West Ham (h) pre-match thread

[domalino]

Our only player with proper height was out of form Kompany.
We will always struggle vs corner kicks.
Problem was how easy we were giving away these corner kicks.

But we haven't struggled until Kompany replaced Stones. Kompany is taller than Stones so it's clearly not a height issue.

We were the last team in the league to concede from a set piece, the Huddersfield goal being the first one all season. That's not "Struggling".

 

[nellyonthewing]

The corner situation is worrying.
1 against Huddersfield and 4 against Southampton were shocking.
It needs sorting

The rags will be licking their lips having seen our inability to defend a set piece.

 

[BLUEMATT23]

The rags will be licking their lips having seen our inability to defend a set piece.

Yep lets hope they work on it next week or so.

 

[chesterbells]

Lots of people talking about the yellow cards and protecting players for the derby and from a fans perspective I get it. But if Arsenal beat or draw with them before our game then from Peps point of view the next three points are the same as the three points in the derby and the chance to go 10 or 11 points clear will take precedence, and hopefully bookings and the derby will take care of themselves.

Yes, agree with that logic

 

[BucksBlue]

Surely KdB needs a rest?
I know he will likely miss the Shakhtar game but I’d give him a full week off.
Need him 100% the followwing week.

Bernardo needs more game time as well now - good chance to challenge him to step up

I believe KDB is serving a suspension so will not be on the plane to Shaktar. He'll be at home plotting for the Derby.

 

[blueparrot]

The rags will be licking their lips having seen our inability to defend a set piece.

What inability is that ?

 

[TFC]

The rags will be licking their lips having seen our inability to defend a set piece.

Dont let the ****s out there own half like most derbies, and its not a problem.

 

[geoff clipp]

Lots of people talking about the yellow cards and protecting players for the derby and from a fans perspective I get it. But if Arsenal beat or draw with them before our game then from Peps point of view the next three points are the same as the three points in the derby and the chance to go 10 or 11 points clear will take precedence, and hopefully bookings and the derby will take care of themselves.

Totally agree. The way i see it right now, is that if we put our best team out, even on a slightly off day we should keep rolling these teams outside the top six over. Thanks to the gap we've opened up, if we keep doing that we'll win the league at a canter regardless of what happens against the other teams in the top 6. Obviously we should prepare as best we can when playing the other top sides, but I wouldnt obsess about those games to the point where we go risking dropping points and taking our foot off the gas in the more winnable games. We can try and save players for the derby but those are the kind of games where a bad refereeing decision, a slightly off day or stroke of bad luck can see you dropping points. Makes more sense to me to keep the pressure on our rivals by beating everyone else.

 

[NorCalBlue]

Pretty sure one or two of them were from earlier in the season when he was stropping around twatting the ball away all the time. Shows how needless that was.

Yeah, it pisses me off when players get cards for that - although not as much as when they get cards for taking their shirts off after a goal (Agueroooooo! excepted, of course). However, with a bit of self-control, Sane should be able to get through the West Ham game without getting another yellow (although he'd better not go down too easily in the box...).

 

[give & go]

I'm worried that Moyes & Pearce might outfox Pep tactically.

Why is pearce putting the cuddly toy in the tactical area ?

Hope Mooney boots it