Preview vs QPR

Our last game resulted in a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford despite some positive play from the Hammers. This week sees an interesting encounter as London rivals QPR make the short trip to Upton Park. The match, also highlighted by the return of former hammers star Robert Green, sees two teams in completely different form with QPR struggling to pick up points coming up against a hungry, more attacking West Ham side who are playing some great football.

                    

Match day 7 - vs QPR 

KO - Sunday 5th October 4:15pm

Previous season results - newly promoted team

Previous lineups

Predicted score - 2-0

Team news 

Not much change for West Ham with Carroll, Jarvis and Obrien still out. Mark Noble missed the game against Manchester United with a shin injury and will also miss this one but is expected back for the away game at Burnley. Kouyate is also still out but West Ham have set 8th October as his return date. Both Poyet and Jenkinson look set to start this one after good performances at Old Trafford. 

 QPR will still be missing Barton and Mutch but could possibly have Sandro back as he recovers from a ridiculous training ground injury after a celebration in training (only an ex Spurs player could do that!).

Predictions

Very positive about this one after recent performances (something must be wrong) and I feel West Ham will control the pace from the start. If we can start quickly like the Liverpool game then I can see us bagging a few goals with Sahko and Valencia in great form. QPR have been struggling of late in all area of the pitch but team normally improve when they play us must be the Hammers curse! 

Not quite as positive as Paul Merson who reckons we will thrash them 3-0 but I think a good performance will see us with a 2-0 win and another three points on board COYI!!!!

                            

Preview vs Liverpool

After an exciting 2-2 against Hull on Monday West Ham face a tough challenge as Liverpool come to Upton Park. Both sides have been inconsistent so far this year, making this match fairly unpredictable, especially after Liverpool lost to Villa last week.

                                  

Match day 5 - vs Liverpool 

KO: 17:30 Saturday 20th September 

Previous season results: (H) L 2-1 (A) L 4-1

Previous lineups

Predicted score 1-2

Team news

West Ham have no new injury concerns with Nolan, Carroll, O'Brien and Jarvis still out. Despite this they will have Jenkinson, Song and Amilfitano available for their home debuts. This will give Big Sam lots of selection headaches with a very strong squad available.

Liverpool have their own injury concerns with Flanagan, Allen and Johnson all out injured. Despite this Skrtel may be fit to make a return. Balotelli is set to start but strike partner Sturridge is doubtful ahead of the trip to London. 

Predictions

This will be an interesting game as both teams have played intense games during the week so it will be interesting to see whether it affects the game. I think this will be all about taking your chances meaning we will need our new stars to really push themselves today. I think we will play well but Liverpool May just knick this 2-1 but I hope not! COYI!!

                               

Post match review vs hull

After an embarrassing defeat to Southampton at home, West Ham had their first game outside London at Fa cup runners up Hull City. Both sides have done well in the transfer window and are looking for a top ten finish.

                           

FT Score 2-2

Goals: Hull (Hernandez, Diame) West Ham (Valencia, Sakho)

A very interesting game no matter who you are, four goals, lots of new signings on display and a great game of football. Despite only getting a point from the game there was some really encouraging  play from both sides with new signings fitting in from the start, most notably with goals from high cost signings Hernandez and Valencia. 

West ham looked a different team to the side that played Southampton with some clear attacking intent from the manager. That's right Big Sam played three strikers!!!! This seemed odd and may have been requested from the board, as before the game Allardyce said that he would never play two strikers upfront, unless he had the best players in the league! Maybe he just has a lot of faith in Valencia and Sakho. Nevertheless a change of formation led to a very positive performance from the Hammers. 

First half 

The game was hectic from the start with lots of pressure from Hull within the first five minutes. West Ham seemed to deal with the pressure and then forced opportunities to break away and hit Hull on the counter. The game seemed end to end but neither side managed a shot on target until the 30th minute. As the hammers looked to be picking up pace a 39th minute opener from new boy Hernandez gave Hull the lead and put fear into hammers fans worldwide. A well placed cross into the box was met by a powerful header well out of reach of Adrian. 1-0 Hull. Just a few minutes later everyone thought it was 2-0 when another great shot from Hernandez crashed against the bar and Jelavic was there to tap in a rebound but he was ruled offside PHEW! West ham continued to attack with Downing, Sahko and Zarate all looking positive but couldn't convert before half time.

