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)​​​​

[Massive Attack]

Sounds like a bunch of entitled Yids on here. We finally get a striker who is strong enough to play back to goal and now he’s finally started a game in this country you idiots are moaning like he should be playing like a Premier League striker already. He’s only just arrived, the injury makes him a new signing from right now and I’m happy enough with him.

I thought he looked way off it, shirked some challenges, didn't work hard enough and was so sluggish getting around the pitch that went beyond it being acceptable. And he's played like that ever since he's been played even right at the start of the season. 

Even neutral reporters have it right avout him today..

57 minutes

West Ham make another change of their own, with Fullkrug leaving the action. He has looked slow and hasn’t had a good game at all. Summerville replaces him, forcing Bowen up front

I don’t disagree, I just don’t expect too much of him right now given the circumstances and he looks like exactly what we need when he’s back to full fitness and has some English match experience.

He could prove me wrong of course, but how will we k own if he doesn’t get minutes and why are so many expecting the finished article in these minutes already?

He's very experienced, I reckon he’ll get there soon

I can excuse him tiring near the end because he's lacking match fitness but that wasn't the case at all. He wasn't putting in an effort from the start today. Totally ineffective. Making stupid needless fouls when we sent the ball up to him, shirked other challenges that were there to be won. The pitiful pressing was virtually non existent and for a seasoned Pro and German International it was shocking for me.

To be taken off after 50 minutes said it all and it was night and day instantly up front the moment he got hauled off and it wasn't because he put in a monster shift, it was lazy and a piss take and those around me let him know it too in the BML. 

[Mex Martillo]

Strange game, most of it we seemed to cancel each other out and not much seemed to happen. Livened up towards the end and could have gone either way. I guess can be happy with a point. Felt it was a bit of a nothing game, we didn't advance, but also not a disaster or regression. Still on the corner...

[Alfs]

Bored of this season already. Limping along to a lower mid table finish.  What makes it worse is that when Moyes left I was looking forward to an exciting new manager and some good football.

[Gank]

Sounds like a bunch of entitled Yids on here. We finally get a striker who is strong enough to play back to goal and now he’s finally started a game in this country you idiots are moaning like he should be playing like a Premier League striker already. He’s only just arrived, the injury makes him a new signing from right now and I’m happy enough with him.

I thought he looked way off it, shirked some challenges, didn't work hard enough and was so sluggish getting around the pitch that went beyond it being acceptable. And he's played like that ever since he's been played even right at the start of the season. 

Even neutral reporters have it right avout him today..

57 minutes

West Ham make another change of their own, with Fullkrug leaving the action. He has looked slow and hasn’t had a good game at all. Summerville replaces him, forcing Bowen up front

I don’t disagree, I just don’t expect too much of him right now given the circumstances and he looks like exactly what we need when he’s back to full fitness and has some English match experience.

He could prove me wrong of course, but how will we k own if he doesn’t get minutes and why are so many expecting the finished article in these minutes already?

He's very experienced, I reckon he’ll get there soon

[Sydney_Iron]

Bang average, boring and not good enough, may have got a point but all a bit meh for me.

Disappointing   

[Massive Attack]

Sounds like a bunch of entitled Yids on here. We finally get a striker who is strong enough to play back to goal and now he’s finally started a game in this country you idiots are moaning like he should be playing like a Premier League striker already. He’s only just arrived, the injury makes him a new signing from right now and I’m happy enough with him.

I thought he looked way off it, shirked some challenges, didn't work hard enough and was so sluggish getting around the pitch that went beyond it being acceptable. And he's played like that ever since he's been played even right at the start of the season. 

Even neutral reporters have it right avout him today..

57 minutes

West Ham make another change of their own, with Fullkrug leaving the action. He has looked slow and hasn’t had a good game at all. Summerville replaces him, forcing Bowen up front

[Gank]

Sounds like a bunch of entitled Yids on here. We finally get a striker who is strong enough to play back to goal and now he’s finally started a game in this country you idiots are moaning like he should be playing like a Premier League striker already. He’s only just arrived, the injury makes him a new signing from right now and I’m happy enough with him.

[Massive Attack]

I’ve haven’t seen the game, but surely a point against Brighton is a good result? 

The result wasn't terrible but the performance really wasn't good enough. They did try, just didn't look coherent with far too many individual errors.

Wan-Bissaka my Man of the Match. Really impressed me since he signed and our best performing new signing.

[Pub Bigot]

I’ve haven’t seen the game, but surely a point against Brighton is a good result? 

[Fauxstralian]

Fabianski MOTM again saved us
Relatively even hour but were utterly dominated after that & sloped away with a point
Offered little going forward & couldn’t string 3 passes together
Turgid & lack any zip
Fullkrug looks 100yo. A disastrous signing
Utterly unconvincing under Loppy, have no idea what he is trying to achieve
Defeat at Southampton on Boxing Day would surely be the end

[honky cat]

Meh, we didn't lose
​​​​​aside from awb, kilman and Summerville, our summer signings are all pony or not what we needed. The established players are acting up/want out/elderly or driving cars into trees. So even if we had a tactical genius and superb man manager running things, we just haven't got the players. 
Minimum we need centre back x 2 and striker. Same as the last 20 years. Forget this season, we'll plod along to 14th.  

[riosleftsock]

Players massively lacking confidence (understandably), somebody has managed to convince them that to break the cycle, they have to work harder and be more aggressive.  Saw that in spades today (and against Bournemouth to a lesser extent), especially from Wan Bissake (him and Fabianski were our best players today).  Paqueta typifies this, having lost form and confidence he has stepped up his workrate and defensive duties.

