West Ham Online

". ........... V London Stadium Sat 16 Sept 15:00 GMT VAR Darren Bond Andy Madley: (3) - 20 1 Areola, Coufal, Zouma ¬©, Aguerd, Emerson, ?Ålvarez, Ward-Prowse, Souƒçek, Paquet?°, Bowen, Antonio Subs: Fabia?Ñski (GK), Cresswell, Ogbonna, Mavropanos, Kehrer, Fornals, Kudus, Benrahma, Ings Ederson, Walker ¬©, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol, Rodri, Silva, Foden, Doku, ?Ålvarez, Haaland Subs: Ortega (GK), Carson (GK), Lewis, Ak?©, G??mez, Phillips, Nunes, Bobb West Ham 9/2 : Draw 7/2: Man City 19/40 ."

Confident we will score …. but prob not enough to get a result.

"Come on, settle down kids, you know that we're playing the best team in the world right? Back to Earth with a bump I'm afraid but what I hope for is at least an heroic defeat."

most likely a win for them but we're a bit of an unknown quantity again this season so who knows?. I think our best chances comes via JWP corners and set pieces. Would also like to see Kudus on at some point!

Not massively confident as they are so good and could of done without pep being back Think it’ll be competitive for 50-60mil a but will end up a convincing win 3-0/4-1 But how you get on against this lot is not a barometer of how your season is going to go or even how good you are

If my extensive research is correct this is only the third time two reigning European Champions have squared up to each other in a league match in England (following on from Chelsea Liverpool in 2019/20). Do the winners get a trophy?

"I reckon we’ll put up a good fight, but go down 1-2 or 1-3."

"I think they are more likely to win than we are, but the three points coming to us is far from impossible. On the other hand, I don't think a Ratched is at all likely, unless it's a reverse one"

I read that City haven’t conceded two goals in the PL since January. I think they will today…. 3-2

I can’t take this positivity on here! Don’t be too disappointed.

"I'm optimistic, for no reason rational or otherwise just think we will get something from this game, can feel it in my water! COYI 2-1"

"I'm optimistic, for no reason rational or otherwise just think we will get something from this game, can feel it in my water! COYI 2-1"

"We might have a slight chance against their team but it's a given that the ref, linos and VAR teams will already have taken the Manc shilling it would take a miracle to get anything, obv hope I'm wrong but the game has become more and more corrupt since the foreign owners have been allowed in by the bent FA"

Fingers crossed. I think we will put up a fight at least

We will win 2-1 COYI

"Probably the most predictable game of the season. 1 nil city, then 1-1 and we all start getting excited, then they go 2-1 up on about 75 mins, then cruise to a 3-1 lead at about 85 mins."

Exile That's why I've gone for a midfield 3 in front of Alvarez. Gives a bit of room for one of them to break forward to support Bowen and Antonio quickl. Plus if Alvarez does tire it'll be easier for Soucek to drop back if Alvarez is substituted. Kudus maybe more suited in this game to play in one of those 3 central positions too.

Kudus will be lucky to get 10-15 mins on Saturday. Him and Dinos will have to wait until EL on Thursday to get their first starts.

"If we have a midfield three it'll be very straightforward to bring in Kudus for Benrahma. But it's almost certain that Moyes will want to play a four - JWP, Paqueta, Alvarez and Soucek, so there will be no room for Kudus unless he drops one of Bowen or Antonio, which is never going to happen. Kudus really should be starting but will no doubt be brought on for a tiring Antonio after 70 minutes."

"daveyg 1:25 Fri Sep 15 So Soucek keeps Kudus out of what would otherwise be a perfectly competitive side. Best we can expect though, I agree."

When Rice started bombing forward the goals dried up. Not sure its correlated but some boring stato could put some meat on that bone.

A thought about Soucek after which I've spent too much time on him so no more. When he was playing badly was probably when he'd been told his contract wasn't being improved or extended while seeing the likes of Ings come in on £125k pw...

"Side. If we hadn't played to Rice's strengths we would have been relegated end off. To many players had been off form for to long Coufal and Soucek especially. Tactics were wrong,players played out of position. Alvarez is a better defensive player than Soucek thus should play. Like some one said 1st class travel means sleep is not an issue. Like we all think Moyes will play Soucek but to many defenders will get in the way of each other. We need an outlet or two. Antonio and Bowen at least. Despite the tactics I'm going for a slightly off City. Think we will get a penalty following a corner. Areola Coufal Zouma Aguerd Emerson Alvarez Soucek Paqueta JWP Bowen Antonio"

"I think the results so far and the performances to play this Moyesball shit so well shows we were catering too much last season to Rice's preferred role or even to ensure we got top dollar for him, to make him look like the hero as much as possible.....only an opinion though....."

"To be fair Soucek has improved massively on the last 2 seasons.. But he needed to, to reach his current form which is no.more than average, that's how bad he was that some think he's playing really well now he isn't, but he really was that bad."

"Agree, Soucek has looked something like the Soucek of old, for some reason! Let’s hope the tap on the head has not disrupted that very early form."