West Ham vs Liverpool | 29.12.2024 | Predictions & Match Thread

[stubbo-admin]

Match Centre:

Odds:

West Ham: 13/2
Draw: 22/5
Liverpool: 2/5


Pre-Match Press Conference:

Post Southampton Liverpool Discussion


Tactical Preview: 

Babbling Irons Preview


Watch-along:
TBA


Streams:

Sport HD 


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[BRANDED]

I think we’ll win this one 1-0

[Hammer and Pickle]

What’s Orford like?

Is he ready for a start as a number 8?

[Takashi Miike]

what I'd pick (if Kilman's out), don't give a shit who El Moyes selects....

                                  Areola
AWB             Stavros        Todibo        Emerson
                                Alvarez
               Orford                      Paqueta
Kudus                     Bowen                     Jimmy
                          

[nychammer]

Let’s hope the habit of the opposition fluffing chances continues tomorrow. I really don’t see it this time and we could be looking at a sound beating  another significant scoreline. The aim will be to keep it level or 1 down at HT and go for it latterly but I don’t see how.

funny old game tho and many is a time I’ve written out chances off only to be proven wrong. Hoping for that bit but bracing for the worst 

0-3

[Massive Attack]

An example of what could be achieved if the players are bang on their game tomorrow, even with an old biddie in defence against their strike force...



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64436196

[Massive Attack]

You could use our “undefeated in 4” headline and assume we have a chance tomorrow. But anyone who had watched these games will know we have had more than our fair share of fortune with the opposition’s profligacy in front of goal and with VAR decisions.  












 

 

 

You always make it sound like we don't have chances of our own that we also miss in front of goal (mainly down to a lack of a decent Striker this season) and like we aint allowed correct VAR decisions go for us.

Thank God for all the oppositions missed efforts this season as we miraculously pick up points and it somehow continues again tomorrow...

[Ron Eff]

It's all well and good Kudus holding on to the ball for himself, but it would be pointless when he's got at least 3 other players eagerly waiting for him to pass to them in front of him. He'd be the worst kind of Midfielder to rely on.

No doubt he'll look fantastic trying to score a worldie from his own half every time he receives the ball however the novelty would wear very thin. 

I only like him doing that when he's on the front line of attack himself so he's not really required to look up and pass it as he'll be in his element trying to score. You want to play him furthest forward not in the line of traffic centrally, especially when he's such a work shy cսnt of late typified in the last game. 

Striker may even be a better position for him just as Bowen can play there. Very similar players in that regard but the edge that Bowen always has on Kudus is he's utterly selfless for the Team and happy to get stuck right in defensively, as well as support others and score himself in attack. 

 

 

I agree. Can’t recall him playing up front for us, but have often thought it worth a try. That said, not sure he necessarily has the intelligence to make the right runs, unlike Bowen who has very smart movement. 

To be perfectly honest, anywhere between £85-100m for Kudus and I am very happy to take it and buy two or three £40m and £30m players depending on what he goes for. As long as it’s not another 31 year old slow forward!

He is obviously talented but he is certainly not irreplaceable. 

[Sir Alf]

You could use our “undefeated in 4” headline and assume we have a chance tomorrow. But anyone who had watched these games will know we have had more than our fair share of fortune with the opposition’s profligacy in front of goal and with VAR decisions.  

We give up too many opportunities for a more clinical team, like Liverpool, to not take is the logical conclusion.

The only “wild card” might be the fact that having so many out, Lopetegui is forced into playing say, Kudus centrally and Paqueta alongside Alvarez and for once we have all players in positions they prefer ( Kudus prefers right to left albut has previously stated his best position is a central role).  Of course, the more likely thing is him bringing Coufal or Cresswell into the side and find a way to play players out of position. That seems to be one of his biggest problems imo, trying to fit players to a preferred system (“top down” or “square pegs, round holes”) rather than building on their strengths ( “bottom up”).  

