Here’s a brief round up of today’s team news, followed by a link to my new live Twitter discussion feature (or if that’s what you’ve come here for, then CLICK HERE to get chatting)

West Ham

- Carlton Cole is the latest to be added to our injury list. He won’t be around until sometime into the New Year.
- Upson is out with a hamstring injury, although will be back for the trip to Birmingham
- Behrami has had to have some more surgery on his knee. Although not major and will likely return during before Christmas.
- Noble has recovered from a calf strain but now has a cold
- Jimenez has picked up a ‘muscle problem’, whatever that may be. Even the official site is not sure whether either will be considered today.

- Diamanti has returned to full training
- As has Dyer who also has a couple of reserve games under his belt – scoring a brace in one.

Manchester United

- Jonny Evans, Rio Feridnand and John ‘O Shea all miss out
- Other than that, they have no fresh injury concerns

- Edwin van der Sar returns between the sticks

All things considered….

So odds are not in our favour today – infact you can get 13-2 at PaddyPower for a West Ham win. Great.

However, as I like to remain an optimist, I’m confident that if we get big performances today from the likes of Parker, Franco, Green then we can give this a good shot. Parker has been outstanding so far this year and has been a rock for us in the last couple of games. Franco is proving himself to be an intelligent, passionate striker perfect for alongside Cole. Without Cole however, I’m confident that if you put the pace of Hines alongside him that we can cause some problems amongst a significantly weakened United back line.

I can’t see us keeping a clean sheet and chances are Giggs will probably bag himself one, as he always seems to do against us.

We should see some goals today and if our boys really step up to the plate then we may come away with more than just a pat on the back and a “good effort” from Zola. In fact I think we could really suprise a few people today – particularly, as I say, their backline is weak. If Vidic decides that it will be a walk in the park and Franco and Hines (or whoever) are pumped up for it, then anything can happen.

However…

If we’re not up for it, or decide to do anything other than play with an attacking mentality, then it could very well be am hammering. Unfortunately. But let’s not dwell, three points it is from me.

IRONS!

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Twitter users: It’s time to trial my new conversationally based mathday feature! Please click on the Twitter logo below, drop tweet deck (or whatever) for 90mins and make this page the hub of all things West Ham v United (or CLICK HERE to get chatting)

(If you’re not a Twitter user, then you can still click on the logo above to get a feel what people are saying about the game. IRONS)

The replacement could possibly come in the form of Micheal Kightly. The Wolve’s winger is valued at around £4m, and his previous Manager has hinted at a possible move to the Premiership…saying that one club has already tabled an offer.

He is only 22 and it is encouraging to see us linked with younger players. Core West Ham values pulsate around a thriving youth policy and it should be protected at all times. To see us offering young players contracts is pleasing, and to see us also being linked to good young prospects is amazing. Bring on the future!

Sam