The post-match relief from taking three points and a giant stride towards Nottingham Forest will be short lived: West Ham have a quick turnaround before playing the Red Devils midweek.
Knowing that Nottingham Forest have a game against the already condemned Wolves the following evening, the pressure to get something out of the Tuesday evening fixture will be enormous. Nobody wants to see the points gap opening again as the number of remaining games diminishes fast.
Which makes the selection dilemma facing Nuno all the more tricky, with calls coming for him to retain ‘clean sheet Mads’ after recalling the Dane against Burnley. No doubt benefitting from a more solid four man defence than in his last appearance, Hermansen came through a nervy first few minutes to survive: Amongst many this morning sports view.co.uk voice the opinion that the Dane needs a run in the side:
“Hermansen is the future and should get time to prove his mettle. Yes, he has been shaky on set-pieces and had his fair share of horror moments, but he needs a consistent run of games.
“Clean sheet Mads”: Ready for a run in the side?
Hermansen’s return could prove pivotal as West Ham attempt to claw their way out of danger in the coming weeks. He could find his feet and offer the defensive assurance the Hammers have lacked for much of the campaign.”
Whether it is the goal keeper providing ‘defensive assurance’ to his back four, or the other way around, likely West Ham’s goal will come under significantly more threat when a resurgent Manchester United visit on Tuesday night: A 2-0 defeat of Tottenham yesterday saw Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run at the helm continue, albeit with help from the referee as opponents Spurs were reduced to ten men midway through the first half.
If there is a positive to take from last week’s agonising turnaround and defeat, West Ham have proven they can score goals against anyone – Chelsea included. Whether Hermansen and his new-look back four are good enough to keep West Ham in the game on Tuesday, however, remains to be seen and is surely Nuno’s biggest selection quandary.
Another selection dilemma would be, can WHU afford, against a top team like MU, to not play Pablo & Taty together? People say Pablo is some kind of donkey, can’t score in the PL but i still find that the 2 of them combine brilliantly and open up the game to Bowen and Summerville. Seems to be a good, kind of instinctive understanding between them.
Given the result, Wilson/Taty worked too (think it means Taty & Wilson are intelligent players who can adapt), but not close in effect to Summerville, Bowen + T&P. That’s just my impression.
How will Soucek/Fernandes fare against Casemiro/Fernandes? It is going to be difficult, but WHU are a decent team and coaching staff are constantly tweaking, eking out improvements in players and team.
Anyone who thinks Hermansen looked anything other than risky and nervous throughout the Burnley game, is deluded, and it was only Burnley. Given what is at stake, and assuming Areola is fit, is it really the time to test Hermansen’s mental recovery. It is Nuno’s choice and if he doesn’t know the answers now, he never will (possible).
I would not risk Mads at the moment. Saturday was just giving him some game time against a bottom 2 team. We need to stick with Areola, who’s been part of our fight back.
I think the selection dilemma’s should be Scarles for Diouf and Wilson for Taty, also possibly playing 451 as Utd have been dominant centrally while Mbeumo Diouf is pretty much a no contest and likely to be a constant source of threat if we don’t have two defenders on that side of the field to block crosses and runs.
The only thing that I can with certainty regarding this fixture is that, with Fernandes playing, it would be suicide to include Kilman.
That is penalty just waiting to happen.
I personally don’t think it matters how this weeks games go. Win or lose I believe we still have a good chance of staying up as we are playing so much better.
Many will disagree with this forecast (maybe a little optimistic).
Looking at remainder fixtures pure guess work.
Whu: Wins Bournemouth/Fulham/Wolves/C.Palace (Draws x4). Points 23+16. Total 39
Forest: Wins Wolves/Burnley (Draws x4). Points 26+10. Total 36
Leeds: Wins C/Palace/Wolves/Burnley ((Draws x4). Points 29+13. Total 42.
Spurs: Wins C/Palace/Wolves (Draws x3). Points 29+9. Total 38.
Crystal Palace: Wins Burnley/Wolves (Draws x2). Points 30+8. Total 38.
Depending on goal averages Forest down and either Spurs or Crystal Palace with them.
Injuries at present: Whu_1/Forest_4/Leeds_4/Spurs_11/Palace_6.
Won’t make 40 points but should stay up.
Just stay away from injuries.
Tuesday game lose to Man Utd (we’ll see).
Assuming you have already written off Wolves and Burnley, that only leaves one place to fill.
1) It’s goal DIFFERENCE,not goal “averages”.
2)You’ve got us finishing ahead of Palace, Spuds AND Forest. Madness. I’m not convinced we beat ANY of those teams you suggest, or that all the others beat Palace.
3) You suggest Forest down AND either Spuds or Palace with them. What, Burnley (or Wolves) survive?!?
4) I think we get between 37- 39 points. Forest ain’t finishing on 36 points only.
Fernandez was the outstandin Man U player on Saturday. He should be nullified by our Fernandez when we aren’t in possession. This may limit our attacking options but could be a way to get a draw or even sneak a win. Man U had 23 shots with 10 on target but only scored 2 goals against 10-man Spuds and that was at home.
Areola has performed some World class saves recently that have kept us in games. Can he be at fault for any of the goals conceded against Chelsea or Sunderland or Spurs? He is one of the best shot stoppers in the league. His kicking is pretty poor but yesterday i lost count of the amount of times Mads kicked the ball up field to Bowen or Wilson and it ended up, within seconds, at Burnley’s feet. I’m not sold on him at all, he looks shaky on crosses and although maybe next season he might start as No.1 i’m not so sure he can be trusted for the run-in. I’d play Fabianski before Mads, personally.
Agreed Saul.
He’s lacking in composure with flighted balls into the six yard box, dosen’t appear to communicate clearly with defenders and ends up clattering into them frequently.
Another poor value transfer.
Mind you the biggest faux par was tousering the Augerd fee without adequetey replacing.
Saul. I appreciate your concern about booting the ball up towards the forwards. But Burnley were the team to practice this tactic against. Our forwards will get used to what is expected of them and we will get better at winning and holding the ball in the opposition half.
Much better to clear the ball and then Burnley to get the ball at their feet in their own half than for everyone to be in our half as we give it to them just outside our box.
Keep the play away from our goals. Really don’t care if they come back at us from their half but is they are going to score, make them work for it.