Second half

What a start to the second half! Just five minutes after the break Enner Valencia scores one of the goals of the season with a great strike from 25 yards! 1-1 game on! We seemed to be moving better as a team with good chances for Valencia, Sakho and Downing. Despite our efforts a poor throw in the 62nd minute lead to a goal by GUESS WHO! Diame, after leaving the club a week before scores Hulls second 2-1 Hull. Amazingly we hit back instantly when a great move led to a Sahko shot being deflected into the Hull net 2-2! What a game! In the last minute of the game Valencia thought he'd won it when his header from the back post looked a certain goal but Dawson was on the line to chest it onto the bar and over so close but full time!

FT 2-2

                         

Pre match preview vs Hull City!!

Finally the chore of watching England is over with the end of the international break and the return of Premier League football. Since our last performance (if you can call it that!) against Southampton we have also seen the end of the transfer window, one which was a success for both West Ham and Hull. Deadline day was a good day for both teams with West Ham securing the services of former West Brom winger Amalfitano and Hull signing no less than four players on the last day including Ben Arfa, Gaston Ramirez, Abel Hernandez and our own Mo Diame!

This game looks set to be an intriguing one with two very strong squads looking to seal an important three points.

Matchday 4 - Vs Hull City
Kick Off - 8pm Monday 15th September 2014
Previous season results - Premier League (H) W 2-1 (A) L 1-0

Previous Line ups

West Ham                                                  Hull City

   

Predicted score - 1-1

Team news

The international break has given Sam Allardyce and his squad time to recover, meaning that Jenkinson, Jarvis and Carroll have had time to improve their fitness and get closer to first team action with the latter starting light jogging after a foot operation. We also have a return to fitness of Collins who will give the team another central defensive option. New signings Song and Amilfitano are both clear to play.

Steve Bruce will be eager to bring in as many of his deadline day signings as possible although Hernandez has not yet received a work permit and will therefore not be cleared for this fixture. It will be interesting to see if Diame lines up to play his former team mates after claiming to have been "shunted around" the West Ham side and not really given a chance. Chester is back from suspension after his red card but Robertson is doubtful with a calf injury.

Predictions

This is quite an unpredictable fixture as it is hard to predict what teams will come out come 8pm on Monday with so many new signings. It all depends on how fast these players settle and whether the teams are prepared to go for it. I think it will end a 1-1 draw as both teams will be strong defensively but pushing for a win may bring inevitable mistakes at both ends. The introduction of Song could well make the difference so hopefully he will get a hatrick! (YEAH RIGHT!!!) No, but he seems to be a player of genuine quality who should add something new to our team. COYI!!!

The Song Ravel-ution and why Hammers fans can be positive!

After a mixed start to the season, with just three points on the board, what reason do West Ham fans have to be positive? The 1st September signalled the end of a dramatic transfer window all round, with significant introductions of top quality players to the league, including Falcao and Di Maria and Fabregas. It was also one of the most successful transfer windows in West Ham's history with 9 significant signings and only one departure in Diame to Hull City.

                        

This signifies a change in The Hammers strategy with the board clearly having more influence when it comes to player selection. Some might see that as a bad thing but previously Allardyce's purchases have been poor with Maiga at 5 million his biggest failure to date. So far we have seen good signs from Kouyate, Zarate, Poyet and Cresswell. We have also seen positive glimpses from Sakho and Valencia despite needing to adapt to the english game. Big Sam will also be looking forward to the return of Arsenal loanee Carl Jenkinson who will hopefully bring much needed security to our right back position. Wide positions have also been strengthened with last minute signing Amilfitano signing on a three year deal. 

The promise of the Olimpic Stadium also looks to be working in our favour as it was a major factor in us securing the signing of Barcelona and former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song who will surely add  some much needed quality and experience to the side. 

The impact of Song has been seen already in a midweek friendly today against Ipswich Town. Reports claim that Song was instrumental in a 5-1 victory where both he and Ravel Morrison linked up spectacularly to set up Sakho for his second goal in a West Ham shirt. 

After recent performances and troubled personal life Morrison's commitment to the club is definitely under question. Is a new partnership with Song the perfect way to integrate him into the first team? Only time will tell but this performance seems to open up more tactics for Big Sam to utilise. 

It is now up to Allardyce to show us that he has what it takes to turn this squad into an exciting, attacking side. COYI!

                            

Pre match preview vs Southampton!!

