West Ham vs Brighton | 21.12.24 | League | Predictions, Line-up & Match Thread

[stubbo-admin]

Match Centre:

Odds: 

West Ham: 19/10

Draw: 11/4

Brighton: 27/20


Pre-Match Press Conference:
Official Press Conference
Tactical Preview: 
Analytics United Preview

Watch-along:
TBA

Streams:


https://sporthd.live/match/slg-onl-West ... psF5R182SX

https://www.viprow.nu/epl/west-ham-unit ... ine-stream

(With all live streams be mindful they can carry viruses etc.  Don't click on any ads and use a VPN).
  



So....on to the seagulls. Soler is suspended for this one, and Emerson is back...although I'd say Coufal was very good in the last game. Not clear yet if Todibo is recovered from his damaged toe.

My lineup

​​​​​​Fabianski

Coufal.  Todibo.   Kilman.  AWB

Soucek

Alvarez.        Paqueta

Bowen (c).     Fullkrug.          Kudus

Prediction:

​​​​​​The team once again has motivation through tragedy, with JLo's father passing away this week...I'd expect to seem them come out the blocks in this game.  Could be a basketball style match with us at home, Brighton playing a very high line, and also looking to get back with a win.

Score: 2-2 (Fullkrug, Kudus)​​​​

[Keep dreaming]

......................Fabianski 
Bissaka Mavropanos Kilman Emerson 
........... Paqueta Alvarez Soler
........Bowen Kudus Summerville

Should be more then enough to compete with anyone as long as everyone puts a shift in for 90min, we are moving the ball fast, and that we play between the channels.

Solar won't be playing - the booking vs Bournemouth makes him unavailable for selection.

Cheers. Is it to risky with Ordford being called up?

[lowlife]

......................Fabianski 
Bissaka Mavropanos Kilman Emerson 
........... Paqueta Alvarez Soler
........Bowen Kudus Summerville

Should be more then enough to compete with anyone as long as everyone puts a shift in for 90min, we are moving the ball fast, and that we play between the channels.

Solar won't be playing - the booking vs Bournemouth makes him unavailable for selection.

[Keep dreaming]

......................Fabianski 
Bissaka Mavropanos Kilman Emerson 
........... Paqueta Alvarez Soler
........Bowen Kudus Summerville

Should be more then enough to compete with anyone as long as everyone puts a shift in for 90min, we are moving the ball fast, and that we play between the channels.

[kylay]

 and actually got booked for the “right” reason for once when stopping Bournemouth on the counter in when we looked to be outnumbered. 
 

The only reason we were outnumbered was because Alvarez tried to jump the pass and missed. the attacker was then by him and had to take him down. If he just keeps him from turning there, he doesn't need to take the yellow. Overall I agree he had a better game. Perhaps he's doing more defensively than I'm giving him credit for, but Soucek is better going forward and can still defend. As long as he and Paqueta can coordinate one of them staying back when the other is forward, I think that's better than having alvarez dedicated to the 6 role.

[Leavemyarcelona]

Fabianski

AWB
Casey or Mavropanos
Kilman
Emerson

Orford
Alvarez

Bowen
Soucek
Summerville

Kudus

1-0 West Ham

Up the Hammers

[Massive Attack]

Kudus biggest problem for me is an old fashion one we all used to experience in the school playground. He's a fucking ball hog! Amazing in isolation but until he learns to remove his head from his own arse when running with the ball to see what else is around him, he'll continue to flatter to decieve this season.

Fucking pass the ball you excellent ball dribbling selfish cսnt! 

[stubbo-admin]

Not really sure about either Kudus or Bowen as strikers. Seems like they’re needed elsewhere as we all agree we lack pace, especially in midfield and in transition from defence to attack. Soucek has goals but no way is he the answer to this basic problem. Either Fullkrug or Ings must play and there really is no more need for tinkering.

 

 

I tend to agree. I also think Kudus is a bit of a quandary. His best asset is his direct running/dribbling and take ons, as well as his strength on the ball. In central midfield his movement of the ball and passing I suspect might get found wanting. Up front, he'd be playing back to goal a lot and not sure about his ability to bring others into the game. 

