please log in to view this image West Ham Utd v Leeds Utd Sunday 16th January@14:00 | London Stadium Third Round of the FA Cup Leeds face their first of two consecutive trips to the London Stadium on Sunday to face West Ham in the Third Round of the FA Cup. Patrick Bamford is rated 50/50 whether he is fit enough to participate on Sunday. The 28yo has recovered from the hamstring injury he sustained during his goal celebration against Brentford a month ago, but faces a race against time to get match fit. Cooper, Phillips, Shackleton, Struijk and Cresswell all remain on the treatment table. Rodrigo is currently being assessed for his heel injury, but is expected to again miss out. Diego Llorente and Tyler Roberts are permitted to play in the FA Cup. The duo picked up their 5th bookings of the season against Burnley last weekend, and face a one match suspension. Unfortunately, the ban is competition specific; both will miss the league game on the 16th at the London Stadium. Crysencio Summerville, Cody Draheh and Sam Greenwood are all expected to play some sort in Sunday's proceedings, having played just 45 minutes against Sunderland midweek. Angelo Ogbonna, Aaron Cresswell and Kurt Zouma are all sidelined with injury whilst Said Benrahma is away on international duty with Algeria. Attacking midfielder Pablo Fornals is available for selection. The Spainish International has been given the all clear following Covid, and is expected to start. Aji Alese, Jamal Baptiste, Manny Longelo and Harrison Ashby are all expected to be given game time by Hammer's boss David Moyes.
My team for the weekend; Meslier Ayling Llorente Koch Firpo Dallas Forshaw Klich Raphinha Joffy James My feeling is we need a positive result to gain momentum and the above side will give the Hammers a run for their money.
Strange side West Ham. Rarely dominate the stats except the one that matters, the score line. Well organised defensively and enough attacking talent to always be a threat. A well-drilled efficient team. Last season I thought they played really well at Elland road, but in the away fixture, I thought we were much the better side. They were on top for 10 minutes and won 2-0. Typical Leeds. So whilst their league position is justified they’re always a side you always think you have a chance with because they won’t play you off the park and dominate the ball. Who knows how strong a side they’ll put out but I expect us to put out the strongest we have… because that’s all that’s available and the guys coming back need fitness not wrapping in cotton wool for the league.
I believe Wham have a couple away at AFCON, and a couple carrying knocks, so expect them to have a mix of first teamers and fringe players, they are still in with a chance of 4th spot, which seems more important than winning a cup to most teams because of the chance of CL football, so it will depend on what they are prioritising. I think I'd rest Raphinha, need him more for the league games. Other than that go with what Jammy as picked.
Was going to rest Raphinha but then decided he needs to play. Getting tanked at Man City etc is never good for anyone's confidence and I'd like to see him play his way back into form.
WHU also have some units to bully us around with from dead ball kicks. We need to expose their weakness at the back which is lack of pace. We have the players to rip them open
I think we could get a pleasant surprise on Sunday, the back 4 looks balanced with Llorente and Koch looking comfortable, especially Koch, he impressed me how he would not let Wood push him about, infact i think Kock could have a nasty streak to him....... love it. Hope Firpo builds on last weeks performance i think there maybe a player in there somewhere. Forshaw definitely has that bite to his game and reminds me of Batty the more i watch him, he clattered a Burnley player last week and give him a wry smile, love that in a player. Raphinha needs to pull his socks up, not played well most of the season if truths known. Prefer James to Harrison, and for him and Raphinha to keep swapping wings. Roberts injured (hope so) so Gelhardt up front, i have a feeling Moyes may play Dawson at the back and Joffy will make mince meat of him. My main concern at the moment is Meslier, his decisions of distribution is poor, and does not know how to arrange a wall, just as a pointer what's your thoughts of no wall at all from 25yrds plus, let the keeper see the striker hit the free kick, i know in training to beat the keeper from that distance just shooting has got to be something special. I think the roller coaster is starting to gather momentum......... again, love it.
He should have been briefed on their shooters. Cornet is left footed and taking a shot from the left side (for him) of goal. Every chance it'd curl around the wall. Someone else in the team could have informed him though.
It's collective responsibility between players and coaches. That way there should be nothing missed. Oh...and while we are at it Meslier has been one of our few stand out players this season. He's been great and kept us in many games. The save against Wood first half last Sunday was exceptional. He had no right to save that from point blank range. Best keeper we've had since Nigel Martyn.
Pretty sure Meslier would’ve known Cornet is left footed ffs And I agree with Emu re Meslier being our best keeper since Martyn.
The none defensive wall doesn't work, the attacking team would block the keepers view and move at the last second.
Yes agreed that Meslier has been one of only a couple of stand out players so far this season…… but…… lets not forget that his poor distribution when under pressure at the back has conceded goals. Remember when Meslier was lauded for his distribution, well whe we play against a high press and our defenders screw up passing about at the back Meslier ends up launching it into touch inside our own half or launching it into their half where it comes straight back at us. Mostly these mistakes were made from RB when Ayling being out so between Shaks passing back, Meslier, Struijk or Cooper, a big fkg mess
I think he's done well, his shot-stopping is very good, his handling of crosses has improved. There are things to work on... his distribution is mixed and he does have the odd positioning lapse... standing behind his line a few times... caught out guessing where a cross will go etc. But on the whole... and for his age... the boys done good as they say.
Meslier is one of our best players, he's made some great saves, he's young and still learning, his positioning for Cornets goal wasn't good yes, but he's saved us many times and he's hasn't had a settled defence in front of him all season.
Out of all our team he's one I'd hate to lose Gessa, I believe he's gonna be one of the top 'keepers in Europe
