West Ham - Leeds United 21st of August 2011

Tuesdays game against Hull City, which ended in a 4-1 thrashing of the tiger, hopefully provided at kick start to Leeds Uniteds season. For the first time in years Simon Grayson will actually face selection trouble, when one match banned star players, Jonny Howson & Max Gradel returns to the team. Leeds played 442 in midweek, and Clayton/Brown in midfield did well, as did left winger Ramon Nunez, who got on the scoresheet. I do believe that both Howson & Gradel will return to the starting 11 though.

We haven't played against West Ham since 2004/05 season, where we ended 14th and they got promoted via playoffs. The two games that season gave the whites four points (1-1 away & 2-1 home) - I would gladly sell the two games this season for the same results.

West Ham had a troubled season in the Premier League last year and got relegated, they have however managed to keep hold of a very good team, and during the summer new boss, Sam Allerdyce, have added among others Kevin Nolan & John Carew, so they will provide a stern test for Simon Graysons men.

But now, on to Super Leeds United. The team played brilliant in midweek, goalkeeper and defense were superb, midfield bossed the Hull players around, wingers were creative and the forwards worked really hard for every ball - we finally got to see the team play the way we hoped they would.
I don't think that Grayson will make changes in defence, Tom Lees did fantastic on tuesday, picked himself up after an unlucky own goal and went straight to the other end providing the 2-1 goal shortly after. Paddy Kisnorbo was a major doubt going in to the season, having spent nearly two years on the sidelines, I did not know what to expect, but Paddy has proven fit and raring to go! In midfield I think that Grayson will pick club captian Jonny Howson to partner Adam Clayton, pushing Michael Brown to the bench, and I also believe that long time West Ham target Max Gradel will start ahead of Ramon Nunez. Pushing Michael Brown to the bench would mean that we will once again see Leeds play in their, in my opinion, best formation of 442 - Probably with Andy Keogh and Ross McCormack up front. I will be looing forward to seeing how they work together, this will be the fist Leeds game on Danish tv since Keogh returned.

With Luciano Becchio back in training, Mikael Forsell on trial, and people pushing for places in generel, I do think that we have turned a corner and will soon see our Leeds United back in the play off race!

I predict/hope for us to get a 1-0 win at Boleyn ground with Adam Clayton getting the winner. M.O.T