A Hammers point of view

rossyhammer - from Vital West Ham answers some questions ahead of the Pompey v West Ham game this weekend.

Are you happy with how your season is going so far? Being in the bottom 3 - like us - I would 'hazard' a guess at no...
Grimacing trying not too look at this with a slice of dark humour - the honest answer is no! We've played well, in patches, but we can't string together a run of results. We've also been hit with an injury curse that just refuses to go away and that was compounded when Dean Ashton was forced to retire. But let's look on the bright side, 2010 can only get better can't it?

Granted I do not see you that often, but when I have seen you on the box you look a decent outfit - you play nice slick, and exactly what I like, attacking football. Some of the counter attacking stuff looks fantastic. So WHY are you in the bottom 3?
Errors, injuries, bad luck, you name it, everything that could have gone wrong has. Also the financial side of things, much like yourselves, doesn't help! Perhaps we might be accused of being a little gung-ho at times. Who else could be 5-0 up at home to Burnley and then be screaming for the final whistle as Burnley get it back to 5-3?

Are the club treating the fans well, or are they fleecing you?
I think they've more pressing issues than worry too much about the supporters. With the Millwall riot issue still to be resolved we might not be inside the ground for a couple of games soon!

Who do you think was your best summer signing and why?
With his hands tied, due to our financial restraints, Gianfranco Zola had very little cash to spend but out of those he's plucked from the bargain bucket, I'd go for Diamanti! He's got character and he can do the unexpected.

Could you have done with more arrivals - if so in which areas and maybe even who?
Gianfranco Zola made a conscious decision to go with a small squad but not realising that it'd be decimated with injuries. In hindsight, perhaps the only area we don't need to strengthen is between the posts. Everywhere else could have done with a bit of a back-up!

Will those arrivals you want come in January, or are you more concerned about keeping players?
A mixture of both! Already the grapevine is alive with the suggestion that clubs are looking at Robert Green, Matthew Upson, Scott Parker and Carlton Cole and one may have to be sacrificed, if we don't get a financial injection, to purchase the three or four players we need to add a little depth to the squad. Unfortunately, the names being thrown into the hat - Luca Toni, Mateja Kezman - don't excite me!

What were your expectations, or hopes before the season kicked-off? Have they changed since?
Like all fresh faced cherubs (who am I trying to kid), I was after glory. I accept we're never going to win the Premier League but would it have been churlish to hope for a domestic cup? Now, as 2009 heads into 2010, I'd just settle for Premier League survival!

What about Pompey, what do you think we should expect or hope for? I would imagine most will say 'survival' now!
It's always sad to see a club in trouble especially when it's a club that isn't as fashionable as some but well liked by others. But the crux of the matter is, if it comes to a straight choice between 'The Hammers' or 'Pompey' going down, you'll know which mast my scarf will be flying from!

Who is the real danger man that Pompey need to watch?
Scott Parker - Having his best run of form for us and his tenacity knocks teams out of their stride. He'll probably pick up another yellow card for the cause but he gives his all.

If you could take any Pompey player and put him in your squad who would it be and why? Hayden Mullins was always a favourite wasn't he - although I 'promise' Aaron Mokoena is a 'world-class' footballer if you want him!
Jamie O'Hara could do a decent job for us in our midfield; he just strikes me as having something about him.

Is there anyone that you would like to send Pompey's way?
Apologies but we're a little too short staffed, at present, to lose any of our playing staff!

Go on, who's going to win the Boxing Day 'relegation 6-pointer?'
I think both sides know this is a crucial match, a defeat for either side will be a hammer blow and although I know you'll disagree, I'm going for a West Ham win, probably by the odd goal in three!

Questions answered by rossyhammer from Vital West Ham.

Look out for my answers anytime, they might already be there by the time you read this...

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