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Wednesday night sees West Ham travel to Old Trafford in search of a first win against Manchester United in the League since 2007.
After a poor display against Tottenham a much better performance will be needed if three points are to be taken back to East London.
Manchester United currently sit top of the League and will be looking to add to their 5 home wins already accumulated this season.
West Ham will be forced to make one change to the side who lost at White Hart Lane with Mark Noble suspended.
We again have two views from the opposition and I would like to say a massive thank you to Huw Williams and Nathan Horder who have kindly answered the questions.
If you are on twitter please follow Huw @Biccles23 and Nathan @NathanHorder
13 games in, top of the league. It would seem you are on course to claim back title. Are you happy with your start to the season?
Huw: It’s brilliant to be top so early on, as United are not renowned for good starts, so on that aspect I’d say I’m happy but the performances so far have been far from great. Falling behind in 12 out of 20 games in all competitions this season is not good… we can’t expect to keep coming back from 1 or 2 goal deficits. It is good to see them fight to come back from those situations but looking back at the season so far there’s not even a hand full of games where I would say that we definitely deserved to win.
Nathan: I would say that I'm ecstatic with United's start, achieving first in 13 games and still sitting a point above City who are undefeated, is very pleasing on the eye. However, I have two concerns, one is all the injury problems, especially with the new medical centre having just been opened at the Carrington complex. The second, that it is taking us until the last 20 minutes to really kick into gear, but then again United never really push on until after Christmas.
Are Manchester City the only other team who can challenge you for the title this season or do you think there is anyone else who could mount a challenge?
Huw: I would say City are the main contenders but I don’t think you could rule Chelsea out. Like United, I don’t think City have hit top gear & they are yet to lose which is worrying. Plus they are out of the Champions League & probably not going make it to the Europa League so they can concentrate on the League.
With Chelsea it’ll be interesting to see how Benitez does there. He may be able to get the best out of Torres which would make their attacking force a lot stronger with the likes of Hazard, Mata and/or Oscar behind him. The fans haven’t given the Spanish waiter the warmest of welcomes so that might work in our favour but you can never tell what impact a new manager will have.
Nathan: I don't think City will be the only challengers this season, the gap between all the squads in the premier league is getting smaller. Gone are the days when the 3 newly promoted teams come up and automatically go back down. Whether its that they're getting wiser or spending their money more constructively who knows, but then again Spurs last season were a stud length away from beating City and really blowing the title race wide open. And there could be a new dark horse this season in Everton with an unstoppable Fellaini.
When Alex Ferguson finally retires do you fear that this could spell the end of your dominance of English football? Who could possibly replace him?
Huw: I don't think Fergie will ever retire, I think he'll probably die on the job. In all seriousness though, I'm not looking forward to the day he leaves as it might indeed mean we'll lose our edge that we've had under his reign.
We need to get in a manager that won't tinker around with the set up too much and I think David Moyes is the man. I think he's done an excellent job with Everton with limited resources and I can see a lot of similarities between him and Fergie.
Nathan: Ferguson's impending retirement is obviously the most threatening dark cloud hanging over the clubs future, but I think what Ferguson has instilled in the club is we don't stop until the Ref calls an end to it. Or "Fergie time" as its affectionately known, will live long on after Fergies reign, much like the legend of the Busby Babes which still lives on 30 years after they built the foundations of what we see before us today.
I am probably going to get a lot of people who wont believe what I'm going to say next, but, I wouldn't go for either Mourinho or Guardiola. Ok both men are fantastic managers, tacticians, mentors what ever you want to call them these days, but at Old Trafford its about longevity with Fergie and his 26 years, Mourinho walks into every club of being the "special one" and, ok, wins everything within his 1st couple of seasons, but once done he's off for his next challenge and the same for Guardiola has won 13 trophies out of 16 in the last four years.
But where is the passion to regenerate the club and go again season after season, to better what they already achieved, beat off the next club who threatens their crown at the top. And so my choice would have to be David Moyes, who goes quietly about his business with, no offence to Everton intended, on a very low budget.
What made you support Manchester United?
