It's been a while since I quoted some stats from the Beeb, so here we go:Harry Redknapp takes his new Tottenham charges to West Ham, hoping they will retain a 100% record for him. The 61 year old has won every Premier League game at Upton Park as an opposing manager since leaving the Hammers, where he was in charge for seven years from August 1994 to May 2001. Portsmouth won there 2-4 in March 2006, 1-2 on Boxing Day 2006 and 0-1 on 8 April this year.
Spurs, who are on course to retain the Carling Cup, need a victory to draw level with West Ham on points, but they're yet to win a London Premier League derby this season.
Gianfranco Zola's Hammers have followed a six-match winless run, with five points out of nine, a three game spell in which as many clean sheets have been kept.
This being Spurs, you can throw out omens and previous history, as nothing is ever certain when we clash with the 'ammers. And with 'arrys return adding an extra spark to the game (for their fans) I'm sure this will be anything but boring. After the disappoint of losing to Everton at home, and with Utd next weekend, 3 points is imperative™. Losing to them is probably on par with losing to Fulham. An annoyance. And its something best avoided considering we are just above (or arguably in) the mire.
12 miles apart geographically, but I've always fancied Chelsea, Arsenal and even Leeds more when it comes to hatred. Their insistent obsession with us is all abit stalkerish (they seem to hate us, like Arsenal, support West Ham in that order).
I know certain minorities from both sides like a rumble now and again, smashing up pubs at 6am, but I've always liked their players/teams and style of play. But I get it, if you lived in the vicinity and supported Spurs, then you'll have grown up surrounded by West Ham fans, so I can see how some of our fans hate them as much as Arsenal.
Meet any Hammer and they will tell you Spurs are not a big club - sure, we're not, but we're still a bigger club than West Ham - which I guess is what they dislike hearing. They seem to discount the fact they yo-yo between divisions, never win anything and brag on about how they finished above us that one season. Trevor Brooking header aside (my earliest footballing memory was celebrating the goal in the back garden), they won the World Cup (or maybe that was a Russian?).
Their finest recent moment was stopping us from getting to the Champions League. But I've always found that I get more defensive when Arsenal fans bring that up rather than a Claret and Blue. I do know that some Spurs fans hate losing to them, much like Man Utd hated losing to Southampton away many years ago.
WHU v Spurs is the biggest fixture in their calender, which is why they paint their faces and sing 'Bubbles' with so much more intent when we visit Upton Park. But fucking 'ell, leave us alone. We've had to contend with Chelseas love for just as long, and the itensity when we play them is far greater than when we play the Hammers. Also, a horrible little place to visit, with the over zealous police and foul-mouthed fans.
Modric plays, we win. If he doesn't, its a draw or something Fulhamesque, which will result in much open bus parade and street parties I'm sure.
Will Harry keep up his 100% record?
Will Spurs manage to win a London Derby?
Will Zola's inform Hammers hammer Harry?
If it breaks their lickle hearts to lose to us, then I'm more than happy for them to get spanked. Tune in Monday.
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"...but [Spurs are] yet to win a London Premier League derby this season."
Okay, there was the Fulham stumble. But getting points away at the Bridge and the Degenerates ain't bad.
Agree there. Both were satisfying points and at the moment, our record against the big four reads:
D
D
W
Man Utd in a week at the Lane.
More than happy with that and confident we can get 3 points at West Ham. Think WH will try to out play us which means we'll get room to wipe the floor with them. Fulham were far more intelligent and bullied us off the park. Can't see Zolas team attempting the same thing.
Think we'll win this, even if Gomes drops a clanger or two I can see us creating and scoring a few ourselves. I agree WH will play so there will be plenty of room for our midfield to push forward. Bentley owes us big time. Did it against Arsenal, and its not quite the same thing but still, London Derby and dare I say relegation 3-pointer (there I said it!).
Bent to score a brace tonight. Hope Modric has passed a fitness test as we'll need his creativity.
Spooky, you really don't see West Ham as rivals? You saying you don't hate them and you wouldn't be more than gutted if we lost?
Fucking hate losing to them.
The game is important to them. They hate us because we always look down at them. But why shouldn't we? history tells us to. They are a club who have spent 60odd years in the lower divisions then yo-yo all the way up to 2008. West Ham are just like a less successful Spurs. Both have passionate and loyal and loud fans. Both play attractive football and both have had some quite wonderful brilliant flair players down the years. But Spurs, no matter how you look at it have had far more success than West Ham.
If they were more of a top flight club, maybe, just maybe things would have been different.
I find that we get tagged by the media and other fans for wearing our hearts on our sleeves most of the time. We are proud even if we have had moderate success compared to Liverpool or Utd or dare I say the scum. But most fans are quite realistic dont brag on about how we by rights should have Champions League football.
My problem with West Ham has always been the fact that their fans expect me to care as much as they do, but I simply can't.
Having Hammers tell me about how they always look out for the Spurs result and they always put £10 every season on Spurs going down (just in case) is borderline obsessive.
It's like wanting someone to like you so desperatley, its embarassing.
"Please hate me as much as I hate you, please....look, I even cooked some lasagne"
Hate us, thats fine. But why the incisive need to go on and on and on about it?
I suppose, thinking about it logically its the 12 mile distance between both clubs. West Ham know deep down that we are more concerned with Arsenal and even Chelsea, so they have to over compensate for the lack of a true definitive rivalry.
But thats fine by me. Each to their own.
"...with the over zealous police and foul-mouthed fans." Swearing at a football match? Whatever next eh.
And of course Spooky hates West Ham. It makes him feel better to say he doesn't because he can then forget the years that supposed 'real rivals' Chelsea and Arsenal have utterly raped his team in performance, league position and cup wins.
Hi Chronic :)
Where do the first two links under the 'ENEMY' tag on the right hand side lead to?
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