It’s that time of the week where West Ham United v Brentford takes centre stage: After the nightmare last week it will be wonderful to look forward to better times with a positive outcome against the Bees, who, as Gonzo has indicated have eight senior players missing from selection. As well as wading through every pundit’s prediction, part of our role is to keep an eye on media publications and report the highlights, ‘experts’ and news outlets who play the prediction game, be it our Hammers team or the result.
More later on Chris Sutton’s predictions – you’ll know from previous comments how much he loves West Ham – but just now I am still scratching my head from a report by sportsview.co.uk entitled: ‘Summerville starts as Lopetegui makes six changes against Brentford – predicted West Ham XI against Brentford’. I’ll emphasise here this is not my prediction!
I then read the list which is ‘predicted’ to be our line up – see if you can spot the absentee:
Again bear in mind this is not my prediction: Sportsview’s “Predicted XI: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Rodriguez, Soucek; Bowen, Paqueta, Summerville; Antonio”
Apart from taking issue with Rodriguez instead of Soler, I’d read it twice before it clicked that Mohammed Kudus appears absent from the start. Quickly I double checked that there hadn’t been an injury scare – nope, I think they’ve either dropped a clanger or would really rather see him on the bench.
Either way, ‘in my humble opinion’ ‘that’s plain ‘wrong’. One of the only areas that looked good against Chelsea was the front three- the fast trio of Kudus Bowen and Summerville- and I’d fully expect Kudus to start. So, in case any Hammers fans are reading the report and wondering what has happened to our ‘Starboy’ – fear not.
He’ll be there tomorrow.
I hope there will come a time where with all the latent talent we have in the squad now we can give Kudos a rest just because we can.
But that time isn’t now. He’s needed more than ever while many of the newcomers find their feet.
COYI
Kudus can make a goal out of nothing , which is what he’ll have to do with only imbecilic tactics from Lopetegui ( the mediocre former Spanish goalkeeper ) . Westham should have paid for Steidten’s choice of coach ( Amorim ) and bought one less player , say forget Fulkrug , another expensive donkey who everybody knew would fail .