One win one loss, not the worst start to the season for the Hammers, as we currently sit in 8th place! West Ham will be hoping to turn their home form around with the visit of Southampton after the midweek loss to Sheffield Utd in the Capital One Cup.

                     

                        

Match day 3 - VS Southampton 

Kick off - 3pm Saturday 30th August 2014

Previous season results -  premier league (H) W 3-1  (A) D 0-0

Previous line ups

    West Ham                                                     Southampton 

Predicted Score 2-1

Team news

The injury list has, again, started to pile up for West Ham with Collins and Sahko adding to a list of Carroll, Jenkinson, Jarvis and Nolan. With Tomkins and Obrien playing well at Palace, the Hammers can be confident of another strong defensive display against a newly formed, Southampton side. It remains to be seen whether Big Sam will start Valencia ahead of Cole but I assume that the gaffer will stick to the same team as last week, after an excellent performance. Hopefully Zarate will be able to produce another quality finish!

For the away side Gallagher, Isgrove and Rodriguez are all still out but Gaston Ramirez will face some last minute fitness tests, so could play some part in this fixture. 

Predictions

This will be an interesting game with an inform West Ham side against a newly formed Southampton team. I predict a tight game and a 2-1 West Ham win COYI!

Post match reviews vs Crystal Palace and Sheffield Utd

After a busy few days of Football, Hot off the Ironworks brings you reviews for not one but two games! West Ham finally looked to have turned their fortunes around after a brilliant 3-1 win against Crystal Palace before losing to Sheffield Utd on penalties in the Capital One Cup.

                      

FT Score: Crystal Palace 1-3 West Ham
Goals: Palace (Chamakh 48) West Ham (Zarate 34, Downing 37 Cole 62)

What a great way to turn our season around after a disappointing defeat to rivals Spurs, in the first match of the season! A fantastic 3-1 win for the Hammers secured a well deserved three points, that will hopefully be the start of a good run in the league. Before the game many fans, including myself were relieved that skipper, Kevin Nolan was missing from the team. It was then announced that he would be out injured for a few weeks! Great news! I'm not one to wish an injury on a player, especially one who has scored many important goals for us in the past but Nolan has reached the stage in his career where he has very little impact on the game, resulting in us looking as though we are playing with ten men.

This injury meant Big Sam finally played two upfront! This gave new recruit Zarate his chance to shine. We finally looked like a team capable of exciting attacking play with Zarate, Noble and Downing playing some great football. With fellow new recruits Cresswell and Kouyate also putting in great performances, this always looked like a good day for West Ham.

First half

The game started very positively for the Hammers with with some effective passing and movement showing a new found confidence. After 34 mins a short corner found Noble on the edge of the box, his shot smashing into a line of Palace defenders. The ball falls perfectly for Zarate who hammers the ball home with an excellent volley from outside the box (pardon the pun) 1-0! West Hams confidence only grew greater with a string of passes finding Downing on the right wing. A driving run and a superb curling shot into the bottom left hand corner made it 2-0 after 37mins what a start! For once it seemed like we weren't sitting back and defending our lead.

Second half 

Early into the second half, a well executed corner found Tomkins at the back post whose header crashes against the post! Unlucky! The 48th minute saw a Palace comeback with a great shot from former player Chamakh rifling into the goal. 2-1. When it seemed like Palace might comeback into the game we put the game back in our hands after a goal from who else but Carlton Cole!!! His 62 minute goal from close range after a lose ball in the box saw West Ham ease to victory.

FT 1-3

                 

FT score: 1-1 Sheffield Utd win 5-4 on penalties

Goals: West Ham (Sakho) Sheffield Utd (Reid OG)

A disappointing end to a game that definitely saw that Hammers fans got their value for money from their £10 tickets! A youthful hammers side including Burke and Potts saw out the match all the way to penalties, where an Enner Valencia miss saw West Ham crash out in the first stage of the competition 5-4 on penalties.

First Half

West Hams tactics were very clear in this game as it seemed purely an exercise to test controversial star Ravel Morrison. Everything was being played through the troubled midfielder but this seemed to be getting us nowhere with the whole team playing very negatively against a side who hardly troubled us all night. Diame was our biggest threat with some powerful runs causing Sheffield defensive headaches. Finally we took the lead in the 40th minute when Sakho met a good cross to head home his first goal at Upton Park after his arrival from Metz. 1-0

Second half

The second half was no more positive than the first with no movement and very little flair. The introductions of Downing, Zarate and Noble livened the game up but none of these could prevent a Reid own goal after 58 mins which eventually meant extra time. 

