We Have Nothing To Fear In The Playoffs Except

fear itself. With Big Sam telling everyone that West Ham Utd are going to be winning promotion via the playoffs it does make you wonder why the other 3 clubs even bother trying. The thing is we must all remember he has to say this having just been responsible for the biggest failure, in terms of automatic promotion, since Football League Division One was rebranded The Championship.

Having been given a Premier League budget and having been supported in both transfer windows to fail to achieve automatic promotion is unbelieveable. The last club to operate in this division with a budget anywhere close to that at West Ham was Newcastle and let's face it Chris Houghton and his team made it look easy.

Many are saying we don't have a prayer against West Ham over 2 legs and again some have suggested it will be men against boys, as it was in the game at the Cardiff City Stadium. But that's just opinion and is not bourne out by the reality of both league matches this season where there was in fact very little between the teams.

In terms of possession West Ham had 52% over both games against 48% by the Bluebirds, in relation to attempts at goal West Ham had a total of 26 attempts against 25 by the Bluebirds. In relation to fouls committed West Ham totalled 23 against 13 by the Bluebirds with only 1 yellow card to Anthony Gerrard for chopsing at the referee. West Ham scored 2 goals and Cardiff 1.

When you consider in the first match we had 8 players in our team who had never played together before in a competitive match and in the 2nd game we had just come off the back of that massive game in the Carling Cup Final it tells me there is very ltille between the teams.

That is supported by reviewing boths clubs season statistics which show West Ham top scorer (Carlton Cole) with 14 goals, we have Whitts with 13, the total of goals for the top 3 goalscorers at each club is 36, and the total for assists by the top 3 players at each club is23 for West Ham and 27 for Cardiff. It's when you look at discipline you find the nig difference where West Ham committed 448 fouls for the season with 63 yellow cards and 6 red. Cardiff committed 412 fouls for the season with 58 yellow cards and no sendings off.

I'm sure Malkay Mackay will have our team fully prepared for both the games against West Ham and the players, as they demonstrated against Liverpool, will be ready for the challenge.

As fans we need to believe and we need to support the team without fear and not listen to the West Ham are men and we are just boys, THAT'S BOLLOCKS. I'm convinced we have nothing to fear and that we will come through and we will be at Wembley on May 19th.

This is going to be our year - Believe it.

I agree

Was reading on the West Ham message boards at a lot of fans pissed off about the early kick off at home (4.30pm) as they can't stand the daylight atmosphere at home and prefer the night lights! For what ever reason a few of them are suggesting most home games that have kicked off before the normal 7.45pm night time KO have had a piss poor atmosphere! Where as in reverse evaluation, Cardiff fans have travelled well and provided some excellent away atmospheres, with some opposing teams fans actually commenting on how our lads have been the best away fans at their grounds this season.

This is where the crown will come in very handy! Even though the CCS has been slightly disappointing at times this season, so have the away fans in all honesty, we've had nothing this season that has really matched last seasons Swansea & QPR atmospheres, and the Newcastle away fans from the season before.

At home and away we really do have to sing every kick, pass & goal! The fans will have a big influence over the next few games, and will play a big part. Drown out the opponents guys! We need every stand making a noise...

The biggest difference between us amd west spam is that we are a team and they are just a bunch of individuals thrown together (a bit like us in recent years).
Proof of this is the signing of ravel morrison. I havent heard nothing about the guy since they signed him. sam baldock was another signing they made cos fat sam must have watched him on the football league show or signed him on fifa!
Nicky maynard has hardly set the world on fire either. indeed the only player who seems to have made a difference from their january signings is vaz te

The biggest difference between us amd west spam is that we are a team and they are just a bunch of individuals thrown together (a bit like us in recent years).
Proof of this is the signing of ravel morrison. I havent heard nothing about the guy since they signed him. sam baldock was another signing they made cos fat sam must have watched him on the football league show or signed him on fifa!
Nicky maynard has hardly set the world on fire either. indeed the only player who seems to have made a difference from their january signings is vaz te

we'll put Gunnarsson on a marking mission on Noble, and get Cowie to pester Nolan for 90mins! they're fucked then, as Ben Turner will be dealing with Vaz Te - Leaving Hudson open to smash 68 yd Lobs passed Green!

The west ham home game was strange. daft Kick off time, surreal after the lords mayor parade feel about the place and team.

West ham didn't impress me, I thought Boro were the best team we played. I remember the City newcastle game and they toyed with us.

Just hope we have a strong ref for both legs.

keep it tight Thursday and they will capitulate at home (like us last year)

The biggest difference between us amd west spam is that we are a team and they are just a bunch of individuals thrown together (a bit like us in recent years).
Proof of this is the signing of ravel morrison. I havent heard nothing about the guy since they signed him. sam baldock was another signing they made cos fat sam must have watched him on the football league show or signed him on fifa!
Nicky maynard has hardly set the world on fire either. indeed the only player who seems to have made a difference from their january signings is vaz te

This is what I've been saying all season long. They're a bit like Man City were (or still are); they just go out and attempt to sign any player doing well without much thought or consideration

The biggest difference between us amd west spam is that we are a team and they are just a bunch of individuals thrown together (a bit like us in recent years).
Proof of this is the signing of ravel morrison. I havent heard nothing about the guy since they signed him. sam baldock was another signing they made cos fat sam must have watched him on the football league show or signed him on fifa!
Nicky maynard has hardly set the world on fire either. indeed the only player who seems to have made a difference from their january signings is vaz te

This is what I've been saying all season long. They're a bit like Man City were (or still are); they just go out and attempt to sign any player doing well without much thought or consideration

To be fair to baldock, i think he is a good player and someone who i'd like to see in a Cardiff shirt, but fat sam has (like you say) just bought a bunch of players without giving any thought how they would fit together as a team!

they ain,t that good.you,ve beat em once.believe

I think that we have a good chance. I know it will be tough but I think that our midfield is alot stronger than theirs. They may have Kevin Nolan but we can close him down. Our defence will have to get aware though as they have big goal threats with the likes of Carlton Cole and Ricardo Vaz Te. Marshall will also have to on his toes. We have a great chance, I think we are the underdogs but we have nothing to fear. We can go to Wembley again in this great first season with Malky Mackay, I hope we do!

f*cking get me in id do a job. fuk malky

f*cking get me in id do a job. fuk malky

Good post Castleblue, the one thing that stood out to me was Gerrard got booked for chopsing !!!

What that tells me is that we had a weak defence, with Turner and Hudson, we are a much harder team to beat this time around, hence the ten game unbeaten run

Great post

If West-ham drop another red, which they are quite likely to if we frustrate them, we will be all over them like a cheap suit!