West Ham vs Fulham | PL | 14.1.25 | Predictions, Lineups and Match Thread

[stubbo-admin]

Match Centre:

Odds:
West Ham: 23/12
Draw: 13/5
Fulham: 29/20

Pre-Match Press Conference:
Official Press Conference

Tactical Preview: 
Babbling Irons

Watch-along:
Hammers Chat Watchalong

Streams:

SportHD 

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

[Swiss.]

Just watched short highlights, What a joke of a game. Talk about giving away goals. The Palace game will be more of a reckoning. 

[threesixty]

I’ve seen why kudus is here and not at Liverpool / Man City etc 
he needs to learn his trade here. A bit like Rice did. He’s still fairly young but his decision making is poor. I’m digging him out because I love the player and think he could be world class. But he’s got to learn some stuff, hopefully with us. I don’t think he’s ready to go to bigger European club with the pressure he would get without fixing some of his issues. 
 

[BRANDED]

Bearing in mind you never get any points for style, it was the goals we scored that calmed us down and had the stadium on side. If you go two goals ahead twice you shouldn't lose even if it's still possible ( and yes I've been there for them ). Putting the pressure on the other team makes them fuck up. 

Most I've enjoyed a game at home for a while. 

[lowlife]

As others have said we looked shaky at the start but the well-taken goal from Soler settled us and we were energised throughout the team. 

I’m shaking my head and laughing at the people (not so much on here) that describe the Soler goal as one or more of; lucky, an open goal, not that great a finish, my nan could have scored that, a tap in.

Technically that was a really difficult finish, hitting it first time with that accuracy and just the right amount power, and it was on the bounce. It’s also not lucky at all when the team press as a unit and force the mistake. You make your own luck - as said many times already, Potter seems to have a style and plan.

[easthammer]

As others have said we looked shaky at the start but the well-taken goal from Soler settled us and we were energised throughout the team. From that point, our work rate as a team was a season's best. Everyone put in a shift and the pressing was much more coordinated. For me, Soucek and Alvarez had their best games so far this year and Paqueta's role was an interesting one which he took to well. The was still an underlying fragility in our defence and Fulham should have equalised. But they didn't and I'll happily take the win. As it stands I think we will need to score three to win again on Saturday.

[twoleftfeet]

I had fabianski at more fault than mav for those goals.  By a fuxking distance 

Agreed but Mav is the latest whipping boy.

We need a new goalkeeper in the summer, I like the lad at Sheffield United.

[Mad Dog]

I had fabianski at more fault than mav for those goals.  By a fuxking distance 

[twoleftfeet]

The first 30 minutes were a little tricky but once Potter and his coaching team pushed AWB further forward and Kudus more inside I thought we looked decent. If that had been Loppy or Moyes in charge they would have waited till half time to adjust so credit to Potter for doing it in game.

Both of their goals came from crosses that Fabianski failed to judge but other than that we looked good.

We finally have a coach who isn't rigid and reacts to the opposition. It's a promising start.

[lowlife]

A poor performance, but an excellent win.
 

I was also at the game last night but think that, given the circumstances, it was an excellent performance. First 15 minutes were shaky but after that I thought in the main we looked composed on the ball and well organised/drilled. Rode our luck at times, but thought it was very good and another sign of progress. It’s nice looking forward to games again.

Not looking for an argument here btw - just a different view.

[Pav BML]

Managed to ride out the first nervy 20 minutes and then looked so much more like a team for the rest of the game. Paqueta was back to his old self and brilliant in the air, feels better with him further up not giving away the ball in dangerous areas. He took a hell of a lot of kicks and won us some important free kicks. Soucek seems to relish the captaincy and unlike Bowen put some pressure on the ref on a few occasions. Was a bit surprised with the first two subs as we lost all pace in the team but managed to hold out. Unless Todibo is back soon, I think a proper CB is more of a priority than a striker as Dinos is just incapable of going one game without gifting a goal. Really positive start for Potter and I actually enjoyed going for once. Another 3 points Saturday and the whole place lifts massively 

[Rossal]

Potter will clearly look to get us to compact the pitch more and to have our starting positions higher to enable a more aggressive press. 

