Looking Forward to Wednesday

I can't help feeling it is crunch time for Pardew, luckily for the West Ham manager the next two games against Wigan and Bolton should be winnable. West Ham are now perched just above the relegation zone and Newcastle, just one point behind, have a game in hand. So it is imperative that West Ham pick up at least four points from the next two games, starting with a win on Wednesday.

Wigan like West Ham are struggling in their second season back in the Premiership and their defence in their 0-4 defeat on Saturday looked like they wouldn't even be able to stop a West Ham striker. Wigan have lost their last three games and West Ham have begun to find some form at home, so on paper it looks an easy home win. But West Ham are not finding anything easy at the moment.

With only two days rest Pardew has the perfect excuse to give certain players 'a rest' on Wednesday. Konchesky certainly looks like he needs a rest and McCartney seems a reliable replacement. I also feel that Mascherano deserves another start and Benayoun, if fit, should replace Bowyer on the right wing.

Benayoun has been adamant in the papers that he has not fallen out with Pardew and that he didn't travel to Goodison Park because he was injured. However Benayoun doesn't seem to have featured much in Pardew's plans since he played for Israel, claiming that the threat of worsening an injury wouldn't stop him playing for his country. What is certain is that Bowyer has not looked comfortable on the right wing. If Benayoun is injured Paintsil could possibly play on the right in midfield. From what little we've seen of him so far he doesn't look a worse crosser of the ball than any of the other West Ham players.

The only other option to change things around is up front. Tevez looked good, especially in the first half yesterday, but I can't remember Zamora even having a shot. Therefore it could be time to give Harewood a chance to partner Tevez up front.