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Cardiff vs West Ham predictions- How do the pundits think the Hammers will fare against the Bluebirds?

March 9, 2019 By West Ham Blog Leave a Comment

After completing home and away doubles over Fulham and Newcastle, West Ham will look to do so likewise against relegation threatened Cardiff when they square off against the Bluebirds in this GW30 clash.

The Hammers beat Neil Warnock’s men 3-1 back in December in a fixture that was perhaps Lucas Perez’s best act in a West Ham jersey. Joe Ralls’ missed first half penalty cost the Bluebirds big time in that game, and they can ill afford misses like those come Saturday, with the home side third from bottom in the league table and two points adrift of safety.

Interestingly, the referee for this game, Graham Scott, is the same one who presided over the reverse fixture between the two sides at the London Stadium earlier this season. In six Premier League games under Scott as referee, West Ham have suffered only one defeat- away at Arsenal back in August.

After watching Manuel Lanzini return to action over the last fortnight, West Ham could see another key player do so in the form of Fabian Balbuena. The Paraguayan may however see action only from the bench though if Manuel Pellegrini chooses to reward Angelo Ogbonna for his fine recent performances.

Cardiff have lost their last three games by a 10-1 aggregate score, and are without the injured Sol Bamba, who is also their joint top scorer in the league this season. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: Cardiff

Media Player Ratings- How did West Ham’s players fare against Newcastle?

March 5, 2019 By West Ham Blog Leave a Comment

West Ham started the month of March on a winning note as they beat Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle 2-0 at the London Stadium. The victory, the Hammers’ seventh on in the league at home this season, saw them leapfrog Everton in the table.

It was only the fifth time this season that Manuel Pellegrini’s side had kept a clean sheet in the Premier League- the previous four being at home to Chelsea and Arsenal, and away at Newcastle and Fulham.

There were five changes to the squad that had lost to Man City- Aaron Cresswell coming in at left back, Mark Noble, Robert Snodgrass and Manuel Lanzini in midfield and Javier Hernandez taking Andy Carroll’s place upfront.

As it’s been in recent weeks, Pedro Obiang and Marko Arnautovic were both introduced from the bench. Cresswell’s first half injury forced Pellegrini to make a substitution earlier than he would’ve normally liked, and also meant that Manuel Lanzini played the entire 90 minutes in his first start for the club in nearly 10 months. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: Declan Rice, Newcastle United

West Ham players Declan Rice and Manuel Lanzini named in Premier League Team of the Week for Round 29

March 4, 2019 By West Ham Blog Leave a Comment

West Ham beat Newcastle 2-0 over the weekend, and the performance of some Hammers players was good enough to get them a mention in several pundits’ Team of the Week. Fresh from being named Young Player of the Year at the London Football Awards, young Declan Rice was particularly impressive- the 20 year old was Man of the Match at the game. Perhaps apt that Mark Noble and he were the scorers on a evening that also saw the opening ceremony of the Billy Bonds Stand.

Alan Shearer’s official Premier League Team of the Week

Rice finds a mention here alongside Crystal Palace’s Zaha, Man Utd’s Andreas Pereira and Wolves’ Jota in Shearer’s Team of the Week.

Sky Sports TOTW for Round 29

Phil Babb and Carlos Carvalhal were asked to name their respective TOTW’s, and Rice was named in both. Former Swansea boss Carvalhal’s team also has a spot for Ryan Fredericks at right back.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: Declan Rice, Newcastle United

First League Double over Newcastle in 20 years, Outstanding Rice & More- Five Talking points from West Ham v NUFC

March 4, 2019 By West Ham Blog Leave a Comment

West Ham completed a league double over Newcastle as they beat the Magpies 2-0 at the London Stadium to climb to 9th in the league table. An early Declan Rice header and a penalty from Mark Noble were enough for the Hammers to see off the Magpies as they celebrated the inauguration of the Billy Bonds stand with a win over Rafa Benitez’s men.

Let’s take a look at the major talking points from this game.

League double over Newcastle for the first time in 20 years

This is the first time since the 1998/99 season that the Hammers have completed a Premier League double over the Magpies.

The interesting bit- Harry Redknapp’s men won 3-0 away and 2-0 at home that season, the same scorelines that Manuel Pellegrini’s men have managed this season!

Outstanding Rice

England assistant manager Steve Holland was in the stands for this game, presumably to watch the likes of Rice and rising Newcastle medio Sean Longstaff in action.

Rice put in another assured performance for the Hammers and topped it up with a goal. His defensive work was outstanding as usual, but it’s evident that the coaching staff are helping him with the attacking side of things as well- a couple of his passes around the 45th minute were very nice to watch. We didn’t get to see that side of Rice early in the season, and on this evidence, a England call up may not be too far away! Was also the official Premier League man of the Match for this game. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: Newcastle United

West Ham v Newcastle predictions- How do the pundits think Manuel Pellegrini’s men will fare against the Magpies?

March 2, 2019 By West Ham Blog Leave a Comment

West Ham will be looking to complete a league double over Newcastle when they meet the Magpies at the London Stadium on Saturday evening. The Hammers will be facing a NUFC side that has lost just one of its last six games- a narrow 1-0 loss to Spurs last month.

The referee for this game is Chris Kavanagh, under whom Newcastle have won only one of their four top flight clashes. From the WHUFC point of view, Kavanagh has been in charge of three club games already this season- the 1-0 loss to Wolves, the 1-1 draw against Huddersfield and the 2-2 game against Brighton.

Let’s take a look at how the pundits expect this clash to pan out!

Mark Lawrenson: Lawro notes Newcastle’s excellent recent run (only one loss in last six in the league), and reckons they’re “flying at this moment”. Has predicted a 2-0 win for NUFC.

His celebrity opponent, sprinter Dina Asher-Smith has gone with a 1-1 draw.

Paul Merson: Merson says that Newcastle “have turned a corner” and play entertaining footy with three upfront. He doesn’t see them losing this game, and has predicted a 1-1 draw. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: Newcastle United