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Having taken a point from our last game against Stoke City we begin a run of tough games with three of last season top six to come over the next few games.
First up is Tottenham Hotspur who have had a decent start to the season but such is the expectation at White Hart Lane new manager Andre Villas Boas is already under pressure from some sections of the Spurs support.
Spurs lost two of their most creative players in Van Der Vaart and Modric during the transfer window and although both were replaced it is always going to be difficult to progress when losing players of that quality.
We go into this game confident that we can get something and it seems like a long time since we have gone into a game at Tottenham feeling that we could actually win it.
The last time we did secure all three points at White Hart Lane came way back in 1998 when goals from Ian Wright and Marc Keller gave us a 2-1 victory in a season that we would finish 5th.
Once again we have TWO View from the oppositions and I would like to say a massive thank you to both Richard Swigg and Irving Francis.
12 games into the season, are you happy with your start?
Richard: The press have been focused on how AVB coming in has changed everything, when the real story was losing Modric. Its our equivalent of Barcelona losing Xavi or Juventus losing Pirlo. Add to that Van Der Vaart going, and I think we had some major shifts to make, and AVB has dealt with it pretty well.
In particular the derby last week; He set up with 2 up front and we were ahead in 15 minutes and Lennon had only just missed making it 2-0. Then Adebayor throws himself in there like a madman and we're down to ten men. I think the way he changed it in the second half worked very well given the circumstances.
Basically I think the AVB haters need to stop thinking that because they played Champ Manager for 10 years and once got to talk to Alan Green it means they know anything.
Irving: Mediocre start - but nevertheless only 6 points off that coveted 4th spot.
Were you pleased with the appointment of Villas Boas? Did you want Harry Redknapp out? Is it a matter of time before the fans turn on AVB?
Richard I was. The Chelsea situation was irredeemable for him. At first it seemed like Abramovich was trying to summon in this new broom to sweep out the old guard, but once he realised he needed his old guard he blamed AVB for doing what was asked of him. As for the fans turning on AVB, theres a fecking stupid tendency in football fans now to bemoan things if theyre just chugging along unremarkably for a time - Sam Allardyce was a victim of this at Blackburn and look what happened to them.
I was never really sure of Harry to be honest, of course he did a superb job, but ive always seen him as a bit of a mercenary, and once his head was turned by the England job and he basically admitted he wanted it, he was out
Irving: I did not want AVB - but now he is manager - we must support him though good and bad times. I love Harry and sad to see him go. We are all fickle when we want to be. If all AVB does is to beat Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham he will be a hero. It can be a funny old game.
Did Spurs do enough in the transfer window to improve the squad? Are you not weaker than last season?
Richard: Without Modric of course we're weaker, he's a better player than Silva and (bold as this may seem) Fabregas. Last year Sandro was never in the team, now with no Modric, Sandro has been our most important player. That says it all about how good Modric was at controlling a midfield. Dembele is terrific, but whilst he's been out we have had to stick to a safety first central midfield.
I love Huddlestone to death, but I don't think he has a place in this team once Parker and Dembele come back (not to mention Tom Carroll who looks seriously impressive).
Transfer market wise, we need to sell two keepers. Lloris. Friedel. Cudicini. Gomes. That's just embarrassing.
Irving: I was happy with signings although another striker would have been ideal give that Adebayor is off to the African Nations in January.
Who are your best and worst players?
Richard: Best is still Bale, of course. He never ceases to amaze me. The Inter performances from a couple of years ago are right up there for my best memories of Spurs ever.
Worst - In terms of unsuitability its Tom Huddlestone. He's a wonderful technician but he doesnt have the natural phyisical ability to play in midfield. Someone should have grabbed him as a kid and taught him to be a central defender because with his touch and skill he could have been incredible in that position.
Irving: I would say that Vertonghen is currently the best by a mile and worst is probably Dempsey on the evidence so far.
Does it annoy fans of Tottenham than even when Arsenal are shit they still manage to finish above you?
Richard: Only because of some dodgy Lasagne before we played you in 2006!!
Irving: Big time - Even when we lost 5-2 in January - we were still 7 clear of them. I am old school so really annoying.
You have two ex Hammers in your squad. How are Scott Parker and Jermaine Defoe getting on? Are they popular with the supporters?
Richard: Do you even need to ask? I think Defoe will go on to become a manager, he has the temperament. And I don't think there's a single person in the world who doesn't love Scott Parker and his WW1 fighter pilot hair.
