West Ham have endured a horrific pre-season for a variety of reasons and will be hoping that the start of the new Premier League will bring with it a change of fortune. Sam Allardyce’s side managed only one victory in pre-season despite not playing a great standard of opposition. To compound their poor form, they also had to deal with the news that Andy Carroll will miss around four months with an injury meaning they remain short of their focal point in attack. One man they will look to fill that void is Enner Valencia who was signed in the summer. He, of course, scored three goals for Ecuador in the World Cup but it looks like he will miss the first couple of games of the season due to niggling injuries and a lack of fitness.
Tottenham begin this season with another new man in charge, their third manager in two seasons. Maurico Pochettino is the latest man to take on the challenge of getting Spurs into the top four after a successful stint at Southampton. He takes over from Tim Sherwood who lasted a little over six months. Pochettino has not resorted to a drastic overhaul of the playing squad – yet – as he sizes up what he has at his disposal. Their major signing of the summer has been Ben Davies who has been brought into strengthen their options at left back but he looks set to put his faith into players who ranged from inconsistent to downright disappointing last season. One of those players is Roberto Soldado who came with such a big reputation from Valenica last season. He never hit the heights expected of him, however, so will need to prove his worth for the new manager.
The West Ham board have demanded that Allardyce plays a more entertaining and attacking brand of football this season. Fans have grown disillusioned with the style of football under the current manager, despite it being successful in keeping them in the league. I’m not sure that they have the required personnel to play expansive football but it will be interesting to see how they approach this match.
When you look at the competition for the four Champions League places this season, you could have some sympathy for Pochettino. The emergence of Liverpool and Everton last season, allied with the traditional ‘big four’ indicates how difficult it will be for Spurs to sneak into those echelons. And it’s against those teams they have to do better against as they were found wanting all too often last season, especially away from home.
This match is always a fiercely contested fixture and the fact that it’s the first game of a new season will only add to that. I would expect Allardyce to set his side up as he normally would – despite concerns of both the board and the fans – whilst Pochettino will look to his players to keep possession and create space down the flanks, as he did at Southampton. West Ham are one of the sides I believe will struggle this season and I expect them to come off second best on Saturday.
Tottenham 11/10 @ Betvictor