I think we are turning a corner and its been a long painful journey this season.

[Keep dreaming]

The one big positive from today was the introduction of Scarles again. He plays like a 29yo, not a 19yo. Kids definitely 'got it'.  

But apparently Lopetegui hates turning to the Academy players..

 

 

Absolutely the the highlight.

We look and play like a bunch of individuals.
And another was saying,  righton play with swagger while we are doing the opposite.

It's a hard watch,  and oue team need a total rebuild.

New keeper (even if Fabianski lately is our motm)
New fullbacks unless the kids are played regularly.
2 new midfielders 
2 new forwards.

This is goi6to take a wet long time to mend

[stubbo-admin]

Ever since Soler went off against Bournemouth, our central midfield has gone to shit. It's overkill playing 2 Defensive Midfielders and it's either 1 or the other in Alvarez and Soucek. Thankfully Solers back next game but ideally we had another 1 similar in quality as back up to when he's not always playing. He knits the play together that neither Alvarez and Soucek can when played at the same time. 

It also doesn't help that Lucas Pathetic is basically a wax work dummy. We are carrying far too many passengers not performing - See Paqueta, Fullkrug, Mavropanos.

Paqueta suspended Vs Southampton. Feels like really is time to get Orford in the squad to see if he can bring to the side what Scarles is doing.

[Massive Attack]

Ever since Soler went off against Bournemouth, our central midfield has gone to shit. We lack control and tempo without him. It's overkill playing 2 Defensive Midfielders and it's either 1 or the other in Alvarez and Soucek. Thankfully Solers back next game but ideally we had another 1 similar in quality as back up to when he's not always playing. He knits the play together that neither Alvarez and Soucek can when played at the same time. 

It also doesn't help that Lucas Pathetic is basically a wax work dummy. We are carrying far too many passengers not performing - See Paqueta, Fullkrug, Mavropanos.

[stubbo-admin]

At least we appear to have stopped shopping 3 goals per game....or maybe that's just the oppo have tailed off.

But facing facts our midfield is dysfunctional. Watching Brighton today makes that as clear as day. We look like olden chasing young kids around the park, where they have swagger and arrogance in the way they play, and we look tired and leggy from minute 1.

Means we can't retain possession effectively as lack the movement and confidence, and we can't regain it as lack the pace and energy to do so.

While it's like that, we've no hope of moving the ball from our defence (who are largely comfortable on the ball) to our attack (who do have some talent) in any kind of effective way. It's taking balls from the centre backs to the wingers, or a punt to bypass the midfield from the keeper.

[Snodders' Beard]

A resounding meh, I guess he's somewhat sorted the defensive shape out but we look so clueless going forward. Defence constantly under pressure as we couldn't keep the ball up top, our decision making and execution is abysmal, and the midfield is woefully slow.

Nice to see the players put in a shift though, and an academy kid getting minutes is always welcome.

[Massive Attack]

The one big positive from today was the introduction of Scarles again. He plays like a 29yo, not a 19yo. Kids definitely 'got it'.  

But apparently Lopetegui hates turning to the Academy players..

[Massive Attack]

We continue to waste possesion in the final third so never create enough or any chances. 

Kudus was fucking me right off yet again hogging the ball and when he did rarely release it, it often went to Brighton or right at the end, inexplicably out of play with acres of space to pass in too. Schoolboy football wasting decent possession when we do get it in the final third.

[kinglewy]

We continue to waste possesion in the final third so never create enough or any chances. 

[Ladysmith]

Thought it could have been anyone’s game at the end and a draw was probably fair.

one concern for me that we rely to much on Bowen and my fear is that he will go to a bigger club next season.

by the way what was going on at Stratford station, the que stopped for about 10 minutes? 

[Massive Attack]

Poor performance, played like the manager wasn't about during the week as they looked well off it.

As for Fullkrug, that useless cսnt can fuck right off and carry on walking all the way back to Germany. Once he got hooked off after 50 minutes for Summerville, we started to play and attack much better than when he was on. Awful signing and hope someone mug enough takes him off our hands after that pitiful display. 

[goose]

And what about your hypocrisy ffs? Are you joking? All year last year we had to put up with you blowing up match day threads about performance, Regardless of results. And I said I was happy with the point, but then again based on that performance you have to be.

I called out huge slices of luck last season that papered over some cracks. I’m doing the same now.
That’s the opposite of hypocrisy.

If you say so Goose. Not gonna spend my day arguing with you. Everybody knows what’s up. I’ll leave it at that.

What’s up is we were shit for 6 month last season and we’ve continued to be shit this season. Nothing has changed.

[northbankboy68]

Where to begin? Too many y unforced errors/wayward passes, pressing game mot as good as Brighton, set pieces very poor - corners all came to nothing, caught offside needlessly too often, movement off the ball not great.  Defended reasonably well.  Lop out please.

[Nutsin]

My point is your hypocrisy. Saying it was lucky but then elsewhere referencing similar Moyes games as highlights despite the huge dose of luck we got.

The performance today I described as tepid. Same as I did with Moyes.

And what about your hypocrisy ffs? Are you joking? All year last year we had to put up with you blowing up match day threads about performance, Regardless of results. And I said I was happy with the point, but then again based on that performance you have to be.

I called out huge slices of luck last season that papered over some cracks. I’m doing the same now.
That’s the opposite of hypocrisy.

If you say so Goose. Not gonna spend my day arguing with you. Everybody knows what’s up. I’ll leave it at that.