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Agree about Sarles though don’t know much about him myself. As for those who actually would start Kudus on the left and shoehorn Soucek into the side, well - the less said about that the better. However, I fear it is exactly what this plonker of a manager will do
Due to injury Bournemouth don't play their new signing Araujo at right back so continue playing 33yo Smith there. I trust Cresswell at Left Back even in his twilight years for the occasional game.
I want Wan-Bissaka to continue with his good form in his proper position, rather than keep chopping and changing now he's playing well. Scarles should be on the bench.
Tavernier, Senesi, Scott, Araujo, Sinisterra are all now missing for them and can make a difference to their side. Apart from old fart Antonio and suspended Emerson, we now have most of our Squad fit and available.
I shudder at the thought of Cresswell starting tonight.
Id guess AWB starts left back. I’d take mavrapanos at right back if it keeps him away from playing centre back.
I don’t think Fullkrug is fit to start so front 3 of Kudus, Bowen & Summerville.
Been thinking we'd lose this going in to the game due to Bournemouth's excellent form but reckon we might actually dig out an unexpected back-to-back win.
i like Lief Davies but I think he's been shown up a bit defensively in this division. We'll see the one we should've gone for tonight in Kerkez. Having played against him twice in Europe - and having been warned he was one of the opponent's key players - I'm amazed that no one within the club used those games as an opportunity to scout him
They'll miss Tavernier and Senesi which will help but after the weekends results I imagine a loss tonight would mean we're destined for a bottom third finish
You nailed it Stubbo. Exactly how I see it too. Wrong coach chosen by Sullivan. One famed for his defence first tactics asked to transform West Ham to a more attacking (via possession) team using 8 new players. And with the objective to qualify for europe within 2 seasons? Deluded insanity.
A few million quid on offer would be the reason Lopetegui accepted of course because he certainly seems to have had a common sense bypass ? The odds were stacked against him from day 1 as the recruitment and coach appointment were disconnected and failed to meet the requirements for the way Sullivan told Lop of the expectations for West Ham’s playing style.
First misstep was our new head coach opting for Rodruiguez and Soler as centre mid additions. Did he not notice the speed and intensity needed to get and keep the ball in the Premiership?. And as you say, the other positions you cite were not recruited for or the wromg profile of player chosen. Half baked squad is what we have although it follows on from Moyes completely uncooked, depleted mess of a squad.
A win would put us 5 clear of palace and at almost zero chance of relegation.. And then we can plod along with Jollop until the end of an unmemorable season finishing 14th. Happy days for the west ham board.
I like Coufal but under Lopetegui he's a bit of a disaster, because he can't get back again once he gets high.
He also NEVER stops the cross from coming in to the box.
To play the way Lopetegui wants to play we don't have competent:
CDM
RB
LB
CM
GK
CF
So we're pretty much missing half a first team to enable him to be successfull. No full backs with pace and width, no Defensive Mid with recovery pace or that is press resistant, no CMs that can play a possession game whilst getting about the pitch, and no GKs who are comfortable with the ball at their feet or in short distribution. And no CF with power or mobility.
Don't like the bloke, but he's not setup to be successful.
So anyway, Coufal a no for me.
Mavro at least offers the ability to run, some power, helps us in the air at set pieces, plus he goes to the man rather than backing off.
Assuming JLo plays Bowen in the middle no point having someone pumping crosses in from the right anyway.
So depressing talking about the team setup currently. The manager and players are just this horrible horrible fit for each other.
Teams with lower spend, including teams that just came up, have more suitable players in key positions.
Leicester keeper, Nididi (CDM); Ipswich left back (Leif Davies); Southampton right back (KWP); Palace/Wolves CF (Larsen, Cunha, Mateta). All would work better for us than the players we already have.
In our squad of 25, if we're honest we only have AWB, Todibo, Kilman, Soucek, Paqueta, Soler, Kudus, Bowen, Summerville (9 players) that you can really build any kind of coherent team around (not playing 'Lopetegui-ball') and even some of them you can only really list on reputation.
Very depressing....part Moyes legacy, part Steidten failing, part Sullivan modus-operandi.
Interesting call to play Mavropanos at RB, Stubbo. I like it. I remember him playing there once before and he was surprisingly good. Also gives us a height advantage in defence and at set pieces. If we can recreate the battling team spirit that we saw at Newcastle, we could get something from this.
We aint winning this unless we get divine intervention from VAR, refs or Bournemouth have a night like we did at Leicester.
We looked ok at Newcastle after a few lucky escapes early on. The central midfield and handling of transitions is our main issue though and why we are opened up at will by just about everyone.
We have no one who can play the central defensive midfield role effectively in terms of positioning, decision making. Id hoped Alvarez coming back would help but he has actually made things worse as is Paqueta, he is so indisciplined with his positioning, when he decides to press and too slow.
Alvarez, Paqueta, Rodruiguez and Soucek none of them either quick enough, savvy enough ( positioning, decision making) to play the defensive central Midfield role. Add to that no one in centre midfield generally being able to play on the half turn and help connect defence to attack. We have Irvine and JWP, Potts and Earthy on loan but none of these and aforementioned players are the answer at the base of the midfield. The latter 3 might be more effective or quicker at pressing but we need to recruit for this area desperately. Playing the high line and being pressed by teams has exposed this cruelly. Alvarez, Paqueta, Soucek wanting too much time on the ball, getting caught with it under their feet and dispossessed.
Bournemouth are the best pressing team in the division. It could be another mauling if Loppy sets up like he did at Wolves who had players in acres of space turning to set up counter attacks with no one near them.
I haven't seen much of Bournemouth but from just looking at their form it seems a draw is the best we can hope for. Even a thumping likely won't force Sullivan's hand and Lop will be with us into the new year no matter what. Team seems to be selecting itself now. Hopefully Paqueta is on the bench again. Like to see Fulkrug get some game time but he's unlikely to start.
