Brighton v West Ham - 26 April | Predictions & Match Thread

[honky cat]

Does anybody care?
​​​​​An afternoon of cock piss potter v the popes funeral

I'm going for a massive hammers win. Irons 

--------------------


Match Centre:

Odds:
West Ham: 15/4
Draw: 16/5
Brighton: 3/4

Pre-Match Press Conference:
Official Press Conference

Tactical Preview: 
Analytics United

Watch-along:
Hammers Chat

Streams:

SportHD 

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

[Russ of the BML]

Yeah the 3 goals were basic defending issues.

We fans like to blame one thing. Its easier and part of our unconscious bias to the belief that it can be fixed quickly?  It was Potter or Lopetegui or Moyes or.... selections, substitutions.  It was Coufal, Kilman and Paqueta, not closing down, ball watching.  It was the central defensive midfield containing the snail like, featherweight JWP or Frankenstein-esque agility of Soucek etc, the lack of communication with no one leading, being vocal?  Its Potter and his coaches not instilling "game management" and the list goes on.   

Its multiple things imo and not just Potter although the sub timing of Coufal does not look good.  But the players dont talk, there is no "bodies on the line" stuff from this West Ham squad and has not been for a long long while.  Look like a lot of them are uncertain of their futures, playing a tad within themselves, avoiding injury a priority to ensure transfer opportunities not missed?   Who knows.  

Whoever is the manager the start of next season, which I think will be Potter even if we do lose the last 5 games, the biggest ( not only but biggest) chance we have to arrest the slide to the Championship is to get recruitment of a new central midfield right.  That means 2 or 3 not one player in that area. Athletes, 25 or under, power, pace and stamina allied to good technical ability. I would spend 70% of a 150 million budget ( assuming we sell Kudus, Paqueta, Soucek, Aguerd, Alvarez, Emerson on top of the base 50 million we typically have in a non European season) on this area.  But of course it has to be well spent.  The odds are against that, firstly does Potter see the problem?  The last 2 managers didnt.  Macaulay then has to identify the right profile of player ( aforementioned physical attributes but also attitude, personality, psychological traits).  Finally, and most risk of not happening, Sullivan has to agree or allow the players identified to be purchased and secondly, negotiate a deal successfully to get them without haggling over terms, offering derisory fees, requesting ridiculous payment terms or rejecting agent fees out of principle). 

IN short, transfer window miracle required.

There is an argument to say all three goals were defending issues - But generally that's the case for almost every goal scored where someone doesn't do something they should at some point in the build up. The only crumb of comfort is that two of their three were world class finishes. It wasn't like they walked it through our defence for a tap in. 

Difficult to take positives from such a gut wrenching result but, if I had to, I would say, much better second half, Kudus on score sheet, looked compact and in control for big periods of the game, and scored two good goals. But negatives are another poor first half, not able to manage a lead, not shutting down fast or well enough. Also, not really sure why Potter made the two defensive changes near the end.... Just keep them on the back foot. 

These results can happen. They are easier to take when you are having a good season. But, the timing of this result was awful. Especially when Potter is being so heavily scrutinised. A win would've stopped the noise for a week. 

[Sir Alf]

Yeah the 3 goals were basic defending issues.

We fans like to blame one thing. Its easier and part of our unconscious bias to the belief that it can be fixed quickly?  It was Potter or Lopetegui or Moyes or.... selections, substitutions.  It was Coufal, Kilman and Paqueta, not closing down, ball watching.  It was the central defensive midfield containing the snail like, featherweight JWP or Frankenstein-esque agility of Soucek etc, the lack of communication with no one leading, being vocal?  Its Potter and his coaches not instilling "game management" and the list goes on.   

Its multiple things imo and not just Potter although the sub timing of Coufal does not look good.  But the players dont talk, there is no "bodies on the line" stuff from this West Ham squad and has not been for a long long while.  Look like a lot of them are uncertain of their futures, playing a tad within themselves, avoiding injury a priority to ensure transfer opportunities not missed?   Who knows.  

