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| Thu Jun 19, 2008 10:12 am McCartney confident of getting off to a flyer |
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WEST HAM defender George McCartney believes his side can get off to a flyer next season after the fixtures for the upcoming campaign were announced this week.
McCartney, who was the only Hammer to complete every game last season, is convinced the team can win 'the majority of the first eight or nine games' after the Upton Park side were handed a favourable selection of opening fixtures.
West Ham kick off the season on August 16 when they welcome Wigan to the Boleyn Ground before travelling to face Mark Hughes' Manchester City.
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Games against Blackburn and Premier League new-boys West Brom follow, although they will not face one of the big four' until the end of October, when they travel to Old Trafford.
And McCartney believes all the ingredients are there for a strong start to the season.
"If we have a good pre-season and get up to standard quickly then there's no reason why we can't get plenty of points on the board from our first eight or nine games," the left-back said confidently. We're certainly capable of winning the majority of those opening games. If we can do that then that will take the pressure off when we face the top teams."
McCartney, 27, has established himself as an ever-present under manager Alan Curbishley since making his move from Sunderland two years ago.
And the Northern Ireland international's efforts were recently rewarded after he was voted runner-up to goalkeeper Robert Green as Hammer of the Year last season.
But McCartney was keen not to dwell on the past, and is already tipping his team-mates to improve on last year's tenth place finish.
The attacking full-back is looking forward to testing himself against the league's big boys, and as a boyhood Liverpool fan, the trip to Anfield on November 29 is one fixture in particular that has caught his eye straight away.
"I'm looking forward to the game against Sunderland because it's always nice to play against your former club," admitted McCartney.
"But as a Liverpool fan I'm especially looking forward to that game.
"It's always good to play against the top teams and to test yourself against the best."
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