We caught up with Nigel Moore, editor of online Boro fanzine www.mfc1986.co.uk, to ask him some questions about this weekend's match:
How has top signing Gareth Southgate joining you affected your season?
Southgate has been by far our player of the season and his partnership with Ehiogu is as good as any other in the Premiership.
Steve McClaren was one of the names linked with the West Ham manager's job in the summer. Are you pleased with his progress, or disappointed?
It has been diappoining but the signs are there, he had a mammoth task getting rid of the dead wood and reducing the wage bill.
Steve has spent £13.6m on transfers in this season, with only £2.25m sold. How do you rate his success in the transfer market, and are there any players you are currently looking to offload?
Southgate is looking a bargain £6.5m, but Greening and Wilson, both from Man.United, have been diappointing, but I suppose they are still young. The young left back Queudrue (on loan) has been a supberb aquisition, and hopefully Carbone will prove to be another useful addition. There are still a couple of players who will be moving on I would think, Ricard and Job (currently on loan) to name a couple.
You have recently failed to land both Dwight Yorke and Muzzy Izzet - how vital do you think they would have been to you this season?
At the time I think most Boro fans were disappointed that we failed to sign Yorke, Izzet and Forlan but that was soon forgotten with the signing of Carbone and three points against Fulham the other night. We will (or should) be quite safe now with the squad that we have, without going out and spending silly money.
What is your current opinion on West Ham?
West Ham have become one of those mid-table teams who don't have the resorces to challenge for Europe and occasionally flirt with relegation.
Who do you think is West Ham's potentially dangerous player?
Without a doubt Di Canio, but you also have some other useful young players who can be match winners, Cole, Defoe, Carrick etc. Don Hutchison always plays well against Boro, being a local(ish) lad.
Are there any key players missing for the Hammers match?
We should be at about full strength.
Who are your worst and best players so far this season?
Southgate is the best, as I have mention before, but there have been a number of poor players, Greening and Marinelli have been the most disappointing.
Have you got any hidden gems in your squad?
Carlos Marinelli, has great potential and is without doubt the most skillful player at the club, but he just can't apply himself. He is still only 20 so there is time to work on him.
In which area do you think the team needs the most money invested?
The defence is solid, as good as we have had for years. The midfield needs some work, particularly as your ex-favouite player Ince and Mustoe are getting on a bit. Up front, Boksic, Carbone and Nemeth are good but you could always do with a 20+ goal a season man.
How do you think the team will line up against the Hammers?
McClaren has experimented with a number of formations this season and he is not afraid to change the formation during the game, I would expect hime to play 4-4-2 with the team something like this:
Schwarzer, Stockdale, Southgate, Ehiogu, Queudrue, Ince, Mustoe, Greening, Whelan, Boksic, Carbone.
What do you think the score will be?
I think we might surprise you, 2-1 to Boro.