John Terry arrives at the Boleyn tomorrow as the weak link in the Chelsea team for me.
Should he play it will be his 450th match for Jose Mourinho’s side and it could become a nightmae because he’s lost a lot of pace and we have that everywhere in this brilliant West Ham eam.
We find out tomorrow whether we are dreaming of a top four West Ham team or whether the results so far have been a flash in the pan so far. I don’t think that’s the case at all but I’d be even more confident of my predicted 2- 1 result were Winston Reid to be playing.
Chelsea have real problem and I was interested to read Hugh’s report of Mourinho’s prress conference today when the Chelsea boss looked as if e had the troubles of the world on his shoulders. That’s all very good news.
I love too the way Slav has been so humble refusing to play on the current problems and talking him up as the great manager. It’s non confrontational and clever before we go and give em a hiding!
In the privacy of the dressing room Slav will be telling the lads they will never have a better chance of beating Chelsea.
I’d love Victor Moses to be playing but in his absence the way is clear for Enner Valencia to return. He has plenty to prove and will be well up for this game.
If, as I expect, we come out of this game with three points we will have 20 before the end of October which is an amazing achievement.
I do think what we have been seeing is the real deal and that we are going to b atop four/six club this season but tomorrow will tell us an awful lot.
The home form is still a bit of a worry and this is the perfect game to get it right. We will see Chelsea having a lot of possession but they have plenty of problems at the back for me.
Quite apart from Terry’s lack of pace, Zouma is quick but lacks anticipation and the keeper doesn’t have the presence of several before him.
We will go out entirely relaxed and I am confident.
I expect a 2-1 and here’s how I see the Irons lining up: Adrian, Jenkinson, Tomkins, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Noble, Kouyate, Payt, Valencia, Lanzini, Sakho
The good thing is that West Ham can play like the away team which has brought so much success this season, let Chelsea dominate possession but hit them on the break with pace.
The major worry is if Collins and/or Tomkins can handle Diego Costa and all his sly tricks without rising to the bait and getting themselves sent off – if Collins and Tomkins can keep their heads I don’t see any reason why we can’t win.
Chelsea are having their own problems and haven’t looked a shadow of last season’s team.
For me Jenks and Noble would be the week links in Leyroy,s team,
Obiang and Tomo at right back bring in Oxford alongside Ogbonna to give us some speed behind the other 3
Just my opinion for this game