West Ham vs Bournemouth | PL | 21.2.26 | Predictions & Match Thread

[Mad Ferret]

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Match Centre: 

Live data by Scoreaxis

 Odds: 
WHU: 8/5
Draw: 11/4
Bournemouth: 17/10

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Not sure I'd bring Todibo straight back in.

.........................Hermanson

AWB.....Mavropanos.....Disasi.....Diouf

Bowen.....Fernandes.....Soucek.....Summerville

..........................Taty Costalot

..............................Wilson

[El Scorchio]

I'd go Disasi and Todibo for this one. He's seen what Todibo and Mav, and Disasi and Mav both offer as a pairing, and this could be our best combination. Not that Mav deserves to be dropped since he's played far better next to a legit defender rather than a clown like Kilman, and Nuno may stick with him, but there is absolutely no room for sentiment here given our situaiton.

[Mad Ferret]

I thought James Court Trowse went to Burnley?

[Eerie Decent]

We've looked much less likely to concede goals with Disasi the team instead of JCT.

[stubbo-admin]

Stubbo
Agreed about Bowen being more affective out right not centrally but it may work,Nuno brought Traore in for this reason. I don't see Traore being as good as Bowen there. I'm having a Crackhead moment and thinking like Nuno.
I'd rather see players like Magassa and/or at a stretch giving Orford some minutes late in the game.

"I suspect he might make the call to bring in the perm player over the loan player ".?
you mean Todibo over Dissai ?
Dissai has suprised me,he looked the best defender we have even for those few minutes against Burton. He's a level above Todibo and Mavro.

 

Oh I agree.  Although Mavro has been excellent of late too.  If it was me I'd stick my Mavro and Disasi and stick JCT on the bench.  But squad harmony is a thing too and they're all talented players, so I think he might make Disasi bide his time a bit until one of the 'established first choice' gives him a reason to change.

[BoleynGone]

Stubbo
Agreed about Bowen being more affective out right not centrally but it may work,Nuno brought Traore in for this reason. I don't see Traore being as good as Bowen there. I'm having a Crackhead moment and thinking like Nuno.
I'd rather see players like Magassa and/or at a stretch giving Orford some minutes late in the game.

"I suspect he might make the call to bring in the perm player over the loan player ".?
you mean Todibo over Dissai ?
Dissai has suprised me,he looked the best defender we have even for those few minutes against Burton. He's a level above Todibo and Mavro.
 

[stubbo-admin]

Sir Alf 
Agreed that Nuno and his risk averse will mean we go to a back 3/5.
Todibo now a favourite of Nuno but does he deserve to come in ? Bournemouth are pacey and Todibo the quickest defender. Big call
The other solution Nuno will go for is Bowen behind Taty with Traore on the wing. 4-4-2 still. Nuno unlike most of the fans does rate him but he should be now up to speed and it's now or never. However it needs to be drilled into the guy he has to help AWB or he's off. We actually might be better with Bowen behind Taty, a far better player than Pablo. All comes down to how Traoe plays there. I can't see Traoe shinning but who know's. 

Problem for me with all these solutions is two things.

3 at the back reduces our ability to defend from the front which has been central tro our revival.  I just don't see that happening....I suspect he might make the call to bring in the perm player over the loan player.

The other is the absence of Pablo is not just about running around (which of course Bowen could do).  Bowen playing better is central to our resurgence as is Summerville, giving us a true dual wing threat.   Bowen centrally is not the same player and so he has to stay where he's the most effective.  Plus Pablo gives us a physical and aerial presence that neither Bowen, nor Adama can provide.

Last game, he brought in Potts, and Soucek played higher up. Magassa then came on and did a great job late in the game, and was probably the best player over the full game vs Burton (yes, I know it was Burton, but still).

I expect the call to be either JCT or Disasi, and Magassa to replace Potts.  Anything else feels like more wholesale/drastic departure from what's been working for us.

[Eerie Decent]

Gonzo was chatting about a 343 if todibo is back

I guess this game is too early for JCT?

so for me push Soucek up for pablo

bring magassa into midfield 

cross fingers


i think we need a win tomorrow to give our survival chances a chance

lose and we’ll need snookers or big results against top teams 

which is possible but I don’t want to need them

coyi

He’s done his three games. Burnley, Man U and Burton. So he should be available 

Yeah he is available. 

[BoleynGone]

Sir Alf 
Agreed that Nuno and his risk averse will mean we go to a back 3/5.
Todibo now a favourite of Nuno but does he deserve to come in ? Bournemouth are pacey and Todibo the quickest defender. Big call
The other solution Nuno will go for is Bowen behind Taty with Traore on the wing. 4-4-2 still. Nuno unlike most of the fans does rate him but he should be now up to speed and it's now or never. However it needs to be drilled into the guy he has to help AWB or he's off. We actually might be better with Bowen behind Taty, a far better player than Pablo. All comes down to how Traoe plays there. I can't see Traoe shinning but who know's. 

[Massive Attack]

Whatever the Team and tactics he puts out, all I care about is winning this game so to really ramp up the pressure on Spurs who will be seriously feeling the heat should we do so. I hope it's by way of a controversial VARce goal too. Footballing Gods, do your job..

[El Scorchio]

Gonzo was chatting about a 343 if todibo is back

I guess this game is too early for JCT?

so for me push Soucek up for pablo

bring magassa into midfield 

cross fingers


i think we need a win tomorrow to give our survival chances a chance

lose and we’ll need snookers or big results against top teams 

which is possible but I don’t want to need them

coyi

He’s done his three games. Burnley, Man U and Burton. So he should be available 

[Matt Holmes]

Tomorrow!?!!

it’s Tuesday night

i mean Saturday!

