And at last some good news for West Ham United fans and for head coach Julen Lopetegui to consider when looking ahead to the post – international break campaign. The point rescued from the visit to Brentford – rare points indeed in recent years for West Ham, don’t forget – means that our Spanish head coach has now started to steady the ship and can look ahead to the visit of Ipswich Town on Saturday and the prospect of seeking to end the slide in home form.
Beyond that game, another two weeks to work with the bulk of the defence, drilling them into a cohesive unit and improving fitness levels for the serious stuff that includes a run of Premier League fixtures recommencing with Spurs away on 19th October, followed by the visit of Manchester United on Sunday 27th October. Mouth watering games indeed, and the second of these has had the hand of fate tip the scales a little towards Lopetegui and away from Ten Hag, both coaches under pressure.
In a three fold boost for West Ham – we need all the help we can get – advantages have come in the shape of fixtures, fate and Fullkrug!
Fixtures: Manchester United have to travel to Galatasary on Thursday evening before returning with less that 72 hours turnaround to play the Hammers at the London Stadium. The game was due on Wednesday but for reasons I’ll not bother you with it is now Thursday.
We remember how difficult our own Sunday games were after competing in Europe.
Fate: Red Devils captain and playmaker Bruno Fernandes was sent off in yesterdays game against Spurs and so receives a three-match ban, missing games against Aston Villa, Brentford and… West Ham.
Fullkrug: We know Niclas has been sidelined with injury and his rehab means he will be available again after the International break, fit raring to go and with a point to prove. The first home match he’ll be available for will be Manchester United.
Fullkrug will be keen to impress against Manchester United
After a full week of rest, West Ham will be raring to go for that Sunday game against United. Lopetegui might just start to feel that things are beginning to run in his favour now.
Having watched the first half of Spurs v. Devils it was a miracle that Spurs weren’t ahead by 3 at the half. ManU is dead-man-walking, even with Fernandez. The defense as porous as ours, and we have the better right back now.
For the red card, Fernandez slipped and his foot rose as he hit Maddison, who made the most of it. No intent, poor refereeing. Again.
Similar to the red card Arsenal received against ManC, the referees seem determined to be an important part of a match’s outcome. Time for AI to replace them, dummies who whistle and are told what to do by remote reviewers.
Our first match after the international break is v Spurs not Man Utd so surely Fullkrug will be available for that one?
Yes, Man U is the ‘first home game’