Our expectations are very low. But this is West Ham and they could surprise us either way by giving Liverpool a proper game or actually exceeding our low expectations ( getting a draw or even a smash grab win ) or conversely being on the end of 0-7 or 8 thrashing

Sadly the odds are still tilted to the latter unless Looetegui does something different

 

[Keep dreaming]

I can't be bothered as I'm prepared for a borfested loss

[goose]

Anyone who watches West Ham understands this……

[Massive Attack]

Kudus certainly can use his left foot - the cross to Bowen in the WHL game was with the left. But then the shot for the goal, and the earlier saved effort were with the right boot. So we have a two footed player who prefers to play central or on the right.

We have a left footed player who (by his own admission) prefers to play on the right.

“Kudus celebrated his goal by sitting on a traditional Ghanaian stool featuring an elephant design at its base. In an interview after the match, he explained that his celebration was a way to share a piece of Ghana with the world.“It was good to score, and the goal came from where I’m most naturally, on the right. “

I thought we all knew this already?

[goose]

Kudus certainly can use his left foot - the cross to Bowen in the WHL game was with the left. But then the shot for the goal, and the earlier saved effort were with the right boot. So we have a two footed player who prefers to play central or on the right.

We have a left footed player who (by his own admission) prefers to play on the right.

“Kudus celebrated his goal by sitting on a traditional Ghanaian stool featuring an elephant design at its base. In an interview after the match, he explained that his celebration was a way to share a piece of Ghana with the world.“It was good to score, and the goal came from where I’m most naturally, on the right. “

[Hammer and Pickle]

Kudus certainly can use his left foot - the cross to Bowen in the WHL game was with the left. But then the shot for the goal, and the earlier saved effort were with the right boot. So we have a two footed player who prefers to play central or on the right.

[Massive Attack]

Been watching Kudus's goal at WHL again - yes, he's stuck out on the left so has to cut in to use his favoured right foot but there is certainly nothing wrong with his cross-pitch ball to Bowen to set the whole move up. Imagine what he could do if he and Bowen had a run of games with both played in position. Only down side of it would be he wouldn't nearly have to kill some Yids just by looking at them wrong...

Just one small problem with your master plan…….. Kudus & Bowen play in the same position. If they both play then one has to play out of position.
Only 99.9% of actual West Ham fans realise this.

Also, Kudus favoured foot is his left not his right. If you actually watched West Ham you might have realised this.

Been an embarrassing few days for you hasn’t it….

Yeah, I always thought Kudus was predominantly left footed. Is he actually right footed then?

[Sydney_Iron]

Well, im going to hope for the point in this one, will be about as good as it can get considering the form the Scouse have been in this season

Our injuries wont help although given how awful we have been at times maybe not!!!


Areola
Wan Bissaka
Mav
Todibo
Emerson 
Alvarez 
Paqueta
Kudus
Bowen
Fullkrug 
Summerville

 

[goose]

Been watching Kudus's goal at WHL again - yes, he's stuck out on the left so has to cut in to use his favoured right foot but there is certainly nothing wrong with his cross-pitch ball to Bowen to set the whole move up. Imagine what he could do if he and Bowen had a run of games with both played in position. Only down side of it would be he wouldn't nearly have to kill some Yids just by looking at them wrong...

Just one small problem with your master plan…….. Kudus & Bowen play in the same position. If they both play then one has to play out of position.
Only 99.9% of actual West Ham fans realise this.

Also, Kudus favoured foot is his left not his right. If you actually watched West Ham you might have realised this.

Been an embarrassing few days for you hasn’t it….

[Hammer and Pickle]

Been watching Kudus's goal at WHL again - yes, he's stuck out on the left so has to cut in to use his favoured right foot but there is certainly nothing wrong with his cross-pitch ball to Bowen to set the whole move up. Imagine what he could do if he and Bowen had a run of games with both played in position. Only down side of it would be he wouldn't nearly have to kill some Yids just by looking at them wrong...

