West Ham (A) | Sun 7 Aug 16:30 | Pre-Match Thread

[r.soleofsalford]

???

I presume by that that he doesn`t was Bernardo in a double pivot but further up in a more advanced role. Just a guess.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

Saturday he was playing about 3 yards in front of the central defenders with Rodri ahead of him!! Not sure if it was lack of tactical awareness from one/both or some kind of tactic but it wasn’t pleasing on the eye.

Positionally! Got you! Yeah, I don't know if the double pivot was a deliberate tactic to beat the press.

I thought you meant ahead of him in the sense of playing Bernie as a DM and I thought you'd gone mad.

 

[Jesus H Gabz]

Positionally! Got you! Yeah, I don't know if the double pivot was a deliberate tactic to beat the press.

I thought you meant ahead of him in the sense of playing Bernie as a DM and I thought you'd gone mad.

It did seem that way, Bernie was picking the ball up very deep (in the box sometimes) & Rodri was more advanced, Rueben in particular was lofting 30yd balls into midfield to beat the press, and Rodri was in and around those areas, the idea was good but the execution was poor, with many passes going straight out of play when looking for a FB

 

[trevorriley]

nothing on saturday made me feel we are about to hit the ground running for the start of the prem.
I wish i felt as confident as the posts on here, id take a draw. west ham will be out the running blocks, pressing and pushing like never before, then next home game they will get beat 3-1 at home !
very tough one sunday.

 

[kaiserchief]

It did seem that way, Bernie was picking the ball up very deep (in the box sometimes) & Rodri was more advanced, Rueben in particular was lofting 30yd balls into midfield to beat the press, and Rodri was in and around those areas, the idea was good but the execution was poor, with many passes going straight out of play when looking for a FB

I haven't watched the full match tbh but Bernie picking the ball up deep doesn't sound that unusual to me. Particularly, when Liverpool press high with a front three and you'd ideally want to create numerical superiority..

 

[Sibierskii]

I wondered if it might be the third kit?

Think it might be, the other two clash

 

[MarsLlama]

No one picking Gundogan to start ? Is he not part of our first choice XI any longer ?
Haven't followed West Ham's pre season at all but I'd be concerned about Bowen targeting our left side if Cancelo and Grealish start. Should be an attacking game with plenty of chances.

He hasn't been for a long long time?

 

[WickyWain]

I'm buzzing my tits off for this, can't wait!

 

[MarsLlama]

Yup, same old stupid Pep, no wonder we lost out on 4 titles in the past 5 seasons :( I hope he learns from his mistakes this time around.

I see what you're saying but logically if we keep getting into tight title races with Liverpool, and we keep starting seasons badly because of a lack of preseason, eventually those two things are going to combine and cost us a title.

 

[lazerblue]

Secondly that Bernie plays ahead of Rodri

in the words of John McEnroe, you cannot be serious!

 

[lazerblue]

Dean might be decent as the VAR. With no crowd to play up to

he'll still want it to be all about him though

 

[pavelsrnicek]

Bowen caused us real problems last season, Zinchenko had a stinker in that match. Obviously he won’t play, Cancelo didn’t play well on Saturday but it will be him as we don’t have anyone else. Defending on the left could be a real issue.

 

[MarsLlama]

Bowen caused us real problems last season, Zinchenko had a stinker in that match. Obviously he won’t play, Cancelo didn’t play well on Saturday but it will be him as we don’t have anyone else. Defending on the left could be a real issue.

Alvarez out there could be a huge help, his energy and tracking back will give Bowen something extra to worry about.

 

[chickaroon]

Good luck to them can't get my head round this.

I think it is crazy. We need him or someone like him. He would be perfect for us.

 

[pavelsrnicek]

Alvarez out there could be a huge help, his energy and tracking back will give Bowen something extra to worry about.

Wrong side no? Bowen is on their right. Antonio caused a few problems himself on their left wing especially with his issues with gravity last season

 

[MarsLlama]

Wrong side no? Bowen is on their right. Antonio caused a few problems himself on their left wing especially with his issues with gravity last season

Their right = our left

 

[pavelsrnicek]

Their right = our left

Alvarez will be on our right with Foden or Grealish more likely on the left

 

[Lauz9888]

West Ham are a decent side who can cause us problems, and we're a way off full sharpness.

Hoping for a win, would settle for a draw.

Would be great to get Haaland and/or Alvarez off the mark early in the league.

 

[MarsLlama]

Alvarez will be on our right with Foden or Grealish more likely on the left

I'm saying Alvarez on the left would help out massively defensively. Foden or Mahrez on the right. Frankly Grealish on the left gives Cancelo no cover.

 

[MillisleBlue]

Hoping for the best on Sunday - maybe the Hammers will be rustier than us.