Zouma – set for return
West Ham boss David Moyes may well be tempted to bring back Kurt Zouma for Sunday’s clash against Leeds but frankly it is an option he should perhaps resist.
The big central defender has been out of action since doing a ligament in the game against former club Chelsea and after two clean sheets – and with Zouma only recently back in training – it seems reasonable to keep Diop and Dawson together for this one.
The Hammers are going for their fifth win on the trot after two successive clean sheets and with no Patrick Bamford expected in the Leeds side this may well be a game where the manager keeps the same team together as won against Norwich.
That would see Tomas Soucek again on the sidelines – and whilst we wish covid on absolutely nobody – it may be no bad thing t for him to get some further rest given the number of games he has played over the last couple of seasons.
Manu Lanzini is in terrific form and linked brilliantly with the front men in the game against the Canaries whilst Pablo Fornals did himself no harm.
Leeds are reported to have a mass of injuries and it would seem likely that we could, and perhaps should, see the same Hammers team on the pitch.
I totally agree with the comments here, for me it would the correct thing to do, stick with the team who played so well against Norwich and also stick with Dawson and Diop even if both Zouma and Soucek are back. I thought we really played some excellent stuff the other night and I thought Lanzini had a big part to play in that as well as Fornals. We looked much brighter and creative going forward with Lanzini, Fornals, Vlasic, Bowen and Antonio doing their stuff.
Yep
If Noble’s out and Soucek not ready Lanzini should drop back alongside Rice. Kral isn’t ready yet.
I disagree . Man Utd will be,despite all their problems a harder game. I don’t think it will be easier for Zouma to come in and play in that after 6 weeks out. I think Dawson needs a break after looking bruised and battered of late. If Zouma is fit as Moyes stated earlier in the week (he’s now backed down on that,could be a red herring ) play him.
Maybe Zouma could play an u-23 match if there’s one coming up.