West Ham away is next up for the Eagles, and sitting a couple of places below us in the table, so what can we expect from the Hammers?
To get an inside track I spoke to Alex Smith, journalist at Green Street Hammers…
TEB – How are you feeling about the season so far? Your results seem a little under where you have been the last few seasons, but you’ve been unlucky it seems in a number of games?
AS – We have been unlucky this season and that’s the main reason we have made a slow start to the season. We have played badly in one too many games, that is true, but there are countless matches we’ve come away with nothing when we should be drawing or even winning. We signed eight players in the summer, and it will take time for these new signings to settle in. We’re also one of the worst sides in Europe when it comes to underperforming our XG.
TEB – To the manager, how do you see David Moyes? It feels like he’s reinvented himself over this spell at West Ham – are the fans fully behind him?
AS – When Moyes re-joined the club it was seen as a negative appointment but we have made a remarkable rise from relegation candidates to a European semi-final within two and half years. Because of this Moyes deserves time to turn our form around. Some fans get frustrated with his defensive first tactics given our attacking talent, but I’m 100% behind Moyesy.
TEB – You’ve brought in a number of new players since the summer, who’s the pick?
AS – Gianluca Scamacca is a striker still settling in but has great talent. He seems like the perfect striker – fast, eye for goal, strong, tall. Lucas Paqueta is an attacking midfielder that is very creative and makes passes other players can’t even see let alone pull off. He’s another still settling into life at West Ham but top clubs wanted him and the Hammers were surprised to sign him which says a lot. He also starts for Brazil – he must be good.
TEB – If I gave you a magic lamp, who would you like to sign in January?
AS – Tomas Soucek has been out of form so a quality midfield partner to Declan Rice
TEB- What’s your views on Palace this season?
AS – Palace were my pick for surprise package this season but it seems like you guys haven’t quite got going – especially away from home. Zaha and Eze are fantastic – and you still have a young exciting team with a good manager. Gallagher is a miss it seems but I enjoy watching Palace now compared to the Roy Hodgson days. I think Palace will finish around upper mid table.
TEB – Prediction for the game – where is it going to be won and lost?
AS – I’ll go for a 1-1 draw. If we decide to be clinical, then we can certainly win the game but missed chances are inevitable right now. We defend well but make costly errors at the back which could hand Palace something to defend. We’re often slow starters and go behind!
TEB – Cheers Alex, here’s to a top match.
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