Make no bones about it, West Ham’s trip to Manchester City is huge.
Whilst we as fans recoil from the prospect of another big thrashing, the fall-out maybe far further-reaching than the loss of three points to a Man City side who will, no doubt perk up and become resurgent knowing that THE WORST, most porous defence in the league is coming to visit:
West Ham have conceded more Premier League goals in 2024 than any other side, with their 79 goals conceded their most in a single calendar year since 1967. Some record to be holding.
Julen Lopetegui knows that another big loss will see David Sullivans’ patience expire. The West Ham chairman is still in denial, hoping for an upturn and a win in the next two games. If, as we all suspect, Manchester City put four or five goals past West Ham, Sullivan will be forced to fire his coach.
If Lopetegui is to get anything out of the game, it seems he may well have to do it without his captain who went off injured against Liverpool. Bowen himself has updated his social media reporting a fractured bone in his foot meaning he’ll not be missing for 6-weeks.
Opportunity awaits for Crysencio Summerville who will start on the left if Bowen is out injured – Kudus on the right and Fullkrug will complete West Ham’s front line. Always assuming Lopetegui feels brave enough to actually put three up front.
He won’t sack him even if we lose heavily to City. Sullivan will rationalise it by saying that anyone can get beaten heavily by Liverpool and Man City.
I think we should pull the trigger and appoint Potter. If you look at Potter’s current situation it’s not too dissimilar to that of Eddie Howe when Newcastle first appointed him. He had been out of the game 18 months – two years and his last act as a manager prior to that was overseeing Bournemouth’s relegation. Potter has been out for roughly the same period and his last role as manager was the debacle at Chelsea. His stock is pretty much at the same level Howe’s was at the point he got the Newcastle gig. For West Ham this is the best time to appoint as we cannot compete with the bigger clubs when someone’s stock then rises.
The same fans who aren’t keen or unsure on whether Potter is a good appointment now, will be the same ones who will moan that we’ve missed out if Spurs sack Postecoglu and then appoint Potter.
You couldn’t make this up to be honest.
ANY other club in the Perm’ would have said goodbye to the Spanish Imposter weeks ago.
Not dithering Dave, though – thinks it’s acceptable for the fans to put up with this crap indefinitely.
Sorry, hope Citeh stick ten past us if it means the clown that poses as our Chairman is finally forced to act, albeit too bloody late as usual !!
Sullivan out !!!
A new year so I’m being optimistic and from a really extreme optimistic angle it could be that Bowen’s injury might be the making of this team and Kudus in particular. We have been led to believe for long enough that Kudus is only happy playing wide right a spot he has not been able to move Bowen from so this is his chance to shine with Summerville wide left. As you say Fullkrug up top with opportunities to use Guillherme and Ings more from the bench the sky’s the limit for this team……….well I did say I was being extremely optimistic!!
That is optimistic and we can but hope. However, back in the day, there used to be a TV commentator who said “It’s on Charlton’s left foot. ” meaning it was very likely to go in. Well, that’s similar to how I see our captain when he’s running with the ball near goal. One difference between the two is that it rocketed off Charlton’s boot straight ahead. But Jarrod has this great skill of directing the ball almost at right angles.
I can’t see anyone else in the squad substituting for our 100 goal hero.
Sullivan will probably say well we knew we were going to get beat(thrashed)by City so we’ll give Lopetegui another two more games.
I’m trying to raise my spirits for our great club but it’s so hard at the moment.
Most likely it will be Paquetta out left, Kudus through the centre and Somerville on the right.
It doesn’t make sense unless you’re the coach.
I’d like to think I’m being facetious, but, it’s entirely possible.
Headless chooks have more of an idea of what they’re supposed to be doing.
I’m sure the coach knows what he wants to achieve, but short term, it isn’t happening.
Would it be better to set us up “a la Moyse”, to be hard to beat? Then slowly over a season or two, introduce the style of play, and the players he needs to achieve it?
The bull in the china shop approach to game and man management doesn’t seem to be working.
You could be right.
But the worse thing is no Bowen no chance.
Happy New Year Down Under.
By the way, what’s a chook? (I think I know)
Aussie for chicken.
My favourite, that is a recent add to the slang is “danger noodle”, which is a snake.
😄 I reckon that’s significant down under. I’ve never seen a snake in the wild here unless you count the sullivan constrictor.
Neil Down Under – “Then slowly over a season or two, introduce the style of play, and the players he needs to achieve it?” A year or two, please tell me you are joking.“
The bull in the china shop approach to game and man management doesn’t seem to be working.” That is very perceptive of you. So many millennial cultivators on here it is hard to tell.