West Ham (a) Pre-Match Thread (League)

[RayCTID]

I'll be surprised if Fernandinho does not start. for me he goes straight in for Yaya. Toure might be exceptional on the ball, but he still struggles off it, although I thought it was brilliant the way he was trying to close players down against Palace. When Toure is chasing and closing players down you really know hat Guardiola is getting the players to follow their instruction.

With Fernandinho it's down to whether he can keep his discipline. West Ham will not think twice in trying to wind him up and the way the refs are letting our opponents keep getting away with a few niggles he could easily get sent off again.

 

[Mike N]

If I were an opposition manager I would certainly be telling them to wind Deano up. Oh, and don't forget to kick Silva's ancle.

 

[Otamendi's Beard]

If Kompany has gone early it may be something to do with managing his injuries. It's probably a lot better to go two days before rather than a day before so your muscles have time to relax/recover.

Although it's only a two hour train journey...

 

[Tricky_Trev]

If I were an opposition manager I would certainly be telling them to wind Deano up. Oh, and don't forget to kick Silva's ancle.

And get their defenders to wear David Luiz masks and wigs if Aguero plays.

 

[Mike N]

And get their defenders to wear David Luiz masks and wigs if Aguero plays.

Absolutely!

 

[Higor Douglas]

This is a must-win game, so we need our best available starting eleven which simply cannot include the complete liablility that is Claudio Bravo.

This season Sagna, Zabaleta, Kolarov and Clichy have consistently proved they cannot be trusted in the full-back areas, so the only option is to play a back 3 and use Fernandinho and Delph as auxiliary full-backs when we don't have the ball- both certainly have the legs to cover. This will give Sterling, De Bruyne, Silva and Sane the freedom to do damage in the attacking areas and feed a rested Aguero, who should be hungrier now he has Gabriel Jesus as competiton.

Caballero

Sagna Kompany Stones

Fernandinho Delph

Sterling De Bruyne Silva Sane

Aguero

Delph?

Yaya is injured? hahaah

 

[cibaman]

This is a must-win game, so we need our best available starting eleven which simply cannot include the complete liablility that is Claudio Bravo.

This season Sagna, Zabaleta, Kolarov and Clichy have consistently proved they cannot be trusted in the full-back areas, so the only option is to play a back 3 and use Fernandinho and Delph as auxiliary full-backs when we don't have the ball- both certainly have the legs to cover. This will give Sterling, De Bruyne, Silva and Sane the freedom to do damage in the attacking areas and feed a rested Aguero, who should be hungrier now he has Gabriel Jesus as competiton.

Caballero

Sagna Kompany Stones

Fernandinho Delph

Sterling De Bruyne Silva Sane

Aguero

I would be very surprised if Kompany and Delph started two games in four days given their injury record and how long they've been out.

 

[RandomJ]

It might be pushing our luck but I think Kompany needs to play this game. Carroll has 3 goals in his last 2 games and Kompany is the only one of our defenders who could bully him.

 

[shemnel]

With Fernandinho it's down to whether he can keep his discipline. West Ham will not think twice in trying to wind him up and the way the refs are letting our opponents keep getting away with a few niggles he could easily get sent off again.

if Dinho gets a 4th red then serious words need to be had.

 

[MarsLlama]

January has been a good month for us on the whole.

2-1 Burnley
West Ham 0-5
Everton 4-0
2-2 Tottenham
Crystal Palace 0-3

12 scored, 7 conceded. If we accept the Everton game as anomalous (which it was) then we're talking pretty good numbers.

Plus the emergence of Sané and Jesus as first-team regulars, Touré and Silva continuing an excellent run of form and us putting in one of the performances of the season against Spurs.

Plus, bar 30 mins we were without Fernandinho. That's about 93% of the month.

I don't see the point of putting Dinho straight back in. I don't think it's fair. On Touré, Delph, Fernando, or any of the team really. If he gets another suspension this season then we need to take action, first with a fine if we haven't already, then if it continues take it further.

Bravo
Zabaleta Otamendi Kolarov Clichy
Touré
Silva De Bruyne
Sterling Jesus Sané

Caballero, Kompany, Sagna, Delph, Fernandinho, Aguero, Nolito

I would start Jesus and Touré and continue this policy from now until the end of the season: if a player plays well, and they are fit, with no more important games soon after, they keep their place. Make Aguero fight his way back into the team, then we'll see more of him as the world-class player we signed. Show Fernandinho that every suspension will force him to graft for his spot back, then he'll tighten his discipline up. Tell Navas and Nolito that unless they are able to play like Sané they will remain bit-part players. This is the quickest way to get the best out of everyone in the squad.