Merry Christmas!!! And West Ham Pre-Match Thoughts

It's Christmas Day! One of my favourite days of the year for many reasons. Family, friends, food and gifts! It's all good really.

This year I am extremely happy as I am now a Birmingham City FC season ticket holder in Tilton Road Block 7. As well as being able to sit in the same place every time with no hassle it also saves a hell of alot of money and will in future with renewing being cheaper to current STH's.

Ok football time... So we take on West Ham United at home tomorrow (Boxing Day) and i must say i am nervous for the team, West Ham are in fine form since relegation from the Premier League. Mainly because they have stable finances under the ownership of Gold and Sullivan the former owners of Birmingham City. The Hammers have managed to maintain key players such as Robert Green, Carlton Cole and Mark Noble. Aswell as bringing in the premier league class of former Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan and ex-Bolton Wanderers winger Matty Taylor. 2 players who have previously played under current West Ham boss Sam Allardyce when he was manager at Premier League side Bolton Wanderers.

Hammers captain Nolan celebrating a goal with his famous Chicken celebration. (If only Zigic did that!)

West Ham sit in the automatic promotion places as it stands alonside high flyers Southampton and it will take a real christmas miracle to knock them off their perch. Blues last league game ended in a 1-0 away defeat to Crystal Palace and it really dampened spirits after the 1-0 win against Maribior. But who knows? Zigic could learn to kick a ball? Fahey could score a 40 yard volley? Wood could score another hat-trick? It's football, nobody knows, and thats why i love it!

As far as Blues team news goes, Jordon Mutch is definitely in contention after returning from a broken ankle. Morgaro Gomis is now fit so Hughton has a fully fit squad to choose from excluding defender Curtis Davies who is suspended and defender Liam Ridgewell who has a "thigh injury" i think.. It's complete balls if you ask me, Ridgewell wants to leave as we know due to his transfer request in late August. They are clearly keeping him healthy so he is worth money in January to try and help ease the mess owner Carson Yeung has put us in.

I'm sure we all remember the Cup semi against the Hammers last season, being 2-1 down after the first leg, then Craig Gardners injury time rocket to seal the game 4-3, what a night!

Blues went 3-1 down but Bowyer, Johnson and Gardner bought it back!

Anyway prediction time I guess? I always back the Blues so i'm going to go for a 1-1 draw. West Ham have a lot of creativity and drive going forward, but Blues have a solid defence despite the absence of centre back Curtis Davies. We always seem to clinch a goal, whether it be through Marlon King's cool strikers finish or Chris Burke's passionate darts through the enemy defences left hand side.

Come on you blue boys! Merry Christmas everyone and Keep Right On!