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Match Centre: 


 Odds: 
WHU: 5/2
Draw: 14/5
Brighton: 11/10

 Pre-Match Press Conference: 
N/A 

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Well, it's the last game of 2025 in a year that few will look back on with favour or fondness.  Wrapping it up are bogey-side Brighton, who after a last minute outrageous goal in the away fixture cost us a vital victory, will fancy themselves (doesn't everyone) heading to the London Stadium.

It's another of those must win games for West Ham, and if the recovery doesn't actually commence at some point, we're fucked.  

There's been no press conference for this game, so not much to report on player availability wise.  Fullkrug is training with Milan already so he's not available.  Guilherme seems to have been ostracised for some reason despite a moderatly promising last cameo against Liverpool.  And Igor it would appear it's been decided isn't up to task.   Diouf and Wan Bissaka remain at the AFCON tournament.

Predicted Line Up:

Brighton play with a large number of overloads on the ball, and last time out we shifted to a back three quite successfully, so I'd expect to see something similar again in this game (just to get the natives uber-restless when the defensive looking lineup is announced):Subs: Hermansen, Myers, Golambeckis, Kante, Rodriguez, Magassa, Earthy, Soucek, Wilson

Predicted Result:

It is all starting to feel a bit last chance saloon for West Ham, despite the season still having over half left to run!  Lose this game and all hope will feel lost.  Brighton though seem to be missing some key players, and this presents us a chance at least.  Brighton created almost nothing against us in the first game so I expect that gameplan and pattern to largely repeat...with the outcome to be decided on the basis of how well our Maginot Line holds up to late pressure when Brighton come on strong.

Score: West Ham 1 - 0 Brighton (Bowen)

COYI

Thundercat
I expect this too. His typical bad man management calling him out after the game too,keep you Crackhead mouth shut about individuals,pity you didn't say Paqueta didn't have a good game either. Funny how he can take him off in one game and not see it in another when it was more obvious this time.

I would like this team.

Areola

KWP
MAGASSA
TODIBO
SCARLES

POTTS FERNANDES

PAQUETA
BOWEN WILSON EARTHY

We shouldn't have to play 3 defensive midfielders.Magassa and the other French speaking guy Todibo assisted by the French speaking keeper.

Summerville sulked off down the tunnel,either he had  a hissy fit or a knock. Whichever means he shouldn't start.
No need for 5 defensive midfielders on the bench,Marshall and Guilherme have to be there

We will win tonight.

Lord knows what team he will pick tonight.

i'm hoping not to see Kilman or Paqueta.
midfield 3 of Potts, Magassa and Fernandes.
front 3 of Bowen, Summerville and Wilson.

Lato wrote: ↑30 Dec 2025, 15:46 Can't see anything other than an easy 0-2 win for Brighton!

Im fearing Soucek and / or Guido starting under yhe “change for change sake” or “rotation” idea. At left back, Id be tempted to start with Mayers. He’s a RB iirc but quick and strong. He actually handled Silva or whoever it was at Man City when he came on the other week 2nd half. The City wide man tried taking him on every time but he didnt let him pass. Was encouraging.  

To be fair to Scarles, I think he just tired around the 60-70 min mark which accounted for several misjudgements and mistakes in the last 20 mins against Fulham and Nuno should have put on Mayers on with his fresh legs and energy. Poor management but then again Robson and Potts have managed Scarles for a while in the U21s and should have seen it too.

The favouritism for Kilman will be costly too. Mavropanas had been in a decent run of form ( no real mustakes ) but it seems that OG against Villa ( unfortunate hitting his shoulder after Watkins got across him ) looks like the excuse Nuno was looking for to bring back Kilman. His £40 million valuation was double his true worth and Nuno seems to have a blindspot as a result but also possibly due to Kilman doing so well under him at Wolves? His partner then, Conner Coady, was apparently very important at that time though as he did the “leading” and talking.   Kilman aint good aerially and is far too slow across the ground and without that vocal partner switches off. Welbeck still good in the air. Script is written already.

Paqueta will start and fade by 45 ir 60 mins. He, as always, will be dispossessed or give it away far more than the number of chances he creates. Earthy needs 30 mins and to replace Paqueta just to see what he can or cannot do at this level. But Nuno. Like Potter, Loppy and Moyes and countless other managers will prioritise experience and past reputation / exploits above the potential of youth.

I think he will start Wilson but negate his effectiveness due to the aforementioned selection mistakes.  Hopefully not but Nuno seems to be a slow learner 

Can't see anything other than an easy 0-2 win for Brighton!

I've been a bit concerned recently that quite a few on here seem to be looking to young Earthy as some kind of saviour figure, which could put too much pressure on him. But fuck it, desperate times call for desperate measures. I'm sick and tired of having to watch the massively overrated Paqueta giving the ball away umpteen times every game and creating precious little. Earthy in for Paqueta.