Penalties

After a very dull 30 mins with very few chances for either team the match went to the lottery that is a penalty shoot out. We seemed to be coping well with the pressure with Noble scoring his first penalty after his miss vs Tottenham. After four successful penalties it was all down to new signing Valencia who stepped up to take the final shot. Save!! Sheffield Utd score the last penalty putting us out of the competition.

FT 1-1 Sheffield Utd 5-4 on pens

Despite an unfortunate defeat in the cup the league win was fantastic and will hopefully carry on to our game on Saturday at home to Southampton COYI!

                  

Prematch preview vs Crystal Palace

So after a disappointing start to the season, at the hands of rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Westham face another London derby as they travel to their first away game of the campaign at Crystal Palace. Can the Hammers kick start their campaign in this tough fixture? Palace have the confidence of beating us  twice last year but have also lost their manager this week! Who knows what will happen!

                           

Match day 2 - VS Crystal Palace

Kick off - 3pm Saturday 23rd August 2014

Previous season results - premier league (A)  L 1-0   (H)  L 0-1

Previous line ups 

   West Ham                                                       Crystal Palace 

Predicted score: 2-1

Team news

Not much change to report for West Ham with the injuries of Carroll, Jenkinson and Jarvis. Allardyce confirmed that Tomkins may well be fit to play, despite concerns over a hamstring injury, although a final decision on this matter will be made on Saturday. This will be important for the hammers with Reid their only fit centre back with Collins out through suspension This could result in a potential shift in position for O'Brien. Big Sam also remains hopeful over the fitness of his strike force with Valencia showing some positive play against Spurs and Sakho and Zarate looking good in training. Sakho's development has been praised by attacking coach Teddy Sheringham which could well be a sign that Carlton Cole will be left out (yeah right!!!!!).

Palace have concerns of their own with Puncheon suspended after seeing red against Arsenal although Dann may be fit in time for this one. Their major concerns will of course be the departure of manager Tony Pulis, after a clash with the board over transfer policies. This will have caused a lot of unrest at the club and will be interesting to see if this has affected the players. After ruling out both Mackay and Sherwood they will again rely on stand in gaffer Keith Millen, who will want to impress. 

Predictions

This will be an ugly game from the first whistle with a lack of direction from Palace and a lack of attacking play whatsoever for West Ham. If Allardyce stick with Cole upfront on his own we have no chance in this game and can again see a potential 0-0. If he changes it up and goes with one of the new boys then who knows! I feel that with some attacking intent and the hard work of Noble and Kouyate in midfield we could just steal this one 2-1! Come on you irons!!!!

                         

The Midweek Roundup! Week 1 Saturday Games

The Premier league is finally underway with some excellent games during the first weekend of the season. The Midweek Roundup will be a weekly piece giving a brief look at each BPL game, so make sure to check back every Wednesday!

                         
Score - Man U 1-2 Swansea
Goals  -  Man U (Rooney) Swansea (Ki, Sigurdsson)

A fantastic win for Swansea who caused the biggest upset on the first weekend of the new season. Swansea's passing play was too much for the Red Devils with an astounding 29 passes helping to set up a superb goal from Ki, returning this season after a loan spell last year. Man Utd seemed to be back in the game just 7 mins into the second half, with a knock on resulting in an extravagant Rooney overhead kick! The winner came in the 72nd minute with new signings Montero and Sigurdsson linking up to seal a fantastic start to the season for Gary Monk and his team and increased pressure on Van Gaal from the start.

Score - Arsenal 2-1 Crystal Palace
Goals  - Arsenal (Koscielny, Ramsey) Palace (Hangeland)

Arsenal getting off to a great start to the season with an important victory against Palace. The home team started well with some fluid movement from the start. Early pressure from Palace resulted in a corner ending up in the net, with Hangeland heading it home. In stoppage time Arsenal were level with another set piece, as a glancing header from Koscielny found the back of the net. With the game looking like a draw Puncheon was sent off for a second yellow, giving the Gunners a real chance. That chance was all they needed with heavy pressure resulting in a Ramsay tap in from close range to win the game.

