West Ham’s home match on Saturday assumes considerable significance after a brief viewing of the Premier League table. The Hammers lie 15th, two places but ten points above the drop zone. Not a comfortable position to be in if the run of losses or draws continues: West Ham fans will want a home win on Saturday, nothing less.
After Graham Potter’s early challenges – three games in his first eight days – the honeymoon is over as he has now had weeks to work with the squad and the worst of the injury crisis appears to be over. Todibo, Paquetá and Alvarez are all shown training again. Bowen is back and Evan Ferguson is ready to go along with a resurgent James Ward-Prowse.
On the positive side from a West Ham perspective, Brentford seem to have gone a little off the boil with their ‘swarm’ starts and early goals compared to the start of the season when they caught Lopetegui’s side cold. Their chief success has been brilliant home form this season along with the growth in strength of their attacking duo of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa who have formed a fearsome partnership.
Their statistics speak for themselves, 25 goals and both over 10 for the season puts them in the remarkable position of being the only Premier League strike force with two players hitting 10+ goals. Both are hitting the target with around 50% of their shots which is impressive. So, very much ‘quality over quantity’ for the two front men.
Much is attributed to the assists provided by Mikkel Damsgaard – eight so far according to Brentford’s own stats- the ‘killer passes’ that we’d love to see from Lucas Paquetá seem to flow freely from Damsgaard and West Ham will have to work hard to stop the supply route to Mbeumo and Wissa if they are to triumph.
The Hammers can certainly score with their offensive options – but Potter will need a carefully planned and executed strategy if he is to block ‘assist wizard’ Damsgaard’s supply and prevent Brentford getting a hold on the game.
I don’t think it’ll be a nil-nil – West Ham need the points more and I just hope that Graham Potter’s tactical nous will carry the day.
JW-P will need to change his game to forward passing and penetration to succeed back here. Kudus head up and pass please, just dribbling till you lose it won’t do. Paqueta get engaged and look for the killer ball. When we can assist properly, we can be huge. I hope GP can effect all of this, it’s his DNA. I think Killman and Todibo can be very good, with Wan-Bissaka and Ollie Scarles, Casey? Back three? Defo not Mavro!
Keep Andy Irving he already plays forward passes and has a history of assists and with more playing time he’ll make the space for himself in midfield which he needs. JWP has the advantage there. Anyhow, just comments/guessing, we’ll probably see one being subbed for the other! At least there is competition but for me AI starts, while JWP & Alvarez need to earn a spot on the pitch.
Brentford are third bottom in the away table and joint 14th/15th with us in the last eight played form table. I think we have a good chance.