Chadwell Chatter

Hello everybody,

We're playing my old team Chelsea at the Boleyn Ground this Saturday and I can't wait for the challenge.

We're feeling good for the game - we've had two weeks to prepare and we've got a couple of boys back from international duty so we're ready for the game.

Chelsea are a world-class team and we know we're going to have to be at our very best throughout if we are to get back on track at home with the result we need.

I've done the main Official Programme interview this week and in it I have spoken about my seven years at Stamford Bridge, working under Jose Mourinho and playing alongside Frank Lampard. They were good times and I am looking forward to more good times to come with West Ham United.

Myself, Kevin Nolan, Mark Noble and Mo Diame had the chance this week to join the Vice-Chairman Karren Brady for a look at how the transformation work at the Olympic Stadium is going.

The construction team there have started to take down the floodlighting towers which were used during the Olympics as the first stage of building a new roof and turning it into a stunning football stadium for us.

It's going to be a lovely stadium when theworks are finished. Being an Olympic Stadium is special - you know about all the things that went on here in the summer of last year, and now we're going to be able to make our own history there.

I think there will be a great atmosphere, and it's not just the Stadium itself but the area around in terms of transport links and facilities, it's going to be great for the supporters.

It's a really exciting prospect for the Club - the start of a new era.

View a Facebook Gallery from our trip to the Olympic Stadium

We've had two weeks since this disappointment of defeat at Norwich due to the latest international break and I was keeping my eye on the England games, as well as the final World Cup Qualifying Play-Offs.

I thought England played reasonably well against Germany, it was experimental and the game served the job for what they wanted. In the recent Qualifiers they were great against Poland and Montenegro, the boys did great to go through Qualifying undefeated and finish top of the group.

With the young lads in the squad it's exciting times, and I think they'll have a good chance going to the World Cup.

On the subject of World Cup Qualifying, Cristiano Ronaldo probably showed he's the best player in the World at the moment as he helped Portugal get through against Sweden.

Lionel Messi would have something to say about that statement, but Ronaldo is a phenonemal talent and physically just the perfect specimen.

He's always there when the team needs him as well.

Back to West Ham and the boys are focused on making sure we turn the Boleyn Ground into a fortress again. We got a great result against Chelsea last season here and we'd love a repeat.

Come on you Irons!

Joe