PREMIER LEAGUE WE’RE HAVING A LAUGH #6: Welcome to West Ham

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By Tales From The South End - August, 20th 2015

The Cherries journey into the the Premiership for the very first time means that AFC Bournemouth will be mixing with the English elite on level terms every week.

Here we get take a look at AFC Bournemouth’s head to head record with the opponents, pick the best fans sites for essential info and five to follow, and banter with, on Twitter. We continue the ‘Premier League we’re having a laugh’ series with – SUNDERLAND.

THE LAST TIME WE MET

OCT 13th 1999 – LEAGUE CUP
WEST HAM 2 AFC BOURNEMOUTH 0

There haven’t been many meetings between the Cherries and the Hammers and the last time was in a League Cup match way back in 1999. Thats 16 years ago and I was there. We were still in League One/Divsion 2 while West Ham were in the top flight under the tutelage of ex-Cherry player and managaer Harry Redknapp.

West Ham were firm favourites to win the tie and that’s exactly what they did. With the match finely balanced at 0-0 at half-time, good job as we got there 20 minutes late, it took second half strikes from Marc Keller (don’t remember him) and Frank Lampard (remember him) to settle the tie. Who was in the line-up that day? Mark Ovendale, Eddie Howe, Ian Cox, Neil Young, Steve Robinson, Mark Stein and Steve Fletcher to name a few. It wasn’t a great game but at least I got to samples the delights of East Ham.

Previous to this the Cherries met West Ham in the 1989/90 season. The only time that the two teams were ever in the same league. The home game early in the season saw the Cherries earn a creditable 1-1 draw with the Blissett getting the goal. Away from home the result wasn’t so forgiving with David Coleman getting the only Cherries goal in a 4-1 defeat. This leaves the only other games between the clubs played in the FA Cup a long time ago. You would have to be near a 100 to remember the game as the first game and the replay were both played in 1929. West Ham visted Dean Court and played out a 1-1 draw. The replay saw the Cherries lost 3-1.

VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITION

AFC Bournemouth take on Sunderland FC for the first time in 25 years. We talk to Brian, a writer for Roker report, about how he sees the battle of the relgation candidates

AFC Bournemouth have only ever played Sunderland 6 times and this is our first ever season in the Premier League. What does the average Sunderland fan know about us?

Well I know you’re an old club at around 125 years old, you have a small intimate stadium, but of the little I know, what stands out most is last season you won an incredibly tough last season. No mean feat.

Newly promoted teams are often seen as easy fodder for the more established Premier League teams. How do you seen Saturday’s match panning out?

Having seen our signings settle quickly and seeing how much they improve us i’d be confident of our first three points of the season, however, fitness is a real concern with so many of our best XI not even having a preseason. We’re vulnerable in the fullback positions, especially left back, we leave a lot of space and as a result we’ve been shipping a lot of goals despite the back two of O’Shea and Kaboul tightening up and looking good. But going forward we’ve improved leaps and bounds. We’ve added some dangerous players and looking potent on the break. I’m expecting goals and when that happens it can go anyway.

Which AFC Bournemouth player do you think would/could/might get into the Sunderland match day squad?

The Squad? Well Callum Wilson would certainly provide a good option to our forward line. Although we’ve improved our team the squad lacks depth. Callum would definitely step ahead of Steven Fletcher and Danny Graham in the pecking order. Also Sylvain Distin. With Coates starting shaky, Wes Brown on his way out and young Tom Beadling breaking his ankle, Distin would be a very valuable squad member at the moment.

Where do you expect Sunderland to finish this season and do you think you will be playing us again next season?

I think we’ll be safe. 13th-17th category and I don’t see any reason why AFC Bournemouth can’t fit that category too. It’s very competitive in the bottom half of the league and any three ten could go. One thing is for certain for both teams, we have a tough season ahead.

Eddie Howe is a much admired manager. Would you be happy to have him to replace Dick Advocaat?

Honestly no. SAFC is a complex club at the moment and as Di Canio and Poyet found out, it’s no place for the inexperienced. Howe looks a very very promising manager but Sunderland needs an experienced head to contend with many of the abnormal challenges they’d face. We have deep rooted problems and heavy financial restrictions due to bad recruitment from the last 4 managers which has us in a rather ominous position. However, If Dick were to stay on another year and steady the ship, we’d be in a much better position to bring in a young talented Head Coach.

FIVE FAN SITES

WEST HAM TIL I DIE – West Ham Till I Die launched in February 2006 and attracts visits from more than 60,000 West Ham supporters every month.

KNEES UP MOTHER BROWN – KUMB.com is an independent website managed by supporters of West Ham United which offers a fans’ perspective on current affairs at the club.

FOREVER WEST HAM – A fan site bringing news, opinion and features

WESTHAMFANS.ORG – Born to be Claret and Blue

WEST HAM WORLD – A website written by fans, for fans. The site is packed with news, opinions, interviews, stats and lots more content that aims to get people talking.

OFFICIAL WEST HAM UNITED SITE – The official West Ham website