So that brings UK back to him playing wide forwards which is probably the best use of his ability. But as he is wide left, it doesn't afford him much chance to shoot and his crossing is hit and miss, as he's not all that creative.

Bring us back to him needing to play on the right, cut in, and shoot. But what then do you do with Bowen...seems he's the only one we've not tried on the left, but maybe that's the answer for us, and him with England, where Saka has right wing sewn up but left wing is more open. 

But either way, Kudus has only really shown any end product from the right wing position.  If we can't find a way to get him back over there, I'd look to sell if we could get 60m plus, and find a player more suited to what we need.

[threesixty]

I like Pickle's team but would drop Alvarez for Soucek:

      ​​​​​​Fabianski

AW-B. Todibo. Kilman. Emerson

                 Soucek

          Kudus     Paqueta

Bowen (c) Fullkrug Summerville

I haven't quite decided if that's suicide or not. Less risky if Todibo is fit. Also not sure if Fullkrug can go the 90. Our attack found another gear when he came on against Bournemouth, and the sooner he can get back to 70-90 minutes the better. When was the last time we beat Brighton?

 

 

 

I know it won’t happen but I quite like this team. I just feel like the best way to beat teams is to have the most inventive players on the pitch. This is a good balance. I don’t think we need Alvarez that much as a team. I feel like Alvarez makes sense in a Moyes team where you’re always under the kosh. I also feel fullkrug knows where to be and has the strength and energy as a no.9 to take chances when it’s fed in. His header the other day I don’t see a lot of from our players. Shame he couldn’t score from it. 

[Hammer and Pickle]

Not really sure about either Kudus or Bowen as strikers. Seems like they’re needed elsewhere as we all agree we lack pace, especially in midfield and in transition from defence to attack. Soucek has goals but no way is he the answer to this basic problem. Either Fullkrug or Ings must play and there really is no more need for tinkering.

[Sir Alf]

Actually I was wrong totally about Alvarez not being available against Arsenal. He came on for the second half. We only conceded 1 more but arguably Arsenal sat back after getting their 5th anyway. So Alvarez like the team needs to perform as well if not better than in the last game. That will also be progress in my book because he’s been all over place ( not in a good way ) like the team this season.  

[Sir Alf]

I was all ready to see Alvarez rested because of his calamitous decision making and positioning in transitions, getting dispossessed when holding onto it too long ( Paqueta guilty of that more ) but then he got picked for the Bournemouth game and actually played well I thought. Kept it simple, positioned himself well ( no more mad attempts at pressing deep in the opposition half)   and actually got booked for the “right” reason for once when stopping Bournemouth on the counter in when we looked to be outnumbered. 

So in a complete U turn to before the Bournemouth game I’d give him the CDM role and with Soler out put Paqueta deeper since that was his best posution at Lyon and he has had his only decent game for West Ham when positioned as more of a number 8 at Newcastle ( yeah he and the rest were overrun by Arsenal without Alvarez iirc who was serving a 1 match ban?).

Think Soler will be missed as he has slowly become an important part of keeping the ball moving and been helping press / track quite well. Not spectacular but noticeable when he was subbed off on Monday when Bournemouth began to dominate possession in in the midfield.

So I’d go:

————— Fab
AWB—- Todibo—- Kilman —- Emerson
———- Alvarez ———- Paqueta
——————- Soucek —————
Bowen———- Kudus ——— Sommerville

Stavros was solid and did well overall against Bournemouth but just has a rickett in him every game.  So a risk against Brighton.  I know it wont happen but I’d like to see Kudus in that false 9 as opposed to Paqueta who seemed to be in that role last game?

Fullkrug to come on to change things up after 60 mins or so with Kudus moving out wide.

Can we perform and compete well in 2 back to back games for the first time this season or will the floodgates open again with Brighton waltzing thu our non existent, flimsy midfield?  If we do it will be progress imo

[Hammer and Pickle]

I like Pickle's team but would drop Alvarez for Soucek:

      ​​​​​​Fabianski

AW-B. Todibo. Kilman. Emerson

                 Soucek

          Kudus     Paqueta

Bowen (c) Fullkrug Summerville

I haven't quite decided if that's suicide or not. Less risky if Todibo is fit. Also not sure if Fullkrug can go the 90. Our attack found another gear when he came on against Bournemouth, and the sooner he can get back to 70-90 minutes the better. When was the last time we beat Brighton?

