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)​​​​

[nychammer]

Harsh booking that on Mavro

[Helmut Shown]

Another Merseyside referee his running is hampered as his hand is in his pocket fondling his yellow card in case Paqueta or Alvarez goes near the ball. Scouse tosser! I’m 

[threesixty]

Someone’s really got to tell Kudus and Paquetta to look for the pass first. 
it’s a bit schoolboy stuff this. If you get caught trying to dribble when you have options it’s all your fault. It’s just not worth it. 

[BillyJenningsBoots]

Like a basketball game. Need to put our foot on the ball.

Not many shots for a basketball game..... 

[nychammer]

Brighton look more likley to score, we don't look incisive going forward and keep giving it away. Paqueta especially.

[stubbo-admin]

Like a basketball game. Need to put our foot on the ball.

[stubbo-admin]

Gotta be brave here.... losing the long ball punt and then getting caught on the turnover. 

[Mr Anon]

bright start, but they clearly have the pace to punish is

[Coffee one sugar]

Thanks, mate!

[stubbo-admin]

Started the game well here 

[stubbo-admin]

Stubbo - nope.

Try Dazn1#3 on the SportHD link...just tried it and that is working 

[Coffee one sugar]

Stubbo - nope.

[stubbo-admin]

Anyone got a decent stream?

In the non-medical sense.

Links at the top not working?

[Coffee one sugar]

Anyone got a decent stream?

In the non-medical sense.

[Sir Alf]

Lop was predictable with his starting 11.  Depends now on their energy levels and tactics he employs. Hopefully sit a bit deeper as we did against Bournemouth or will he double down and have the full backs and most of the midfield playing high and caught on the counter as the one paced Alvarez, Paqueta and Soucek get left in the dust?  

I have little faith that any corner has been turned and Soler seemed so important to the recent improvements that I would not be surprised if we concede a few again.  Hoping for solidity and lots of hard work and running both with and without the ball.  Only way you can compete. Could all be undone by a Stavros rickett or cheap turnover of possession bu any of our 3 midfielders but hopefully not. That emotion “hope” it kills ya.  

[threesixty]

I don’t think having Alvarez and soucek together offers much tbh 
Alvarez isn’t that creative and is slow. He’s no replacement for Soler. 

i would have tried Irving or spent the week coaching kudus to play there and brought Summerville in. 

I don’t understand West Ham’s obsession with CDM’s in this type of league. 
and no one can tell me soucek is an attacking mid. 

if you don’t have a few creatives in midfield their defenders just relax knowing your not gonna surprise them. 

 

[threesixty]

Stavros will start. Be afraid, very afraid !!

*** foresees penalty, handball, dangerous freekicks in tea leaves ***

 

 

We have to score at least 1 goal to draw this one lol 

[kylay]

Not sure how anyone can have watched our performances this season and see there is any contest between todibo and mavboat. Todibo is probably more effective than Kilman and certainly doesn't drop a clanger every game.

Nah, he just drops a right hook instead.

Thought that was kudus

[Leavemyarcelona]

No Orford or Casey on the bench? I thought Rodriguez was fucking off

[Hammer and Pickle]

Kudus on the left again

[twoleftfeet]

As expected. Looking forward to seeing the German.

[stubbo-admin]

[stubbo-admin]

Fullkrüg starts. Emerson back. Mavro retains his position.

[Sir Alf]

Football historically often sees a situation being forced on a manager or coach where, thru injury, plays a player in a role no one thought he’d be suited for and they end up playing there the rest of their career.

Kudus might not be any good centrally as an 8, 10 or false 9 but he possesses attributes ( strength speed ) that suggests it might be worth giving it a try?   So many coaches just become so fearful of taking a risk and it backfiring that they become super conservative or cautious and use players in set riles and almost a formula.  

As they get older they become more and more risk averse. Which is why Sullivan prefers blokes in or nearing 60.  

[Hammer and Pickle]

I just can't see a scenario where Kudus plays at 8. Neither Lopetegui or Moyes have played Kudus there even for 5 mins in a match, even when chasing a game.  

And yet, that is exactly the position he has been playing when he, Bowen and Paqueta really click.

Absolute rubbish.

He hasn't lined up at 8 all season (playing in the line of midfielders behind the forwards line in a 4-3-3. Or last under Moyes where he played almost exclusively off the right or left, with the odd attempt at 10. He has never played as the 8 in our team.

He has of course played off the right and driven inside, but that is very different to lining up in central midfield, with all the responsibility and positioning that comes with it. 

Think you’ll find you’re making the same point as I am in your last paragraph. That is where he is most effective even if he hasn’t been put there in the line-up by either manager. Do they deem he isn’t up for it? Well that’s a matter for a different discussion and I think they are wrong.