I can’t quite determine whether West Ham playing Brentford this weekend is a good or bad thing. While Thomas Frank’s team has not been in the greatest form this season, unlike the Hammers, they have performed decently in their home games.
Therefore, they’ll be happy to return to the Gtech Community Stadium, where they’ve maintained a perfect record this season, winning all three home games across competitions. This includes back-to-back Premier League victories against Crystal Palace (2-1) and Southampton (3-1).
Their recent win against Southampton is particularly concerning for West Ham, as the Bees repeatedly pressed the Saints and stole the ball from them as they attempted to pass it around the backline. Given this particular tactic is Julen Lopetegui’s preferred style of playing, the Irons will have to proceed with caution.
However, Brentford face several injury concerns. Yoane Wissa, Josh Dasilva, Igor Thiago, Mathias Jensen, Aaron Hickey, and Gustavo Nunes are all side-lined. The absence of Wissa, in particular, is somewhat of a relief given his record against the Hammers and may offer some respite to Emerson and Max Kilman.
Historically, Brentford has a decent record against West Ham, winning four of their last five home encounters. Since joining the Premier League, they’ve secured three victories over the Hammers and have scored at least twice in all six Premier League meetings, which doesn’t bode well for our colander-like defence.
But it could be worse. Frank is without a few of his better players, and aside from Edson Alvarez, Lopetegui can probably pick what he believes to be his strongest team. While Brentford might not be Ipswich Town (they come next week), it does offer The Hammers head coach a decent chance to save his bacon.
I’m worried about seeing that high defensive line tomorrow. We are just too open for the through ball and Mbeumo could make us pay for it again.
I really don’t get the pass it about the back line stuff, it seems more dangerous to me than the benefit that might be gained from drawing the other team into advanced positions.
Surely something halfway between that and punt it upfield which is easy for defenders to deal with is the right line to take.
Pass the ball away from your own defensive lines into midfield quickly seems to make most sense to me.
Brentford have lost more games this season than Ipswich Town so perhaps this is the easier game!
Well said @Essexiron67 – if we cast our minds back a few years Pellegrini’s last game in charge he lost to Leicester who had put out a reserve team
Hopefully the fullbacks will now be told to stay in the right positions and we can get something
COYI
Really important point regarding full back (and other positions) being where they’re supposed to be when needed.
As I’ve written before just because they have players missing doesn’t mean their replacemets won’t step to try and impress . I seen weakened teams beat us many times over the decades . I remember Kevin keegan mocking Norway and England lost, talk after games please.