Just an hour to go before Julen Lopetegui announces his line up for the crucial (can we really say that in September?) visit to the G Tech stadium where West Ham United and all associated with the club will be hoping for a win to get points on the board and to calm the nerves of the board room and the fan base. With the absence through suspension of Edson Alvarez and the ‘apparent’ continued absence through recovery from the achilles issue for Niclas Fullkrug, there are a number of issues which Lopetegui faces.
We hope, sincerely that the Irons will ditch the dumb ‘three at the back with high wing backs’ variant which proved so disastrous against Chelsea last week.
Having seen Todibo perform against Liverpool and duck away from a shot which led to goal 5, I’m back to ‘the devil we know’ Mavropanos at centre-back next to Kilman.
Two defensive midfielders – fingers crossed – Soucek and Rodriguez – gives us the mobility of a World War One tank but Soler is untried in a defensive role. Paq-man to start as the ‘tip’ of the midfield trio with a three ahead of him. Crucial that Paqueta links the play as otherwise its will be the ‘side-side back’ slow step of yore and bore.
Soler ready to bring on at half time if Paqueta doesn’t turn up.
So the C and H ‘would like to see’ eleven – well, mine not Gonzo’s as I’m sure he will differ..
Areola: Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos,Kilman, Emerson: Soucek, Rodriguez, Paqueta: Summerville, Bowen, Kudus.
Impact Sub 65 minutes Antonio, if needed, Irving if Rodriguez flops again.
Team News from West Ham United follows as soon as we have it. In the meantime, feel free to tell me where I am wrong.
Rodriguez NO!
If the back four know they’re not getting any quality extra cover from midfield (and tbf Rodriguez is rubbish at that) it might encourage them to take a personal interest in their jobs!!
Put Soler in as a 10 and play Soucek and Paqueta next to each other in front of the back four With Bowen at striker and Summerville and Kudas behind in the left and right respectively we might even score a goal
If Mavropanos, claiming to be working as hard as he can, cannot incorporate SPRINTING then he should never see the pitch or bench again. Freaking laggard.
I think Charlie is right. Give todibo a chance one mistake being 4.1 down isn’t the worse.
I didn’t see the game Wednesday but was at the LS last Saturday and we played with virtually two at the back and 2 full backs as wingers so either play 3 or 4 at the back but keep their position and we might become more stable.
I thought we already had points on the board. This site and most of the media are acting as if we’ve lost ALL our games, not just the 3 against Villa, City and Chelsea. Liverpool was a cup match.
Not bowen in the middle drop pac man kudos in the middle Antonio up front
Harsh on Todibo, we were already 4 1 down and he did ok overall. He needs minutes.
Lineup probably about right but how we set up and tactics will be key.
I hope to see Kudus central , Bowen right and Summerville left