A CB pairing of Aguerd and Todibo would offer a high level on the ball and also the pace to run towards our own goal. Would be an interesting proposition under Potter. 

Early days but based on last night he could really bring on Alvarez alot like he did with Caicedo, Macallister and Bissouma 

[onsideman]

Stavros still has his “moments” but last night was more solid than Kilman I thought. Both struggle with positioning and the team as a whole needs to better deal with thie runners on any lobbed / chipped balls into the box. 



 

 

 

Bafflingly *leaving* Iwobi's cross which completely foxed fabianski and ket them back inti the game is a little more than a "moment", imho

He's a liability

[Come On You Irons]

A poor performance, but an excellent win. Another win against Palace on Saturday would start to give the season a whole new complexion and we can begin to look up towards finishing in the top 10 compared to worrying about being dragged into a relegation battle (which I have no doubt we would have been under the fraud previously masquerading as the manager).

As others have pointed out, the organisation and pressing was much better after the shambolic situation with the Spanish fraud.

I am sure the board will have set Potter an objective of finishing in the top 10 this season. 40 points should be the minimum initial target, then 50 points should be the minimum 'stretch' target.

There seems to be a sense of optimism again around the club. I sensed that in the stadium last night, as the atmosphere was the best its been for a fair while.

Graham “ 50% win rate “ Potter

Fuck off you spamming, stalking cսnt.

[twoleftfeet]

A poor performance, but an excellent win. Another win against Palace on Saturday would start to give the season a whole new complexion and we can begin to look up towards finishing in the top 10 compared to worrying about being dragged into a relegation battle (which I have no doubt we would have been under the fraud previously masquerading as the manager).

As others have pointed out, the organisation and pressing was much better after the shambolic situation with the Spanish fraud.

I am sure the board will have set Potter an objective of finishing in the top 10 this season. 40 points should be the minimum initial target, then 50 points should be the minimum 'stretch' target.

There seems to be a sense of optimism again around the club. I sensed that in the stadium last night, as the atmosphere was the best its been for a fair while.

Graham “ 50% win rate “ Potter

[,]

I did not see any signs of defending improvement last night. Potter knows the score and will doubtless be working on this. Our defending, for me, took a turn for the much worse about two years ago so it’s now ingrained in the squad. Jalopy either did not or could not establish an improved method of defending and last night, as usual, it was the opposition that led the attempts on goal stats.

We are defensively wide open and it will take Potter time to change this fact.

[Sir Alf]

Would be interesting to look at the stats and especially number of chances Fulham had and the number of those that were on target or close.  

What Potter has essentially done I think is be pragmatic and devise a set up and tactics that fit the players available. Lopetegui was implementing it the other way around with trying to get players to fit his preferred high line tactics with advanced wing backs etc.

Alvarez was our best player imo and was dropping into a back 5 at times and a much more rigid shape out of possession. We had a low / mid block to stem the tide thru central midfield and waited to pounce on the counter. Potter accepted that we would have to concede possession. As many noticed we pressed up top better and with the more disciplined shape Fulham had to work hard to create space and openings which ultimately led to them giving the ball away more yhan I have seen them do against teams recently.  Paqueta was energised and all Potter needs to do with him is coach him on how to protect the ball better and cut out the embarassing foul simulation of which half ate not given and lead to dangerous turnovers.

Kudus is really missing Bowen and another fast outlet like Summerville and was being doubled or tripled up on by Fulham when he received it. Another player that needs coaching on releasing it quicker and how to make space for himself, work better with the team.

Stavros still has his “moments” but last night was more solid than Kilman I thought. Both struggle with positioning and the team as a whole needs to better deal with thie runners on any lobbed / chipped balls into the box. 

All in all, players seemed to know what they were asked to do. Still early days and we need our injured players back asap and hopefully an addition for centre mid with pace and energy. 

I don’t expect too much until next season as we simply have a squad that is collectively too old and slow


 

[Alwaysaniron]

I think you can already see what Potter is trying to do. None of us had any idea with Lop. We have an organised press, we still pass mostly on the floor, and we are far more organised. Two carbon copy goals aside last night, we were much better defensively because we didn’t leave the two centre halfs completely exposed on the counter. 

