West Ham Online

I dont want to create a scene, but this has been the longest time without a match since forever, and i cant keep reading about politics, millwall, drivel for the rest of the weekend.

Nailed on win for our massive bastards.

Feel free to delete when someone who knows what they're doing comes along.
Irons.

Since you made the first move let's keep this one.

I'll update with all the usual match thread content in the next day or so.

Stubbo

 

Match Centre:


Odds:
West Ham: 23/10
Draw: 13/5
Newcastle: 5/4

Pre-Match Press Conference:
Official Press Conference

Tactical Preview: 
Babbling Irons

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).
  

Ferguson has been out long term ( 18 months on and off ?)  and with ankle issues.  Its one of those injuries ( like bad knees, cruciates etc ) that can take forever to fully recover and in some cases they never do.  But the duration he was out means he needs a run of games and a full preseason to be anywhere near where he was IMO.  You see it a lot even with lesser injuries.  Example being Mcginn of Villa since he returned from a few weeks out.  Struggling to get form at the moment. A split second slow, not quite as strong on the ball and now getting subbed off which was unheard of for the previous 2 years.  Ferguson is young but there still remains a risk he will never be the same. Brighton seem ok with letting him move on but demanding a high, unrealistic fee.  Perhaps they have some doubts about him longer term?

So we will probably not see the best of Ferguson even if he does eventually fully recover as that will be next season or even later.  It was worth a punt but at this juncture looks like it won't work out.

I think Stubbo has the lineup right. Hopefully we see the season pick up steam from here as Graham gets more of the team back. Should be interesting if nothing else.

Yep fishing by saying I don’t want the bloke who looked shit in the last game to be starting in this one

I actually wanted him to start the games he didn’t, but I admitted on the last match thread I was wrong about that. The extra touch he took when being put through was something you see little kids do, they have to be facing the exact spot where they want to kick it, I don’t think it’s got anything to do with rustiness on his part, more to do with no belief in his own ability 

I’d rather see us getting Fullkrug back on the pitch when he’s ready to go soon than Ferguson

Maverick180180 wrote: ↑10 Mar 2025, 13:14 Ferguson was so poor when he came on against Leicester that I’m expecting him to start tonight, just to keep the theme of baffling line ups going 

Ferguson was so poor when he came on against Leicester that I’m expecting him to start tonight, just to keep the theme of baffling line ups going 

Some Interesting selection dilemmas tonight with Fullkrug and Paqueta back.

Prediction....I'm going to go for a 2-2 Draw (although wouldn't be surprised to see it go 2-1 either way).

Line-up:Subs: Fabianski, Mavropanos, Coufal, Emerson, Ward-Prowse, Soler, Guilherme, Fullkrug, Ferguson, 

Irving, Rodriguez, Casey, Orford, and Ings to miss out.

Newcastle are very physical in midfield, and that's probably our most physical midfield line-up, with Paqueta always seeming to relish the battle with Guimares.

Hard to see him chaning the back line that has just kept two clean sheets.  Up top, again hard to justify replacing Kudus with a kid on loan, or a guy just back from a nasty hamstring injury.  Kudus desperately needs a goal though.

Looking forward to the game though.  Not one we should feel overawed with, and also a game Newcastle will look to come to try and win too....so should make for a good game overall.  

COYI
 

Russ of the BML" wrote: ↑10 Mar 2025, 10:15 Tough game. And will be a real litmus test to show if Potter has turned a corner. 

We will be competitive tonight. I think it will be close. Need to win the game in the midfield area and limit balls to Isak. I think if we win this tonight then we go on and finish top half. 

Tough game. And will be a real litmus test to show if Potter has turned a corner. 

We will be competitive tonight. I think it will be close. Need to win the game in the midfield area and limit balls to Isak. I think if we win this tonight then we go on and finish top half. 

Callum Wilson will be itching to start baring in mind his  goalscoring record against us.

We will need to have our shooting boots on and no defensive slip ups to be in with a chance of the win.

Hopefully we can make some decent noise under the lights to spur the boys on.

3.2 

Soucek Bowen Ferguson

Wilson isak 





 

JWP and Soucek should not “both” be included

They have slipped to 9th but beat us and they go 5th so its a huge game for the Barcodes and Howe has said they will be going all out despite a cup final next week.

We have to hope they try to take the game to us because they operate best as a counter attacking team ( like so many of the sides having success this season).  

The central midfield will be key. They have pace and strength in there with Tonali, Bruno G and Linton etc.  My only fear is that our central midfield will be out run and out muscled.  For me JWP and Soucek should not be included but then again Paqueta needs to be at his best. Think our best option is Alvarez, JWP and Paqueta wide left with Kudus in the no 10 role playing on the half turn.  

