Tough one, this. Regular readers will know that here just before the starting XI is announced we at C and H try and predict the head coaches’ eleven to start for West Ham in the FA Cup third round tie away with Aston Villa.. Not our own choice, but what we think the coach will go with. As it is Graham Potter’s first XI it is doubly difficult but will be largely dictated by who is fit! We believe Jean-Clair Todibo is away receiving treatment on his injury – so that dictates only two centre backs.
Apparently Emerson is ‘doubtful’ so we’ve left him out.
Probably one session is too short to make many tactical changes so Potter will use the team in its ‘inherited’ layout: 4-3-3. A toss-up as to which goal keeper Potter will go with. Just Martin’s unscientific hunch says Areola. Paquetá on the bench? Maybe just this once until Potter gets to work on his four man ‘box’ midfield variant next week. (More on that over the weekend!)
Areola | Coufal, Mavropanos, Kilman, Wan-Bissaka| Alvarez, Soucek, Soler | Summerville, Fullkrug, Kudus
Score Predictions
Martin 1-0 West Ham (Incurable Dreamer)
Sean 1-0 West Ham ( Think he always says the same – must go and check)
Gonzo 2-1 West Ham ( Based on deep-dive analysis of likely ‘Potter Bounce’)
Matt 2-1 Villa (Pessimist or realist? Too many years of depressing cup exits to fall for the whiff of optimism in the air)
Check back in just over an hour and we will try and bring you the official starting eleven before anyone else!
And our Post-Match Analysis includes Gonzo’s famous ‘player ratings ‘and Martin’s ‘final whistle-first thoughts ‘ straight after the game so you can compare your own thoughts with ours!
Spot on Matt, I had guessed 3-2 to Villa before the game I just wanted to see some improvement and we did see that, despite conceding 2 again we defended collectively better and restricted the big chances for them without a piece of bad refereeing for the corner that led to the goal we could have won it.
As long as the players actually close down and look like they’re wanting to play for the manager (sorry, head coach) then whatever the result, it’s a positive start.
Unlike Lopetegui’s first match being against Villa, this one I’m at least expecting/hoping to see an actual team performance.
I predict that it will be a more enjoyable watch than of late, I’m not resigned to losing before it starts. In fact I’m looking forward to it.