Frank McAvennie predicts West Ham v Newcastle clash
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Frank McAvennie has been blown away by the pre-season performances of West Ham, but still doesn’t back David Moyes’ side to beat Newcastle United on Sunday.
The Irons begin their 2021/22 campaign with a trip to Tyneside this weekend, hoping to avenge the disappointments of last season after Newcastle did the double over the Irons.
The first of those reversals was the first game of the season, and history repeats itself on Sunday, though the game will take place as St James Park rather than the London Stadium this time around.
West Ham went unbeaten in pre-season, winning friendly fixtures against the likes of Atalanta and Brentford.
It was the 6-2 thrashing of Scottish giants Celtic on July 24 that really impressed McAvennie, though, who played for both sides during a storied playing career.
McAvennie told West Ham Zone: “I’ve seen West Ham in the flesh and thought ‘my god’, the sharpness, the quickness, the movement was different class and that was without the two Czech boys [Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek] and Declan Rice.
“It was unbelievable, I was really impressed, it could have been 10 against Celtic.
“I think it will be a draw on Sunday, I think it’s got a draw written all over it, a score draw.”
We wouldn’t settle for a draw now as we should be beating mid-table teams, but with our recent record against Newcastle, it wouldn’t be the worst result in the world.
We have failed to record a victory in any of our last five fixtures, losing four of them.
It’s time to end this dismal run.
In other West Ham news, the club have made an approach to sign this ex-Irons trialist from a Premier League rival.
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