Disagree, West Ham have a lot to lose today. They will confident and rightly so but if they lose they are most likely in the bottom half with Liverpool, City and Chelsea to play in their next 5 league games.
West Ham are, on current form, top 5/6 and no reason to think that losing one game to us today will change that. As a team they appear well suited to last the season out. Mind you, the shame of losing to our motley crew at the moment might have a negative impact on their confidence
It's an interesting point. Are we still looking at their form and aspirations without factoring in the significant improvements they've made recently? In the summer, they kept Rice and all of their best players, whilst spending £60m+. Given that they don't have the commercial deals that we do, that's a significant investment and certainly, their owners will be looking to see that show in performances, results and shutting the fans up. So, there will be significant disappointment if they were to lose... However, if we lose...and particularly, if we don't turn up, we're at a point where the fall out is likely to be greater amongst our fans because of everything that's happened in the last few years, more than what's happening this season.
Spurs simply have to win today, no ifs or buts. My concern with WH is that they can bully spurs off the park. But that won't happen today. Nuno needs to learn game management today. Change tactics and make substitutions when they matter. Can he do it?
Winks rightfully dropped completely, though somehow Dele still makes the bench. Markanday/ Devine/ White/ John should be getting in over him. Scarlett not made the squad, he needs to be playing for the U23s more, this was something that happened to Skipp a couple seasons back where he’d be the 19th man for the first team yet barely play for the U23s. Not to mention KWP for two whole seasons being like that. These lads need to play, loans are the best option if they can’t get into the first team but at the very least they should be playing reserve football to keep match fitness up.
Midfield battle’s gonna be interesting. Rice, Soucek and Benrahma vs Hojbjerg, Skipp and Ndombele. They’ll definitely have the strength advantage, I’d say we have the technique.
It is distressing that, despite his form and some deserved scepticism, I think that he's by far the most likely source of a goal from the bench. Beyond that First XI, there's so little quality.
Gil’s the best option for me I’d say, not necessarily for a goal but the ability to actually make something happen either with an assist or bit of play… A 20 year old who probably can’t speak English too well that has only started a few games for us in the ECL having only just joined us in the summer… It really is that bad, lol.
The lack of a Defoe or even Llorente on the bench is painfully obvious. All of our subs are pretty much like for like, meaning little to no change of shape or tactics, so the only challenge the opposition will ever need to deal with is fresh legs - something most PL teams are more than capable of dealing with. There is literally nothing there to make them stop and think. Last season we could call on the physicality of Vini or the skill of Bale. That made the opposite dugout sit up and take notice. This season? Three players who have done next to nothing in 2+ years and a 20 year old Spaniard. And yet there are some who insist our refusal to sign a backup striker in the summer was actually a well thought out strategy. The mind boggles.
Nuno needs to play extra loud heavy metal for half hour before the match and then give every single player a hard kick in the balls on the way out. They need to be ****ing angry and aggressive before this one starts.
One obvious issue with that bench: if somebody goes studs-up on Skipp or Hojbjerg, and given how regularly that's happened this season with refs ignoring it "when" is likely the more operative word, we don't have a CM on the bench to replace them We have a couple of players who have been miscast as CMs this season on the bench, that much is true...but that doesn't exactly make for midfield depth, does it?
I'd rather not see our starting xi limp onto the field covering their sensitive regions Instead I'd rather see them grabbing them in the direction of West Scam fans at the final whistle after beating them in their cup final...
If this is what we have to expect for the next 80 minutes heaven help us! Will either be death by boredom or a thousand cuts.
