Bilic looks certain to have Dimi Payet and Havard Nordveit available for the clash against Bournemouth at the London Stadium tomorrow (Sun) after both suffered minor knocks.
However, Cheik Kouyate looks likely to be ruled out with a thigh injury although hopes are high the midfielder powerhouse will be ok for the match at Manchester City next weekend.
Sam Byram looks certain to continue at right back and Arthur Masuaku will return to left back.
Meanwhile, David Gold is looking forward to what he describes as a massive game declaring: “We need three points. It feels odd talking like that given it’s so early in the season.
“But we go to Manchester City next weekend so we really need to win – it’s a massive game. We want to feel comfotrtable going into the international break.”
And looking back on the Europa Cup clash in midweek he said: “It was a bad pitch and maybe the performance was a bit fragmented but most would have taken 1-1 before the game started. These are not straightforward games!”
Kouyate is a massive loss. We are in big trouble. I would take a point now. Nordsvelt was hopeless against Chelsea. From the Chelsea game I would drop Collins, Nordsvelt, Ayew, Enner and Carroll. I would bring in Byran (I still have my doubts about him but he looked sharp when he came on), either Oxford or Ogbanna to partner Reid, Arthur stays at LB, Noble and Obiang in midfield. Antonio, Payet, Tore with Calleri up top. FFS do not play Carroll up top as the lone striker.
You’d drop ayew that’s good he’s out for 4 months
Carroll didn’t get any service against Chelsea and The combination of Terry & Cayhill would blunt any high ball game .
He shouldn’t have that problem against Bournemouth who will playing , Not To Lose .
Personally I think it’s time to put our strongest available team out . Three points has now become essential . Otherwise we slip further back and catch up is not a nice place to be .,
Especially with our next league game being at City and with a Thursday home game against Astra . Byram must continue at RB and Antonio given his legs on the wing . He needs the practice after being played out of position for so long .
Kevin, I am sick and tired of this lame excuse he got no service. In a 4-4-2 system with wingers he will get service. But in the system we play he will never get the service. So either change the system or don’t play Carroll. It is that simple.
Hopefully Nordveidt is fit, I would like to see him and Obiang as the defensive midfielders if Lanzini isn’t fit enough to start, then Antonio, Noble and Payet ahead and Callieri up top. Looking forward to our first home match COYI!!!
Yeah I’m looking forward to it too No32.There again I ain’t going into the match thinking ‘we are in big trouble’ haha.I will leave that to Johnham 😀
Lol 45 yep, we are 1 game into the season and we are doomed 😉
Very important game tomorrow.. We can’t let teams come the LS as if it were a little Wembley . We must make it our Home Ground . It will take time , but time is a commodity
Is something we don’t have . It’s a strange position for us to be in . So patience must be shown . But patience can be very costly . Argggg , one could go nuts thinking too much about it .
I don’t think there is any chance of Ahew playing jonham, is there. Apart from that Your team would be mine too