Score - Leicester 2-2 Everton  
Goals  - Leicester (Ulloa, Wood) Everton (McGeady, Naismith )

One of the most exciting games of the weekend saw four goals shared between these two. An excellent strike from McGeady found the top corner after just 20 mins, arguably one of the best goals of the weekend. After increased threats from Leicester a corner caused a goal line scramble, resulting in a good finish for from Ulloa 1-1! As both teams thought it would be level at the break Naismith found enough space to score a great goal, the ball rebounding off the crossbar and into the net 2-1 Everton HT. The quick tempo was not lost at halftime with end to end stuff right up to the last 5 mins when a cool finish from Wood put Leicester back on terms and gave them a well deserved point in their first Premier League game.

Score - West Brom  2-2 Sunderland
Goals West brom (Berahino 2) Sunderland (Cattermole, Larsson)

An intriguing game that saw an early contender for goal of the season. After a shaky start from West Brom Cattermole found the ball on the edge of the box and rifled a shot into the top right hand corner fantastic goal! West Brom got a chance to level the score when a controversial penalty was given for a foul on Anichebe, allowing Berahino to tuck it home 1-1. The second half brought a second for Berahino with the young striker finishing from close range after a good cross for Gardner. With just 5 mins remaining Sunderland equalised with a well weighted pass allowing Larsson to score the Black Cats second goal and give them their first point of the season.

Score - West Ham 0-1 Tottenham  
Goals Tottenham (Dier)

A frustrating defeat for the Hammers after an exciting end to end game resulted in a last gasp victory for Spurs. The game was not without its controversy as a penalty was given for West ham after a Naughton handball also resulting in a red card. Noble missed his first penalty under Allardyce to the despair of West Ham which could have changed the game. The second half brought a red card for West Ham with Collins receiving a second yellow making the teams level once again. A break from Tottenham resulted in a 93 min winner for Spurs as Dier slotted past Adrian to win the game.

Score - QPR 0-1 Hull

Goals Hull (Chester)

QPR's first premier league game was a lively one with mixed performances from both teams. Hull were the first to strike with Chester scoring from a corner to put them in the lead. The second half looked to bring more luck for QPR when they won a controversial penalty but a great save from the Hull keeper kept them out and gave Hull the three points. 

Score - Stoke 0-1Aston Villa

Goals Villa (Weimann)

A poor start from Stoke here with Villa coming out the victors. After poor play from both teams a second half break from Nzogbia gave Weimann the opportunity to smash home for Villa and grab an important victory for Paul Lambert and his Aston Villa side.

Post match review vs Spurs

FT score - West Ham 0 - 1 Tottenham

Goals - Dier 90 + 3

Well! I was hoping it would be a few weeks until my first rant but here we go!

Defeat to rivals Spurs is never the way we like to start a season, especially conceding so late on to a team that was second best for the majority of the game. Overall the game did have some positives with the team generally playing some good football, not quite the attacking style we was promised but some nice stuff nevertheless. We had stand out performances from Downing and Kouyate with new Leftback Cresswell being my man of the match. Despite this we seemed to settle back into our old ways with Big Sam putting out a very familiar 4-5-1 with Cole up front. For years the Hammers faithful have put their hopes in Cole but he is simply not a top division player, as loyal as he is to the club he is too slow and does not work hard enough for the cause. Nevertheless in first game of the season I gave Sam and Coley the benefit of the doubt.

First half
The game started positively with some good movement and showed signs that the new players were settled in their new team with Kouyate making plenty of powerful runs and harassing the Tottenham midfield. Cresswell also made a good impact early on with positive movement and some good crosses early on. Over the course of the first half we seemed to be holding our ground well and towards the end of the first half seemed to be creating some good chances. Some excellent wide play from Downing created the best of these with the ball falling to Vaz Te (still don't understand his inclusion) and Cole in the box but we could simply not convert out chances, same old West Ham! In the 29th minute our fortunes seemed to be on the up with a blatant hand ball from Naughton after a close range Kevin Nolan strike. PENALTY AND A RED CARD! As Spurs players complained and Naughton walked off the pitch, ever reliable Mark Noble stepped up to take the penalty, a player who has not missed from the spot in his last ten attempts, surely this must be 1-0. Nope! A terrible dragged shot goes well wide of the post to the frustration of West Ham fans around the world.

After the penalty miss West Ham seemed encouraged at least by the red card, giving them the extra man, which looked to give us a great chance of winning the game. Downing and Cresswell continued their positive runs creating some good chances with almost no attacking response from the visitors who seemed to struggle under the pressure, finding it difficult to supply front man Adebayor. Half Time came with the game looking positive with many fans hopeful that we would bring on an extra striker with Valencia and Zarate on the bench.