When you can see a plan, people are immediately more forgiving when things do go against you.

I see Silva was criticising our style. I love it when that happens. Proper sour grapes. There is more than one way to skin a cat. Their errors were brought on by our pressing. Suck it up. 

Totally agree wtih all of your statement Ron.  The press was far better, we looked like we had a plan and they (the players) tried their hardenst to implement it.  We do need to stop the crosses coming in as those two goals when you look back on them were poor.  

As for Silva, he was like a petulant child. "we were the best from the first minute, we were the only team in the game, we were the only team trying to score, we dominated" blah blah blah.  YOU LOST! Suck it up

[Come On You Irons]

A poor performance, but an excellent win. Another win against Palace on Saturday would start to give the season a whole new complexion and we can begin to look up towards finishing in the top 10 compared to worrying about being dragged into a relegation battle (which I have no doubt we would have been under the fraud previously masquerading as the manager).

As others have pointed out, the organisation and pressing was much better after the shambolic situation with the Spanish fraud.

I am sure the board will have set Potter an objective of finishing in the top 10 this season. 40 points should be the minimum initial target, then 50 points should be the minimum 'stretch' target.

There seems to be a sense of optimism again around the club. I sensed that in the stadium last night, as the atmosphere was the best its been for a fair while.

[Rossal]

Agreed with stopping crosses. AWB needed to do better against Robinson 2nd half. Scarles when he came on stopped a few Traore crosses. 

It's basic stuff but when ball goes wide stop the cross!!! 

[DukeofDevo]

It’s too easy for teams to get crosses in against us. Both goals stop the dinked cross coming in and one of our 6ft + centre halves cut the ball out in the air. Mavropanos, I’m sure, just watched the second one go past him within playing distance. Solars finish was exceptional as was Paquetas. Could have easily ended up in Row Z !

[Ron Eff]

I think you can already see what Potter is trying to do. None of us had any idea with Lop. We have an organised press, we still pass mostly on the floor, and we are far more organised. Two carbon copy goals aside last night, we were much better defensively because we didn’t leave the two centre halfs completely exposed on the counter. 

When you can see a plan, people are immediately more forgiving when things do go against you.

I see Silva was criticising our style. I love it when that happens. Proper sour grapes. There is more than one way to skin a cat. Their errors were brought on by our pressing. Suck it up. 

[dealcanvey]

Not a great performance but to be expected with all the players we have missing.

To win was massive for Potter.

[Manuel]

What also gives me some confidence in Potter is that he no doubt sees himself as an elite manager and with something still to prove. He got the Chelsea job and was heavily linked with England. Point is I don't see that at this stage of his career, at only 49, he has come here to sit around in mid-table, why the fuck would he want to do that? I'm pretty confident he can see the shit that we can see, but obviously needs to be more diplomatic and patient. I suspect come August we will see a completely different team and hopefully with a couple of youngsters too. Potter is a project manager and will be planning ahead 24 hours a day, as well as worrying about the here and now. 

[,]

Well, how about three points, not the result I expected but the performance in parts, post Jalopy, was the same and in parts improved.

Our defending is still the major issue with us averaging two goals against per game and it will be interesting to see how Potter works to bring that stat down. So defending still as bad as ever to date but Potter has clearly given the squad a kick up the tuchis as regards overall effort and it is this level of commitment that nearly got us through against Villa and that succeeded last night versus Fulham.

Importantly it’s last nights level that also lifts the fans because we have generally been turning up not expecting too much, the more so when we saw the staring eleven. 

[Alwaysaniron]

It does seem like the air of dispondancy has been lifted from the club.  We have to now let Potter have some 'proper' time to establish his style and bring in 'his' players.  As fans we have a duty not to our club to support the guy through the coming months.  Failure to do so will be down to us as much as anybody else.  We're a fickle bunch but I really do beleive we have got a inteligent coach who looks like a great fit.  FFS let's make sure we back him vocally.  I have a good feeling about this appointment, better than I have had any since ... God knows when.