The outcome of this weekend's Barclays Premier League clash between West Ham and Burnley will have repercussions on many different levels, the visitors are fighting to survive in the top flight, the home side not. However, West Ham still have a chance of grabbing a European spot, pre-christmas form would have seen the club automatically qualify for the Europa League but the recent dramatic dip in form has ruined that gateway. Enter the rather perplexing fair play award, for a Sam Allardyce team supposedly built around physicality and pressing football, Hammers are an unlikely top of the current fair play league, which would see the club qualify for Europe, the team directly below are Saturday's visitors Burnley.
Conspiracy theorists could have a field day here, along with the bookies. Burnley need to survive, West Ham want to enter the Europa League, what result would suit both teams best? Obviously West Ham fans want a victory and Europe, but what if the visitors earned the victory but had several bookings and a player sent off? Paradoxically Burnley could live to fight another day and West Ham could be almost assured of reaching Europe by denying Burnley the top fair play slot.
Either way this is going to be a tough fixture for 'under fire' Big Sam, surely he won't try to park the bus against the bottom side of the Premiership, the natives are already restless and a negative approach might just be too much for fans who have seen the scintillating attacking football of the early season be replaced by donkey to cart horse hoof ball.
Allardyce has stated the need to "keep a clean sheet" against Burnley, Is this all part of a 'cunning plan', and if so, by whom for what? -Ed
Comments
Defensive
From Allardyce's pre match spiel, it will be a defensive approach with the hope of catching Burnely on the break so am not expecting many goals. I am not expecting many changes to the side either unfortunately. We are not fit for Europe as things stand unless there is an overhaul of players and manager as much as I hate saying it.
Im going in a while!
Im looking forward to it...Coyi!...Might be in a different mood though later!!;)
West ham to get back to
West ham to get back to winning ways.
2-0 to the irons!
Got this one down as another
Got this one down as another bore draw as Allardyce parks the bus, 4-5-1 and Nolan Cole and Jarvis in the team. No changes there then :-(
I for one
will not be watching for long if he sets it up to defend. Because we will lose.
I was a bit sceptical when
I was a bit sceptical when people were talking about Sam "taking the p1ss" almost trying to get sacked. But the way he has been talking about clean sheets at this stage of the season is so ridiculous I can't imagine an intelligent man (and he aint daft by any means) acting this way unless he was actually trying to antagonise people. He seems to be doing everything he can to NOT play the way most of us fans want to see West Ham play. If it's a cunning plan, it's in the Baldric class!!! Give him his wish: SACK HIM NOW!!!!!!!