Huw: My dad is a United fan and before I was even old enough to understand football he'd already decided who I was going to support. But also, whilst growing up, most of the players I admired played for United… Hughes, Cantona, Giggs, Keane to name a few.
Nathan: It was out of pure sympathy, I was 8 or 9 left in front of the T.V, as you are at that age, and United was on the box facing, little did I know, the might of Borussia Dortmund. They went on to beat United 1 0 and knocked them out and that was that, I was hooked on Football and Manchester United.
Where do you feel you are weakest in your team and is there a player you would like to see brought in?
Huw: I'd say defensively is our weak point this season, especially with the injuries we've had in that area. We've conceded almost every game this season and that is a worry.
I can't really think of anyone in particular I would like us to get in. I would like to see Vidic back in and hopefully stay clear of more injuries for the rest of the season. With one of the youngsters alongside him (be it Jones, Smalling or even Evans) I think it would make for a more settled defensive unit as they look more assured of themselves when he's there.
Nathan: The weakest point of the united squad has to be the back 4. Injuries galore at the moment. Evans has been on outstanding form since the beginning of the season and i feel this has contributed to him now joining the physio's waiting list. The 2 players I would like to see in a united shirt are Mat Hummels of Dortmund or Serdar Tasci of Stuttgart, both very solid at the back and very suited for the prem.
You have two former Hammers in your squad. How are Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick getting on this season?
Huw: With the injuries we've had at the back I think Rio has played a lot more than he would have had everyone been fit. In previous years he has been a legend for us but he is getting on a bit now and don't think he should play week in week out. Don't get me wrong, he is still a good defender and he has been quality for us over the years but I believe it's time for the youngsters to take over.
Carrick has probably been one of our better players this season. Over the past few seasons I haven't been his biggest fan as I thought he was far from the standard of when he first joined United but this season he has been one of the more solid players.
Nathan: Rio is Rio at the end of the day with or without injuries he still a class act. Ok so he got found out by a very speedy looking Spurs (mainly Bale) but when he is fit its hard to keep him off the squad whether its United or England. And Carrick has always been a frustrating player for me as he can slow the game too much for my liking, but with the return of Scholes and Giggs playing more centrally he has really picked up his game this season.
What do you make of West Ham so far this season?
Huw: Good start to the season, sitting pretty in the table at the moment. Don't think you'll have any worries about going down. You've got a manager there who gets the best out of his players. I know he wasn't the first choice of a lot of supporters because of the style of play he incorporated at other clubs. But I don't believe he has just brought the long ball. West Hams style of play has been varied this season with good ball players in the middle (Diame, great signing on a free) but you have always got the out ball with the likes of Carroll up top.
Nathan: Very impressed with what I'm seeing at Upton Park, barring the odd results here and there, Big Sam is doing what he normally does which is getting the job done. Its not pretty football being played but he hasn't had the time like Rodgers did at Swansea, a quick return to the prem was required from him and he hasn't disappointed, allow him to finish the job and you could be looking at a Bolton style European campaign.
Are there any West Ham players who you are concerned about?
Huw: Andy Carroll. We can't seem to cope with players with a strong physical presence up front especially with Vidic out. Take the first game of the season for instance. Fellaini absolutely bossed the United back line, as he did in the 4-4 draw at Old Trafford towards the end of last season, and we just couldn't deal with it in either game. So the way Carroll puts himself about he is a bit of a concern yes.
Nathan: The Nolan Carroll combination is always a concern, now that Carroll has found the net he is going to be even more of a threat, even if he doesn't manage to find the the net i'm sure Nolan will pop up somewhere in and around the box.
Your favourite Manchester United vs West Ham moment
Huw: Definitely not the 1-1 draw at Upton Park in the 94-95 season where you cost us the title or the 2001 FA Cup at Old Trafford where Barthez stood there like a lemon with his arm in the air as Di Canio ran in on goal.
Probably either the 7-1 win at Old Trafford back in 2000 or coming back from 2-0 down at Upton Park to win 4-2 two seasons ago. Both happening in April to strengthen our lead at the top of the league for us to go on and win it in both years.
