billythekid
UTC Legend
The Time Of Year For Turkeys
Thinking back, and comparing this time of the year to say back in the 1960’s and our players at Christmas. Remember when they were all presented with either a turkey or chicken at Christmas as a “bonus” which seems almost unimaginable now, with today’s big win bonuses, big wages and the latest 4 x 4’s etc. sitting in the car park. This folks is how far our club have come as we prepare for the Boxing Day fixture and our visitors West Ham, after our defeat against Manchester City.
West Ham are another club who have changed their manager recently, David Moyes is the man at the helm (manager) of team affairs now. He took up the reigns on the 7th November with West Ham after 11 games sitting in 17th place in the table on 9 points, 1 place and 1 point below the Cherries. After 19 games they are now in 17th place on 17 points, 1 place and 1 point above us.
In the Summer before Moyes took the job, their manager was Slaven Bilic who had been there since June 2015. West Ham brought in Austrian striker Marko Arnautovic for a club record fee of £25 million from Stoke City. Another striker to join is the Mexico International Javier Hernandez (know as Chicharito) for £16 million from Bayer Leverkusen. Pablo Zabeleta the Argentina International right back joins on a free transfer from Manchester City and another Manchester City player and England goalkeeper Joe Hart joins on loan. They have also signed former Sweden youth International 18-year-old Sead Haksabanovic, he switched allegiances and now plays for the Montenegro national team, the midfield player signed from Swedish club Halmstads for an undisclosed fee, he plays for the West Ham Under 21 team.
The Hammers had a bad start to the season losing all three league games which were all away, the reason for this was the World Athletic Championships were being held at the London Stadium. Since David Moyes has been there they have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 4. But in their last five matches in December, they lost 2-1 away against Manchester City. This was followed by two home games against other London clubs, beating Chelsea 1-0 and drawing 0-0 with Arsenal. After this West Ham were away at Stoke City where they won 0-3. In their most recent game at home against Newcastle they lost 2-3.
In our first PL season of 2015-16 our meeting with West Ham was an exciting encounter. It was their last season at Upton Park and we beat them by the odd goal with a 3-4 score line. In the return game West Ham gained revenge with a 1-3 victory. The 2016-17 season in the Premier League which was the Hammer’s first game at the London Stadium, they beat us by the only goal of the game. The game at Dean Court ended in the favour of the Cherries with a 3-2 win. In all competitions, AFCB have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 5.
AFCB Team News
It seems of players out through injuries and some others possibly available (being the walking wounded), it’s not an ideal situation at the moment. Players out at Manchester City were Jermain Defoe, Charlie Daniels, Harry Arter, Josh King and Simon Francis. Plus the long term ones we know about. Junior Stanislas picked up a hamstring injury early in the Manchester City game. Eddie just needs some of these to recover for the West Ham game on Tuesday (Boxing Day).
AFCB Player To Watch
Getting difficult to choose as we keep getting injuries. Hope Josh King will come back and give us some pace up front and also find his scoring touch from last season.
West Ham Team News
Captain Mark Noble has been out with a hamstring injury. Jose Fonte and Sam Byram will be missing through injury.
West Ham Player To Watch
Manuel Lanzini, with 1 goal and top of the West Ham assists this season with 4. He will be returning after missing the last two games through suspension, the rest in a busy schedule should have done him good and he will be fit and raring to go. Another player is Marko Arnautovic who has scored 3 goals in their last four league games.
Thinking back, and comparing this time of the year to say back in the 1960’s and our players at Christmas. Remember when they were all presented with either a turkey or chicken at Christmas as a “bonus” which seems almost unimaginable now, with today’s big win bonuses, big wages and the latest 4 x 4’s etc. sitting in the car park. This folks is how far our club have come as we prepare for the Boxing Day fixture and our visitors West Ham, after our defeat against Manchester City.
West Ham are another club who have changed their manager recently, David Moyes is the man at the helm (manager) of team affairs now. He took up the reigns on the 7th November with West Ham after 11 games sitting in 17th place in the table on 9 points, 1 place and 1 point below the Cherries. After 19 games they are now in 17th place on 17 points, 1 place and 1 point above us.
In the Summer before Moyes took the job, their manager was Slaven Bilic who had been there since June 2015. West Ham brought in Austrian striker Marko Arnautovic for a club record fee of £25 million from Stoke City. Another striker to join is the Mexico International Javier Hernandez (know as Chicharito) for £16 million from Bayer Leverkusen. Pablo Zabeleta the Argentina International right back joins on a free transfer from Manchester City and another Manchester City player and England goalkeeper Joe Hart joins on loan. They have also signed former Sweden youth International 18-year-old Sead Haksabanovic, he switched allegiances and now plays for the Montenegro national team, the midfield player signed from Swedish club Halmstads for an undisclosed fee, he plays for the West Ham Under 21 team.
The Hammers had a bad start to the season losing all three league games which were all away, the reason for this was the World Athletic Championships were being held at the London Stadium. Since David Moyes has been there they have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 4. But in their last five matches in December, they lost 2-1 away against Manchester City. This was followed by two home games against other London clubs, beating Chelsea 1-0 and drawing 0-0 with Arsenal. After this West Ham were away at Stoke City where they won 0-3. In their most recent game at home against Newcastle they lost 2-3.
In our first PL season of 2015-16 our meeting with West Ham was an exciting encounter. It was their last season at Upton Park and we beat them by the odd goal with a 3-4 score line. In the return game West Ham gained revenge with a 1-3 victory. The 2016-17 season in the Premier League which was the Hammer’s first game at the London Stadium, they beat us by the only goal of the game. The game at Dean Court ended in the favour of the Cherries with a 3-2 win. In all competitions, AFCB have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 5.
AFCB Team News
It seems of players out through injuries and some others possibly available (being the walking wounded), it’s not an ideal situation at the moment. Players out at Manchester City were Jermain Defoe, Charlie Daniels, Harry Arter, Josh King and Simon Francis. Plus the long term ones we know about. Junior Stanislas picked up a hamstring injury early in the Manchester City game. Eddie just needs some of these to recover for the West Ham game on Tuesday (Boxing Day).
AFCB Player To Watch
Getting difficult to choose as we keep getting injuries. Hope Josh King will come back and give us some pace up front and also find his scoring touch from last season.
West Ham Team News
Captain Mark Noble has been out with a hamstring injury. Jose Fonte and Sam Byram will be missing through injury.
West Ham Player To Watch
Manuel Lanzini, with 1 goal and top of the West Ham assists this season with 4. He will be returning after missing the last two games through suspension, the rest in a busy schedule should have done him good and he will be fit and raring to go. Another player is Marko Arnautovic who has scored 3 goals in their last four league games.
