please log in to view this image please log in to view this image WEST HAM UNITED V WATFORD Venue: Boleyn Ground Date: 20th April 2016 Kick Off: 19.45 BST please log in to view this image So this will be the last time that Watford will play at the Boleyn Ground, often called Upton Park because of it's location. It has been the home of West Ham since 1904, and has a capacity of 35,016. From next season they will be playing in the Olympic Stadium, something that has raised a few eyebrows since the costs have been revealed. Upton Park has been sold to developers, and in March 2016, plans were approved for 800 homes to be built on the site, 25% of which would be affordable. This is the return fixture played at Watford Sat 31 Oct 15 at 17:00 PM WATFORD’s Odion Ighalo was the star man, as his brace earned the Hornets back-to-back Premier League wins with a 2-0 victory over in-form West Ham at Vicarage Road. Ighalo notched a goal in either half for Quique Sanchez Flores’ team, as they also secured their second home win of the season. Nathan Aké provided the opening goal, sliding a ball across for Ighalo to poke home into an empty net. Ikechi Anya’s pass found Ighalo for the second, as the front-man clinically slotted past Adrían to secure maximum points for the Hornets. HORNETS: Gomes (GK); Nyom, Cathcart, Britos, Aké; Capoue, Watson; Abdi (Behrami, 75), Deeney ©, Anya (Paredes, 67); Ighalo (Guedioura, 85). Substitutes not used: Arlauskis (GK), Prӧdl, Ibarbo, Diamanti. HAMMERS: Adrián (GK); Jenkinson, Tomkins, Collins, Cresswell; Noble (Jelavic, 75) ©, Kouyaté; Moses (Valencia, 45), Lanzini (Zárate, 45), Payet; Carroll. Substitutes not used: Randolph (GK), Ogbonna, O’Brien, Antonio. Referee: Keith Stroud. Booked: Nyom (65), Aké (81). Sent-off: Collins (83 TEAM NEWS: West Ham have forward Diafra Sakho available again after a knee injury. Sakho's recovery means the Hammers have a full-strength squad for the visit of Watford, with Sam Byram, Manuel Lanzini and Andy Carroll in line for a recall. Watford head coach Quique Sanchez Flores has promised to make changes with Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace in mind. Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes is the only confirmed starter for Wednesday's rearranged fixture. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head West Ham have won just one of their last seven matches against Watford in all competitions (W1, D2, L4). The Hammers have won 12 of the 16 league meetings at home (D2, L2). West Ham West Ham are unbeaten in eight league games (W3, D5) - but the last four have been draws. The Hammers could go nine top-flight matches without defeat for the first time since an 18-match run in 1985. They will set a top-flight club record of 15 unbeaten home matches in a row if they avoid defeat against Watford. Their last league defeat at Upton Park came on 22 August against Bournemouth. Andy Carroll has scored eight league goals this season, his best return since registering 13 in the 2010-11 season. Carroll has scored five goals in his last five matches in all competitions. Watford Watford earned their first league win in seven attempts at the expense of West Brom on Saturday. Only five teams have won more away league games than Watford's six this season. They have now won twice as many Premier League away games this season as they did in their previous two Premier League seasons combined. Ben Watson's winner on Saturday meant he became only the third player to score more than one league goal for Watford this season. please log in to view this image West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic believes opponents Watford will be helped by fielding a team with fresh legs tomorrow night. The Hornets will make plenty of changes for the trip to Upton Park with one eye on their FA Cup semi-final on Sunday. Bilic said: "On one hand they will probably think a bit about the game at the weekend, and maybe they will rest some players. "But they brought a lot of players, experienced players, in the summer and in January. "They have a big squad and a certain way of playing, and players who maybe start on Wednesday will have some fresh legs which is good for them." please log in to view this image Quique Sanchez Flores does not think he is picking a weakened team tomorrow at West Ham United and insists he has complete confidence in the Watford side which will face the Hammers. The Spaniard, whose side are 12th in the Premier League, said: “I have complete confidence in the first XI I’m going to choose tomorrow. I’m really curious to know how they develop and the characteristics of the players. "I think it’s very interesting to know how they will be competitive against an amazing team in West Ham." WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE WORLD ENJOY THE GAME
Sad to see so many years of footballing history at Upton Park coming to an end and. in my opinion, a great mistake. We could well be looking at an 'Emirates' phenomenon, ie. a stadium with the atmosphere of a library - it is no coincidence that Arsenal's best years were at Highbury, and the Hammers may be going down the same slippery slope. Spuds may be the only real London football stadium soon !
Still 1,000 tickets left for travelling Hornets. I wonder if this is due to the prices? I'm afraid I balked at the cost, but getting there and back with Mini Bloother on a school night was always going to be a struggle. A win and the maths say we are safe, but I'll take a draw.
Maybe the likes of Abdi and Amrabat can take their chance and put in a good performance but TBH I expect a defeat.
Do they care? I don't think so. There has to be a limit on how much people can cough up in a week or a month to follow football. Football is cheap here, but there is little in the way of travelling fans. Maybe 30-40 will follow the club for an away game.
Thanks for the fab thread M Frenchie! Much as the price is shockingly and disgustingly high, i'm going, simply because i haven't been there yet so this is my last opportunity to go. However, it would have been a very even game if the Hammers had still been in the FA cup, but since they are out and still have a chance of 4th and champions league, i'm expecting this to be our biggest defeat of the season, since despite what Flores says, we will be fielding a weakened team which could feature even the likes of Murray..and if that's the case, we haven't a hope in hell of getting anything! So, much as i would like to go for MY 1-3 prediction, i'm going to play it safe and go for a 1-2, which is my heart prediction..my head prediction is a massive loss!
Flores said Murray traveled to West Brom only because of Abdi illness so expect him at the most to be on the bench for West Ham. That said, I would like to see him get some game time and show those skillfull touches he has been hidding for a few years. Still only 22 isn't he? Regardless of the team we put out I fancy us to get something out of the game - another Gomes masterclass??
I think Oulare is injured.. Probably just be the subs from Saturday coming in (and Abdi/Cathcart) Still be a half decent side TBF...
I am going tonight as it is my closest ground and I can't make the FA Cup semi. Very curious to see some of the fringe players. If Pants is to be in goal on Sunday, I hope he plays today. Important he gets some game time so he isn't rusty. I don't see what harm playing him today would do, its not like he is an outfield player who will be tired come Sunday. I really don't see the point of putting Gomes in goal today if Flores expects to have Gomes on the bench on Sunday.
Nice one Frenchie, 5*'s from me. I am going tonight, but did have to think twice about the price of the ticket, especially with the semi-final coming up - but decided I have all summer to save up again! Very nervous about this game and our defence will need to take care not to give away needless free-kicks just outside of the box - watching West Ham on the TV, they very much play to get them! I will predict a 2-2 draw with Ighalo back to scoring ways.
If anyone can predict the line up, I´ll tip my sombrero in your direction. I´d take a draw right now. Thanks for the thread OFH, can´t do one for Sunday wither....
Prefer to see Prodl playing if Carroll starts. Not sure where the goals are going to come from mind you.
#Watfordfc line-up l: Gomes (GK) (c); Paredes, Prödl, Cathcart, Holebas; Suarez, Behrami; Guedioura, Jurado, Abdi; Amrabat.
WEST HAM UNITED: Adrian, Antonio, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble (c), Kouyate, Lanzini, Payet, Sakho, Carroll WEST HAM UNITED SUBS: Randolph (GK), Byram, Tomkins, Collins, Obiang, Moses, Emenike
