I think West Ham’s recent league results (2 wins in last 7) plus the first leg loss at home to Frankfurt may make them take the Arsenal game a bit more seriously than they perhaps were going too with regards to selection and performance. I could be wrong and they may still have all their eggs firmly in the EL basket and rotate tomorrow (wouldn’t blame them, I probably still would) but their next two games vs Arsenal and Frankfurt could be season defining. Lose both, or even draw to Frankfurt and they’re more or less out of the top four race, outsiders for top six and can’t get CL via EL win. Some big decisions for Moyeseh coming up that’s for sure.
The timing of bookings has substantial impact on the game. But it's difficult to quantify so nobody bothers. But we know it's hard for Citeh and Pool to pick up bookings, particularly early on (wasn't that happening with Citeh as well a lot yesterday?), whilst the same rules don't apply to all. That is going to create a subtle but important swing in our game v Pool when one of our players gets a yellow for his first tackle but the Pool player doesn't (and of course not a second).
I was there yesterday, more in hope than expectation, Rotherham as I expected were bigger, quicker and generally better than the Gills. But the Gills were not relegated for losing to a good side on the final day, they haven't been good enough across 46 games. Hopefully Neil Harris will stick around and have a bash at getting them backing up.
I'm a bit surprised at how few players Moyes has rested. Looks like Antonio, Soucek and Diop and that's it. They've got no CBs to partner the cat-kicker so it'll be a makeshift back line, but otherwise a relatively strong side - certainly stronger than I feared for.
I did half expect a semi strong side from them, 2 wins from 7 in the league and a loss at home in the first leg means that they probably need to take the league a bit more seriously than they would’ve initially done had they won the first leg. If they lose the next two games their season is done and it’ll end up being a bad one for them overall. Rice likely ****s off with no CL or EL and you’d think a few will be sniffing around Bowen too.
Yep, you're bang on and this is why I was saying that the fears you lot had about West Ham fielding an U23 side against us was never going to happen. They still need to take the league seriously because progression into the Europa League final is far from guaranteed for them. Anything can happen in knockout football. They can't afford to risk their league form spiralling downhill.
Looks like Rudiger’s heading to Madrid according to Romano, 4 year deal. Pretty sure Christensen is going Barca too. Two important CBs for Chelsea leaving for nothing. Be a terrible shame if Chelsea’s transfer ban isn’t lifted in the summer
Man Utd fans are protesting their owners tonight, as it's their final home game of the season. Seems insanely early. Ours is nearly two weeks away and our last game is away.
I mean Palace away is still a home game for them, just not as much of a home game as it was before Uncle Roman bought Chelsea...
Ronaldo is still so good. The problem for Utd is Dopey, Sleepy, Dozy, Lazy, Drowsy, Snoozy, Weary, Dreary, Dumpy & Sloppy
