West Ham are notoriously inconsistent. That's the best hope we've got of getting anything from this one, but if we can find the net away from home, anything can happen particularly against this lot. We couldn't do it at Everton nor at Spurs and it cost us. Both games ran out as 1-0 losses but West Ham aren't in the same class as those two.
A point is not beyond us and all 3 not out of the question - but we've just got to put away the chances we will get. Need Pato to put himself about again and others get onto the second ball - no point having him up there working his socks off without support just because it's an "away game".
Lot of talk Warnock will go with the same side that started against Wolves with 3 CB's to shut down the width of the penalty area - massive game for Manga/Morrison/Bamba if Warnock does go that way again. That then asks a lot of our wide men defensively. Not sure Camarasa is best used in that role but there's no way we can leave him out of the side in favour of someone like Pelts who offers very little going forward. After his performance and goal against Wolves, there is no way Warnock will leave Hoilett out on the left, so where does that leave Bennett?
Control of the midfield will be key to pushing on up front unless we adopt route one again. Whatever, it has to be Gunnar and Arter as nailed on options, but assuming he sticks with the wingbacks as against Wolves, the rest of the mix around Patterson is up for grabs. Unless he goes for another midfielder - Ralls is the obvious one, but he didn't impress me against Wolves - the other option could be any 2 from Murphy, Reid, Kadeem, Mendez or even Ward.
Maybe that's a bit radical for an away game but it should give West Ham some worries at the back - if we allow them to play out, they will.
A point is not beyond us and all 3 not out of the question - but we've just got to put away the chances we will get. Need Pato to put himself about again and others get onto the second ball - no point having him up there working his socks off without support just because it's an "away game".
Lot of talk Warnock will go with the same side that started against Wolves with 3 CB's to shut down the width of the penalty area - massive game for Manga/Morrison/Bamba if Warnock does go that way again. That then asks a lot of our wide men defensively. Not sure Camarasa is best used in that role but there's no way we can leave him out of the side in favour of someone like Pelts who offers very little going forward. After his performance and goal against Wolves, there is no way Warnock will leave Hoilett out on the left, so where does that leave Bennett?
Control of the midfield will be key to pushing on up front unless we adopt route one again. Whatever, it has to be Gunnar and Arter as nailed on options, but assuming he sticks with the wingbacks as against Wolves, the rest of the mix around Patterson is up for grabs. Unless he goes for another midfielder - Ralls is the obvious one, but he didn't impress me against Wolves - the other option could be any 2 from Murphy, Reid, Kadeem, Mendez or even Ward.
Maybe that's a bit radical for an away game but it should give West Ham some worries at the back - if we allow them to play out, they will.
We bollocks three, are coming for thee!
