Firstly, apologise for my somewhat muted state over this last week or so. Sources can confirm that you were all able to pick up a stream for last week’s match against United, which is good news…I am looking to sort you a stream out this afternoon’s FA Cup tie against Boro too, so just use this link to my West Ham streams page to see what’s going down.

Anyways, what an opportunity we have today. With all due respect to Boro, we probably couldn’t have asked for a more favourable tie. It’s a time where their confidence is low and when  push comes to shove, surviving in the Premier League has to be forefront of their mind…it was for Tottenham anyway.

Here’s a little reminder for all concerned of our Semi-Final Tie on 2006:

That day is up there with some of my greatest West Ham memories, what a feeling!

The really exciting thing for me is that Zola is continuing to emphasise how important the Cup is for us this year, and how highly he values it. Some managers give it the lip service, but there is an undoubted air of sincerity when Zola says it. A scholar and a gentleman….and he likes the FA Cup.

Team News:

West Ham: For the first time in a long while, I am able to write something different here! Although it’s not necessarily good. Both Valon Behrami and James Tomkins are going to have to have late fitness tests for hamstring injuries. They missed out on international action midweek, presumably as a caution, so I still expect Behrami to feature. If he doesn’t then it could signal a start for new signing Kovac.

Obviously Dyer, Ashton and Gabiddon are missing from duty. But that’s like saying there is sugar in Coke.

Team from: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Parker, Noble, Collison, Cole, Di Michele, Lastuvka, Boa Morte, Kovac, Spector, Sears, Nsereko, Tristan, Tompkins, Dyer

Middlesbrough: Marlon King is cuptied and Chris Riggot is injured.

Team from: Jones, Turnbull, McMahon, Hoyte, Huth, Pogatetz, Wheater, Bennett, Walker, Digard, O’Neil, Bates, Shawky, Tuncay, Downing, Arca, A Johnson, Alves, Emnes

Live Stream:

As per the same for every West Ham match, I will do my best to find and bring to you a live stream of the action. Some games are more difficult than others given that they are not actually on television, but I have every confidence that I will be able to find, somewhere, a live stream of today’s game.

Please use the link below to tune in to all the action, and a chat room for West Ham based banter. Irons

West Ham v Middlesbrough Live Stream

Prediction: It’s becoming pretty well know than my optimism preceeds me with my predictions, but that’s not going to change me…3-0 West Ham.

Here’s to Gianfranco Zola’s Claret and Blue Army!

IRONS

Sam