<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><img class="alignleft" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e0/West_Ham_United_FC.svg/200px-West_Ham_United_FC.svg.png" alt="" width="138" height="126" /><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-8697" title="Chelsea_FC.svg" src="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/200px-Chelsea_FC.svg_-150x150.png" alt="" width="127" height="122" /></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong> </strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>WEST HAM UNITED </strong><strong>v </strong><strong><strong>CHELSEA FC </strong></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Upton Park, London</em> 11 September, 2010</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <p style="text-align: justify;">After a hiatus due to international duties, the <em>Premier League</em> will be back in action on this Saturday, 11<sup>th</sup> September. The <em>Hammers </em>are set to welcome <em>Chelsea</em> at <em>Upton park</em>. The season has not done any favors to <em>Avram Grant’s</em> curriculum vitae so far. <em>West Ham</em>, who are at the bottom of the league table, have lost all three of their matches so far, registering their worst start since 1977.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">To make matter worse, rumour has it that <em>Grant</em> might have only three upcoming matches <a title="Avram Grant's Job" href="http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/942503/GRANT-HAS-THREE-GAMES-TO-SAVE-JOB.html" target="_blank">to save his job</a>. Even recent history bets against <em>West Ham</em> in this fixture as <em>Chelsea </em>have not lost against <em>West Ham</em> in the last seven years.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Missed penalties and dubious decisions made by match officials have added to the long list of misery of <em>Grant</em>’s men. The goal difference between <em>West Ham</em> and <em>Chelsea</em> is already 22, only after three matches. The morale of the team is at an all time low. <em>Green </em>seems yet to recover from his <em>World Cup</em> goof-up. The defense is shaking like a pack of cards. The attack line has not done anything worth a mention. <em>Scott Parker</em> and <em>Kieron Dyer</em> have so far been the only two players to keep their fans interested.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The only saving grace for <em>West Ham</em> could be their home crowd support. Last season they were able to hold <em>Chelsea</em> at <em>Upton Park</em> and <em>Grant</em> can only hope of some miracle to stop his former club’s juggernaut.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/robert-green-west-ham/image/9622668?term=west+ham+united" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://view3.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9622668/robert-green-west-ham/robert-green-west-ham.jpg?size=500&imageId=9622668" border="0" alt="A dejected Robert Green sits in the net after conceding West Ham United's third goal West Ham United 2010/11 Manchester United V West Ham United 28/08/10 The Premier League Photo Robin Parker Fotosports International Photo via Newscom" width="500" height="339" /></a><em>Can the Hammers change the course of the tide?</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, <em>Chelsea</em> seem to have hit all the right chords since the season kick-off. All the key players are on song. <em>Malouda </em>has so far scored in each and every match. Target man <em>Drogba </em>has scored a hattrick against <em>West Brom</em> and followed it up with a hattrick of assists against <em>Wigan</em>. <em>Kalou</em> has chipped in with goals. <em>Sturridge</em>, fresh from his exploits with England U-21, is eager to prove his mettle at the highest level to <em>Ancelotti.</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">If fit to play, <em>Lampard </em>can expect yet another traditional <a title="West Ham Welcome Lampard" href="http://www.thehardtackle.com/index.php/the-boo-boys/" target="_blank">Green Street welcome</a> as there would be no love lost between the crowd and him. For a team that has not yet conceded any goal so far in the league, the defense looks to be the weakest link for the defending champions. With <em>Ferreira</em> operating as the right side-back and <em>Terry</em>’s fitness not yet confirmed, ex-Cheslea forward <em>Carlton Cole</em> would try their best to end their club’s predicament.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Medical Room Updates:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Valon Behrami</em> is expected to return after a thigh injury. Defender <em>Thomas Hitzlsperger</em> <a title="Hitzlsperger" href="http://www.clubcall.com/west-ham-united/hitzlsperger-injury-update-1094162.html" target="_blank">has been ruled out</a> and is expected to return next week when the <em>Hammers</em> pay a visit to <em>Stoke City</em>. <em>Collison, Hines</em> and <em>Kurucz</em> are all still out.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Chelsea</em> will be looking to have <em>John Terry</em> and <em>Frank Lampard</em> back after injury. Although both are back in training <em>Carlo Ancelotti</em> may decide not to risk both of them.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Jose Bosingwa</em> is back in training and could be pushing for a start but <em>Branisalav Ivanovic and Gael Kakuta</em> are both out with back injuries.</p> <strong>Probable Line-Ups:</strong> <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">West Ham United</span></strong> <p style="text-align: justify;">The <em>Hammers </em>might slot in new recruit Lars Jacobsen in the problematic right back slot. <em>Ben Haim</em> played in both the international matches for Israel. The way <em>Gabbidon</em> got hoodwinked by <em>Giggs</em> et al in their last match, <em>Ben Haim</em> should be ready to take his place. Newbie <em>Victor Obinna</em> might make his debut as well.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Behrami </em>stayed with the club to regain full fitness and should replace <em>Boa Morte</em>. <em>Barrera and Dyer </em>- impressive against <em>Manchester United</em>, to play the wide role to the lone striker <em>Carlton Cole</em>. The probable line-up is:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Green (Gk), Jacobsen, Upson, Ben Haim, Illunga, Parker, Noble, Behrami, Dyer, Barrera, Cole.</em></p> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Chelsea FC</strong></span> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Chelsea</em> will probably keep their winning combination intact. However, <em>Lampard</em> is yet to recover from the hernia surgery that kept him out of the England squad. <em>Ancelotti</em> confirmed that <em>Terry </em>is fit for the match, and in all likelihood <em>Chelsea</em> will start with a certitude on the outcome of the match. The likely line-up for the match:</p> <em>Cech (Gk), Ferreira, Terry, Alex, Cole, Benayoun, Mikel, Essien, Malouda, Drogba, Anelka</em> <strong>TheHardTackle’s PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR:</strong> <em>Florent Malouda(Chelsea)</em> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/chelsea-west-bromwich/image/9548022?term=malouda" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9548022/chelsea-west-bromwich/chelsea-west-bromwich.jpg?size=500&imageId=9548022" border="0" alt="Stamford Bridge, Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion, Premier League 14/08/2010 Florent Malouda of Chelsea in action Photo Marc Atkins Fotosports International Photo via Newscom" width="300" height="404" /></a><em>The lethal French Connection</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The French skipper is enjoying a fine run of form. The midfielder has scored in all the matches played by Chelsea so far. He was able to echo the same form for France during the Euro qualifier match against Bosnia. Even though all eyes will be on his team-mate, the powerful Ivorian, the French maestro will be a sure-fire at the <em>Boleyn Ground</em>.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/chelsea-west-bromwich/image/9548022?term=malouda" target="_blank"> </a></p> <strong>TheHardTackle’s PREDICTION:</strong> West Ham United 1-4 Chelsea <strong>TheHardTackle’s BLAST FROM THE PAST:</strong> <object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="480" height="385" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bjI0bgCM_sI?fs=1&hl=en_US" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bjI0bgCM_sI?fs=1&hl=en_US" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="385" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bjI0bgCM_sI?fs=1&hl=en_US" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object>