After what feels like a month without football, the Premier League finally returns for under pressure Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham side. With disciplinary bans in place for Edson Alvarez and Mohammed Kudus, plus the injury to Niclas Fullkrug, the Hammers’ head coach faces selection challenges as he looks to try and improve the team performance from the desperate dull draw against Everton.
The challenge of improving the Hammers’ porous and ponderous midfield is high on Lopetegu’s ‘must-do’ list. Rumours before the game that Lucas Paquetá had a knock further limited the coach’s choices – would there be a first start for Andrew Irving? And speculation was rife that West Ham would revert to French goal keeper Alphonse Areola after he lost his place to Lucas Fabianski.
The team news is in!
Fabianski Keeps his place, Lucas Paquetá starts and Rodriguez is dropped .
West Ham United
Fabisanksi | Wan Bissaka, Todino, Kilman, Emerson,| Soler, Soucek, Paquetá | Bowen, Summerville, Antonio
Game kicks off at 6am here, and I shan’t say I’m sorry to be heading out to work.
That midfield, it’s like a token gesture.
While I’ll keep sneaking a look at my phone to check on the score, I’m not holding my breath for a result, but as always I hope for one.
If ever we needed a season for the youth to come through and add some dynamism, this was it.
Unfortunately they’re all out on season long loans.
I’m relaxed – I’ve been watching the pre-match build up on Sky and it seems that we aren’t playing: I have the impression it’s a Manchester derby 😉
Sky as bad as the BBC – it’s like we don’t exist 🤬🤬🤬⚒️⚒️⚒️
I hate going into games with a sense of dread. Waited two weeks for this and Soucek starts ahead of Irving. What does he have to do to get an opportunity? Getting sick of this.
The end is nigh
The midfield looks porous but I suppose that it can’t look otherwise given available players. Rodriguez out Soler in doesn’t seem likely to do it. We’ll see.
We need better tactics and shape to make good for it.
Does he know that the first sign on madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. For god sake try a few new players