Sign on, sign on, with a pen in your hand, and you’ll never work again. Sign on. Sign on.
Or perhaps given the time of year and a chance to think of those less fortunate than ourselves a few choruses of “Feed the scousers, let them know it’s Christmas time.” Actually I have no hard feelings for Liverpool. My Aunt Lucy’s family are all Liverpool fans and my sister was born there. She clearly picked up the Souse mindset in those early days. As a Doctor paid £50,000 plus for two days a week she fits in well: living off the state and not doing much work.
When football Santa grants me the chance to decide the league table, I won’t really be thinking about Liverpool. Naturally Santa and I will start at the top. West Ham to come first. Then Santa and I will head straight to the other end. The old man in the beard does not need to ask the first question. Spurs to finish bottom. And then also relegated? Chelski and Man United. Perhaps if I have been very good and get an extra wish Man City to go bust and go down as well ( as long as that does not allow Millwall to go up). See, I did not think about Liverpool once.
Liverpool come into the game with good European form but looking pretty mediocre in the league. But Europe shows what they can do. They are not a bad side. Maybe they are struggling to score goals ( and will actually be playing with a midfielder as Centre forward) but in normal circumstances they should be favourites. But a delayed return from a midweek game in Europe cannot assist their cause.
West Ham? Well it remains hit and miss. Sometimes ( first half against Chelski, all of the Wigan game) we look like relegation fodder. At other times ( second half Chelski, Man City game) we are unstoppable. The midfield unit of Diame, Noble and Nolan is exceptional, the defence has tightened up and in the absence of Andy Carroll we have Carlton Cole up front. For Carlton the big C word is confidence and surely, after the Chelski game, he must be bubbling over with the stuff.
Right now the Irons are 10th. Win and we go seventh and are just 17 points away from safety with 22 games ( including piss poor Reading twice, QPR, Wigan and Norwich at home and piss poor Villa and Southampton away) still to come.
My caveat for the game is to warn you that I am attending ( taking two folks who have never been to a soccer game before). As you know when I turn up at the Academy, West Ham tend to fail to turn up. With that caveat this is our game to lose. There is no reason why we cannot bank another three points.
Carlton Cole, Cole!
Always believe in your soul,
You’ve got the power to go,
You’re indestructible,
Always believe in…
Carlton Cole!