West Ham (H) | Pre-Match Thread

Match Result Prediction

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It’s nice to read a few posts saying this will be a tough game, how far we’ve come!

Personally, I don’t think you have much to worry about - whilst we really have been outstanding this season, we struggle against the top teams - comfortable losses to Liverpool and Man Utd, last game v Spurs whilst we played well - they could have easily scored 4 or 5 and we were camped in our own half majority of the game.

Defensively we are good enough to frustrate - new signings Coufal and Dawson have been superb. Diop is class and Cresswell is having the season of his life.

We also have Rice protecting the back line and he has been phenomenal.

I can’t see us having much of the ball at all. We will sit deep and look to counter, Bowen Antonio and Lingard could provide the odd scare but I think our best chance of scoring would be from a set piece , a corner or free kick as we have so much height In this team.

Either way, I’m expecting a comfortable 3-0 win to Man City, and I won’t be mad at all. As I know we are in good shape and in good hands under Mr Moyes , I do worry about our over reliance on Antonio and the squad depth, worth comparing the benches on Saturday for a laugh, that’s why I completely rule out a top 4 finish - but a top 7 is realistic if we can avoid injury’s to mainly Antonio and Rice.

COYI.
 
Only 2/3 should be rotated to keep the team like the well oiled machine it is.
On a winning run like this, every player wants to start every game.
I would rotate Sterling, Bernie and either Dias or Laporte.
No use 2nd guessing what Pep will do though.
Wet Spam don't have a game after this for a full week - I think 20 mins "smash and grab" attempt, then if that does not work, sit deep and attempt to catch us on the counter. They might as well have a go.
 
I think we can afford to rotate 5-6 players for this one. I think it will be a tough game but, even with rotation, we will have our chances and walk away with 3 points. Leicester v Arsenal and Rags v Chelsea so both teams closest to us could easily drop points. If we have fresh legs for the Rags game, we can well and truly put an even larger distance between ourselves and the rest of the table. I’d like to see Aguero get some minutes but only last 30mins if we’re in a comfortable position.
 
Make not mistake, this will be a very hard game, after winning what 22 in a row? I think the minutes and kms of running will start showing in performance. Sterling needs some rest, Bernie will be next, games come fast and thick and to be able to keep Winning takes a toll
 
BlueHammer85 said:
It’s nice to read a few posts saying this will be a tough game, how far we’ve come!

Personally, I don’t think you have much to worry about - whilst we really have been outstanding this season, we struggle against the top teams - comfortable losses to Liverpool and Man Utd, last game v Spurs whilst we played well - they could have easily scored 4 or 5 and we were camped in our own half majority of the game.

Defensively we are good enough to frustrate - new signings Coufal and Dawson have been superb. Diop is class and Cresswell is having the season of his life.

We also have Rice protecting the back line and he has been phenomenal.

I can’t see us having much of the ball at all. We will sit deep and look to counter, Bowen Antonio and Lingard could provide the odd scare but I think our best chance of scoring would be from a set piece , a corner or free kick as we have so much height In this team.

Either way, I’m expecting a comfortable 3-0 win to Man City, and I won’t be mad at all. As I know we are in good shape and in good hands under Mr Moyes , I do worry about our over reliance on Antonio and the squad depth, worth comparing the benches on Saturday for a laugh, that’s why I completely rule out a top 4 finish - but a top 7 is realistic if we can avoid injury’s to mainly Antonio and Rice.

COYI.
Click to expand...
I am expecting a difficult game because of the midweek away game in the Champions League and because West Ham are a good side. It's the combination of both which makes it a tough fixture for us.

I hope West Ham get top 4. I think Chelsea are improving and will get one spot but Leicester loook really average without Maddison.
 
Morning all. West ham fan, and I come in peace! Firstly, thanks to airbus for posting a link to this thread over on knees up mother brown... you'll find me on there, same username. Thanks for having me on here.

This match is a huge test for us...your team is far and away the best in the league this season, and deserve to win it. On the occasions I have watched your games I have been seriously impressed.

For us hammers, this season is nothing short of a revelation. Pre lock down last season we looked doomed...post lock down we did enough to stay up, just, and if I'm honest I was expecting another season of struggle. Apart from the loss against Newcastle (ffs) and average performances against Brighton and a spirited Fulham, we've played some good stuff and massively exceeded all expectations. This pleases me greatly and to be able to say we are safe from relegation in February is unaccustomed but very welcome indeed!

So... here's a run down of our team as I see it: Fabiański is a class keeper, although slightly on the wane. He has pulled off some great saves, and has a presence that settles defenders. Coufal - hard working, likes to get forward and will run through a wall for the team, still has Grealish somewhere in his back pocket! Dawson - written off at Watford, but has rediscovered his game under Moyes and is a huge presence at the back for us. Diop - young, athletic, getting his confidence back but needs to learn to jump...crosses into the box tend to confuse him and his unwillingness to leave terra firma can lead to soft goals being conceeded. Cresswell - experienced, wand of a left peg, great passer and good with dead balls but lacks pace. We really miss Ogbonna...massive loss for us, but we are coping ok without him.

Rice and Soucek - for me, and clearly I'm biased, this is one of the best DM combos in the league. Both are just awesome players who compliment each other well, get all over the pitch, and work so hard for the team.

Lingard, Bowen, Fornals, Lanzini, Benrahma...perm any three from five, but it hasn't clicked yet. I like Lingard, he seems to have slotted straight in and looks like a class act on the pitch. Lanzini looks a spent force after his injury...I am hoping he can rediscover his past form but has lost a yard of pace. Bowen - hard working, always looks to get forward but his passing and decision making are poor. Benrahma - see Bowen but with more step overs. Fornals - does everything asked of him, but it all goes to pieces when he gets in the box...surprised he hasn't been nicknamed waddingtons yet!

Antonio - can be unplayable, but injury prone. I expect his ham strings to ping at any point during every match!

I'm looking forward to this game, and I'd like to see us be competitive and give it a proper go, unlike the Liverpool match where we just rolled over. I'm confident and hopeful but I think you have too much for us, but despite expecting to see a 2-0 win for you, I'm gonna go with a thrilling (for us anyway!) 2-2 draw.

Good luck, and I wish your fine club nothing but success...except for Saturday of course!
 
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