Anyway, it will be a tough game. We have yet to really  find a solution to our home games in terms of tactics and set up imo.  Leicester were so passive it was no real test. This game will be. Assume Potter will stick with 3 CBs and hopefully 3 in central midfield to avoid how we were exposed on the counter by Palace and Brentford

This will be a very dull game. Dead rubber for us, and Newcastle missing players plus massive game next weekend for them.

Just hope we show a bit of gumption unlike the Palace and Brentford home games.

This game will tell us whether we are turning a corner with our home performances. Could be a cracker if we actually turn up. Newcastle beatable if we can keep Gordon and Isak quiet

I had the audacity to bet against us as the last of my 5-match acca.

Forgot all about their next game so may bale out of the bet if Chelsea & Arsenal both win today.

My thinking now is probably a 2-0 win - early goals then a squeaky bum finish.

I'll be happy with a 1-0 but with a more progressive line up.
Can't have this cautious approach all the time. Our midfield 3 are no match for Newcastle's superior 3. Soucek will miss to many passes and give the ball away.Newcastle have better options in attack to replace Isak and Gordon, Wilson,who we knows always scores against us and Harvey Barnes. I see their defence in having a weakness without Hall,Botman and possibly Livarmento.We attack them down their left flank and it would be more productive.Even their right flank will be easier if Trippier is there. Get down the channels and leave Bowen in the middle if Ferguson doesn't start. Potter won't drop 2 of that midfield so I'm having JWP collect the ball from the back give to Paqueta and he can distribute. Soucek to get in the way of Newcastle's midfield 3 and cause havoc with his runs in their box. It won't be pretty.

AREOLA
TODIBO KILMAN CRESSWELL
WAN JWP SOUCEK SCARLES
             PAQUETA
        KUDUS BOWEN

Hard match up for us, we're at home so I presume will want to be on the front foot, but this will also suit them as they have plenty of pace to get in behind. 

Paqueta will start I would think as the midfield we've been playing is just functional with no guile and Paqueta loves to play against his best mate and plays well against him. But who does he replace out of the three if he does, definitely a tough call for Potter. Other than that think the team will be the same 

Start that way and then get more adventurous. Bring on Ferguson and Paqueta, may be Guilherme, Irving or Orford, see how it goes.
You?

Mex Martillo" wrote: ↑09 Mar 2025, 07:27 Team news
Paqueta passed fit. Coufal has late fitness test. Antonio, Summerville and Fullkrug out.

Same for me, Paqueta to strengthen the bench.

Areola
Tobido, Kilman, Cresswell
Wan Bissaka, Soucek, Alvarez, Scarles
JWP
Bowen, Kudus

Team news
Paqueta passed fit. Coufal has late fitness test. Antonio, Summerville and Fullkrug out.

Same for me, Paqueta to strengthen the bench.

Areola
Tobido, Kilman, Cresswell
Wan Bissaka, Soucek, Alvarez, Scarles
JWP
Bowen, Kudus

They’re still in with a chance of Champions League qualification, so every game is must win for them, and while their fans might prefer winning the cup final over the Champions League, the management and the owners won’t. 

Scoredraw though, 1-1z 

Cheeky 3-2.

Sydney_Iron wrote: ↑09 Mar 2025, 02:58 Im not sure them competing a final next weekend will have any bearing, always found it a bit of a myth the players might "save themselves" or not risk a tackle etc etc, if anything if you where the manager you would want to go into a final on the back of some good displays and winning games, surely that helps boost the confidence and winning mentality?

They don't have Gordon (red card) i don't think so that's a plus for us as he would be a big threat, also think we have/are turning the corner with Potter in charge, yeah yeah, famous last words and all that but 2-0 to us. COYI 

You never know they might also have lasagne for lunch to increase our chances. Pretty sad how we are perceived now in that bowel.

Im not sure them competing a final next weekend will have any bearing, always found it a bit of a myth the players might "save themselves" or not risk a tackle etc etc, if anything if you where the manager you would want to go into a final on the back of some good displays and winning games, surely that helps boost the confidence and winning mentality?

They don't have Gordon (red card) i don't think so that's a plus for us as he would be a big threat, also think we have/are turning the corner with Potter in charge, yeah yeah, famous last words and all that but 2-0 to us. COYI 

stubbo wrote: ↑08 Mar 2025, 17:25 What really makes this interesting for me is they have their League cup final and the chance to end a Silverware drought a few days later. You'd think not many will be going in 1000% and risking injury, and he might even rest a few.