West Ham vs Brentford | League | 15.2.25 | Predictions & Match Thread

[stubbo-admin]

Match Centre:

Odds:
West Ham: 6/4
Draw: 45/17
Brentford: 39/20


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).
  

[stubbo-admin]

I think a comfortable win incoming. Bowen changes the entire dynamic for us. Hard to state how important he is, and how his directness completely alters our attacking impetus. 

I like the idea of Ward-Prowse at RWB. I’ve often thought he has the skillset for RB/RWB. Good tackler, runs all day, intelligent footballer so can work out positioning, and obviously excellent delivery. Lacks a bit of pace, but no more so than Emerson on the other side. I think the back three instantly becomes stronger with Wan-Bissaka in it. 

Don't disagree, but think Wan Bissaka at RCB creates a problem of its own...Todibo is very much suited to RCB and is the bigger investment. Playing in the middle will negate his ball carrying and progressive tendencies, and Kilman has looked best centrally. 

If be tempted to go with Wan Bissaka at LWB. There are so many inverted forwards these days, which means his strong foot would be the same side as theirs, and he's proved himself capable of playing at LB, so left side should hamper his ability to support up the line too.

​​​​​

[Ron Eff]

I think a comfortable win incoming. Bowen changes the entire dynamic for us. Hard to state how important he is, and how his directness completely alters our attacking impetus. 

I like the idea of Ward-Prowse at RWB. I’ve often thought he has the skillset for RB/RWB. Good tackler, runs all day, intelligent footballer so can work out positioning, and obviously excellent delivery. Lacks a bit of pace, but no more so than Emerson on the other side. I think the back three instantly becomes stronger with Wan-Bissaka in it. 

[goose]

This is a must win game for us. As much as we’ve seen improvements under potter, we need to win some games.

[fraser]

This is what I like to see

Areola
Tobido, Kilman, Cresswell
Wan Bissaka, Alvarez, Soucek, Emerson
Kudus, Bowen, Paqueta

Hope it is a good entertaining game with lots of goals.

 

 

I doubt Todibo is fit enough to start, I'm on torn on Soler or Soucek. Soler will give us more going forward but Soucek will be handy for their long throws. 

Looking forward to seeing Ferguson, an actual proper centre forward in a team with an actual plan to involve one. 

[,]

I would like Ferguson to start.

[Mex Martillo]

This is what I like to see

Areola
Tobido, Kilman, Cresswell
Wan Bissaka, Alvarez, Soucek, Emerson
Kudus, Bowen, Paqueta

Hope it is a good entertaining game with lots of goals.

[Fauxstralian]

Brentford’s away form is pretty poor & believe we have a few more options this week … Bowen back & seems Paqueta Alvarez  & maybe Todibo with JWP & Ferguson in the squad

3-1 … Bowen hat-trick like last season

[Sydney_Iron]

Potter has been with us a month now and just had a decent break to get the team playing how he wants so I don’t think it unreasonable to want to see us put up a decent effort and win this game.

COYI

[Manuel]

Not sure I like this steady as you go with the paddy, there's 13 games left and he's not even our player, put him on the pitch Potter you modern day fairy.

[Monsieur merde de cheval]

Apparently Bowen may be back for this.. Chris Sutton thick cսnt 

New Hammers boss Graham Potter has taken over a difficult situation and he is finding it hard to get results - he has only won one of his five games in charge so far. Their struggles are not on him though, and it would definitely boost their chances if he has Jarrod Bowen back from injury soon - he has been training this week.

don't forget to wrap up warm fraser son..

1-1 

[nychammer]

feeling bullish with a comfortable win 

2-0

COYI!!!

[violator]

Bore off you fucking arse bandit yid cսnt 

[Ladysmith]

I predict ferret said we would lose.

cսnt.

3-0 to us.

No he has predicted a win 

[twoleftfeet]

I predict ferret said we would lose.

cսnt.

3-0 to us.

[happygilmore]

One of those rare occasions I don't agree with Ferret. 
                                                                                                                                                                                    

[Django]

                         Areola 

           Dino  Kilman Cresswell
 
      AWB  Alvarez  Soucek Emerson 
              
                   Kudus    Bowen
                 
                           Paq

coyi
3-1

[Manuel]

They usually score and we can't keep clean sheets, so will very likely need to score at least 2 to win.

Reality is who knows, but won't be shocked if this is a 1-1 or a desmond.