Second Half

What is Allardyce doing! No substitution, no extra striker! As the game continued we failed to press Tottenham who were slowly making their way back into the game, with the introductions of Holtby and Townsend looking threatening to the Hammers defence. 62nd minute Adebayor breaks off sprinting at the defence, when A blatant body check from Collins stops him in his path second booking. RED CARD! Silly mistake meaning we had lost our advantage and given Spurs a route back into the game. A substitution was made before the incident, with Obrien leaving the field for Demel, a strange sub which may have contributed towards the mistake. By the 80th minute both Diame and Valencia were on, far too late if you ask me! Both players looked lively and helped create a few chances towards the end. Spurs were also looking more threatening with Holby, Townsend and sub Kane linking up well. The last 15 mins were a hectic end to end which nearly resulted in a winning goal for West Ham with Downing's close range effort stopped by a world class save from Lloris.

Into the last few mins of extra time Tottenham made a counter attack with Harry Kane slipping a neat ball through to debutant Dier who finished well round sprawling keeper Adiran. This was surely the end with less than a minute to go.

FT 0-1

A very hard defeat for the players to take after playing well at times but I put this down to poor tactics from Big Sam who refused to play two upfront despite us being a man up for the majority of the game. An attacking change should have been made at half time to press our advantage but the boss left Zarate and Valencia on the bench whilst Cole contributed nothing in the second half. Bringing on Diame and Valencia in the 80th minute was too late and did not give them the opportunity to make a great deal of difference. Let's hope that Valencia and Zarate are fit to start next week against Crystal Palace and that the gaffer has the sense to play them instead of Cole.

Despite our result today I can see us beating a troubled Palace side next week bring it on! Come on you irons!

Tottenham Pre Match Preview!

So here we are just one night away from the first Premier League game of the new season. What better way for the Hammers to kick start a successful campaign than a victory against bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur! Let's take an in depth look at the game and all the surrounding news for this hotly anticipated fixture.

                        

Match day 1 - VS Tottenham Hotspur

Kick off - 3pm Saturday 16th August

Previous season results - premier league (A)  W 3-0   (H)  W 2-0  Capital One Cup  (A) 2-1

Likely starting line ups - 

West Ham                                                      Tottenham

Predicted score line - 1-1

Team news 

West Ham will be pleased to announce an almost fully fit squad after their injury hit season last year, although they will still be without star striker Andy Carroll and with Guy Demel and new signing Carl Jenkinson looking set to miss the first game, the hammers will put their faith in reliable Joey O'Brien. 

The Hammers have spent well over the summer with 7 new signings, bolstering Big Sam's squad ahead of an important season. They have particularly improved upfront with the signings of Zarate, Sakho and Valencia. Valencia seems an excellent signing after a great World Cup and will be hoping to make an instant impact in the Premier League. At the moment he is not 100% fit but in the gaffer'a pre game conference he announced that he could potentially play a small role in this fixture, with Carlton Cole looking set to start against Spurs. Allardyce looks set to hand debuts to new signings Cresswell, Kouyate and Zarate who will all be hoping to impress in their first competitive game at Upton Park. 

Tottenham have injury concerns themselves with Vertongen and Kyle Walker being major absentees for this game. This will give new boss Pochettino an early opportunity to test new signings Eric Dier and Ben Davies, who will be eager to impress and push for regular positions. Tottenham have also made the signing of Yedlin but his recent arrival may mean he will miss this fixture. Spurs will be hoping that the likes of Lamela and Soldado will start to prove their worth this season, although Tottenham still have ever reliable Adebayor up front. Lewis Holtby could also push for a start with a decent pre season, after a year out on loan at recently promoted QPR. It seems like he will get more chances this season with places up for grabs in the centre.

Predictions

This is an interesting fixture which could go either way as both team possess the ability to cause problems. On the day I feel West Ham will be too stubborn in defence and do not seem to have fully adapted to their new attacking style so I expect the game will end in a draw. My gut feeling is a bore draw but I can see both teams scoring one with defensive issues surrounding both sides. 

Nevertheless I am always optimistic of an Irons victory and against a team we beat three times last season who knows what will happen Come on you irons!!!!

                                   

The Title Race

As the start of the season is just days away what better time is there to discuss the ever dramatic title race for the Barclays Premier League 2014/15.

