Article: West Ham v Saints match thread Football Southampton

Yes - he played for Scotland over the int'l break

 

Fortunately our medical team have successfully managed to untwist his legs.

 

I feel NA will spring a suprise on us with his selection

 

I've got a suspicion of this as well. Start for Mayuka?

 

I'll be very pleased if Mayuka starts.

 

Yes please!

 

Rodriguez upfront or Guly in the hole?

The good things going for Southampton tomorrow are the fact that Adkins has had the upper had over Allardyce in the past and it seems that West Ha's defence is riddled with injuries too, therefore they look far from impenetrable. Finally Carroll will only have had one day back with his adopted club to prepare, however they do still have Maiga and Jarvis.

 

Anyone think Reading may sneak something at Anfield?

 

In a word...NO

 

Would like to see Mayuka but in a central role along with Lambert, whether that is as a two or one behind the other, either way. To get something out of the game, either our defence has to be a brick wall, we have to be an attacking force and put a few away, or West Ham have to be terrible. And you can't count on your opponents gifting you a game and I think we all know the more likely outcome of the two options from our point of view. I think Mayuka can be a real danger, and he is somewhat of an unknown quantity which can only help him, and the combination of his speed and Lambert's power and both of them's ability to put the ball in the back of the net, if they both play a good game could be lethal. I would be happy to see us utilise Mayuka out wide at times this season, but only in a legitimate 4-3-3 not a 4-5-1/4-2-3-1/Whatever the hell it is, because at the end of the day he's still a striker, and in a game where our defence down the wings will be at it's most important, it is not the time to play a player with limited defensive abilities there and risk getting carved open. Lallana cost us against Fulham, switched off twice and allowed their RB to create their two goals, but I have a lot of faith in both his footballing abilities and brain, he'll know he didn't do well enough, and they'll have been working on it in preparation of the game, so I'd be perfectly happy to see him out wide and believe that he can improve and that we can rely on him.

So my preferred line-up would be

Gazza

Clyne Hooiveld Fonte Fox

Puncheon Davis Schneiderlin Lallana

Lambert

Mayuka​

Subs: Davis, Shaw, Yoshida, Reeves, Guly, Ward-Prowse, Rodriguez

Prediction: 2-2

A goal a piece between Lambert and Davis give us a good start and put us 2-0 up, but West Ham grow into the game, Lambert, Mayuka and Puncheon are subbed for Rodriguez, Ward-Prowse and Guly, we try see out the game but in the end West Ham are too strong and score two in the last twenty to send us home with a reasonable point.

 

My team for tomorrow:
4231
Gazzaniga
Clyne (?) Fonte Yoshida Fox
Davis Morgan
Puncheon Guly Lallana
Lambert

 

Why have you dropped Yoshida, he has been good and promises to get better once his partnership with fonte improves? I rate your posts and Hooiveld as a player but he is in such dire form at the moment that if he was to play and mess it up again major questions would be asked of not only him but Adkins. We have looked far stronger without him, I would rather play Bart after his Blackpool howler than Jos.

Adkins substitutions against Mac City were brilliant, I would be much more confident of predicting tactical excellence from Adkins despite him perhaps costing us a few early points.

 

Not so much dropping Maya as having a bit of faith in Hooiveld. I think Fonte and Yoshida definitely going through the season are looking like the best pairing, but considering West Ham's physical threat, I think Hooiveld could be the man for the job. Yoshida is by no means a diminuitive weakling, but there's no contest in height and power between him and Hooiveld. Jos' main problem after all has been when small, shifty players have exposed him a touch, Tevez and Rodallega both did him in the channels and made him look pedestrian at times. Carroll is neither small nor shifty, it will be all about raw power, and I think Jos can match up against him, and will be hungry to improve and show that he has the quality. Horses for courses and all that! Plus of course he has a 100% record or scoring against West Ham... Practically a dead cert. Also lets not forget that Yoshida is coming off of consecutive 90 minutes for Japan against France and Brazil, who gave them a spanking, got to be physically and mentally tired.

And I wasn't so much citing the subs as reasons for them coming back in my prediction, just a general prediction of the subs that would be made in the game, although I can see how the way I worded it that it could be mis-construed. I think they would be the best options off the bench, would be perfectly happy if Nige made those subs, obviously don't know if they will be the right ones in whatever situation we find ourselves in when it's time to introduce some fresh legs, but all these predictions are entire nonsense anyway so what they heck!

 

This is most likely, however I think there will be a surprise somewhere in the squad...!

 

I like this thinking. Jos would give it his all if picked!

 

it is a possibilty. A lot will depend on how they handle Suarez.

 

2-1 win for Saints for me - Lambert and Lallana to score.

 

John Burridge
Mark Dennis
Francis Benali
Mark Wright
Ken Monkou
John Sydenham
Steve Williams
Jimmy Case
Danny Wallace
Matthew LeTissier
Terry Paine


Kevin Moore
Danny Wallace
Mick Channon
Nicky Banger
Neil Moss

 

Why's Channon on the bench? Is he carrying an injury? I knew we were going to lose a really influential player to injury for this game.

 

Yes he was on the ale last night with Steele and O'Neill.....................