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

[Mad Ferret]

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Match Centre: 

Live data by Scoreaxis

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

 Pre-Match Press Conference: 
Official Site

 Match Preview: 
Analytics United

 Watch-along:
Hammers Chat

Streams:

Sport+

 If there above doesn't work go look for a Stream from the sites listed here!

https://champagne.pages.dev/docs/gettin ... ive-sports
 
 (With all live streams be mindful they can carry viruses etc.  Don't click on any ads and use a VPN).
   ----------------------------------------------------------

Not sure I'd bring Todibo straight back in.

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

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

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

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

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

[stubbo-admin]

Here's my preview:

West Ham vs Bournemouth. A huge game by all accounts, and give the Cherries historic standing in English football, one you'd easily think West Ham should win at a canter.  However over the last 6 games Bournemouth are top of the form league and it would seem we're playing them at the worst possible moment.

There are no new injury concerns for West Ham and the much-discussed conundrum at centre back. Todibo returns from suspension, and whilst Pablo is said to be progressing well from a calf problem, this game comes too soon. Potts is suspended.

Most of the pre-match team discussion centres on whether Todibo returns to the lineup (and at whose expense), and as part of the same conversation, who will replace Potts in the starting lineup. 

For what it's worth I see Magassa replacing Potts, and Todibo having to be content to start on the bench, along with Callum Wilson.

With the league table what it is, this is a crucial game week. Not truly must win as there will remain a long way to go, but after this we start to face some of the League's more wealthy/prestigious sides and the teams around us have, on paper at least, easier fixtures. So a vital chance to close the gap on Spurs (facing Arsenal), Forest (facing Liverpool), and Leeds (away at Villa) and maybe even Brighton (away at Brentford). We'll also be hoping Wolves are buoyed by their comback in midweek against pretenders Arsenal, and can see a Palace side off at Selhurst Park, with the Nigel's seemingly in disarray, and with scope to be drawn into the drop zone conversation at any time.

Despite all of this, and being the bookies favourites, I see an unsatisfying draw here. Bournemouth press like a pack of wild dogs, which is pretty much this team's Kryptonite, and we'll need to be at the absolute peak of our powers to see them off.

Prediction: hard fought 1:1.

COYI.

 

[Come On You Irons]

Ah yes, I forgot about Traore. He will be on the bench instead of either Mayers or Orford. It should be for Mayers as we don't need two left backs on the bench.

[fraser]

I do prefer sardines,mashed with Avocado and HP sauce.
do fuck off 

The HP sauce with that combination is just fucking wrong, a gastronomic retard as well

[BoleynGone]

I do prefer sardines,mashed with Avocado and HP sauce.
do fuck off 

[fraser]

The 3-4-3 is what I quoted Nuno will go for.
The bench too as Nuno likes at least 7 defensive players on it,our downfall. Traore will be there too, thus Orford a more attacking player and something different will be omitted. Pathectic really. Magassa and Kante are pretty identical thus no need for both.I'm still not sure Wilson is out of his bed yet so a late fitness test for him. Ajala who should be on the bench in a must win game,they all are from now on,is waiting should Wilson need more time.
I'd prefer us to go 4-4-2 with Todibo left out. Magassa in sheilding the defence with Soucek and Fernandes a few inches in front. Each taking in turn to be behind Taty.

Turn it in you pilchard... We get it you think we should play the youths "Soucek and Fernandes a few inches ahead" fucking retard. 

[BoleynGone]

The 3-4-3 is what I quoted Nuno will go for.
The bench too as Nuno likes at least 7 defensive players on it,our downfall. Traore will be there too, thus Orford a more attacking player and something different will be omitted. Pathectic really. Magassa and Kante are pretty identical thus no need for both.I'm still not sure Wilson is out of his bed yet so a late fitness test for him. Ajala who should be on the bench in a must win game,they all are from now on,is waiting should Wilson need more time.
I'd prefer us to go 4-4-2 with Todibo left out. Magassa in sheilding the defence with Soucek and Fernandes a few inches in front. Each taking in turn to be behind Taty.

[nychammer]

For me the team almost picks itself. Nuno will play a 3-4-3/ 5-2-3 formation with the following personnel:

Hermansen 

Wan-Bisaka
Todibo
Disasi
Mavrapanos
Diouf

Fernandes
Soucek

Bowen
Castellanos
Summerville

The bench will most likely be thus:

Areola
Walker-Peters
Scarles
Kilman
Mayers
Magassa
Kante
Orford
Wilson

Not much of a bench, is it.

