15 Comments

Hammers set to field strongest team so far

CollinsThe Hammers head for Newcastle with a better squad than at any time so far this season despite the absence of Winston Reid.

That’s likely to see James Collins drafted into the side after a man of the match performance against Cheltenham with Fonte being dropped to the bench after his ineffective showing against Southampton.

Ginge and Adrian Ogbonna look the obvious central defensive partnership with Pablo Zabaletta and Aaron Cresswell completing the back line.

Cheik Kouyate got a valuable 20 minutes or so against Cheltenham but whether the manager will risk him from the start remains to be seen.

Pedro Obiang looks all set to hold down his midfield slot and with Michail Antonio hopefully down the right and hopefully Hernandez AND Sakho starting, we look in terrific nick for a crucial affair before the international break.

Marko Arnautovic is serving the second of his games on suspension and Newcastle will be without Shelvey who is suspended from the opening day game against Spurs.

Likely Irons team: Hart, Zabaletta, Ogbonna, Collins, Cresswell; Rice; Antonio, Noble, Obiang, Chicharito, Sakho.

 

 

 

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

15 comments on “Hammers set to field strongest team so far

  1. Fully expecting 3 points . See no reason not to . Clean sheet win would be even better .

  2. If he is playing his strongest on form you would argue that Adrian should be in goal, I would swap Noble for Kouyate also or Ayew on the left wing.

    My team would be Adrian, Masuaku, Collins, Ogbonna, Zabaletta, Antonio, Rice, Obiang, Ayew, Sakho and Hernandez.

    Personally I don’t think he will start Sakho and will play Noble or Kouyate as an extra midfielder which is also fine by me, it is an away game and its important we don’t concede early.

    Lets hope for a great result COYI !!!!

    • Agree on Adrian been bangin on about it really he should have started the season bc was his slot to lose and Hart didn’t do enough to show he should be #1 in preseason. Adrian is better on free kicks and can actually move to his left. And he knows the squad.
      But with Harts wages they will not Bench him

  3. Just cannot see slav not playing Ayew. Why I cannot say seem he is seeing something in Ayew I cannot. So I believe he will start with just one up top, hope I am wrong….. big game for slav hope he gets it right

    • My team would be
      Hart, Cresswell, Collins, Ogbonna, Zabaletta, Antonio, Rice, Obiang, Fernandes, Sakho and Hernandez.

  4. Ayew suggesting Andre won’t play?

  5. His other move will be Cheik mate.

  6. I would like to see. Hart gk rice Collins obby cb zab and cress wing backs obiang and check cm Antonio acm Hernandez and sakho cf

  7. That team is likely Hugh, if Noble still has legs to play after Wednesday. Without a left-winger, it would need Cresswell making more ground than usual up the left and could end up as a wing-back, with Zabaletta making up a three. It would work, but I also think Billic would keep his 4-2-3-1- with only one striker.
    Subs including Chek and Lanzini will give us the edge, so I think it’s very winable.

  8. I saw a suggestion of playing masuaku in front of Cresswell down the left. Quite liked that idea.

    • Masuaku is good going fwd and is really good in Wingback position looked great last season.
      Cressie hasnt gotten back to his 2015/2016 form since injury.
      I like Masuaku good cross on him pace and does suffer in defense sometime but in wingback is great. Think Bryan should get ahead of Zab myself he looked good and was good last year can cross and get fwd. Like to see them both as wingbacks in this game

  9. Nice ones Markro. At LB we need a player who can presswell. Hope Declan gets a start this time- first throw of the Rice.

  10. Think 3-4-3 is best back 3 has Bilic told Media that’s is our Plan B but we look so much stronger in back with 3 CBs. And Should beCollins Rice and Ogbonna and like to see Adrian but that won’t happen. Lanzini could start Slav started Antonio.
    Adrian(Hart)
    Collins Rice Ogbonna
    Bryam Cressie (Masuku)
    Kouyate Obiang
    Antonio Chicarito Lanzini

    If Lanzini doesn’t start Sahko on left playing further fwd would work well

  11. Well doesn’t look like the strongest staring 11 Collins helps. But otherwise Fernande’s isn’t a RW

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