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Big game, and not just because it's Spurs. They've got a style that could tear us to bits, but we've got players that can hurt them in behind.

Important game for Lopetegui, as the outcome carries more weight than the fixture itself represents. Get thumped and the knives will get sharpened. Shithouse a win, and he'll have plenty of breathing room.

Prediction: 2-2

My Lineup:

Areola

Mavropanos
Todibo
Kilman
Wan Bissaka

Soucek
Alvarez
Soler

Kudus
Bowen (c)
Summerville
​​​​​​
Think we need stronger defensive full backs this game with the Spurs wide threat, and pace in beyond. With Paqueta way off the pace and him and Antonio globetrotting, would start with our greatest counter attack threats up top. 

Can't see Spurs not having 60% of the ball. Think we need Alvarez's greater thrength and tenacity over Rodriguez calmness in this game. Can't leave Soucek out, and Soler needs to keep us calm on the ball.
 

Rossal wrote: ↑17 Oct 2024, 15:06                  Areola 

AWB  Todibo  Kilman Emerson

         Alvarez  Rodriguez 

Kudus    Soler   Summerville 

               Bowen 

Long thought Romero is an overrated liability at the back for Spurs that can be got at and given a torrid time, over to you Antonio to do your Spurs wind-up magic...

Also think Vicario is suspect at set pieces, coming for crosses and hates leaving his goal line if he can help it. Hopefully we used the international break wisely so to work on our piss poor corner routine.

Bit nervous to see Rodriguez start this one as this could be the type of game that sees him constantly overrun with how they play, if they're at it. Having said that, their midfield 3 looks weak if having to defend defendcan manage to keep a fair bit of possession so to trouble them going the other way. 

About time Paqueta pulled his finger out and sprinkled some of his old magic on the field which would go some way to repaying the faith kept in him after a terrible run of poor form. No better time that at their gaff.

Spurs 0-15 WHU

West Ham United: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson, Rodríguez, Paquetá, Souček, Bowen ©, Kudus, Antonio
Subs: Fabiański (GK), Cresswell, Coufal, Mavropanos, Álvarez, Soler, Luis Guilherme, Summerville, Ings Referee: Andy Madley

my prediction 2-3 

If the players are fired up and play to their potential then we should hopefully pick up a result, I'd take a point but would love all three

Oh and I fucking detest that cսnt Son

Van de Ven up against Antonio should be an interesting watch. Couple of years ago I’d back Antonio to give anyone a tough game…… not so sure now.

Romero must be due a red card surely?

otherwise I’d expect Moyesball 2.0 and a comfortable game for them.

Hammer and Pickle" wrote: ↑19 Oct 2024, 09:36 Any chance of a match thread, chaps?

The team I'd like to see. 
`````````````````````````````````````````````Areola```````````````````````````````````````````````
....Wan-Bissaka..............Todibo....................Kilman.................Emerson....
.............................Paqueta.............................Alvarez..............................
..................................................Kudus............................................................
 ............Bowen.........................Antonio......................Summerville..............

Any chance of a match thread, chaps?

I honestly think we have better players overall . My fear is Antonio starting. He's been beyond shit every time . He's came back from international football.  Hopefully lopetegui realised that during the Fulham game .

My team selection would also see Kudus in a more central role. I think he might be well placed to beat their high press, as would Paqueta if he were on form—but he isn't—so I was tempted to leave him out and play Sommerfield instead. However, I think Paqueta might just realise the importance of this game more. Hopefully, he and Emmerson might create some magic down the left. Antonio also gets picked because of his history against Spurs.

Thus:

`````````````````````````````````````````````Areola```````````````````````````````````````````````
....Wan-Bissaka..............Todibo....................Kilman.................Emmerson....
.............................Soucek.............................Alvarez..............................
..................................................Kudus............................................................
 ............Bowen.........................Antonio......................Paqueta..............

It will be Souceck plus 10 others, nailed on, and he will score

1-3

As mentioned, our midfield centrally remains a weakness if subject to a counter. Alvarez if not jet lagged etc starts but who to partner him? These are games where the improved Soucek becomes a problem unless we play a Moyes style low block sitting 9 players deep behind the ball.  But seeing that Lopetegui wants us playing higher up the pitch, a player like Soucek with lack of pace and not the greatest technique risks being anonymous. And we got to be able to keep it when we do get possession. Then both Soucek and Paqueta become liabilities. Paqueta trying little lobs and flicks when we are up their end is going to mean high risk turnovers and acreas of space as our midfield cannot catch the runners and the back 4 etc gets exposed and even overrun.

Rodriguez lacks pace too against a side that is brimming with it.  Who to play in central midfield is pivotal. Paqueta if he could be disciplined and asked to play deeper alongside Alvarez could be the answer but he’s been pretty awful, by his standards, in recent times for both club and country.

If we somehow get an early goal and something to hold onto too it may force them to over commit coming forward and we can do as we did with Ipswich and knock diagonals to our front three. But if they get ahead and its early, an embarassing drubbing might be the result unless Lopetegui has truly fixed the problems we have seen in most games even including first half at Ipswich where our midfield struggles to cope with runners beating the press.

Now realise I’ve left out our talisman Kudus in my efforts to field a balanced team. So, like my friend Gank here, I’d have him in a central role and start without a proper striker altogether.

Anyway, we all know it’ll be Antonio and Soucek and we’ll be at least two down before he makes the changes.

I think it will be a comprehensive win!

All we can do to avoid the bitterness is enjoy the football they play and then for give them!

 

Lineup will be pretty similar to the Ipswich starting 11 i would guess, but who knows with Lopu, hes not as predictable as Moyes was so we may see some changes?

Will go a 1-1, hope we nick it (or trounce them) but think it will be a tight game.

COYI

Anyway, my preferred team would be a 433 formation with Areola between the sticks. I’ve been impressed by AWB on the left but feel he’s better on the right so if Emerson can start it should be a flat back four of Emerson, Tobido and Kilman and AWB from left to right. As for the midfield three, my heart rules here and I’ll die on the hill for Alvarez, Soler and Paqueta. And then, an attack of Summerville, Ings and Bowen has pace, control and goals in it and suits the rest of the team. Does this rub you up the wrong way, Gank? Oh good, at least you know you’re alive.

Agree that VdV is the player who could ruin our plans, so would consider the Allardyce 4-6-0 formation that defeated them before.

Our weakness is being counter attacked on. If we let them do that they will punish us because their players love time and space to run at defences. Basically we need to grind this game out, kick them, make it scrappy and if they continue playing a high line then drop balls in behind. Van der Ven is the player that bails them out with his pace, the others can be got at.  

Unlike that post which you put in the wrong place, moron.

Gravitas works best in one direction.

We will win this and I don’t see jet lagged Alvarez starting.

I’m not suggesting anything.

I’m just saying you are clearly a bit confused. Calm down now you silly sod - this is just a conversation about our next football match and you happen to agree with me.

Are you suggesting I fancy you, Pickle? 

Even if I was homosexual, I wouldn’t be attracted to man who looked like he was rescued from being hanged to death at the last second.

Now fuck off!

Of course I’m right - Stubbo is just playing the game here.

It’s also normal your feelings about me are confused Gank. That’s alright - a man of my charisma and gravitas is used to this kind of thing