Okay after drinking way too much wine at the Basel Weinmesse yesterday (as well as spending way too much money as a result!) means that the extra hour didn't really give me that much of a great sleep - it was too restless because of the alcohol. I hope it was for that reason and not because of the game today but there is a little cause for concern regarding today's match. Mostly it stems from the almost unanimous opinion of the pundits that we should easily win at a side who haven't won since the first day if the season and are second from bottom. However, Liverpool had no chance without Gerrard having lost 4 on the spin and playing against United and look what happened there.

Realisitcally we have the players to win this game and West Ham do try and play football so we won't be kicked off the park but..

A team at the bottom, fighting for a badly needed three points, a home crowd up for the game, our inability to defend set pieces (and with Cole/Upson they will fancy their chances) and a poor(ish) display in midweek all mean that we have to be at the very top of our game AND, most importantly, TAKE any chances that come our way (and they will). I'll settle for a repeat of last year here but I wouldn't be surprised if the game develops a little like our Fulham game earlier this season.

Come on you Gunners!!

In the early 80s I went to University in the East End (QMC) and lived for two years within spitting distance of Upton Park. It happened to coincide with the best season West Ham ever had in the 1st Division, they finished 3rd mainly due to the strike force of Tony Cottee and Frank McAvennie (wonder what happened to him !!) so it was not good being a) a student and b) an Arsenal fan in the locality.

I think I went to see Arsenal around 8/9 times at Upton Park and it was never a favourite place, either due to the intimidatory nature of the place (especially when trying to get out of the police escort as you lived near by), the results when we go there or standing on the North Bank whilst we lost 3-1! What has always amazed me is how West Ham are seen as such a lovely family club when in the 80s (thankfully to a lot lesser extent now despite the Millwall game) they were a club of violent and racist fans (Bulldog was openly sold outside the gates) fans. Yes they produced a stream of good football players and played football the way it should be played - it's just the local family were the Krays!

However, my favourite memory of Upton Park was a game when Arsenal were not involved. My house mate was a Newcastle fan and we went to the West Ham v Newcastle game when the Hammers won 8-1!! It was the fact that Alvin Martin scored a hat trick and Peter Beardsley ended up in goal as well as the major piss taking that remains a great memory till today.

Financial journalists and experts must be suffering from an incredible workload at the moment as every Tom, Dick & Harry needs a quote or an opinion about the Global financial crisis and its impact on everything aside from the actual financial world. Stories have been written about the Premier League clubs and their potential for catastrophe. So we have West Ham and the dodgy Icelandic banks, Stadiums not being built on Merseyside and Man Utd's sponsor being bailed out by the US government.

However, what this means, in reality, is a plethora of stories that actually aren't stories but need to be written to justify the editor's need for contemporary news, i.e. anything about finance & football. So it was no surprise today to see a story regarding Arsenal, Liverpool, Stoke City & Bolton Wanderers (+ a few more)  that relates to the British Government's partial takeover of UK banks, Lloyds TSB and HBOS (RBS). The headline says "Top Clubs Sweat" but the article really articlulates that there is actually no real problem, in fact, the banks are in a better position in many ways. Yes where renegotiation is needed there could be  aproblem or two but with guaranteed TV income for teh short term that probably wouldn't impact too much.

The current worldwide financial crisis has sparked off a number of stories regarding the stability and long term state of football clubs. Radio 5 live (last night's podcast) broadcast two opposing views with Lord Triesman stating his fears about the current level of debt within the Premier League and Richard Scudamore (PL chief spin doctor it seems) saying debt is good (in a Gordon Ghekko manner) whilst having a go at Platini and the French in general! Of course, our old friend Blatter has been having a go at Foreign Owners in Europe. Yesterday also saw the announcement that West Ham have no money for January due to the collapse of an Icelandic bank....

So what does all of this mean to football as a whole. Obviously the game won't just collapse overnight but when you consider how many banks and other financial institutions have suddenly collapsed or been seen to be on the brink of collapse, there must be some worries. Debt isn't an issue provided you have appropriate income and so clubs with wealthy owners are fine so long as the owners stay and their wealth is easily accesible and not at risk from the current crisis. 

However, how long will it be before clubs start saying to players and agents we can't afford new bigger contracts and no, we won't pay exorbitant wages in the current climate. Suddenly players will all be looking for the Man Citys of this world where the financial mess means nothing if you have billions at your disposal.

Of course, the Premier League is primarily funded by Sky TV and if (and it's a big "if" as fans see losing football coverage as a last resort) they lose subscribers in large numbers then maybe they couldn't afford the size of the TV deals now. With West Ham already suffering from loss of sponsor and new owner's losing money, Liverpool postponing the Stadium building and Man Utd having problems with their sponsor, we are seeing the effects already.

As the rain falls here in Switzerland I'm sitting watching the Tour de France (plus ca change) and reflecting on a really quiet day.

It's so bad that L'Equipe even mentions transfer stories about Andrew Johnson - I'm not sure anyone has actually heard of the player in central Europe. They also mention that Arshavin could be going to England, though he won't accept offers from clubs like Newcastle or Aston Villa, only the four Champions League clubs. That's so gracious of him, like many other players, to think he's only good enough for certain clubs - bloody arrogant players (grrrrrrr!!).

Locally, 20 Minuten had a story about Swiss national player, Valon Behram,, being transferred to West Ham United but he may go to the Bundesliga now.

Back to the cycling for me now....