After a dramatic finish last season Manchester City rained champions with a late run of form that carried them past title favourites Liverpool, whilst there were also positive signs from Chelsea and Arsenal, with the later winning their first trophy in nine years after a dramatic comeback in the FA Cup final against Hull City.

Whilst the top four all had pretty good seasons it is important to consider the teams who under performed last year, most notably Manchester United, as well as the teams who could potentially be pushing for a champions league spot this campaign, including Everton and Tottenham.

This post will look at each of the contenders for a Top four spot as well as my own predictions as to where they will finish come May 2015.

Arsenal

Manager: Arsene Wenger

Last season: Finished 4th qualifying for champions league 

Titles/trophies: FA Cup winners/ Community Shield winners

New signing to watch: Alexis Sanchez

Predicted finish: 3rd

After an impressive start to the season everyone expected Arsenal to go on to achieve great things last season. Despite their initial success the Gunners were plagued with injuries to an already thin squad with the loss of stars Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott, potentially being significant factors in their deterioration over the season. Arsenal fans were also getting frustrated with the lack of top class strikers, with an often unimpressive Oliver Giroud their only senior attacking option, meaning that youngster Sanogo was often put under immense pressure in some big games to perform. After the signing of Mesut Ozil many thought he would be the catalyst in the Arsenal midfield but inconsistent performances had many questioning his ability. Despite this they have signed some top players this Summer including Barcelona wide man Alexis Sanchez who will bring some exciting play to the Premier League this season and youngster Calum Chambers from Southampton who looks to be a great prospect for the future.

                              

Chelsea

Manager: Jose Mourinho 

Last season: finished 3rd and qualified for champions league 

Titles/trophies: n/a

New signing to watch: Diego Costa

Predicted finish: 1st

Jose Mourinho's first season back in the Premier League was not one of his finest yet he still achieved a top 4 finish and a decent run in the champions league which will have pleased the majority of Chelsea supporters. Chelsea also had the best record against the top 4, leaving many to believe they would clinch the title come May but a string of defeats and poor results against some of the smaller teams in the league meant that they could only achieve a third place finish. Many blame their strike force, with Torres again on the end of constant abuse and Samuel Etoo and Demba Ba not quite the partnership they needed. After a long summer of chasing Wayne Rooney with no avail they were left with a one year deal for Etoo which brought many fans some concern over where the goals would come from. This season looks a lot more positive for the blues with marquee signings of Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa, both of whom have had great pre seasons with the later already bagging a few goals. If the new signings can settle quickly I expect a great campaign from this strong Chelsea side.

                            

Everton

Manager: Roberto Martinez 

Last season: 5th qualified for Europa league

Titles/trophies: n/a

New signing to watch: Romelu Lukaku

Predicted finish: 6th

Everton has always been known as a steady mid table side with previous manager David Moyes having steady progress over the years. His exit to Manchester United brought uncertain times to Goodison Park with the introduction of unproven Roberto Martinez, who was relegated with Wigan in the 2012/13 campaign. Fears were quickly put to rest with some sensible signings, most notably the loan deal for Romelu Lukaku and a new attacking brand of football that looked to take the club to the next level. Last season delivered just that for the toffees who just missed out on a top 4 spot 

despite still achieving an excellent fifth place finish and qualification for the Europa league. This season I fear will be a tough one for the club with Martinez facing 'second season syndrome'. Despite this they have completed the permanent signing of Lukaku which will be extremely important if they wish to emulate the success of the previous season. 

                       

Liverpool 

Manager: Brendan Rodgers

Last season: 2nd qualified for champions league

Titles/trophies: n/a

New signing to watch: Adam Lallana

Predicted finish: 2nd

What a fantastic season it was for Liverpool, Rodgers seemed to have turned the reds into an exciting attacking side with a powerful midfield and a strike force that would scare any defence, only for them to slip up at the final hurdle giving city their opportunity to take the Premier League crown. The season was much needed at the cop after years without a trophy or even a significant title challenge. The side as a whole contributed to their success but of course the ever controversial Luis Suarez was at the heart of everything they did last season, scoring plenty of goals to keep Anfield hoping for great things. This season will be tough for them especially with the sale of Suarez although they have bought wisely. The introductions of Liverpool trio Lovren, Lambert and most notably Lallana will give them a strong core through the middle and increase the strength of an already talented squad to give Liverpool a lot of promise for this year.

