We should play 4-2-4-0 like we normally do Good teams don't leave 1 up front in a 9-0-1 like the spammers did against Liverpool. The let their midfield decide who wants to move forward and keep on swapping in a lovely fluid no fixed striker setup
I think we'll go with Jos and Maya but still, the defence is much improved but Reading weren't exactly a big test. Carroll played well at the weekend and it concerns me a little bit.
They've been playing quite well lately, 3-1 win over West Brom looked impressive and getting a point at Anfield is never an easy task. Diagonal balls to the likes of Jarvis could be an issue for us, West Ham seem to be using the wings a lot lately rather than the traditional Hooooooof we have come to know and love. I'd take a draw from this to be honest, would keep us above West Ham and keep the points total ticking over. With our current style of play I think we are more likely to take all 3 points away at Swansea and surely 5 wins on the bounce would be too much to ask!
----------boruc---------- -clyne-yoshida-jos-shaw ------morgan--cork----- -lallana--davis--rodriguez --------Lambert----------- We should have enough to beat west ham although long ball could be the way to do undo our press as is often mentioned. I think the above line up is who deserve to play saturday but I would much rather see this lineup: ----------boruc---------- --clyne--yoshida--jos--shaw --------morgan--cork----- -puncheon-ramirez-rodriguez ----------Lambert----------- Puncheon provides better protection for clyne and works that right wing better than anyone when he is playing well and Ramirez is our best player, admittedly Davis has been quality recently and better than Ramirez tbf. And lallana scored and looked good against reading so it would a tough call on both Lallana and Davis not to start them. However seems wrong to have no natural right winger in the side and davis isn't really an attacking midfielder either imo, although he has consistently played the role better than ramirez you could well argue.
Fortunately, there are players called subs which mean that nothing is set in stone and changes can be made. Imagine the old days when there were no subs even for injuries...meant that players had to carry on with bad injuries.
I'm nevrous for two reasons. Firstly I'm going, going to uni has limited my chances of going this year and I'm yet to see saints win so far so I can't take another loss! Secondly westham are a big strong team who play direct and this I think is the team we are least suited to playing against. Our pressing won't be that effective as they get the ball forward quickly so it lessens our chances of winning the ball in their half. They are also likely to sit back when we have the ball and make it very difficult to play through their defense. Lastly I worry our midfield may get bullied physically. However if we can be clever and really try and move them around as much as possible and get in behind them with slick incisive passes we have a great chance!
Jos vs Carroll is going to be the real battle. At Upton Park, Jos dominated him in the first half. He spent the whole half being knocked over and sitting on his ass complaining. At half time, I think Fat Sam must have gone into moan at the ref because for the whole of the second half he spent throwing himself to the floor and got free kick after free kick which led to WHU getting on top and winning the game. I expect the same this weekend
And the ref kept (wrongly) awarding him free kicks every time he fell over; one of which they scored from and another of which led to their penalty. We were naive back then and Boruc was awful. We are much more streetwise now but I never predict us to win as I hate tempting fate!
I do think in it's own way this is our toughest test for a while (and yes, I include Chelsea and Liverpool in that) - if there's a team that are set up to almost completely frustrate the way we play, it's West Hoof. I'd take a draw in this one.
Wow three West Ham threads at the top of your forum! I never knew there was such an obsession with us among your fans. Especially as we always consider you such a harmless, friendly little club.
'AVE IT Hello Trix. I'm giving this the full rooftop shouting, chest thumping effort so hopefully we will win Fingers crossed.
Quite simply its because we desperately want to be you. Playing crap football, soon to be in a stadium with a crap view completely unsuitable for the sport. But then I guess the further you are away the less you have to move your neck back and forth.
