Still Time for Grant? West Ham Preview
By dixon9
February 29 2008
Avram Grant is coming in for some pretty bad vitriol from Chelsea fans at the moment with many calling for his head. I don’t feel a decent win tomorrow away to West Ham will do much to change minds but like all managers he has a chance to change things for the better starting from now.
Harsh? Well let’s have a quick look:
Only lost 2 of the last 20, 16 games unbeaten before the Spurs nightmare, 15 clean sheets (the highest in the league with the Mancs), 4 clean sheets out of the last 5 games, 35 games with 24 wins and 22 clean sheets in total, an astounding run of matches with many key injuries keeping us (just about) in the hunt for the league title, still in the CL and FA Cup etc etc blah blah…
Not bad is it when you look at the stats I suppose. So why the discord between supporters and manager? Putting aside the well documented acrimonious exit of our most successful manager in history and Grants possible involvement in this (Well ok! I haven’t put it aside have I?!) I could start with Grant’s inability to change things on the field of play when it matters – Wembley last weekend was a prime example.
Next up, we have his record against the big teams and then there’s the issue of our style of play. We were promised “positive” and “entertaining" football – this was the principle reason for Mourinho departure – yet we are not seeing very much of this are we?
Basically the trend is telling us that he hasn’t got the know how to manage the club that we have become.
To be fair, you could argue in Grant’s defence that we were unfortunate with the refereeing decisions against Man Utd and Arsenal and as for the style of play argument there’s the matter of for just how long has he had the availability of key players?
I would say the jury’s out still – but about to get up from the table and make their way back to the courtroom.
Grant is really hanging by a thread and whilst I personally believe we need someone else at the helm in the interests of “justice” (not quite the word I was looking for but you get my drift?) he’s got the next few games to conjure up something to encourage us with.
As for “conjuring up” starting with a new formation that involves the front 2 pairing of Drogba and Anelka would be a good start. Indeed, there’s been a 4-1-3-2 formation touted around the media as part of our game plan for Upton Park – not quite the 4-4-2 I wanted but I’d settle for that.
Whilst having an excellent recent record against the Hammers they aren’t going to be any pushover and you can get bet they’re going to be as physical as ever.
The east enders are much improved this season – 40 points compared to 20 at the same stage as last season although they aren’t too hot on putting the ball in the back of the net.
Zamora is doubtful following a knee injury so we can expect “old boy” Carlton Cole up front tomorrow.
Dean Ashton has been quite a rated striker in recent times although he’s not been firing on all cylinders this season so I won’t be surprised if Curbishley goes cautious and goes 4-4-1-1 with Cole the sole striker.
Bowyer and Etherington are both out with groin strains, Bellamy, Davenport, Quashie and Dyer (nothing new there!) are all long term crocks but Camara (we got to watch him – he’s quick) is back in contention.
Besides Camera and Cole as strike options there’s a little ace card tucked away in Freddie Sears who seems full of eastern promise.
We have absolutely no injuries nor suspensions – even Shevchenko is available! Actually…that’s not quite right if you count new signing Ivanovic is probably at about 85% after almost getting fit and then suffering a minor knock in training.
You know, as I wrote “Shevchenko” I had this vision of Grant stubbornly sticking to 4-3-3 and playing Sheva in the middle – but it’s gone now!
Hopefully, Grant will change it and go with this 4-1-3-2 and we can finally get to see Drogba and Anelka playing off each other for the first time.
Might be difficult to get width but I’m getting fed up with this 4-3-3 when we don’t have the wingers to carry it off.I imagine something like:
Cech
Belletti Carvalho Terry A Cole
Makelele
Lampard Ballack Essien
Drogba Anelka
(He´s probably not going to change it all - but let´s live a little).
A very tough 0-2 win.
West Ham (from): Green, Wright, Pantsil, Neill, Spector, Upson, Ferdinand, McCartney, Faubert, Ljungberg, Noble, Mullins, Solano, Boa Morte, Cole, Ashton, Camara, Sears.
Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Belletti, Terry, Carvalho, Alex, Ben-Haim, A Cole, Bridge, Lampard, Makelele, Essien, Sidwell, Obi, Malouda, Wright-Phillips, Drogba, Shevchenko, Pizarro, Kalou, J Cole, Ballack, Anelka.
Referee: P Walton
Of those three games I will be going to the latter two.... West Ham at £41 came to quick, with Huddersfield, Wembley, Olympiakos and Barnsley (even with free travel) it is all TOO much for the pocket LOL LOL LOL.
For me the title is out of our range
CL I will expect us to march on to the last eight.... but there could be major problems with London Olympiakos fans trying to get into the game!!
FA CUP - Well if we don't get to the semi-finals at Wembley then Grant has DEFINITELY has to go!!!
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