Quite possibly the most unsettling of build-ups ahead of a Premier League fixture really caught fire last night as rumours swirled around concerning Lucas Paqueta, Nayef Aguerd, Emerson Palmieri, Guido Rodriguez and Andy Irving – all linked with exits, some with ‘don’t want to play’ stories- hard to imagine Potter and the squad staying focussed through that.
However, the Nottingham Forest fixture presents West Ham with a challenge ahead of the international break and Potter gets to show whether his stubbornness in sticking with the negative formation wins out over a willingness to change what is clearly failing. Fundamentally there’s an opportunity to switch to four at the back or stick with the painful on the eye 5-3-2 formation.
Here we get to give our own guess as to Potter’s selection: Not our own preferences, you understand.
Stubborn Potter wins out and we see another – facepalm – 5-3-2 set up: Our predicted starting XI
Hermansen | Wan Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Mavropanos, Diouf | Ward-Prowse, Rodriguez, Fernandes | Bowen, Fullkrug
Score predictions:
Gonzo Forest win 2-0
Matt 2 – 0 Forest win
Martin 2-1 Hammers masterclass
Sean 1- 0 West Ham win
Check back for the official team news at 12.45
Most of our goals conceded from set pieces. A lot of Forests goals scored from set pieces. What can go wrong?
West Ham’s Key Issues
• Defending crosses: 8 of 11 goals conceded have come from balls into the box; already let in 3 headed goals (most in PL). Opponents Forest lead the league in crosses, making this a major concern.
• Set-pieces: Conceded 4 goals from dead balls (most in PL). Marking and goalkeeping errors have caused chaos.
• Midfield mobility: Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Guido Rodríguez, and Irving lack pace, leaving West Ham overrun centrally.
• Chance creation: Over-reliance on Bowen and Paquetá; only 1 big chance created in the PL so far, with low overall xG (1.29 — second-worst).
Player Focus
• Defensive lapses: Wan-Bissaka and Paquetá have both been guilty of poor marking.
• Positive arrivals: Midfielder Mateus Fernandes (£40m from Southampton) adds pace, creativity, and box-to-box energy. Soungoutou Magassa (AS Monaco) also strengthens midfield depth.
Match Context
• West Ham are winless in 25/26 (3 defeats, 8 PL goals conceded + EFL Cup exit).
• They have failed to score on their last four visits to Nottingham Forest.
• Forest are especially dangerous from wide areas and set plays — exactly West Ham’s weak points.
Outlook
The Hammers need urgent improvement in:
1. Closing down crossers
2. Organising set-piece defence
3. Adding speed and creativity in midfield
The hope is that Fernandes (and Magassa) can provide the spark to reduce reliance on Bowen and Paquetá, improve chance creation, and stabilise results.
Still think their pace will kill us 3-1 to Forest.
Chris Wood ALWAYS scores against us and with our frailties in the air, he’ll probably bag a couple.
Potter’s last game in charge, I hope…….
Sadly I reckon you are right. Any team with JWP or Rodriguez or Soucek starting is going to lose.
My only theory on why Potter was doing it was to be as bad as possible to force the board to invest.
If two midfielders is all it failed!
If it wasn’t that then Potter actually believes in that ridiculous midfield.
Why are we playing Rodriquez when he is leaving, we are trying to build the team in the players we will have
Very disappointed no Potts or Marshall again
I hope he is going to use them
Has pretty much kept players bar the ones which are leaving the same team???
Oh well let’s see what happens with Fernandes in and Mavropanos
sue this is just our expectation…. Potter’s XI published at 12.45 don’t despair. Looking brighter for Paqueta in for Rodriguez.