Craig Bellamy (West Ham United) v Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham Hotspur)
It’s the return of Harry Redknapp to Upton Park tonight.
A man so entrenched in the very spirit of East London football, showboating with the Spurs elite as he looks to plot the Lilywhit
es’ continued path away from the murky depths of the Premier League relegation places.
Of course, long before Redknapp batted his eyelids at the management game, West Ham and Tottenham had enjoyed a chequered history, with great battles and even greater batterings down the years often splitting bragging rights between the warring London geographical factions.
But tonight’s battle brings together two warriors of old – former teammates at Newcastle United, now plying their trade daan Saaf, with in-form Craig Bellamy and his unmistakable Nike Mercurial Vapor IV boots looking to get one over on Spurs talisman Jermaine Jenas, who’ll be trotting out in his Puma V1.08 Olympian blue cleats.
Conditions may be cold and firm under foot but each player is clearly going for footwear that maximises speed, aggression, and control, with Bellamy’s attacking lightweight feel countering Jenas’ desire to tackle back more in midfield.
Both boots are unbeaten in previous Boot Wars clashes, so something’s got to give.
Defeat in this game may hold dire consequences for the realistic aims of both sides this term. Victory on the other hand, and the prospect of European football next year is definitely back on. And in Bellamy and Jenas, we have two true matchwinners in the making. Let battle commence!
Ransacker Predicts: What do you think we are, pundits or something? In truth, this looks too close to call for us. A match in which many think Spurs will prevail, but Bellamy’s fleet of foot was almost worth the points at Anfield last week, so who are we to bet against the Hammers coming good? Could this be the first Boot Wars draw?
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About the author
James is an experienced football journalist who edits two leading Premier League club mags. He has worked for Sky Sports and is endlessly complaining about shin splints. And Mark Lawrenson. His favourite boot is the Adidas Predator Powerswerve. Although it's rumored that he once owned a pair of Nicks boots!
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