Whoever is the manager the start of next season, which I think will be Potter even if we do lose the last 5 games, the biggest ( not only but biggest) chance we have to arrest the slide to the Championship is to get recruitment of a new central midfield right.  That means 2 or 3 not one player in that area. Athletes, 25 or under, power, pace and stamina allied to good technical ability. I would spend 70% of a 150 million budget ( assuming we sell Kudus, Paqueta, Soucek, Aguerd, Alvarez, Emerson on top of the base 50 million we typically have in a non European season) on this area.  But of course it has to be well spent.  The odds are against that, firstly does Potter see the problem?  The last 2 managers didnt.  Macaulay then has to identify the right profile of player ( aforementioned physical attributes but also attitude, personality, psychological traits).  Finally, and most risk of not happening, Sullivan has to agree or allow the players identified to be purchased and secondly, negotiate a deal successfully to get them without haggling over terms, offering derisory fees, requesting ridiculous payment terms or rejecting agent fees out of principle). 

IN short, transfer window miracle required.

[Fauxstralian]

As usual 3 goals that were preventable & conceded due to a lack of urgency & basic defending
1. Player is allowed to receive the ball 25yds from goal in the middle of the pitch. No pressure & Paqueta strolls out & wafts a leg so player can pick his spot
2. Cross field ball to a player completely unmarked 10 yds from goal. No one reacts so he is able to send a header across to another unmarked player 6 yds from goal in the middle
3. Last minute so we let a player advance on goal. No pressure & he is allowed to ping one in from 30+ yds

Any softer & you could eat our defence with a spoon

[Sir Alf]

Unfortunately Sullivan is unable to see his failure. To do so would mean having to admit he is wrong and make himself feel “small” something he has felt all his life.  Narcissism is for life and Sullivan, like most, doesnt realise he’s one. Its everyone else’s fault. Maybe this time the fans for forcing Moyes out in the first place in his head? Or Steidtens ? 

[Alfs]

I know it’s sullivans fault. But ffs even he must see how shit his manager recruitment has been over the years.

Whilst the clueless cսnt is still the chairman our only hope is that a young and brilliant manager emerges who happens to have a cracking pair of tits and a peach of an arse.

[northbankboy68]

I think we have to be honest and say that in 2025 the job of a PL manager (the most competitive and watched league in the whole world) means there is no “time”.

You have to get results pretty quickly with whatever you have and that’s that. We can’t wait for transfer windows and years of bedding in squads. And the players are too expensive and have too big a contract to just get rid of them all and start again. Some of the suggestions of binning off 6-8 1st team players is utter nonsense. 

The reality is either you can do the job and manage the current situation within a few months or you can’t. It’s simple. It’s not some Herculean feat that no one can do because there’s a whole load of managers in this league with far worse squads killing us. 

Im tired of all the “give him time” shit. No one else in this league gets time why should he? He’s had one of the best squads in the league (Chelsea) and was shit, he’s got ours now and it’s shit. 

yes I can see what he’s trying to do and if only he had .. you know .. Lewondoski or Harry Kane we’d be up there.. ffs. We have a German international no.9, brazils no. 1 midfielder. Ghanas best forward, the Czech captain, Mexico Captain etc etc 
it’s not the fucking players. it’s what you tell them to do. 
and how you get them to do it. I.e. MANAGEMENT. 

And don’t get me started on the subs…

I love all that John Lyall be here for decades shit. Sounds lovely. But it’s 2025. Manager don’t get the time which is why they negotiate big contracts and compensation because it’s a tough gig. I’m looking a Crystal Palace and thinking why couldn’t we have got that manager? Or Bournemouth? Or Fulham. They are ALL better than our last 3 managers in terms of coaching ability. 

I know it’s sullivans fault. But ffs even he must see how shit his manager recruitment has been over the years. But anyway, I hope I’m wrong, but all I see is relegation form by Xmas and him getting the boot anyway. What wait for the inevitable?
and why give him a transfer window. Fergusson has been shocking. I don’t want more of that. 

 

Well said!

[northbankboy68]

Some excellent points made there.

[Massive Attack]

Give Fullkrug a microphone with no earpiece.

Give all the defenders earpieces but no microphone.

Captaincy sorted.

Could we also get Fullkrug to fold Potter up inside a duffel bag and thrown in to the Thames? Pretty please  

[fraser]

So I didn't miss anything yesterday... Was out checking my phone and thought we'd got something, checked again 5 minutes later saw we didn't. Bit of a shrug then carried on enjoying my self. I was lucky yesterday feel for all that had to sit through it. 

