The trip to the south coast on Monday night offers insights into the true situation inside Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham United. Rumours of dressing room bust- ups, want-away players, dissatisfaction with strategy- this Hammers season has so far had pretty much every negative rumour possible.
The tell-tale signs will be there when the squad is announced. Lopetegui has no Antonio to call on, so his decision is straightforward. Use Jarrod Bowen as West Ham’s emergency striker with Kudus and Summerville alongside him, or use the fit-again striker brought in by Tim Steidten at huge expense, who is now, by Lopetegui’s own admission ready to go.
Quite possibly Niclas Fullkrug will be on the bench- but if he does not take any part in the game against Bournemouth then something is not ringing true inside West Ham.
Lopetegui claims to have the players on-side but if one of Tim Steidten’s marquee signings gets overlooked again, we will know otherwise.
Niclas Fullkrug was declared good to play by J’Lo during his own media session. Utilised by his previous cub and his national side as an impact substitute, every West Ham fan will be looking forward to seeing him stride back onto the pitch after a cameo couple of minutes- and a goal – against Leicester City.
Scamacca-like misery even when scoring will be a tell tale sign of Fullkrug’s Intentions
Fullkrug’s own demeanour will tell all: If he strides around with an expression as dour as Gianluca Scamacca on a bad night then the rumours of his ‘want-out-disquiet’ could be true: Alternatively he will have an opportunity to let his football speak for him in front of the cameras and put in a shift to prove his future lies in Claret and Blue. It’s going to be an interesting night in many ways.
I really hope Fullkrug can give it a go. Hammers tend to always have a good half and bad half of the season. Being a cockney optimist after a poor first half the second half of the season will reveal the true capabilities of our most expensively assembled squad. As supporters we always travel in hope and our role is to give every encouragement!
So far we’ve played the top half of the table. Just watch us rocket up to the top of the table now we’re going to be playing the bottom half.
you mean like losing to Leicester?
Poor old Scammy has missed this season so far with an ACL, so his face is probs well grumpy! Wish him well anyway.
Fullkrug might be fit but he ain’t match fit and coming back from injury are more prone to picking up another injury. I can only see Fullkrug coming on as a sub in the short term.
Exactly, half-time sub or, more likely, 60 minutes, with Ings until then.