[Matt Holmes]

Gonzo was chatting about a 343 if todibo is back

I guess this game is too early for JCT?

so for me push Soucek up for pablo

bring magassa into midfield 

cross fingers


i think we need a win tomorrow to give our survival chances a chance

lose and we’ll need snookers or big results against top teams 

which is possible but I don’t want to need them

coyi

[Jasnik]

Only sensible thing to do is start the same team that started in the cup now they know each other . 

[stubbo-admin]

I reckon he'll go for a back 5. Unless todibo is on the naughty step. I think its ok.as awb and diouf are well able to get forward and drop back quickly. So bowen, mateus, jimmy, tat
are guaranteed starts plus 1 other. Dont ask me who that will be.
​​​​​​

Not a chance Soucek doesn't start. Has been excellent recently, has just scored again, and also adds in pitch leadership. He's as guaranteed to start as the other names you list.

[honky cat]

I reckon he'll go for a back 5. Unless todibo is on the naughty step. I think its ok.as awb and diouf are well able to get forward and drop back quickly. So bowen, mateus, jimmy, taty
are guaranteed starts plus 1 other. Dont ask me who that will be.
​​​​​​

[Russ of the BML]

All these cup final's.....

[Manuel]

Interesting that the majority say that our squad is a joke, yet we have an injury and a suspension to two first-team players and we're still guessing the team? I see most have discounted a back 5, but I'm not so sure.

[Manuel]

Wilson to handball a winner in the last minute as VAR breaks down.. 

Will be a late one for us over here.

Yes, been here for 4 weeks, two alcohol ban games.. One on Railey when everyone was asleep.. On Phangan for Bournemouth and the Mrs birthday and some other friends over from the UK 

Sounds good. Yep the alcohol bans (for the elections) is a joke, albeit it doesn't matter to me at this point.

[stubbo-admin]

I expect to see:

Hermansen

AWB    Mavropanos    Disasi    Diouf

Fernandes   Magassa

Bowen                Soucek        Summerville

Taty

Only likely alternative for me is Magassa replaced by Wilson.   

[Takashi Miike]

Would've gone along with that Miike, before watching Wilson start on Saturday!

Think we need to go to what was working, personally, with someone else doung the Pablo role, under strict instructions. 

Yup, Wilson just isn't mobile or energetic enough to be starting ideally in this system and he just doesn't trouble defenders outside the penalty box. Much better as a super sub when there is space and tiredness to exploit. It's a shame as you can see his football intelligence so often when he's on the pitch. The body is just not willing. 

 

 

I don't want him outside the box, tatty could be more of the link man. I don't want the cսnt shoehorning an extra man or two in midfield, which will instantly isolate whatever poor fucker plays up top on their own and encourages us to sit back as we can't keep the ball in the opposition's half. antonio was a rare breed, he flourished in that role because he worked so hard but very few have his work ethic. 

[fraser]

Wilson to handball a winner in the last minute as VAR breaks down.. 

Will be a late one for us over here.

Yes, been here for 4 weeks, two alcohol ban games.. One on Railey when everyone was asleep.. On Phangan for Bournemouth and the Mrs birthday and some other friends over from the UK 

[Sir Alf]

Because Nuno, like most managers, will go “risk avoidance” with as few changes as possible. He tried a few “left field” ideas early on in his tenure ( the infamous inverted wing backs and “snail collective” of Guido, Soucek and Irvine) and they failed spectacularly.

It means it unlikely he will stumble on a good solution to Pablo and even Potts being unavailable.  I was thinking about Todibo and Magassa as probably the too most capable options but would now add Mayers into the options as he has always looked strong, pacy and solid wherever played.  These 3 are obviously best suited to covering Potts. Todibo is strong, reasonably quick and looks, in odd forays, quite capable of carrying the ball.  I do wonder if there is a possible Declan Rice style adaptation that could be made? Remember everyone telling us Rice was a CB and would ultimately end up there? Ok wont happen and Todibo “early doors” was the antithesis of Rice in terms of stamina ( often referred to as looking like someone who smoked 60 a day ).  But he ( Todibo ) now looks very fit, and as mentioned quick ( quicker than Magassa ). Just wonder if he might have a midfield role that could work?  

Magassa, also a CB by trade, is great at interceptions and strong but lacks a turn of pace ( like Potts ) but will slot in the defensive CM role no doubt.

Up top, there simply isnt a solution for the Pablo role. Marshall was perhaps an option but he’s on loan. Real shame as it means having to play one central striker unless Bowen moves over and Mini Hulk comes in.

Will be interesting to see what Nuno or Mad Paco does?  Bmouth are quick and press relentlessly. I can see us struggling to get and keep the ball without legs in the middle and enough pressing up top to force their back line to have to release it.  

[Massive Attack]

Bowen Fernandes Soucek Summerville 

                             Taty

                           Wilson



Worth remembering that Wilson had a field day against Bournemouth earlier in the season before he was subbed in that game after scoring a brace starting the game up top. They won't feel comfortable seeing him starting against them again.

[Mad Ferret]

Starting Wilson enables Taty to do the chasing and closing down.

[El Scorchio]

Would've gone along with that Miike, before watching Wilson start on Saturday!

Think we need to go to what was working, personally, with someone else doung the Pablo role, under strict instructions. 

Yup, Wilson just isn't mobile or energetic enough to be starting ideally in this system and he just doesn't trouble defenders outside the penalty box. Much better as a super sub when there is space and tiredness to exploit. It's a shame as you can see his football intelligence so often when he's on the pitch. The body is just not willing.