Match of the Week - Crystal Palace Vs West Ham

CRYSTAL PALACE v WEST HAM UNTIED

There is a few big matches this weekend, Everton v Arsenal for one.  On paper that is one for the football purists and should be an entertaining game.  Monday night football sees an early season meeting between the top two from the last campaign, again that should be an intriguing match up and certainly one that will lead to plenty of talking points.  These games will have more than enough coverage on them and will be analysed to death before kick-off, so for me the stand out game and most important to talk about is Crystal Palace against West Ham.  Both sides are expected to struggle this season and both lost their opening fixture last weekend.  Therefore this game so early in the season takes on more importance for each team to get the 3 points for themselves that could make a massive difference when May comes around.

KEY PLAYERS

Marouane Chamakh for Palace is one of the key players for the home side.  The Eagles are going to need to score goals to stay out of trouble this season.  Chamakh has to find some kind of form and start finding the back of the net soon to justify Palace taking a chance on the free agent from Arsenal.  Julian Speroni is the other key player for Crystal Palace, he needs a solid defence in front of him but without question he will be called upon during the game and could be crucial in the outcome of the result.

Enner Valencia, the Hammers new signing from Pachuca has pressure on his shoulder with the absence of Andy Carroll.  He made his debut last weekend coming off the bench against Spurs and it will be interesting to see him from the start for 90 minutes.  Stewart Downing is the other key player for West Ham.  Another player who impressed against Spurs, goals win games and although Downing does not score many he certainly has the ability to create the chances for others to finish.

PREDICTED LINE-UP

Crystal Palace

Speroni, Kelly, Hangeland, Delaney, Bolasie, Ledley, Jedinak, Bannan, Chamakh, Campbell.

West Ham

Adrian, Demel, Reid, Tomkins, Cresswell, Kouyate, Noble, Downing, Nolan, Vaz Te, Valencia.

SUMMARY

This has all the potential for a 0-0 if it was mid season, because its early in the campaign teams are still willing to play slightly more attacking than usual.  For that reason I can see one team taking all the points, that team I believe will be West Ham.  If Tony Pulis was still at the Selhurst Park helm then my thinking would be different but he is not and big Sam Allardyce has been around long enough.  His experience should be enough to get his team fully prepared and focused and well up for the early season 6 pointer.  I see the hammers just edging this one and getting their first win of the season.

By @AshleyCalver1