Two football weekends in a row and two London Derby’s in a row for West Ham. This time they face-off against Chelsea but will the same struggles continue to follow the Hammers?
This week we sat down with fellow FanSided writers The Pride of London, the opposition for this weekend to pick their brains before the West Ham v Chelsea match tomorrow afternoon.
1. From the beginning of the season until now, how do you feel it has gone for Chelsea and in the same respects, West Ham?
Chelsea and West Ham have basically had completely opposite seasons. Chelsea started poorly but was not necessarily being outplayed. Things rebounded after the first break and we mostly haven’t looked back. Still, a concern the results against top teams aren’t coming, but it is good that we aren’t being outplayed in those games.
West Ham started really well and have basically spiraled since. To me, the squad is one of the many Frankenstein squads in the Premier League. Lots of good players that just don’t make sense together. Pellegrini is a great manager and he faced the same issue at the start of last season, but seemingly can’t find the right way to bring West Ham alive currently.
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2. How pleased are you with how Frank has done coming in as the new manager with a new style of football?
Frank Lampard has been a breath of fresh air. After one (maybe two) seasons the club finally feels like itself again. Even when things do not go right, it is hard not to feel excited by this team. The football is aggressive and exciting, the youth are finally getting a chance and owning it, and even the older players are turning back the clock. Fourth place was the goal coming into the season (plus a cup run or two), but Chelsea already feels capable of more. Once the ban is lifted? Watch out.
3. Who is one player that West Ham needs to look out for this weekend when it comes to the Chelsea attack?
Christian Pulisic is becoming increasingly hard to defend against. His close control draws one defender after another to approach him, and he either leaves them behind or dribbles right through the crowd. Obviously, every defender who tries to cover him leaves another Chelsea player open.
He almost always knows the right pass to one of those open players, and that results in chance after chance. We expect Mason Mount to be back in the lineup, too, and the pair of them do some remarkable things carving open space for themselves or Tammy Abraham (who we hope, and you shouldn’t, will be back in the lineup).
4. What player or players on West Ham stand out to you and make you somewhat fearful for Saturday’s match?
Sebastien Haller, not just for his all-around play but because he leads West Ham with seven shots off set pieces. Chelsea has no greater vulnerability than dead-ball situations, so anyone who can reliably get a shot against the Blues off a set piece has far too high a chance of scoring.
5. What are your thoughts as to what is going on at West Ham currently?
It’s just so odd that Chelsea is the most stable, cohesive and functional team in London. Not something anyone is really used to. Maybe West Ham should push Mark Noble into early retirement and appoint him manager. Then you just have to hope he’s more Lampard than Solksjaer.
We want to say thank you to the boys in Blue over at The Pride of London once more for sitting down with us to give us their thoughts on the upcoming match this weekend. For more updates on them, you can follow them on Twitter at @PrideOLondon but for now, COME ON YOU IRONS!