Massive Challenge Ahead as Opponents top of the ‘form table’
West Ham face a massive game this weekend against a formidable Aston Villa side who, on paper, should be far too strong for a Hammers team still ‘working hard’ to eradicate errors and desperate to climb out of the relegation zone.
But there are green shoots of recovery in East London. Nuno Espírito Santo has almost a full squad to pick from, competition for places is fierce, and the switch to a five-man defence at Brighton actually made us look organised for the fourth successive match. On top of that, captain Jarrod Bowen looks a different player when deployed centrally during the last two games, which gives us half a chance against anyone.
The selection headache this week? One of Magassa, Summerville or Callum Wilson is likely to drop out. Wilson was electric off the bench at the Amex, but if Nuno reverts to the more balanced shape from the Brighton match, he may be the one to miss out.
Although, this is tinker man Nuno… so don’t rule out Tomas Souček suddenly popping back into midfield just when we think it’s settled.
Nuno is likely to start Paqueta against Aston Villa
The Opposition: Villa Flying High
Aston Villa come into this game as the league’s form side over the past eight matches. Unai Emery’s men are third, just three points behind Arsenal, and they’re playing like a side genuinely believing in a title challenge. Their 2–1 win over Arsenal was no smash-and-grab — they were the better team.
To make matters trickier, Villa rotated heavily in their 2–1 win away at Basel last night, meaning they arrive in East London fresh, confident and absolutely full of running.
Morgan Rogers is a particular danger man and has been an incredible signing. England international is likely to start out wide having been rested from the starting line-up for the Villains Europa League trip.
Unai Emery and Espirito Santo have met 9 times with three wins apiece
Gonzo’s Predicted West Ham XI
This is the team I would pick — Nuno remains impossible to second-guess. After all, who had “Guido Rodríguez starts at Brighton” on their bingo card?
GK Areola
RB Wan-Bissaka
CB Mavropanos
CB Todibo
LB Diouf
CM Magassa
CM Potts
RM Fernandes
CAM Paquetá
LM Summerville
CF Bowen
Prediction
Villa are so good and have such frightening depth that it’s very hard to make a case for us winning. That doesn’t mean hope is gone — far from it. If West Ham somehow beat this lot, I’d feel massively more confident about staying up.
But being honest… I think Villa edge it 1–0.
Then again, I also predicted we’d lose to Brighton — so what do I know?
Billy Bonds memorial day.
A resolute performance would be fitting.
Your team minus pac man for Wilson …
2-0 West Ham
Would give us a strong bench of
PAC MAN
Fulkreg
Souchek
Kiliman
Walker peters
Earthy
And any other 3
I’d put Wilson in to start in place of Magassa, let Bowen run riot where he’s best on the right. I think we’ll compete but to win is a big ask. Provided our line up isn’t very different to what we’ve said 1-1
Think you’re right for once.
Paqueta needs a brilliant game,one of his suitors.
If he gets booked early haul him off. Playing him as a 9 may keep him away from the midfield where he gets booked.
bench
Herrick.Scarles,KWP,Earthy,Myers,Irving,Wilson,Marshall,Soucek.