Sky Sports expert Paul Merson looks ahead to this weekend's live offerings.....
Merse on Tottenham v Blackburn
Merse on Sunderland v West Ham
Tottenham v Blackburn
I can't say I was surprised to see Spurs lose to Fulham last weekend. Harry Redknapp is a top manager and he will know his team have ridden their luck in some games while he's been there.
Ince: tough start
They had some major luck against Arsenal, they should never have beaten Liverpool in a month of Sundays and they were second-best against Man City until they had a man sent off. If you take those seven points away then Spurs would be well adrift and Harry's not stupid, he knows they've been treading a thin line.
He knows he needs to bring some players in during the transfer window. First on the list must be a goalkeeper because they'll be in the bottom three forever if Heurelho Gomes keeps throwing in goals like he has been. I'm not saying he's no good, I saw him at PSV and he was alright, but it's tough being a goalie when your confidence has gone.
I really don't buy into this idea of the "West Ham way". What's the point of playing nice passing football if it doesn't win you anything?
Paul Merson
Quotes of the week
1.00pm, Sun, Sky Sports 1&HD1
Sunderland v West Ham
3.30pm, Sun, Sky Sports 1&HD1
The spine of their team has not been solid all season. It's no good having the best wingers and full-backs if you're not strong through the middle and I'd say they still need another centre-half, central midfielder and centre-forward.
Roque and a hard place
Blackburn are also in the bottom three and it's been bad times for them lately. Roque Santa Cruz hasn't played a lot of games and that has played a big part. You've got to feel sorry for Paul Ince coming into a big job and having his best player missing - where would they have come last season if you took all of his goals away?
I hope they stay patient with Ince because it's hard when your top players are out. The problem is that if you don't get a good start in the Premier League then you're in trouble; there are no games you can look at and say 'it's an easy game'.
I'd say Blackburn should be a middle-of-the table team and I hope the fans' expectations aren't too high. But with a third of the season gone the table is starting to take shape and Ince knows they can't afford to lose away at the teams around them. I'm sure he'd take a point from this one.
It's a bit different for Tottenham. They're playing at home against a team that haven't won in seven games - if they're not looking to beat these then where are they going to win a game?
PAUL'S PREDICTION
Home win - I'm going to go for 2-1 to Tottenham. They're the more confident and Darren Bent's on fire. Blackburn won't just go there and defend, they'll have a go and I'd be surprised if they don't score.
MERSON'S MAGIC MAN
Darren Bent - He's doing great at the moment. He makes good runs, he's a good finisher and like any other centre-forward in the world, all he needed was a good run in the team. You need that if you're going to score goals consistently.
Sunderland v West Ham
This is a big game for West Ham because they've got some stinking games coming up. They play Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Villa after this so they need a result badly at the Stadium of Light.
Last week they got their first clean sheet in 27 games and you're always going to struggle if you can't keep teams out. I know they like to play free-flowing football but I really don't buy into this idea of the 'West Ham way'.
What's the point of playing nice passing football if it doesn't win you anything? They won the first FA Cup final I can remember in 1975 and they won it again in 1980, but since then they haven't won anything. They've clung to this way of playing since the 1960s when they had top players like Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters but I don't understand why they keep doing it if it doesn't achieve anything.
The West Ham fans are fantastic, they pack the ground out and they love their team - but are they happy sticking with 'the West Ham way' when it doesn't get results? It's got to change, the fans deserve something better.
Luck's out
I worry for West Ham. They've got too many players injured and they don't seem to be able to win football matches at the moment. Yes, they kept a clean sheet against Portsmouth but Robert Green had to make some worldly saves to keep them in it.
I saw them slaughter Middlesbrough in the first half a couple of weeks ago. They gave Boro the run-around in the same way that Chelsea did but the goalkeeper made some great saves and the second goal just wouldn't come. In the second half they were hanging on and only came away with a draw. West Ham ain't getting a lot of luck at the moment and I don't think you can underestimate that.
Sunderland have a good work ethic and when they play as a unit they'll beat teams. Djibril Cisse is big, strong quick and he'll score goals - there isn't much more you want from a striker.
The problem they have is when games get a bit tight. I find they sometimes lose games that they shouldn't. I know they were thrashed by Chelsea, but they rarely get the run-around and you see them lose by the odd goal too often. There's a little bit of quality missing but I'd still be surprised if they went down.
PAUL'S PREDICTION
Draw - If West Ham can stay in the game and keep it tight then they've got a chance. It's a hard game to call but I'm going to go for 1-1. I can't see either team keeping a clean sheet.
MERSON'S MAGIC MAN
Scott Parker - On his day he's as good a player as I've seen and I don't know why he's not in the England squad more regularly. If he's not one of the best seven or eight midfield players in this country then we're spoilt. He's the engine for West Ham, he gets things going and it rebounds on everybody else. He needs to play well for West Ham to win.
Comments (2)
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Lewis Carter (Newcastle United fan) says...
have to say i agree with paul about scott parker... he is one of the best players i've ever seen at NUFC he was increble. most commited and hard working player in the premiership, we should never have sold him. also i hope west ham hammer the mackems and a nice 0-0 draw will do me in the tottenham match :)
Posted 14:16 21st November 2008
Nigel Gadsden (West Ham United fan) says...
Yes Paul - West Ham fans are happy with the West Ham. Always have been always will be.
Posted 12:51 21st November 2008
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