So the footballing week is set to end with West Ham entertaining Aston Villa at Upton Park on Sunday 10th September. This weekend will see some big fixtures with Man United playing Spurs at Old Trafford, and the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. It will also be the first time Ashley Cole and William Gallas are seen in the opposing colours since the transfer deadline day club swapping antics, ending the long and boring Chelsea-Arsenal-Cole saga. However, all eyes will be on Martin O?Neill?s Aston Villa who will be hosted by Tevez and Mascherano?s West Ham United, live on Sky Sports.

In what has been a well documented week in the lives of West Ham United football club, this fixture promises to see two clubs with huge potentials after recent takeover reports, go head to head in a game that already both clubs will be so desperate to win.

Randy Lerner is on the verge of a full takeover at Aston Villa after acquiring 89.9% of the shares. Mr. Lerner must reach 95% before he officially has ?taken over? but let?s face it, as with the Glazer?s at Man United, this will inevitably happen shortly.

At the realms, Villa have Martin O?Neill, who in my eyes is the best British manager in the game today. Martin joins Villa after a spell out of the game for personal reasons, and it is great to have him back. I just hope Villa don?t spoil our party on Sunday! Loaded with Petrov, O?Neill?s first signing, Villa will be a technically minded side, who will be tough to break down. I can?t imagine them turning up to make the numbers. They will be here to win.

So to West Ham, and I think had I been writing this column a little bit longer, I may have been linked with a takeover bid to West Ham! My money is still on Kia and MSI having something major to do with the takeover, whether or not it is solely him and MSI, or part of a consortium where he will play ?relationship manager? is left to be seen. It?s definitely an ?intriguing? time (as per Pardew) and I remain positive as to the outcome. I?m publicly not a fan of the existing board at West Ham, and providing Pardew (and not Sven!) remains in charge, a wealthy board will only bring light to the end of our tunnel.

And what?s this all about with Sven hey? The big spenders must really have an addiction to chucking money down the drain. First Abramovich met with him to discuss the possibility of taken a role at Chelsea, which didn?t happen. Then the fake Sheikh had him personally admit an interest in Villa should they be taken over (and that Beckham and Owen would follow him there!), and now he?s being linked with a role at West Ham, if ?exploratory takeover discussions? progress. Let me categorically state this here ? West Ham fans do not want Sven anywhere near our club. If anyone is going to takeover, there will be no need to change the current management structure. Bring us your money, not dirty laundry. Please, please, please, let this whole Sven rumour be a joke.

Onto Pardew, and this weekend will be one of his biggest tests as West Ham manager. Accompanied by the Argentinean duo, Pardew will have a squad that will be up there with the strongest ever to play for West Ham, despite a bit of a recent injury crisis. With first team players Roy Carroll, John Pantsil, Matthew Etherington and Dean Ashton out, this should give some of our new signings the opportunity to enter the fray.

I?m expecting Pardew to line up in a 4-4-2 formation with Robert Green deputising for the injured Roy Carroll. This could be the start of a long run in goal for Green, but not a lot has been said about Carroll?s injury in the cracking Northern Ireland/Spain game midweek. If Carroll is 100% fit, then maybe Green will have to wait a little longer for his debut.

In defence, I?d expect Mears to come in as Right Back, although we may see a fit again Jonathan Spector take a place at Right Back at some stage. Centrally we?ll have the regular partnership of Gabbidon-Ferdinand, and at Left Back will be Paul Konchesky. This is where Pardew?s fun starts.

Ideally in Midfield, Yossi will carry-on on the left side of midfield with Bowyer on the right. Centrally, I?d like to see NRC (retain captaincy despite recent rumours that Benayoun may be given the armband), with Mascherano alongside him. Up front, I?d go with Tevez-Zamora.

On the bench, I?d have Walker, Spector, Mullins, Cole and Harewood. Spector can play Right Back or Centre Back. Mullins can play Full Back or Centre Midfield. Harewood can play Right Wing or Forward and Cole is clearly an out and out striker.

With that line up, and hunger on the bench, who?d rule out another 4-0 victory over Villa? After all if we compare this season to last, both started with a 3-1 victory at home after going 1-0 down, followed by a tough away draw. Then we lost our 3rd game 2-1 and beat Villa 4-0 live on Sky Sports. Who says history doesn?t repeat itself ?. Now where are those odds on 4-0, Tevez hat-trick?

Join me here on Wednesday for a review of the weekend?s games and also for a preview of the Uefa Cup match vs. Palermo on Thursday, or maybe from Barbados via wireless internet if I win the lottery/that ?20 I?m putting on 4-0 West Ham, Tevez first goal comes in. Maybe I will put a bid in for the Hammers myself depending on the winnings.

Thanks for reading.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 8th, 2006 at 9:51 am and is filed under West Ham United. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. Both comments and pings are currently closed.