I've binned off sold my Tottenham tickets can't be fucking bothered with it. 

Give it a rest with all the FB type posts and all the drama ffs. and yes you did miss something, it was a good game of football.

Facebook type post, it's about the football and how they've killed my interest... Stop trying to police others posts, while consistently moaning about how dead the forum is... You really can't see the irony can you?

Missed a good game, this thread says otherwise 

[aldgate]

Only saw match of the day highlights but some very basic defensive mistakes at the end. Sitting back/not marking/not pressing their player with the ball. Pretty unforgivable really

[Sir Alf]

While its obvious Potter is not the short term answer needed ( he does not do short term , wrong hire again ), a binary style question might be interesting.

Do we think Victor Perriera at Wolves ( who is having perhaps a “ one swallow does make a summer” moment in complete contrast to Potter) be able to get this obviously imbalanced West Ham squad getting wins in say 50% of games, if also instructed that we must play more entertaining football which means higher possession rates than 30% under Moyes liw block ?  

I think not as good as Perreira has done at Wokves. Because lets be honest, Sullivan has almost certainly told both Lopetegui and Potter that West Ham fans have to have a lot more of the ball and not more Moyesball.  2 goals yesterday for example ( the 1st and last worldies) were, clearly imo, down to our inability or desire or both to close down. Central mudfield yet again the root cause. Ive watched Wolves a few times. They dont have a Paqueta or Alvarez but they are “night and day” quicker, more athletic than we are as a unit in the middle of the park.

The point is, we will have to endure / suffer thru to October before any change in manager.  I suspect Potter wont turn this around but as with any manager, in the first year, I hope he defies the odds and my prediction. 

We WILL lose to Tottenham, things ate going to get worse. Thats almost a given imo.

Potter’s chances, and they are slim, is down to the summer window, identifying the right players and again against the odds, Sullivan securing the players for him early.  This last point? Sullivan securing the players identified and early, before selling one or most of Kudus, Paqueta, Soucek, Emerson, Aguerd, Alvarez, Irvine?  

Potter’s fvcked isnt he? And next manager too in October in reality?

[threesixty]

I think we have to be honest and say that in 2025 the job of a PL manager (the most competitive and watched league in the whole world) means there is no “time”.

You have to get results pretty quickly with whatever you have and that’s that. We can’t wait for transfer windows and years of bedding in squads. And the players are too expensive and have too big a contract to just get rid of them all and start again. Some of the suggestions of binning off 6-8 1st team players is utter nonsense. 

The reality is either you can do the job and manage the current situation within a few months or you can’t. It’s simple. It’s not some Herculean feat that no one can do because there’s a whole load of managers in this league with far worse squads killing us. 

Im tired of all the “give him time” shit. No one else in this league gets time why should he? He’s had one of the best squads in the league (Chelsea) and was shit, he’s got ours now and it’s shit. 

yes I can see what he’s trying to do and if only he had .. you know .. Lewondoski or Harry Kane we’d be up there.. ffs. We have a German international no.9, brazils no. 1 midfielder. Ghanas best forward, the Czech captain, Mexico Captain etc etc 
it’s not the fucking players. it’s what you tell them to do. 
and how you get them to do it. I.e. MANAGEMENT. 

And don’t get me started on the subs…

I love all that John Lyall be here for decades shit. Sounds lovely. But it’s 2025. Manager don’t get the time which is why they negotiate big contracts and compensation because it’s a tough gig. I’m looking a Crystal Palace and thinking why couldn’t we have got that manager? Or Bournemouth? Or Fulham. They are ALL better than our last 3 managers in terms of coaching ability. 

I know it’s sullivans fault. But ffs even he must see how shit his manager recruitment has been over the years. But anyway, I hope I’m wrong, but all I see is relegation form by Xmas and him getting the boot anyway. What wait for the inevitable?
and why give him a transfer window. Fergusson has been shocking. I don’t want more of that. 
 

[Gank]

Give Fullkrug a microphone with no earpiece.

Give all the defenders earpieces but no microphone.

Captaincy sorted.

