My Preview of West Ham v Portsmouth

The last time we played Portsmouth at home Avram Grant managed Portsmouth and Gianfranco Zola was our manager. Now Mr Grant has managed to relegate both teams to the Championship and we are both rid of him.

It was Boxing day 2009 when West ham last hosted Portsmouth, a game which saw us win 2-0. Diamanti scored from the spot after a Mullins foul and Kovac headed home for the second.

The win on Boxing day moved us out of the bottom three in the premiership while Portsmouth sunk to rock bottom of the premiership league under Grant. Why does that sound familiar?

The Portsmouth side included Mullins, Ben-Haim and Piquionne.

The West Ham line up was Green, Upson, lunga, Tomkins, Parker, Kovac, Noble, Faubert, Collison, Franco and Diamanti. Stech, Spector, Da Costa, Jimenez, Behrami, Stanislas and Nouble warmed the subs bench.



10-Year Head-to-Head History  


January 26, 2010 Portsmouth West Ham  1-1


December 26, 2009 West Ham Portsmouth 2-0


December 26, 2008 Portsmouth West Ham 1-4


November 15, 2008 West Ham Portsmouth 0-0


April 08, 2008 West Ham Portsmouth 0-1


October 27, 2007 Portsmouth West Ham 0-0


December 26, 2006 West Ham Portsmouth 1-2


October 14, 2006 Portsmouth West Ham 2-0


March 18, 2006 West Ham Portsmouth 2-4


December 26, 2005 Portsmouth West Ham 1-1

Now 20 months after we last beat them at the Boleyn Piquionne warms our subs bench, Upson plays for Stoke, Parker for Spurs and Stansilas for Burnley.

After an unlucky loss against Cardiff on the first game of the season and an even more un-lucky draw against.

Following a tweet to my 8,500 twitter followers and discussing it on our latest Moore Than Just a Podcast episode most people seem keen for West Ham to go for the more attacking 4-4-2 formation at home and revert to 4-5-1 formation away from home.

A few people suggest leaving the formation and team the same as Nottingham Forrest but I am sure Big Sam will slowly introduce new players rather than massive changes.


Here is my team which seems a popular choice amongst others.


                            Green


McCartney – Tomkins – Reid – O’Brien


Taylor – Noble– Nolan -- Lansbury -  


                       Cole Baldock


Bench: Boffin, Faye, Bentley ,Demel , Carew




My prediction is we will overcome Portsmouth and finally get that home win!


I will go for a 3-0 home win  COYI! Bring on the Pomey!