Lack of experience and not lack of quality the answer, Hammers preview

It's strange that 2 weeks ago we were about to wrap up third with a win over Everton and move onto next season with a sense of optimism knowing that the younger players have shown improvement and that we have generally played well but lacked a cutting edge in certain games.

However a fit Henry and Van Persie and maybe a free scoring winger, who could even be Rosicky, would just about see us as title challengers again.

After the last minute defeat at Everton and drubbing by Liverpool all of a sudden we are in danger of being caught for 4th, Wenger has lost it and we need loads of big name world class signings.

It's funny how things can change isn't it!!

Some people lose all perspective when you are successful or not. I think that the gap between the top club and second for example is very small. Sometimes the luck isn't with you, as it has been with Utd this season and not so much with Chelsea.

We need experience, when we went unbeaten we had Campbell, Cole, Lauren, Vieira, Bergkamp, Pires who were all experienced internationals who had played together for a few years and knew that they could score at any minute. There were partnerships and a continuity to the side and there was belief in the system.

This season we have showed some immaturity in games but if AW isn't going to buy older players then the only thing that will allow us to gain that experience is games. We have been unlucky with injuries so the continuity hasn't been there, however, as pointed out by Goodplaya Fabregas, Adebayor, Van Persie, Walcott, Djourou, Clichy are all better than this time last year and so we are definitely heading in the right direction.

We lost 6-1 at Old Trafford and came back pretty strongly from that so I just can't understand this uproar.

Anyway, onto today's game.. Tevez must be the key man for the Hammers and they will be up for it given the run they have been on and are under pressure to stay with Charlton.

However with Rosicky to return to the starting line up and hopefully Ljungberg to start up front over Baptista I think we will be too good for them.

Expect a backlash from Anfield and a much improved performance. Adebayor to score at least one and us to be thinking optimistically by the end of the day again!