded was via a set play which can be corrected on the training ground, Middlesbrough, albeit weak competition, were restricted to very few chances from open play, which is something we can build off going forward. The priority is not conceding goals and picking up points now.
Do you consider the Hammers to be lucky with the timing of this fixture with it coming after an international break, where before you were performing poorly?
The international break has come at a good time for us. We’ve stopped the rot last time out against ‘Boro and the fortnight off will give us a chance to regroup, rest up and plan towards the trip to Selhurst Park. We’re expecting Aaron Cresswell back for this one, he’s been a huge miss, while Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho aren’t quite there yet but we’ll get on with it.
I think playing away will benefit us. There won’t be 60,000 fans expecting greatness, getting restless and what have you. We’ve won at Palace each of the last two seasons which will fill the boys with confidence, but they’re playing well so it’ll be a tough match for sure.
What do you think of Palace’s start to the season and the clubs’ business in the transfer window which has contributed to this?
It’s impressive – far greater than what I imagined. Christian Benteke hitting the ground running was exactly what you needed. He’s a player we should’ve taken a chance on but I think we were put off by the transfer fee and wages, which in itself is laughable, along with the fact he’s not too dissimilar from Andy Carroll and the club wanted someone who can play off the shoulder.
Loic Remy was a great signing , too bad about the injury I was looking forward to seeing how he’d fare playing week in, week out. Of course, the signing of James Tomkins has not gone down well over here in East London but I fully believe you’ve got a good player. He won’t be stunning, but you’ll get 7/10 performances every week and a player who’ll give 110% each time he steps foot on the pitch.
Who do you see as the main threat for West Ham from the Palace ranks ahead of this fixture?
Hard to look away from Benteke really. He’s rediscovered his best form now he’s got a bit of confidence again. He’ll give our defence the run around. Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend will be chomping at the bit to have a go at a rusty Aaron Cresswell and an ageing Alvaro Arbeloa I’m sure. Will be an interesting matchup that’s for sure.