[Ladysmith]

One of those rare occasions I don't agree with Ferret. I honestly don't think we will score.

I feel this game will be won from the dugout and as well all know potter is not in the same class as Thomas Frank.

Sadly, I have to go 0-2.

Nevertheless, looking forward to going to the game.

Saturday - wearing my claret and blue scarf and hat and then on Sunday, I will be dressed in a 3 piece suit, in my professional role as a marketing director, entertaining customers over at Spurs.

Keep warm everybody! 
 

[Rossal]

can't see JWP at RWB at all 


                               Areola 

                 Todibo  Dinos  Kilman 
 
      AWB  Alvarez  Irving  Emerson 
              
                   Kudus    Paqueta 
                 
                           Bowen 

COYI 

[Sir Alf]

That’s the fear Ferret. Depends on whether another 12 days? without a game will help because Todibo wont start. Can Mavropanos be coached to improve his decision making, positioning? Hope so otherwise the old slow duo of a back 3 featuring Coufal and Cresswell will be employed again.  That is an obvious weakness that Brentford’s fleet footed fromt men will target

[Mad Ferret]

Unfortunately, our defensive is ropey as fuck.

1-3

[Sir Alf]

Hmmm, there is a general optimism in the impact Potter has had on the way we play in only 4-5 weeks. We do need that to translate into points asap because they are ultimately what matters.  

We have had 2 games at home ( Fulham and Palace ) the other 3 away ( 1 in the cup ).  We had poorer performances imo in those 2 home games than any of the 3 away despite a win against Fulham.  Playing at home means the onus typically on us to take the game to the opposition. They will tend to sit deeper ( as we have in away games under Potter ) and look to counter and look for pressing opportunities from time to time.

Because we lack pace in midfield to play through the thirds and dont have a player that plays in central midfield on the “half turn” we historically looked for a longer diagonal or ball over the top. With Potter we are using AWB as a right wing back to create width and even Emerson too on the left and get crosses in. But we have had a real problem breaking teams down at home that sit with 9 or 10 behind the ball.  Im not sure how Brentford set up but think they will do as Palace did and will also sit deeper and look to use Wissa and Mbeuma to exploit us if we get dispossessed or they break our press. Its effectively how Mateta scored the Palace 1st goal. We didnt press collectively ( Mavropanus and Soucek did not move up on that occasion ) and 3 passes after getting around the high press of Emerson and a couple of others left Mateta with just Kilman tracking him. Kilman was reluctant to go to ground or engage, tried to narrow the angle but a fine low drive and they score.

I fear a similar scenario although am hopeful the return of Alvarez, Paqueta, Bowen and Todibo in addition to having Ferguson as an option might be enough to open up Brentford defensively.

We also need Kudus to start putting the team first if he plays and get his head up to lay on a pass not turn into traffic and give it away.

Either way an interesting game in hopefully another postive step of the “Potter evolution” ( not revolution, its gonna take time ).

A draw or better hopefully but a good home performance almost as important as the result

[fraser]

Apparently Bowen may be back for this.. Chris Sutton thick cսnt 

New Hammers boss Graham Potter has taken over a difficult situation and he is finding it hard to get results - he has only won one of his five games in charge so far. Their struggles are not on him though, and it would definitely boost their chances if he has Jarrod Bowen back from injury soon - he has been training this week.

[stubbo]

Looks like we have just Summerville, Antonio and Fullkrug out for this one, although Todibo unlikely to be considered fit to start.

Feels like a draw though. 

Brentfored a tough side, with excellent forward line full of pace that play well on the counter and have had consistency of message through the manager formany seasons.  Us a side still forming really, with personnel changes taking place all the time as well as new ideas being bedded in.  Could easily see a defeat, but hopefully being at home will see us at least get a point here.

Prediction: 1-1

Predicted Team:

Areola

Wan -Bissaka  Kilman  Cresswell

Ward-Prowse  Alvarez  Soucek  Emerson

Kudus Paqueta

Bowen (c)

Subs:Fabianski, Scarles, Todibo, Coufal, Irving, Soler, Guilherme, Ferguson, Ings 

Given Potter wanted JWP back, I suspect he has a plan for him, and his system is much less reliant on the wide players being pacey than Lopetegui's was.

If not that, then I suspect he'll stick with Coufal for this game with Mavropanos untrusted, and Todibo not match fit.

COYI