[Sir Alf]

For the last 5 games, Soucek as captain is a good shout. But we should probably sell him in summer if a bid of 10-15 or more million comes in. He scores some goals and if he were a striker no worries but you cannot trade him being anonymous in most games for 80 odd minutes in central midfield even for the much appreciated goals. Not in our squad 

[Westham67]

We need a captain to marshal the defence, and for me, that would be Soucek

[Manuel]

So I didn't miss anything yesterday... Was out checking my phone and thought we'd got something, checked again 5 minutes later saw we didn't. Bit of a shrug then carried on enjoying my self. I was lucky yesterday feel for all that had to sit through it. 

I've binned off sold my Tottenham tickets can't be fucking bothered with it. 

Give it a rest with all the FB type posts and all the drama ffs. and yes you did miss something, it was a good game of football.

[fraser]

So I didn't miss anything yesterday... Was out checking my phone and thought we'd got something, checked again 5 minutes later saw we didn't. Bit of a shrug then carried on enjoying my self. I was lucky yesterday feel for all that had to sit through it. 

I've binned off sold my Tottenham tickets can't be fucking bothered with it. 

[nychammer]

Some people saying we played ok in some spells? I was not overly convinced at any point. 

We need more AWB types in 5 or 6 positions with stamina, strength, pace etc. That is still by far the biggest problem. Potter probably not a good fit but he is not entirely wrong to “blame the tools”.  Mind you his subs were a mistake in hindsight ( a per fee cr science )

Now I've calmed down a bit from yesterday, on reflection I think Potter IS trying to get us to play more on the front foot an press teams more than sitting back, letting the opposition have the ball and hitting with counters as we did under Moyes (I'm not sure that if we reverted to that we could manage it either). It's what Potter was paid to come here and do, but I agree he simply dosen't have the personnel to do it with effect and consistency.

I thought we DID do ok and on another day perhaps we'd have taken at least a point from yesterday, but we have to show more defensive character to see games out from winning positions, not helped by Potter making naive tactical subs like he did yesterday and against Soton that hands impetus to the other side. 

Anyway, we have to try and finish on a high if we can and we need to have a long hard look in the summer and do some really good business to make us at least competitive next season.

[Sir Alf]

Some people saying we played ok in some spells? I was not overly convinced at any point. 

We need more AWB types in 5 or 6 positions with stamina, strength, pace etc. That is still by far the biggest problem. Potter probably not a good fit but he is not entirely wrong to “blame the tools”.  Mind you his subs were a mistake in hindsight ( a per fee cr science )

[plankton]

I wonder what next season without Bowen is going to look like...

[Ladysmith]

 

The only cheese platters he serves are hand jobs for crack money on Fore Street.

 

Yes that is correct.

your mother gave me a hand job and it was very nice.

i ended  up serving my own creamy platter all over her boat.

There's no way my mother could have given you a hand job, she'll has phalangeal arthritis cannot hold a pair of tweezers.

[goose]

Now fuck off and start serving those cheese platters.

 

The only cheese platters he serves are hand jobs for crack money on Fore Street.

 

Yes that is correct.

your mother gave me a hand job and it was very nice.

i ended  up serving my own creamy platter all over her boat.

You type like a virgin who works part time at the Spurs stadium and still lives with his nan.

[THUNDERCLINT]

Now fuck off and start serving those cheese platters.

 

The only cheese platters he serves are hand jobs for crack money on Fore Street.

 

Yes that is correct.

your mother gave me a hand job and it was very nice.

i ended  up serving my own creamy platter all over her boat.

There's no way my mother could have given you a hand job, she'll has phalangeal arthritis cannot hold a pair of tweezers.

[Texas Iron]

Out of the jaws of Victory…

…Potter surrenders a big defeat…

He is not the one to take us forward…

…Just Down…In my opinion…

Stupid Stupid Subs…at the wrong time …yet again…

An Artificial Intelligence Robot would do a better job…

Potter only does Word Salad…

 

[Sir Alf]

Potter is obviously the focus especiallly after a last minute collapse again. And I dont think he was ever the answer. But then we dont even know the question? Get another manager asap they cry? Can only be better most will say?  With Sullivan at the helm nothing will improve though imo. History tells us this. Whoever is manager next season need a miracle in the transfer window.