You know it all makes sense except Soucek as DCM 

[Massive Attack]

The turning point already happened at Newcastle. I think that will become more apparent as the season progresses. 

Beat Brighton and don't embarrass ourselves against Liverpool then it will certainly look that way. Concede several easy goals in both games then not so much. Hopefully you're right.

That's fair enough. And maybe I've misread it if the other scenario does happen and it was just a false dawn.

[wils]

The turning point already happened at Newcastle. I think that will become more apparent as the season progresses. 

Beat Brighton and don't embarrass ourselves against Liverpool then it will certainly look that way. Concede several easy goals in both games then not so much. Hopefully you're right.

[Massive Attack]

I like Pickle's team but would drop Alvarez for Soucek:

      ​​​​​​Fabianski

AW-B. Todibo. Kilman. Emerson

                 Soucek

          Kudus     Paqueta

Bowen (c) Fullkrug Summerville

I haven't quite decided if that's suicide or not. Less risky if Todibo is fit. Also not sure if Fullkrug can go the 90. Our attack found another gear when he came on against Bournemouth, and the sooner he can get back to 70-90 minutes the better. When was the last time we beat Brighton?

It works fine for me in Solers absence. Spot on line-up and formation.

And if nothing else, at least it'll mean Kudus FINALLY gets to play in Midfield behind all the Forwards for Fickles benefit.

[Mad Ferret]

When was the last time we beat Brighton?

Last season.

[kylay]

I like Pickle's team but would drop Alvarez for Soucek:

      ​​​​​​Fabianski

AW-B. Todibo. Kilman. Emerson

                 Soucek

          Kudus     Paqueta

Bowen (c) Fullkrug Summerville

I haven't quite decided if that's suicide or not. Less risky if Todibo is fit. Also not sure if Fullkrug can go the 90. Our attack found another gear when he came on against Bournemouth, and the sooner he can get back to 70-90 minutes the better. When was the last time we beat Brighton?

[Massive Attack]

The turning point already happened at Newcastle. I think that will become more apparent as the season progresses. Before then it didn't look right, neither the style of Football nor results. However since then the Football has improved, there is an identity and the results are gradually improving. 

[wils]

Don't think they have reached a 'turning point' yet despite the improvement. Still feel the team is a bit fragile. So not sure what to expect. Brighton have been a bogey team too. Like to see Paqueta dropped. Fulkrug may be ready for a start although I suspect he could be better used as an impact sub. Has goals in him but I think he's a bit easy for the other teams to deal with. So better used to try and shake up a stalemate. Same back four as for the Wolves game although swap the greek for Todibo.

Scores more wishful thinking perhaps. 2-0 to the Irons. (That's us not the Iron hoofs)

[Mad Ferret]

4-2

[Hammer and Pickle]

We have reasons to be optimistic and people are noticing a new energy about the team, This is the game to show we have turned that corner.

COYI!

[Django]

I suspect we might scrape a draw. Any of the three results wouldn't surprise me though, such is our inconsistency.

A defeat should spell the end for 'loser Lop' but we all know it won't.

I can't be bothered to predict the line up.

Full of Christmas cheer I see

[Come On You Irons]

I suspect we might scrape a draw. Any of the three results wouldn't surprise me though, such is our inconsistency.

A defeat should spell the end for 'loser Lop' but we all know it won't.

I can't be bothered to predict the line up.

[Mex Martillo]

Nice team Hammer, I'd like to see that.

[Hammer and Pickle]

                ​​​​​​Fabianski

AW-B. Todibo. Kilman. Emerson

                 Alvarez

          Kudus     Paqueta

Bowen (c) Fullkrug Summerville

No need to play anyone out of position and plenty of scope to introduce Soucek, Guilherme and Scarles during the course of the game.