EVERY game between now and the end of the season is ‘must win’ for a West Ham side stuck – at present- seven points adrift of their nearest relegation rivals. Should that get to double digits this afternoon, then that is likely to be ‘sayonara’ and the long slow dance towards the championship will begin in earnest.
Depressing, for January. So todays’ fixture still offers a glimpse of hope for the optimists amongst West Ham’s fan base who believe the club and Nuno are capable of resetting their dismal form and suddenly conjuring up eight or nine Premier league wins when only two have been produced since Nuno arrived.
In trying to ‘guess’ Nuno’s line up for today we are making a couple of assumptions – firstly that Lucas Paqueta’s invisible back injury keeps him out of the side whilst his future is decided in boardrooms a long way away: Mateus Fernandes was also doubtful and we’re assuming he makes the XI but if not, expect Potts to be the more ‘forward’ midfielder alongside Soucek and Magassa.
Simply because the Hammers don’t have three fit centre backs, expect Nuno to play a 4-3-3 formation:
Areola | Walker Peters, Kilman, Todibo, Wan-Bissaka | Potts, Fernandes, Soucek | Summerville, Castellanos, Bowen
Score predictions
Matt 1 – 1
Sean 1 – 0 West Ham away win
Martin 2-1 West Ham win after going behind to Gallagher 4th minute debut goal
Gonzo 2 – 0 Spurs win
Line up announced at 1-45pm.
The only positive I have going into this is that Tottenham have a lot out and are on poor form.
Even so I can’t see us getting better than a 1-1 with more probable being worse than that. I’m not so hopeful.
Can’t help but feel something could be in the offing there today. We do like to go and take a big old dump on their patch, especially when they are expecting a win. I’m also thinking the rule of three;
Nuno last 3 clubs, all three back to back to back. Three goals v Wolves, three goals in the Forest game – if have a hunch for another three in a 1-2 away shocker for the spuds. I’m writing this from my padded cell 😂
More than happy if he isn’t, though !
Gonzo is the only one with his feet on the ground, I am afraid !