West Ham United (A) - Sat 16th Sept, 15:00 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[MadchesterCity]

Depends on the situation and opposition.
I'd leave him out here and add another in midfield.

It's totally subjective and everyone will have their own favourites and obviously it depends on position but for me our best 11 if all fit is incredibly difficult to pick. I'm heavily invested in Alvarez starting currently as he's getting the numbers on the board in goals and assists and makes us much more direct and dangerous he's also key to my FF team lol

If I'm being completely honest I think the only players guaranteed to be in our strongest starting 11 are:
Ederson
Dias
Rodri
KDB
Haaland

I then have my personal favourites
Stones
Bernardo
Walker
Foden
Alvarez
(Grealish)

Future favourites
Gvardiol
Doku

I suspect Gvardiol becomes part of group 1 and Doku replaces Grealish as first choice once up to speed as he'll have much higher output

 

[citymad]

Good game for nunes debut.

 

[MadchesterCity]

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[MadchesterCity]

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Battle of slowest vs fastest progressive attack

 

[citymad]

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If this zone control is accurate, it's fascinating stuff. Look at Chelsea, they have almost complete control bar the corner flag yet are struggling. Plenty of possession but can't find the net. As for ours that's consistent with the 10 men behind the ball that we face every week. Any opposition coach looking at that will have massive problems finding a way to beat us. Pep will be delighted with this. The rags are all over the shop and probably says that Tin hat is winging it and doesnt really know what he's doing which is consistent with the results and performances.

 

[MadchesterCity]

If this zone control is accurate, it's fascinating stuff. Look at Chelsea, they have almost complete control bar the corner flag yet are struggling. Plenty of possession but can't find the net. As for ours that's consistent with the 10 men behind the ball that we face every week. Any opposition coach looking at that will have massive problems finding a way to beat us. Pep will be delighted with this. The rags are all over the shop and probably says that Tin hat is winging it and doesnt really know what he's doing which is consistent with the results and performances.

Chelsea been plating great but missed so many high quality chances, they'll be a very good side, hopefully this season is too soon for them to gel from a title challenge perspective

 

[Gigant]

Quite optimistic for this one ( if everyone is healthy)

Some stats : West Ham : After 4 games ; 18 shots conceded per game ( in games against Chelsa and Brighton 42 , 14 on target )

Meanwhile ; we had ; 68 shots (4th in the league) ; ( Brighton 83 , Tottenham 73, C Palace 69)

2865 passes ( 100 more than Chelsea , and 400 more than 3rd Brighton on that list )

57 key passes ( second to Brighton 71)

And we have "solid" defence

Lowest xG against

 

[Heath Park]

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Very interesting!
Thanks a lot!
Hopefully you can keep sharing that data as the season continues to develop...

 

[aka blue jambo]

Best away pubs?

 

[Jesus2020]

He will get less games by the simple fact we have more players to use but I don't see his game time being the most impacted by those 2 playing. Nunes will play deeper. I suspect we will primarily be using 2 from rodri, Kovacic, nunes and possibly Bernardo. Doku will be on either wing with foden, grealish and bernardo as competition. Still think Alvarez could play from the wing but he tends to operate more as the 10 which is generally kdb, him or foden. They'll be times where pep rips this up and knowing him, we will be playing an entirely different way come christmas but that seems to be the formation we've started the season using and the pools of players we have for each role.

Thanks for the in depth reply. Only just saw this.