Winning
The great escape is ON.

 

Yup I think if he’s available he plays. 

Nuno consider Paqueta to be our best player, so it's delusional to think he's dropping his Portuguese speaking favourite.

THUNDERCLINT wrote: ↑30 Dec 2025, 13:57

El Scorchio" wrote: ↑30 Dec 2025, 13:49

Mike Oxsaw" wrote: ↑30 Dec 2025, 13:19 Going through the thread is interesting reading. I'd call Scarles out as first on the team sheet for this game, if only to say "OK, you made one mistake, but we believe in you".

 

 

And we have  no one else to play left back. Unless he goes wing backs and puts Summerville there. 

id hope and expect

areola
KWP
TOD
MAV
scarles

potts
fernandes
paqueta

bowen
wilson
summerville 

if 442. Maybe magassa in for paq and Fernandes at 10. 

if wings with scarles dropped, I guess Kilman in for scarles. 

KWP at left back. Mav at right back, or Kilman left back with Mav and Todibo central probably. I'm assuming Jesus is unavailable. No way does the crack not scapegoat Scarles.

That young Hurzeler in charge of Brighton seems to have been found out a bit as they aint been all that this season. Hopefully that trend continues as they haven't won in 6 matches themselves.

El Scorchio" wrote: ↑30 Dec 2025, 13:49

Mike Oxsaw" wrote: ↑30 Dec 2025, 13:19 Going through the thread is interesting reading. I'd call Scarles out as first on the team sheet for this game, if only to say "OK, you made one mistake, but we believe in you".

 

 

And we have  no one else to play left back. Unless he goes wing backs and puts Summerville there. 

id hope and expect

areola
KWP
TOD
MAV
scarles

potts
fernandes
paqueta

bowen
wilson
summerville 

if 442. Maybe magassa in for paq and Fernandes at 10. 

if wings with scarles dropped, I guess Kilman in for scarles. 

Mike Oxsaw" wrote: ↑30 Dec 2025, 13:19 Going through the thread is interesting reading. I'd call Scarles out as first on the team sheet for this game, if only to say "OK, you made one mistake, but we believe in you".

  

A win tonight would be massive but the table and results don't lie, I think Brighton will play much better than at their place.  

Going through the thread is interesting reading. I'd call Scarles out as first on the team sheet for this game, if only to say "OK, you made one mistake, but we believe in you".

A couple of weeks ago I thought we were progressing, but after the Fulham result, I'm resigned to relegation.

Again, a pound to anyone who can guess the line up.

0-2 sorry

Far Cough UKunt" wrote: ↑30 Dec 2025, 13:06 As I remember, Ian Pearce didn't disgrace himself up front and anyway moving a DM to CB is hardly a stretch.

As I remember, Ian Pearce didn't disgrace himself up front and anyway moving a DM to CB is hardly a stretch.

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑30 Dec 2025, 12:50 All this nutty playing players out of position malarkey takes me back to the halcyon days of having to chuck Ian Pearce up front during Roeders Relegation season. Always a great sign when a Team resorts to that out of sheer desperation.

All this nutty playing players out of position malarkey takes me back to the halcyon days of having to chuck Ian Pearce up front during Roeders Relegation season. Always a great sign when a Team resorts to that out of sheer desperation.

I'd like to see Soucek moved into the CB position alongside Todibo or as yet a CB to come, and make him captain. Crazy? Yeah these are crazy times and it might just work.

theaxeman wrote: ↑30 Dec 2025, 12:40

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑30 Dec 2025, 12:28

theaxeman wrote: ↑30 Dec 2025, 12:25 Areola

Guido Mav Tadibo Kwp

Magassa Potts

Bowen Fernandes Paqueta

WILSON





 

Don't be giving Nuno any ideas, he already went down that route.

I think Scarles will be alright after his fuck up. Might even do him a bit of good to sharpen him up a bit by going through that moment, as long as he learns from it.

Was a bit tongue in cheek, but does the lack of depth in our squad.

I’d like to see Paqueta dropped too. Just to make the game less frustrating to watch.  Like to see Earthy get some minutes at some point. 

Hope he sticks with Scarles. As others have said, Fulham experience can sharpen him up. Although starting to wonder whether he will ever be up to this level. 

Sensible thing is to start with Wilson. But should be looking  at alternatives from the bench from as early as the second half. No good subbing him in 80th if he’s not in the game at all for the first 45 minutes as sometimes happens with him. 

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑30 Dec 2025, 12:28

theaxeman wrote: ↑30 Dec 2025, 12:25 Areola

Guido Mav Tadibo Kwp

Magassa Potts

Bowen Fernandes Paqueta

WILSON




 

Don't be giving Nuno any ideas, he already went down that route.

I think Scarles will be alright after his fuck up. Might even do him a bit of good to sharpen him up a bit by going through that moment, as long as he learns from it.