Irving: Love them both. Their performances are usually more good than bad.
What do you make of West Ham this season?
Richard: More than solid. Especially with Carroll. You'll be top 12 this season at least. It depends if you all collectively lose your minds expecting Barcelona football like Blackburn fans did when Allardyce got sacked from that job.
Irving: Excellent start and can't see too much long ball which is associated with big Sam.
Are there any West Ham players you would have in the Tottenham side?
Richard: Well i was watching England play Sweden last week and apparently Zlatan is just a shit Andy Carroll...
Irving: I would take Mark Noble and Andy Carroll.
What annoys you about West Ham?
Richard: Nothing really, it's hard to be mad with a club like West Ham. As a Spurs fan I actually hate Chelsea more than I hate Arsenal. So my hate has enough outlets already.
Irving: Nothing more than London opposition - sometimes I wonder if we are just each others raison d'etre.
Your favourite Tottenham vs West Ham moment.
Richard: I've been thinking long and hard, but I cant remember one match in particular apart from Lasagnegate. Or the Olympic stadium spying fight recently - I am typing this in disguise.
Irving: 4-3 at the Boleyn ground when we won.
If you were offered both the League Cup and FA Cup trophies or a 4th placed finish, which would you choose?
Richard: League and FA cup. At least you can go to those bloody games.
Irving: No Brainer - 4th
And finally, your prediction for the game.
Richard: I'm writing this after we had a scratchy draw away to Lazio. Bale had 90 hard minutes, but Lennon's been rested. I reckon we'll have enough to come through with a 3-1 win (fucking jinx).
Irving: 3-1 Spurs
Many thanks again to Richard and Irving for their answers.
Record Vs Tottenham
Played 190 Won 67 Drawn 48 Lost 75
Biggest Victory - 6-2 06 Apr 1940
Biggest Defeat - 0-7 04 Nov 1899 (as Thames Ironworks)
Trivia
* One of our highest scoring games against Spurs came at Upton Park on 6th November 1976 as we ran out 5-3 winners with goals coming from Billy Bonds, Alan Curbishley, Billy Jennings, Trevor Brooking and 'Pop' Robson in front of 28,997 people.
* There have been many players who have played for both clubs, none more so notable than Martin Peters who left West Ham in March 1970 having been at the club for 11 years.
West Ham received a record-breaking £200,000 (£150,000 cash) for Peters from Tottenham Hotspur and Peters moved to White Hart Lane, with Spurs and England striker Jimmy Greaves (valued at £50,000) going the other way.
Peters remained at Spurs for 15 years playing 186 games and scoring 46 goals.
* A £400,000 fee took Paul Allen away from West Ham to Spurs in 1985 where he went on to play 297 games, scoring 23 goals over an 8 year period.
* Matthew Etherington left Tottenham to join West Ham in 2000 in an exchange deal plus cash for Freddie Kanouté. Etherington would go on to play 177 times for the club scoring 18 goals between 2003 and 2009. He won the Hammer of the Year award of his performances in the 2003/04 season.
* Having played for Spurs between 1984 and 1988 later in his career Clive Allen would join West Ham. He scored 14 goals in the 1992-93 Division One campaign as West Ham were promoted as runners-up, but played just seven league games (scoring twice) in the 1993-94 in the new Premier League and by March 1994 he had given up hope of displacing new arrival Lee Chapman.
* Callum Davenport, Mitchell Thomas, Michael Carrick and Jimmy Neighbour are amongst some of the players who have played for both sides.
Videos
West Ham 3 Tottenham 4 - 4th March 2007
http://youtu.be/8vxUTsvLKUk
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West Ham 4 Tottenham 3 - 24th February 1997
http://youtu.be/dVi_kRrWafQ
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Tottenham 0 West Ham 2 - 3rd September 1983
http://youtu.be/jv5lv69LOV4
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Tottenham 0 West Ham 4 - 2nd September 1981
http://youtu.be/hdgNhNGk0hQ
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West Ham 2 Tottenham 1 - 26th October 1991
http://youtu.be/LyoVq2xFChU
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Ian Pearce goal vs Tottenham - 13th April 2002
http://youtu.be/sEvg2kgC_eg
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Les Ferdinand goal vs Tottenham
http://youtu.be/604IUqeALTc
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Email: vinnywhufc@hotmail.com
Twitter: @vinnywhufc
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