The West Ham and Crystal Palace supporters on Premier League progression, Saturday's encounter and the influence of Iain Dowie
To celebrate the final year at the Boleyn Ground, we’ll be talking to home and away supporters before every Premier League match at the famous east London stadium this season.
In our latest Fan v Fan, Anthony from West Ham Social and Daniel from HLTCO discuss Saturday’s encounter.
Right, Anthony, West Ham are genuine contenders for a Champions League finish and winning the FA Cup. How are you feeling and would it be a failure if the club achieved neither of those things?
Anthony: The feeling is of euphoria at this moment in time.
Being a West Ham fan has been arduous at times over the years, so to be asked this question at the business end of the season shows how far the club has come and it’s exciting.
At the start of the season, many West Ham fans felt Slaven Bilic was a risk and the overall aim was to stay in the Premier League.
If we don’t achieve either, it wouldn’t necessarily be a failure as everything which has happened over the past few seasons are stepping stones to a bigger picture of success and a winning ideology for the club.
It would be hugely disappointing for sure, though. There is so much excitement for the potential prizes at the end of the season and it’s all within touching distance.
But we cannot get ahead of ourselves – the players have bought into this being a long-term project of success, with the foundations being built now.
If you had to choose top four or the FA Cup, which would it be and why?
Anthony: This answer may differ from other accounts and even players’ opinions, but I would go with Champions League spot every time.
The reason being is this: winning the FA Cup is a great achievement and the club’s name is carved in silver forever, but getting a Champions League spot at this moment in time would be enormous for the club.
I believe getting the Champions League this season could change the immediate fate of the club and would be the start of the global brand, which the club are striving for.
Playing in an elite competition the season we move to a world-class stadium would attract vast amounts of revenue which, in turn, means a greater opportunity to attract world-class players.
It will be much harder next season to get into those golden top-four places. Money will be rolling into the Premier League, making it even more competitive at the top.
Spurs are a top team now, Chelsea will come back stronger, Manchester City will be better under Pep Guardiola and Manchester United will be speculating once again.
If we join the elite now, we have the chance to leave some clubs behind.
And Daniel, what exactly has happened to Palace since Christmas? From the outside looking in, it’s baffling.
Daniel: It’s pretty baffling from the inside looking out in all honesty.
A lot has been made of the injuries suffered by Yannick Bolasie and Connor Wickham at the turn of the year, but our general play has fallen away gradually over the last three months.
After the early promise that came with Alan Pardew’s arrival, it’s been a thoroughly depressing run of form.
But after failing to reinforce the squad in January – barring the free transfer of Emmanuel Adebayor – it could be easily argued that we’ve only got ourselves to blame.
What’s Pardew’s role in all of this?
Daniel: For all of Pardew’s well-documented self-confidence, our three-month run without a Premier League win in 2016 has raised huge questions over his ability to stop a mini-crisis from spiralling out of control.
When things are going well, he revels in the suggestion that he is one of the game’s top bosses.
But once the chips are down, he struggles to adapt his approach accordingly, both tactically and mentally. Our fans’ patience is finally starting to wear thin.
Anthony, can you see any similarities to how things unravelled for Pardew at West Ham?
Anthony: He has a noticeable pattern emerging in his managerial career.
He tends to have an excellent and hugely entertaining first season with a club, followed by a lacklustre and disappointing second or third.
We know this all too well when his West Ham reign came to an end in the 2006/2007 season. His form would have most probably seen us relegated had he not been sacked.
He has been extremely unlucky with injuries and some big decisions have gone against them this season. However, the Palace fans are getting on his back as he cannot adapt to get the much-needed points on board.
That was the difference with Bilic this season: when our injures hit us hard, he adapted the team, worked hard and still got the points.
The talk of him becoming next England manager has quietened down now, hasn’t it?
Anthony: Most definitely, although he shouldn’t be ruled out completely.
He is still one of the longest-serving English managers, which should not be forgotten.
If the FA adopted contracts based on single tournament performances, he may be worth a shot. After all, his first stint in charge is always a positive one.
Daniel, the Hammers won 3-1 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. Where do they rank in terms of teams you’ve faced?
Daniel: Other than Chelsea, who came to Selhurst Park as a rejuvenated force in the immediate aftermath of Jose Mourinho’s departure, West Ham are the best side we’ve faced in SE25 this term.
They have an extremely effective blend of grit and flair, personified perfectly by the likes of Dimitri Payet and Mark Noble.
Bilic appears to be building something special in east London. And after being level with them a few months ago, I’m genuinely jealous.
Plenty of players have played for both clubs. Any favourites?
Anthony: Hayden Mullins played a pivotal part in getting the club promoted and the excellent first season back in the top flight (under Pardew).
One moment, however – which is more comical than anything – has to be mentioned: Iain Dowie’s own goal against Stockport County in the cup.
It lives long in the memory for the most ridiculous bizarre goal ever. It wasn’t funny on the night as we lost, but I can look back and laugh now.
Daniel: Funny you should say that, Anthony, as Dowie will always be a name that comes to mind when Palace fans are asked to recall our closest links with the Hammers.
Having played for both sides, he was also our manager when we took on West Ham – then managed by Pardew – in the 2003/04 play-off final.
Having taken the division by storm following the festive period, we burst into the top six at the last minute, before beating Pardew and co. against the odds at the Millenium Stadium.
A golden moment in our recent history.
Any fond (or not-so-fond) memories of this fixture from years gone by?
Anthony: Daniel’s already mentioned it, but the 2004 play-off final defeat was a horrible day all round. We won’t dwell on that one.
Daniel: Fair enough. Our visit to Upton Park under Tony Pulis in 2014 was another high point.
Having looked dead and buried when the Welshman arrived, we went on an incredible run of form, eventually culminating in us finishing 11th.
It was on that day – thanks to a Mile Jedinak penalty and a 1-0 win – we secured our mathematical safety in the division, prompting the players to celebrate in front of the away end amidst a sea of jubilation and relief.
Opposition player you admire the most?
Anthony: I would say Yannick Bolasie is the stand-out man in that team for me.
He is quick, powerful and likes to dribble with the ball. When he’s on his game, he can pose a threat to any team.
Daniel: On a personal level, Noble is the man I’ve always looked towards with admiration.
Happy to declare his undying love for the club, he embodies everything football fans want from their players. Honest, hard-working and loyal, it’s no wonder he’s a hero to West Ham fans.
If you could have an opposition player from any era, who would it be?
Anthony: I will answer this by saying Ian Wright, but in his prime.
We had him for one season, in the later stages of his career but he still showed his class.
The amount of goals he scored was unbelievable and there are not many better that have graced Palace.
Daniel: I’m sure I’m not the first person to say this, but it has to be Bobby Moore. To any English football fan, he is an almost mythical figure.
Majestic in possession and wonderfully measured in every aspect of defending, he will always be looked upon as a legend.
And finally, score prediction for Saturday’s game?
Anthony: West Ham are flying with confidence at the moment and will have a very strong team available. And Palace are the complete opposite.
I can only see this going one way: 3-0.
Daniel: My positive side says West Ham 1-1 Crystal Palace, but the more realistic view is West Ham 3-0.
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