 

compared to recent years its a half decent bench

[Manuel]

For me the team almost picks itself. Nuno will play a 3-4-3/ 5-2-3 formation with the following personnel:

Hermansen 

Wan-Bisaka
Todibo
Disasi
Mavrapanos
Diouf

Fernandes
Soucek

Bowen
Castellanos
Summerville

The bench will most likely be thus:

Areola
Walker-Peters
Scarles
Kilman
Mayers
Magassa
Kante
Orford
Wilson

Not much of a bench, is it.


 

As someone who repeatedly bemoans the manager's negativity, you're advocating replacing a midfielder (who originally replaced a forward) with a defender ? Interesting.

I said previously I think COYI's side is what he will go with, so let's see. Not sure if I'd go down the 'negative' path though as ideally we know what side he'd like to pick, I just think he will go down this road because he doesn't rate Magassa enough to start him and it gives him a kop out with what CB to leave out.

And fwiw, agree that COYI's wording suggested that it is the team he would go with, rather than Nuno's.

[eusebiovic]

Without wanting to get all COYI, but I said in the summer that Kilman would be the biggest problem we have in the entire squad, for a variety of reasons, and that Mav will be our best defender.

Doesn't seem like the most controversial shout now, but barely anyone agreed at the time.

In all fairness, Mav WAS our best performing defender at the time. I think I agreed with you but cannot remember. Kilman has just been a useless lump from almost day one and Potter was completely unable to get any sort of a tune out of Todibo. You could go either way but I think Todibo is a better player than Mav, but completely understand why someone would say the other way as Mav has really cut down the rickets he used to make. With Disasi we are in a much better position now with three centre backs I actually trust in the squad. Shame on Sullivan for doing fuck all about the problem in the summer and palming off Igor only onto the manager at that time.

Scorchio 

I think the reason Mav has improved is because he isn't being isolated and left as the last defender chasing back anymore. He is definitely a front facing defender who performs better clearing whatever is ahead of him.

Also the lines are a lot tighter than they were meaning that it's much more difficult to get a run on someone forcing a foul from lunging in desperation to cut them down. 

Alvarez suffered from this problem too - facing what he can see in front of him he was highly effective and looked like a decent player but the lines were so far apart due to the overall lack of pace in the team when he was chasing back he looked like a liability.

To be fair to him I think he knew this and got the hump at whoever the manager was for their inability to change this and ultimately his teammates. At international level Mexico are usually as tight as a gnats chuff and he is captain and plays very well most of the time.

It's the old chestnut though ain't it? You've got to recruit players that compliment each other and not keep randomly recruiting strangers on a pissing into the wind basis. The club needs to do all the scouting and homework itself instead of letting an agent pull their pants down.

[onsideman]

Nah, you're the one who said "the team almost picks itself..:

[Come On You Irons]

As someone who repeatedly bemoans the manager's negativity, you're advocating replacing a midfielder (who originally replaced a forward) with a defender ? Interesting.

No I am not advocating it. I just think he will obviously select this team from the available personnel.

In that case it would have been less confusing if you'd said "for Nuno" rather than "for me"

I did state that Nuno will select the formation and personnel. It's not my problem if you're too thick to understand that.

[onsideman]

For me the team almost picks itself. Nuno will play a 3-4-3/ 5-2-3 formation with the following personnel:

Hermansen 

Wan-Bisaka
Todibo
Disasi
Mavrapanos
Diouf

Fernandes
Soucek

Bowen
Castellanos
Summerville

The bench will most likely be thus:

Areola
Walker-Peters
Scarles
Kilman
Mayers
Magassa
Kante
Orford
Wilson

Not much of a bench, is it.



 

As someone who repeatedly bemoans the manager's negativity, you're advocating replacing a midfielder (who originally replaced a forward) with a defender ? Interesting.

No I am not advocating it. I just think he will obviously select this team from the available personnel.

In that case it would have been less confusing if you'd said "for Nuno" rather than "for me"

[Come On You Irons]

For me the team almost picks itself. Nuno will play a 3-4-3/ 5-2-3 formation with the following personnel:

Hermansen 

Wan-Bisaka
Todibo
Disasi
Mavrapanos
Diouf

Fernandes
Soucek

Bowen
Castellanos
Summerville

The bench will most likely be thus:

Areola
Walker-Peters
Scarles
Kilman
Mayers
Magassa
Kante
Orford
Wilson

Not much of a bench, is it.


