West Ham United (H) - Wed 3rd May, 20:00 | Pre-Match Thread

[hateutd]

Not an easy game, hammers needs points to be safe....

 

[Heath Park]

AND CHELSEA! Just for tonight.

They aren't listening... :-(

 

[bluebc]

 

[DMA's]

Can’t see West Ham resting anyone, more likely any injury niggles won’t be risked. Will be a tough one, generally West Ham have given us a match whenever we play them.

Bowen was excellent for them at theirs last season so hopefully Ake will be back to shut him down. Antonio had caused us real problems and can be an effective physical presence. They’ll look for set pieces as they score lots from corners (3 goals on Saturday) and we’re not defending them as well this season.

That said if we put out a strong enough team we should win. Alvarez will probably start and I’d like to see Foden start. Can’t see is risking Phillips but as may have to soon as Rodri is overworked.

If and when pep rests rodri I would imagine he will play gundogan and Bernardo as a double pivot like he did against sheff United. Phillips won’t see any meaningful minutes

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Let's really turn up for this City. Keep the giddy Tarquins in check.

 

[Tangled up in blue.]

That's just made me nervous again for tomorrow

 

[Axel Freed]

If and when pep rests rodri I would imagine he will play gundogan and Bernardo as a double pivot like he did against sheff United. Phillips won’t see any meaningful minutes

Do we dare rest Rodri for Phillips.

Everything goes through Rice who’s by far their best player, I wonder could we play Phillips with the remit to stop Rice playing. We’d be sacrificing a fair degree of ball retention and Eddie might have fewer options on occasion but purely as a spoiler I think Phillips might be able to do a job.

 

[levets]

Can’t afford any slip ups and can’t rely on any other team to do us favours. As Pep always says, we have do do it all by ourselves. Hopefully we’re fully focussed tomorrow and Saturday. Two wins and we’re in touching distance.

 

[mccity]

Scum and Brentford are after the CL semi finals

I think 'CL' here is the Conference League. West Ham's first semi-final leg is sandwiched between those two teams.

 

[Stevieatlasblue]

Do we dare rest Rodri for Phillips.

Everything goes through Rice who’s by far their best player, I wonder could we play Phillips with the remit to stop Rice playing. We’d be sacrificing a fair degree of ball retention and Eddie might have fewer options on occasion but purely as a spoiler I think Phillips might be able to do a job.

Ooh big risk. Maybe give em half and half