West Ham (h) pre-match thread

[lancs blue]

Sorry if mentioned already but is Otomendi one yellow away from another ban and Kompany as well as Sane and Fern?

Otamendi's next ban (2 games) will come after 10 yellows for the season so at least 4 or 5 games away! Vinny, Sane and Dinho are all one yellow from a ban.

 

[ojeme]

Yes. But have you seen how shit they are, at the defensive side of the game. That's why they are in this mire.
Them and Newcastle are totally useless, in this department. They have players that can't kick or head the ball straight and
as for their control, well we should mop up if we put them under pressure high up.

Yes theybarr shit but usually teams try to have their best defensive performance against us. Whether it's because we are the most feared team or because we are not quick enough in build ups is another matter. If they have been playing 4 at the back previously expect that it's going to be a 5 man defence protected by another 5 unwilling to go past the halfway line. Like someone noted earlier on this thread, except we see the United game as some kind of ego show, we will be better served by putting ourselves in a position to win more easily today and taking the 3 points available. Even if someone has to be missing for the United game and we evenlose, it comes down to five points. If however we toss this one by "saving" key players and WHU have their defensive game of the season, coupled with their keeper doing a de-Gea on us, there would be absolutely nobody to blame but ourselves if we get to Old Trafford next with only 5/6 points ahead.

 

[Mancity1980]

The way I see it with regards the yellow cards is that Vinny’s and Ferny’s games lend themselves to the odd booking whilst Sane’s game doesn’t. But we are playing West Ham at home so I do not anticipate many last minute desperate challenges and surely the benefit of keeping them playing and match fit outweigh the very small risk lots of people on this forum are fretting about?

As regards Sane if doesn’t play against the hammers (assuming he doesn’t fly to the mid week dead rubber) then he will have missed 3 games on the trot. That is not good preparation for an important player who relies on pace and sharpness, a player who will keep their anticipated parked bus stretched which is really important in order to create space for KDB and Silva to exploit.

 

[Jesus Cheekbone]

I guess we should win this one, hopefully as early as possible to sub some of those with suspension threat. I'd play Mangala today definitely and probably leave Fern on the bench. Sane should get some time but it would be utter shit to lose him for derby as he is our biggest threat against parked bus and I'm afraid the twats upstairs wouldn't mind to level the field in the derby a bit, now when Pogba is out.

 

[Mancity1980]

I guess we should win this one, hopefully as early as possible to sub some of those with suspension threat. I'd play Mangala today definitely and probably leave Fern on the bench. Sane should get some time but it would be utter shit to lose him for derby as he is our biggest threat against parked bus and I'm afraid the twats upstairs wouldn't mind to level the field in the derby a bit, now when Pogba is out.

Agreed, it would be a big blow to lose Sane for the derby but he would have to be utterly stupid to try anything in the match that would risk that. No, play him 30 to 60 mins then bring him off.

 

[SWP's back]

Please god let us rest Dinho and Kompany for certain today.

People worrying about us not beating West Ham without them but think we’d be fine away to United without them are mental.

 

[leth]

-------------------Ederson-------------------
Walker---Otamendi---Mangala-----Delph
----------------------Yaya---------------------
-----------De Bruyne----D.Silva------------
Sterling------------Jesus---------Bernardo

Bench: Bravo, Danilo, Zinchenko, Gundogan, Sane, Diaz, Aguero

Kompany and Fernandinho can have a proper rest as we shouldn't risk them picking up a booking. I'd have Sane on the bench because we might really need his ability to stay wide and stretch defenders if we're having problems finding a way through. He's been mostly booked for petulance so hopefully he can cut that out if we had to throw him on.

West Ham are a poor team. If we score early, we're likely to get a few more. They shouldn't pose too much of a threat and we can hopefully get Zinchenko and Diaz some minutes and wrap key players up ahead of the derby. It's a bit of a worry that we've not managed to score in the first half over the last four matches though so beyond the three players at risk of suspension, we shouldn't start out any weaker than we need to.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Rarely suggest a big score but WH have been producing dreadful performances off and on for years and better managers than the football genius have failed to galvanise them.

I think with that last minute winner against Soton we're going to start like a house on fire and with our players mostly having a week off will be at them all game.

Big win today.

 

[rnblade]

WHU will not want another bumming after the Toffees game. We can expect a ‘Huddersfield’ set up of at least a back 5 with a line of 4 10yards in-front if that. It denies any space for us to play as has been proved previously. We HAVE to put away our chances. It will come back to bite us in the arse one game soon. No point bleating about possession and chances if we don’t put them away.
I’m going for 3-0 or if it’s the 9 man defence, 1-0.

 

[uteblue]

WHU will not want another bumming after the Toffees game. We can expect a ‘Huddersfield’ set up of at least a back 5 with a line of 4 10yards in-front if that. It denies any space for us to play as has been proved previously. We HAVE to put away our chances. It will come back to bite us in the arse one game soon. No point bleating about possession and chances if we don’t put them away.
I’m going for 3-0 or if it’s the 9 man defence, 1-0.

Raheem and Kevin need to immediately go and do a 1 - 2 on the edge of their box and get it over with early