[Massive Attack]

Here's a blueprint he can call on to when he beat a similar Liverpool side at Home..

https://www.google.co.uk/search?sca_esv ... cs=0#ebo=3

A good old fashioned 4-4-2.

[Mex Martillo]

Just to recap.
Fabianski and Antonio out.
Rodriguez and Soucek suspended.
Soler and Kilman injured with apparently 25% chance of playing.

I agree Ron, Kudus has been largely absent and with Bowen needed in the centre it is time to try him on the right. 
It's very deep end and don't supose it'll happen, but I'd like to see Irving start to both keep some defensive and attacking balance in midfield.

Areola
Wan Bissaka, Mavropanos, Todibo, Emerson
Alvarez
Paqueta, Irving
Kudus, Bowen, Summerville

I'm kind of resigned to a defeat, but I do not think it will be a thrashing. Anyway I will be ok with any score if we come out having played well, giving them a hard game. That is asking a lot as we were not much good in our last 2 games!

[ragingbull]

Lop will have to go full on David Moyes with 20% possession everyone behind the ball and hit them on the break,only i don't think that will happen so the next best thing is to keep the score down to less than 6 and have bragging rights over the Spuds.

[Massive Attack]

It's all well and good Kudus holding on to the ball for himself, but it would be pointless when he's got at least 3 other players eagerly waiting for him to pass to them in front of him. He'd be the worst kind of Midfielder to rely on.

No doubt he'll look fantastic trying to score a worldie from his own half every time he receives the ball however the novelty would wear very thin. 

I only like him doing that when he's on the front line of attack himself so he's not really required to look up and pass it as he'll be in his element trying to score. You want to play him furthest forward not in the line of traffic centrally, especially when he's such a work shy cսnt of late typified in the last game. 

Striker may even be a better position for him just as Bowen can play there. Very similar players in that regard but the edge that Bowen always has on Kudus is he's utterly selfless for the Team and happy to get stuck right in defensively, as well as support others and score himself in attack. 

[Ron Eff]

I know it’s controversial but I don’t hate the idea of trying Kudus deeper or at least centrally. The bloke doesn’t pass the ball anyway so often is just running around with it near our holding midfielders looking for a route he can run into. 

He’s strong, holds the ball well and isn’t good enough to replace our best player on right wing. He’s frankly been shit since he came back into the team from left wing. Doesn’t seem to have it in him to beat the right back on the outside and put a cross in, which ironically is exactly how you’re mostly likely to get a use out of Fullkrug too. It can’t really be any worse. 

Failing that, chuck him right wing and play Bowen up front I guess. 

[Alfs]

1 - 4

[Hammer and Pickle]

This one could turn very ugly.

Very few options but would be good to surprise everyone and play the players avaiable in their correct or preferred positions as per the team suggested below. I simply adjusted it slightly to have Kudus in a free role centrally where he has played before for previous club ( Ajax ) and for his national team. He also says thats his preferred position I think?

                                       Areola
        AW-B     Mavropanos     Todibo   Emerson 
                          Alvarez       Paqueta
                                   Kudus
           Bowen (c)        Fullkrug     Summerville


 

 

 

That’s how I’d like to see it too if we ever get up the pitch. When in defence, I would expect Kudus to operate more on the right and Paqueta on the left.

[honky cat]

This one could turn very ugly.

Very few options but would be good to surprise everyone and play the players avaiable in their correct or preferred positions as per the team suggested below. I simply adjusted it slightly to have Kudus in a free role centrally where he has played before for previous club ( Ajax ) and for his national team. He also says thats his preferred position I think?

                                       Areola
        AW-B     Mavropanos     Todibo   Emerson 
                          Alvarez       Paqueta
                                   Kudus
           Bowen (c)        Fullkrug     Summerville


 

 

 

I agree. The game is supposedly already lost according to everyone, and I would rather see this than cresswell wheeled out and others played out of position. My gut feeling is a high scoring draw . . .