Nolan? “Every boss has his pet players”

LEROY (1)

I’m fully expecting West Ham to beat Queens Park Rangers at the Boleyn tomorrow although I don’t believe it will be as easy as some may be thinking.

Harrry Redknapp is slowly getting his team together and they were unfortunate not to come away from in-form Southampton with something last weekend. With with so many ex Hammers on the way back they’ll be well up for this game.

The Hammers, meanwhile, have to bounce back from the disappointment of failing to get that last minute equaliser against Manchester United – ruled out by the linesman who got the decision spot on for me.

That strike of course from Kevin Nolan who looks set to play at the top of the diamond tomorrow despite the moans and groans from the fans who have gone off the skipper in recent months.

He’s called ‘Sam’s favourite’ but the fact is that every manager has his pet players and that will never change.

Sam Allardyce has relied on the captain to a large extent over his managerial career because he knows he is a player with a brain who can get into the box at the right time to score important goals – ten goals or so from midfield is a pretty healthy return after ll.

I think he will probably play at the tip of the diamond and deserves the chance to fed off Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho. If he fails now and in the games ahead I think he will get them same treatment as any other player as the manager has several options now. But let’s give him a chance.

It’s bad news for Diego Poyet who was excellent at Old Trafford but I can see Nolan doing well in the new system – whatever the fans feelings it was always going to happen so let’s find out whether it can work because there’s plenty on the bench.

Although Rangers are looking okay I think the Hammers will have too much for them and take them to win 2-1

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon