If the rumours are true and Jarrod Bowen and Jean-Clair Todibo face a late fitness test for the Everton game on Saturday, that’d be a huge blow for the Hammers’ chances: With Bowen injured and Kudus suspended, our two top scorers would be absent for a must-win game.
Summerville will surely get a continued opportunity to shine on the left barring another ‘head coach brain fart’ of starting Soler as a left winger.
If the Hammers’ skipper really is absent then there will be a golden opportunity for West Ham’s youngster – largely ignored to date – Luis Guilherme to show-off his true potential on the right hand side. Even if Bowen plays, Guilherme must surely get some minutes rather than expecting Bowen to carry a knock for a full 90.
The alternative of a starting XI with a four-man midfield 4-4-2 with Antonio and Summerville playing ahead of Paquetá, Soler, Rodriguez and Soucek might be a more conservative starting point if Lopetegui feels like addressing the ‘don’t concede in the first half’ issues already raised today.
The Brazilian will likely get an opportunity tomorrow at some stage – maybe with the head coach’s now customary ‘plan B’ half time rejig. Bowen’s injury, if bad enough to keep him out, will pretty much force Lopetegui to deploy Guilherme.
This the player who has been described as the fastest thing on two legs in the Premier League. Hopefully more than a ten minute cameo.
Having seen the way Guilherme has been buzzing in training videos I would love to see his pace on the right and Summerville on the left. It would be interesting watching Michail Antonio as a central attacker trying to keep up with one of these two speedsters on the march: Will Lopetegui offer the Brazilian teenager this opportunity? I hope so. There could be something to look forward to on Saturday after all.
I agree with Geo at Hammers Chat’s, having a 4-4-2 set-up for this game.
Fabianski; AWB, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Bowen, Soucek, Rodriguez, Summerville; Antonio and Ings.
Paqueta hasn’t warranted a start, and the same goes for Soler.
Having seen Lewis Orford play recently, I’d be tempted to have him on the bench to come on when we’re 2 or 3 up.
A 4-0 annihilation i reckon, to send another Premiership club looking for a new manager. COYI!
hmm who to believe, you or Crook about Guilherme on training? You say he is training the house down while Crook says he is doing nothing.
Upside, are you joking.
Even if we somehow manage to beat Everton it’s hardly a outcome that would be something to shout about given the struggles that they are having and one thing is for certain when we play Newcastle and arsenal after the international break we are going to get a hiding JL has made us into a laughing stock and every other team in the league knows how bad we are with little hope of things improving while JL remains as manager our only hope is for Sullivan to do the right thing and get rid of him and make sure by listening to others etc and bring in a quality manager that knows how to play the game because JL hasn’t got a clue
The only massive upside is we’ll have a new manager next week.
Guilherme the fastest thing on two legs in the Premier League? Based on how many minutes exactly of his PL experience?
It would certainly be interesting to see Guilherme in action. If nothing else, to learn more about his strengths and shortcomings. What can he actually contribute to the team?
Only good thing in all of this, it maybe good bye Lopetegui
We aint got the midfield to play “ Loopyball” 🥴
We need to go to low block tactics with no advanced full backs until next summer when we might be able to rectify the huge misstep in our recruitment in central midfield a couple of months or so ago.
This for me is the uncomfortable truth hence Our manager / coach either changes or we plummet further imo
If Bowen & Tobido are out – with Kudus, Alvarez, and Fulkrug that is 5 first team picks out. Paqueta has shown no interest in playing football & Guillerme nowhere near the first X1as he isn’t even a first pick for the U21s. This leaves us with the worst starting line up since the 2010/11 relegation side of Mr Soapy Lady Bumps Grant. The only up side of this, is thankfully it’s only Everton Saturday.
I am seriously tempted by the current odds of 100/1 on a 4-0 Everton win.
Maybe Lewis Orford will play – every cloud has a silver lining etc
I’m dreading this game…..like every other that went before and the ones that follow!