CRYSTAL Palace columnist SAM ROSS 
this week explains why he feels West Ham need taking down a peg or two ahead of this weekend’s meeting at Upton Park.
THE Eagles will make the short trip to east London at the weekend for a London derby against West Ham in search of what would be the sweetest of victories. Ever since the 2004 play-off final, I haven't had any sympathy for the Hammers and find their Championship arrogance hugely frustrating and disrespectful.
That arrogance was further proved by the attempt to sign Fernando Torres from Chelsea and the suggestion of bringing Carlos Tevez back to 'where he belongs’.
Despite being second just one win away from reclaiming top spot, they haven't actually been that impressive this season for a team with a host of experienced Premier League names.
West Ham United by definition are a Premier League club with huge financial backing, a big fan base and a quality home ground.
But quite simply they are not a Premier League side, something they need reminding of in my opinion. Sam Allardyce has made it no secret he wants to be a Premier League manager again as quickly as possible and the team he assembled was clearly about making that happen in the short term.
Thinking they could sign Torres has been labelled as 'ambitious'.
Ludicrous would be a better description.
Maybe there is a lot of envy coming from a fan of a club who has never had large amounts of cash to spend.
But the 'big boys' of the Championship clearly weren't satisfied with the bullish signings of Ricardo Vaz Te, Ravel Morrison and Nicky Maynard.
David Gold and David Sullivan were rumoured to be interested in taking over the Eagles when we were struggling in administration before the might of Steve Parish and Martin Long.
Well, thank God they didn’t.
It is safe to say Dougie Freedman certainly wouldn't be in charge and the demands of quick success under the 'ambitious' couple would have led us steeply down the wrong path.
While some of the relegated Premier League side have moved on, they have kept a majority of them, as well as making additions.
I have always been a fan of Kevin Nolan but he isn't enjoying the same personal success as he did when he took the step down to the Championship with Newcastle.
It would be especially pleasing to see the young talent at Palace, as well as the faithful players, come out on top against a team supposedly destined for a top flight return.
Their fans, just like fans at any football club, deserve to have high expectations of their own club but Hammers supporters constantly think their club is better than they actually are.
While beating Millwall at The Den and being the first team to turn over Brighton at the Falmer Stadium were great rival victories, Palace beating the Hammers would cap the lot for me.
Cant wait to invade their Chat Forum
this week explains why he feels West Ham need taking down a peg or two ahead of this weekend’s meeting at Upton Park.THE Eagles will make the short trip to east London at the weekend for a London derby against West Ham in search of what would be the sweetest of victories. Ever since the 2004 play-off final, I haven't had any sympathy for the Hammers and find their Championship arrogance hugely frustrating and disrespectful.
That arrogance was further proved by the attempt to sign Fernando Torres from Chelsea and the suggestion of bringing Carlos Tevez back to 'where he belongs’.
Despite being second just one win away from reclaiming top spot, they haven't actually been that impressive this season for a team with a host of experienced Premier League names.
West Ham United by definition are a Premier League club with huge financial backing, a big fan base and a quality home ground.
But quite simply they are not a Premier League side, something they need reminding of in my opinion. Sam Allardyce has made it no secret he wants to be a Premier League manager again as quickly as possible and the team he assembled was clearly about making that happen in the short term.
Thinking they could sign Torres has been labelled as 'ambitious'.
Ludicrous would be a better description.
Maybe there is a lot of envy coming from a fan of a club who has never had large amounts of cash to spend.
But the 'big boys' of the Championship clearly weren't satisfied with the bullish signings of Ricardo Vaz Te, Ravel Morrison and Nicky Maynard.
David Gold and David Sullivan were rumoured to be interested in taking over the Eagles when we were struggling in administration before the might of Steve Parish and Martin Long.
Well, thank God they didn’t.
It is safe to say Dougie Freedman certainly wouldn't be in charge and the demands of quick success under the 'ambitious' couple would have led us steeply down the wrong path.
While some of the relegated Premier League side have moved on, they have kept a majority of them, as well as making additions.
I have always been a fan of Kevin Nolan but he isn't enjoying the same personal success as he did when he took the step down to the Championship with Newcastle.
It would be especially pleasing to see the young talent at Palace, as well as the faithful players, come out on top against a team supposedly destined for a top flight return.
Their fans, just like fans at any football club, deserve to have high expectations of their own club but Hammers supporters constantly think their club is better than they actually are.
While beating Millwall at The Den and being the first team to turn over Brighton at the Falmer Stadium were great rival victories, Palace beating the Hammers would cap the lot for me.
Cant wait to invade their Chat Forum