Manchester City

 

Manager: Manuel Pellegrini

Last season: 1st qualified for champions league

Titles/trophies: Premier League Champions 13/14

New signing to watch: Ellaquim Mangala

Predicted finish: 4th

A second title for Manchester City was a great accomplishment but their season was not without its issues. Injury for top striker Aguero meant he missed large parts of the season and dressing room problems with Yaya Toure towards the end of the season caused some disruption. Nevertheless City crept up behind the pack and came up on top with some important victories in the later stages. This will be a different season for City with many of their rivals bringing in some class players. In order to keep a place in the top four they will need to improve their defensive record and get some consistency into the side. I still think they will be a very strong team, with the introductions of Mangala and Sagna and the short term loan of veteran Lampard they will be a force to be reckoned with. Without another top class midfielder they look set to settle for champions league spot.

Manchester United

 

Manager: Louis Van Gaal

Last season: 7th

Titles/trophies: n/a

New signing to watch: Luke Shaw

Predicted finish: 5th

Last season marked the end of an era at Manchester United with the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. Fans were assured that his replacement David Moyes would be the best man for the job, but results suggested otherwise. Moyes was constantly criticised throughout the season for his teams poor performances, which eventually resulted in his sacking and a very poor 7th place finish for the Red Devils. This season could be different with experienced Dutch manager Louis Van Gaal at the helm and some excellent signings in Shaw and Herrera. United are also linked with the likes of Di Maria and Robben so it will be interesting to see who heads to Manchester before deadline day. If new boss Van Gaal can get the best out of the likes of Rooney and Van Persie then it could be a good season for them although development of sides such as Arsenal and Liverpool could still keep them outside the top 4 for this season at least.

Tottenham Hotspur

 

Manager: Mauricio Pochetino 

Last season: 6th 

Titles/trophies: n/a

New signing to watch: Deandre Yedlin 

Predicted finish: 7th

Another inconsistent season from a Spurs side clearly suffering after the sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid. Fans often blamed the clubs transfer policy after seeming to waste their earnings on average players, most notably Soldado who cost in the region of £30 million ( a lot for a striker who can't score). As a West Ham fan I enjoy being critical of Spurs but in all honesty this is a side who should be pushing for a top 4 spot. The introduction of new manager Pochettino could lift the spirit at White Hart Lane after his success at Southampton. They have made some decent signings but not enough for me to expect a high finish. Yedlin looks to be a good prospect but the gaffer needs to get these players working as a team in order to bring success to the club.

New season here we come!!!

Hello and welcome to the first Hot Off The Ironworks, aiming to bring you all the latest and greatest news, views and opinion from the best team in the world, West Ham United FC (well as hammers fans we like to think so!). Whilst discussing the hammers HOTI will also look at the state of the Premier League as a whole including the title race, relegation battle and all the intriguing goings on in the 2014/15 season and hopefully beyond.

Where else to start but the exciting prospect of another new Barclays Premier League season with a host of great new players, managers and I'm sure many nail biting games that will leave us on the edge of our seats.

Forget the run up to Christmas, this time of year has always been one of the most exciting times of the year for myself, being an avid football fan and a loyal West Ham season ticket holder, as I'm sure it is for anyone who follows the beautiful game. The anticipation of the return of the Premier League after a long summer is always high and with the transfer window as exciting as ever and some very interesting teams coming up from the championship, the 2014/15 season looks to be one of the best ever!

However long it may have seemed at least we had the World Cup to keep us entertained in the meantime, truly a fantastic spectacle and personally one of the best international tournaments I have witnessed. The 2014 Brazil World Cup had everything, other than an England win of course, but what are the chances of that in our lifetime. It was one of the highest scoring tournaments in the history of the game and gave us the opportunity to witness some fantastic teams, but also had some shocks and scares for the favourites, something that I hope to be saying at the end of this upcoming season.

From a West Ham point of view this is always an interesting time, as ever our fans are in two minds when it comes to our predictions for the year as we are either doomed to failure and relegation or overconfident and aiming for Europe. Usually I have to say I am one of the latter but this year seems different with a lot of pressure on Big Sam to succeed in his first few games after a pretty terrible pre season and major injury problems with our so called "star" striker Andy Carroll, this could well be a season to forget. Of course there are also some positives, with an influx of new players and a good win in the final pre season game at Upton Park some might say we have a better chance to succeed than last year, especially with the thrilling prospect of a fourth straight victory against bitter rivals Spurs up first!

We can always dream! Let's just hope the bubble of excitement doesn't burst after the first game of the season Come on you Irons!