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The final could be that tight, especially as it seems, following on from the FA and European Cups, that shoot-outs are in vogue "I've been involved in a few," says Walker Such as the Auto-Windscreens Cup. "If you have anything about you then you want to pit your wits in it." There is a quiet confidence at West Ham - they believe that, as with Crystal Palace, to whom they lost in the final last season, their late run may bode well. "We have sort of sneaked in at the back," Walker says.Pardew is certain that Walker has been one of the main factors. In those dozen matches, starting with the surprise away victory at Wigan Athletic, West Ham have lost just once and conceded only nine goals, compared with four defeats and 18 goals against before Walker came in. His lively personality - his voice booms out across the training ground as he bursts into song - has also been a boost for a club who often feel weighed down.The penalty practice was probably a good idea, too.
"Every professional worth his salt wants to play in what is probably the world's best league," he says. You look at the top keepers like Nigel Martyn and they are still going on."Born in Nottingham, his hero was Peter Shilton, while there is also admiration for another who played on into his 40s, John Burridge. There was also a bit of psychology with the players practising penalties against the world's best Cech, in turn, was warm in his tributes to Walker. "He's one of the best in the Championship," he said.Walker now wants to make the step up. Indeed last week the former Czech international invited his friend - and his country's current keeper Petr Cech - to train at West Ham so that he remains fit for next month's World Cup qualifiers. Even his autobiography is called Size Isn't Everything.Miklosko did not need much convincing. Indeed Walker may follow "Budgie's" example and sleep with his gloves tonight ahead of tomorrow's contest against Preston.The three goalkeepers have another thing in common - height Or lack of.
Shilton just touches 6ft, Walker is 5ft 11in and jokes that West Ham's goalkeeping coach, Ludek Miklosko, asked "who is the short fat fella?" when he first turned up at the club's training ground. Now Smith wants his team to profit from those other results.However, he is aware that Scotland have to discover a goal threat to assist James McFadden. We hung in for five years and every year it was like winning the League," he says. "But when they went down from the Championship it was the lowest point I have had in football But it was also time for my career to move on I am no glory hunter but I hope that I use my experience I am 31 and they reckon that you start to peak now So I am waiting for that. It's not something I have been keen on, I must admit, but you just get on with it.