 

As someone who repeatedly bemoans the manager's negativity, you're advocating replacing a midfielder (who originally replaced a forward) with a defender ? Interesting.

No I am not advocating it. I just think he will obviously select this team from the available personnel.

[onsideman]

For me the team almost picks itself. Nuno will play a 3-4-3/ 5-2-3 formation with the following personnel:

Hermansen 

Wan-Bisaka
Todibo
Disasi
Mavrapanos
Diouf

Fernandes
Soucek

Bowen
Castellanos
Summerville

The bench will most likely be thus:

Areola
Walker-Peters
Scarles
Kilman
Mayers
Magassa
Kante
Orford
Wilson

Not much of a bench, is it.

 

As someone who repeatedly bemoans the manager's negativity, you're advocating replacing a midfielder (who originally replaced a forward) with a defender ? Interesting.

[Vexed]

It will surely be pablo/Potts out and Magassa in. The rest the same.

I don't see the five at the back bullshit. 

[Come On You Irons]

For me the team almost picks itself. Nuno will play a 3-4-3/ 5-2-3 formation with the following personnel:

Hermansen 

Wan-Bisaka
Todibo
Disasi
Mavrapanos
Diouf

Fernandes
Soucek

Bowen
Castellanos
Summerville

The bench will most likely be thus:

Areola
Walker-Peters
Scarles
Kilman
Mayers
Magassa
Kante
Orford
Wilson

Not much of a bench, is it.
 

[El Scorchio]

Without wanting to get all COYI, but I said in the summer that Kilman would be the biggest problem we have in the entire squad, for a variety of reasons, and that Mav will be our best defender.

Doesn't seem like the most controversial shout now, but barely anyone agreed at the time.

In all fairness, Mav WAS our best performing defender at the time. I think I agreed with you but cannot remember. Kilman has just been a useless lump from almost day one and Potter was completely unable to get any sort of a tune out of Todibo. You could go either way but I think Todibo is a better player than Mav, but completely understand why someone would say the other way as Mav has really cut down the rickets he used to make. With Disasi we are in a much better position now with three centre backs I actually trust in the squad. Shame on Sullivan for doing fuck all about the problem in the summer and palming off Igor only onto the manager at that time.

[Mad Ferret]

Without wanting to get all COYI, but I said in the summer that Kilman would be the biggest problem we have in the entire squad, for a variety of reasons, and that Mav will be our best defender.

Doesn't seem like the most controversial shout now, but barely anyone agreed at the time.

Yeah you did, fair play.

[BoleynGone]

We also need a goal threat and I'm afraid Todibo has more looked like a gaol threat
Dissai and Mavro do. Cause more chaos of the right kind. However we do need a good corner taker,Scarles was putting it right on the keeper last time around. Not sure Traoe can take them or throw in's. he's got to add something different than running into walls.

[Eerie Decent]

Without wanting to get all COYI, but I said in the summer that Kilman would be the biggest problem we have in the entire squad, for a variety of reasons, and that Mav will be our best defender.

Doesn't seem like the most controversial shout now, but barely anyone agreed at the time.

[fraser]

Fuck me this is a turnaround, two centre backs that don't deserve to be dropped for another who was really good before getting sent off, who would have called this a few months ago? 

[Manuel]

Mav has arguably been our best player over the last month and was captain on Saturday. I do not expect him to be dropped and don't think it's about sentiment either, he simply doesn't deserve to be dropped. Todibo should have to earn his spot back, that should be the message from the gaffer, not casting aside a player who hasn't put a foot wrong.

[southbankbornnbred]

Definitely agree that Mav is a much better player when he isn't lined up alongside Kilman.

It means he spends less time worried about what his defensive partner will do. We have three decent CBs when they're on their game: Todibo, Disasi and Mav (although the big Greek is still prone to the odd ricket).

Kilman is now a £40m signing on 100k a week for another five years - and 4th choice. Soon to be 5th choice when Golambeckis puts on a couple of pounds of muscle and gets some experience. But we'll have to deal with that financial millstone later. It's something we can never forgive Lopetegui for.

[Tomshardware]

No way will Disasi get dropped for this, Mav maybe and he can consider himself unlucky if he does, he's been good last few games.   Up top is anyones guess, wouldn't be surprised if Traore starts.

[Eerie Decent]

Mav has been outstanding over the last month, that would be some call.