West Ham head into a tricky encounter against Oxford United tomorrow evening in a match which presents some selection dilemmas for the manager.
Tony Cottee made a particularly good point when commenting in yesterday’s CandH that he would like to see a virtually unchanged team take the field from the Manchester United victory.
He explained that is the last thing the League One squad will want to see as they look to create a shock at the Kassam Stadium.
However, if the boss is true to form there could be anything up to four or five changes if we accept the Newport County game as a model when he played a virtually different Xi from the previous game against Watford.
That was for a game against League Two opposition whilst tomorrow night we meet a side sitting in 12th place in League One with three wins.
However, along the way they have scored 19 goals and conceded 15 in collecting their 12 points.
Neither Fabianski or Fredericks will be involved as the manager again shuffles his options and this may be close to the team I would expect him to field:
Roberto, Zaba, Diop, Balbuena, Cresswell; Sanchez, Wilshere, Yarmolenko, Anderson, Fornals, Haller.
💯 he will not play yarmolenko twice in 3 days. As he is just coming back from long term injury.
Going forward (sorry not strictly on topic), it would be a shame to lose Cresswell as our best free kick taker (?). Whilst Lanzini’s out why not let Anderson step up to that role, coming inside more, put Arthur on the wing and keep Aaron at LB?
Ajeti a cert to play other than that pretty much that side I think
Well if that is not good enough, what is??
Bulk of the proposed team looks correct. Except I think Jack W, Snoddy, Ajeti will play … and maybe Masuaku. All depends if the manager now prefers Cressie for next Premier League game based on his performance against Manu. Nonetheless, whatever team is chosen …. coyi – God bless West Ham.
Give Ajeti a run out for60 or a bit more if it’s going ok..like to see Holland if he is fit for a bit he looked good v Borough 23’s the other night
Ajeti must play. Also Snodgrass
Ajeti but I would blood a couple of kids, including Holland.
Ajeti, Snodgrass and hopefully Holland on the left wing, Masuaku at left back. I would like also to see 442 with Ajeti alongside Haller so Roberto, Zaba, Balbuena Diop Masuaku Holland Wilshere Sanchez Snodgrass Ajeti Haller ?
it doesn’t matter what team we put out, we have a good deep squad and should be far too strong for league 1 opposition
Roberto
Zaba Balbuena Ogbonna Masuaku
Sanchez Wilshere
Snodgrass Fornals Anderson
Ajeti
I think Ben Johnson and snodgrass will get a run out.
Ben is still injured I think
We need to reward some of the outstanding U23’s for a place or on the bench. Otherwise the will see their future blocked and move elswhere.
They played against Newport last week and won.
With a few youngsters and squad players we should be more than capable of winning.
Roberto
Zabaleta Diop Balbuena Masuaku
Sanchez Wilshere Powell
Holland Ajeti Snodgrass
Subs. Martin Ogbonna Fornals Anderson Haller
Rice Kemp
Fabianski, Cresswell, Noble, Yarmelenko all rested.
Fredericks and Johnson not included as injured.
Agree with Lanzini. Holland has been outstanding and Powell is the glue, he makes the u23s tick. Diangana broke through against Macclesfield but look who threaded the ball through for both his goals. Not saying they should start but should defo get game time.