West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo has gone for a mix of youth and experience in tonight’s game against Manchester United as the line-ups are announced. The West Ham grapevine had been buzzing all day with reports that multiple academy players were set to make the bench with senior players like Niclas Fullkrug dropped altogether in favour of Callum Marshall.
Earthy, Kante & Mayers also make a very youthful Hammers bench.
Many expected Luis Guilherme to be in the starting line-up following the injury to Crysencio Summerville has been dropped from the squad completely as has Niclas Fullkrug.
Mateus Fernandes will be expected to take care of creative duties in the absence of the suspended Lucas Paqueta. Tomas Soucek will take the Brazilian’s place in the team but it is the selection of so man academy players on the bench which will create the most talking points.
Defensively, Espirito Santo has gone with a back four meaning Konstantinos Mavropanos continues to partner Jeam Clair Todibo at centre back.
West Ham team to face Manchester United: Areola, Wan Bissaka, Mavropanos, Todibo, Diouf, Magassa, Potts, Fernandes, Soucek, Bowen, Wilson.
Maybe Fulkrug has a transfer offer and they don’t him injured? Perhaps Guilherme has a knock?
Don’t really understand Guilherme and Fullkrug not in the squad at all? Irving and Rodríguez are never coming on surely, he seemed to want to give Guilherme a go and now not at all. Fullkrug is a German international centre forward surely he offers something?
I thought after the last game he said Guilherme injured himself?
Marshall for Summerville and Earthy for Paqueta is the way I would have gone.
Mavropanos – a disaster waiting to happen – no, already happening! Guilherme ? Who knows what goes on behind the scenes but, one of the few players to show any effort & skill against Liverpool. I can’t believe that, in the continued absence of Summerville, he doesn’t even feature on the bench. I am coming to believe that Santos does not really know what he is doing.Myu overall impression is that we are doomed.
Right. We need to see George Earthy coming on for Soucek for at least 30 minutes. I’m hoping for a draw but think a defeat is more likely, I’ll run with a hopeful 1-1