This Sunday sees the Eagles head east to the London Stadium to take on a West Ham United team that have won their last two league matches and looking to make it three on the bounce.
Ahead of the game, I caught up with Alex Smith, journalist at Green Street Hammers to see how the West Ham fanbase is feeling …
TEB – A fairly mixed first part of the season for you guys, but you’ve seemed to look more balanced and dangerous with Mohammed Kudus established and you are now regulars in Europe. How’s the season felt so far?
AS – It’s been a positive start to the season looking at results. Mid-table and not far off the top six, top of our Europa League group and still in the Carabao Cup.
There have been some frustrations as we’ve probably not played our best that regularly but it’s unrealistic to not be content with where we are. Kudus is a fantastic player who is getting better with every game that goes by. It feels like James Ward-Prowse has been here for years already and Edson Alvarez adds toughness in midfield. All positive additions.
TEB – So, what’s the ambition for the season?
AS – We dare to dream of another season in Europe! If that’s getting there through cup competitions or the league, who cares! Outside the top ten in the Premier League would be underwhelming given our squad but finishing top six will be tough. It’s also important to keep going in the cups. We are proving ourselves a bit of a cup team dare I say and a decent run in the Europa League and securing ourself a glamour tie at some point is the realistic aim as I can’t see us winning it.
TEB – A word on David Moyes? Is this his swansong or is he with you forever?
AS – It’s a difficult one and it’s impossible to answer at the moment. Into the last season of his contract, if he gets us European qualification again, which would be the fourth time in a row, it’d be unfair to let him go. A more disappointing season and it could be time for a change.
Some fans don’t like the so-called “negative” style. But I completely disagree, there’s nothing wrong with trying to be defensively solid and counter-attacking when that’s our strengths. It’s laboured in possession at times but apart from that I don’t find it boring. Whatever happens in the summer, Moyes leaves a hero, we finally won a trophy!
TEB – Who is your unsung hero so far?
AS – Jarrod Bowen has been great, back to his best, but our unsung hero has to be Tomas Soucek. He was poor for much of last season as he sat deep to allow Declan Rice to go forward, but with Alvarez sitting, Soucek can get in the box and he’s one of the best in the league when crosses come in and has a knack of goal scoring. Nunez, Saka, J Alvarez all have the same number of goals as him in the league.
TEB – For any Palace fans who haven’t seen much of West Ham this season, how do you think you’ll set up?
AS – It’s difficult to predict our team with Bowen potentially out and a Thursday Europa tie. We like to invite teams on and then counter but I doubt we will be able to do that against Palace, who I expect will defend compactly. We will have to break a low block down, something we often can’t do. We’ll need to get Lucas Paqueta on the ball!
TEB – Who’s your current pantomime villain?
AS – Definitely Callum Wilson. He’s hated by Hammers for handballing in a stoppage time winner in a pre-VAR era and then calling it ‘magic‘. His podcast with Antonio and some of the comments on there are frustrating. From Palace, Olise has a tendency to score against us.
TEB- If you had a magic wand, which Palace player would you have in the West Ham squad or line up?
AS – Eze, Olise, Guehi and Andersen are the stand outs for me. I’d probably choose Eze.
TEB – What are your views on Palace this season?
AS – It looks like another season of mediocrity. Never going down and never threatening to push for a European place. There’s a good squad there but it needs a couple more quality additions to start looking higher in the table. Olise and Eze are exciting but without them I’m rarely on the edge of my seat. Defensively, you’re nearly always tough to beat.
TEB – Prediction for the game?
AS – It’s going to be a tight game. Hodgson will ensure Palace are organised and it will frustrate us for long periods as we struggle to break you down. The first goal is key. I’ll go for 1-1.
TEB – Cheers Alex! If you’d like to hear more from Alex you can check him out at greenstreethammers.com or find him on X
