West Ham vs Spurs | PL | 13.9.25 | Predictions and Match Thread

[stubbo-admin]

With the 'interesting' football hiatus that International Football brings, figured I'd get this match thread up.  The result against Forest makes this game in some ways less significant (as the clock will have been reset on Potter's tenure) but also more interesting as there is a modicum of form to take into the game.

Fullkrug should obviously never be allowed on international duty again, what with it being an injury magnet for him, but that aside, as of now there are no new injuries.  Rumours of a Summerville injury also appear unfounded.

So from a lineup perspective, I'm expecting something like:

Hermansen

Walker-Peters  Mavropanos   Kilman   Diouf

Ward-Prowse Magassa

 Bowen     Soucek   Fernandes

Paqueta

Subs: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Igor, Rodriguez, Irving, Guilherme, Summerville, Willson

Left out: Earthy, Marshall, Potts, Scarles.
Prediction: 1-2 Spurs (Muani, Kudus;  Bowen for us)

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Usual match day gubbins to follow nearer the game....
 

[Central Park Man]

3-1 to us

[stubbo-admin]

Whatever we do though, we have to be moving towards a central midfield 3 of Paqueta, Magassa, and Fernandes at some point soon. Assuming Magassa adapts, will totally transform our team. 

Still gutted we missed out on Sangare.

[stubbo-admin]

I've got a horrible feeling he's going to continue trying to play 3 at the back.

He'd be a lunatic to revert back to that.

Agreed.

If however in the future, 3 at the back became something like:

Hermansen

Wan Bissaka. Mavropanos. Kilman

Summerville.   Magassa.   Fernandes.   Diouf

Paqueta

Bowen.    NEW STRIKER

Then I could probably get on board with it.

In fairness we playes 3-5-2 under Redknapp, with Di Canio and Kanoute up top, Sinclair as one of the wing backs, Rio in the back 3 and that wasn't a terrible watch.

So it's not the formation...but the attitude to the game.  I'm sure Redknapp wasn't coaching rotations, centre backs 'jumping' etc, and 3-5-2 under him was never decried as being negative. 

Even now you could imagine an aggressive 3-5-2 in the Redknapp era mould of:
 

Hermansen

Mavropanos. Todibo.  Diouf

Summerville    Fernandes.    Magassa. Bowen 

Paqueta

Fullkrug. Wilson 

Not saying it would work, but I'd be interested to see it. Genuine wingers in the Sinclair mould at wing back, a proper sweeper style CB in the middle of the 3, ball carrying wide CBs to support down the line, an enigmatic number 10, and two proper strikers.
 

[Massive Attack]

I've got a horrible feeling he's going to continue trying to play 3 at the back.

He'd be a lunatic to revert back to that.

[Massive Attack]

A nervy Home win after scoring early. Paqueta penalty. 1-0

[El Scorchio]

Well it's fucking nailed on that Kudus will score isn't it. And probably celebrate in a cunty way.

If Frank has them playing like he did Brentford last season at ours then it could be a rather long afternoon. It could be one where our centre backs really get exposed and I'm sure Diouf's defensive side will be targeted.

However, with Fernandes and hopefully Mugassa in the side, we should be pretty competitive and tough in the middle of the park unlike we've been for ages so there is some cause to expect some decent things. Be nice if Summerville gets a good crack down the left so we are not so one dimensional going forward as well. 

As always centre backs are the big worry and i am sure will be the main weak link for the rest of the season now.

[Rossal]

Unless he plays Summerville i don't see any other option?   Playing Soucek and JWP at home is fucking hopeless 

                     
                The dane 

        Awb   Mavro  Kilman 

KWP  Potts   Fernandes    Diouf 

           Bowen     Paqueta 

                  Wilson  


that might be our best bet 

[stubbo-admin]

I've got a horrible feeling he's going to continue trying to play 3 at the back.

I think if you look at his career, he'll make a decision depending on who we're playing and what he thinks is best on the day.

So it definitely won't have been banished forever.  That said...with Magassa and Fernandes in, the weakneses the back 3 was designed to cover have been somewhat dispelled...so from now it will be a tactical choice rather than to cover squad holes.

I reckon we see a back 4 for this game, but we'll see the 3/5 at the back in the not too distant future...probably against Arsenal, and to match up against Palace.

[Lee Trundle]

I've got a horrible feeling he's going to continue trying to play 3 at the back.

[Rossal]

 Started doing a team and realised just how short we are of options up top. Desperately needed another forward/left winger before the window shut.  We just have a load of average CM's 

We need to play 4 at the back with our only left wing option being Summerville.   Aside from that its Paqueta who is shit out there,  and is our only number 10  

[honky cat]

I got da feeling.
Off to the bookies for easy money. WIN

My local bookies is Boyles, there is a distinct lack of West Ham' ery going on. Plain blue windows. Im going to complain.