Nathan: Favourite moment between the 2 clubs, what makes me smile every time I think or talk about it has to be the Hammers 1 0 win over United, when Barthez (still never found out who he was waving to) had Di Canio barrelling down 1 on 1 with him and decided to play mind games rather than actually do his job he was bought into to do, and keep United in the cup.
What (if anything) annoys you about West Ham?
Huw: Got to be careful what I say hear having married into a family full of West Ham fans. Nah, can't say anything really annoys me about West ham. I know a lot more about them than I did before meeting the in laws and it seems to be a good family club.
Plus the majority of all the West Ham fans I've spoken to seem to have similar views to me on scousers so can't fault them for that.
Nathan: There is nothing I can honestly say that annoys me about West Ham, maybe I have a soft spot for them and would even say I've missed the Hammers when they go down.
If you were offered the Premiership title or the Champions League this season, which one would you take?
Huw: That is a tough one but I would have to say the Champions League so we'd only be one behind Victimpool. It's always great to win the league as I'd say it's probably the hardest thing to win due to the majority of the games. But I'd just love United to win 5 Champions League trophies so the scum would have nothing else to hang on to and shut them up for good.
Nathan: I would have to say Premiership all day over Champions League, Prem by far the best and most exciting football competition after the FA Cup with its upsets.
And finally, your prediction for the game.
Huw: Well clean sheets are scarce at the moment and I think it'll be a tight game.
Manchester United 2-1 West Ham United
Nathan: Probably my most hated question when it comes to United and predicting scores, but would go with MUFC 2 - 1 WHUFC.
Again many thanks to Huw and Nathan for their answers.
Record vs Manchester United
Played 123 Won 43 Drawn 24 Lost 56
Biggest Victory: 5-1 11 Oct 1930
Biggest Defeat: 1-7 01 Apr 2000
Trivia
* Our first meeting against Manchester United came in 1911 in the FA Cup 3rd Round where lower division West Ham won 2-1 with goals from Danny Shea & Thomas Caldwell.
* Stuart Pearson played 139 times for Manchester United scoring 55 goals before signing for West Ham in 1979. He helped the Hammers win the 1980 FA Cup Final, with his cross-shot setting up Trevor Brooking for the only goal in a 1–0 win over Arsenal. Pearson retired from league football in 1982 due to a knee injury, but continued to play at a lower level, in South Africa and the NASL.
* Full back Noel Cantwell played 274 times for West Ham between 1952 and 1960 before joining Manchester United for £29,500. He helped the club win the 1965 and 1967 league titles and captained United when winning the 1963 FA Cup Final.
Cantwell died on September 8, 2005 from cancer aged 73.
* Luke Chadwick and Jonathan Spector were both signed from Manchester United having not established themselves as first team regulars at Old Trafford.
* Ralph Milne joined West Ham on loan from Manchester United in 1990 and made just one substitute appearence away at Derby County in the League Cup.
He was not a popular player with Manchester United fans and is regularly mentioned when the club's worst-ever players are being debated.
Alex Ferguson remarked that Milne was his worst signing, saying "I only paid £170,000 but still get condemned for it".
* Youth team product Paul Ince made a highly controversial transfer to Manchester United for £1 million in 1989. Ince had been photographed in a Manchester United kit long before the transfer was complete, which appeared in the Daily Express. Ince received hateful abuse from West Ham United fans for many years
afterwards.
Videos>
West Ham 1 Manchester United 0 24th April 1992
http://youtu.be/eNAHGZcV56c
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Manchester United 4 West Ham 2 18th September 1971
http://youtu.be/b_gDa30Ro8U
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West Ham 2 Manchester United 1 2nd February 1986
http://youtu.be/kvj4R3LmhtE
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West Ham 1 Manchester United 1 27th November 1983
http://youtu.be/zH1bwqZUDQ4
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Manchester United 0 West Ham 1 28th January 2000
http://youtu.be/ti9wUMfsSRw
Email: vinnywhufc@hotmail.com
Twitter: @vinnywhufc
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