Newcastle v West Ham Match Thread - Saturday 26th August - 15:00

IronHerb

But Antonio is a winger by trade so he goes wide with Lanzini at the top.

Hammerex

The Mirror is reporting that West Ham are already looking for another manager
due to the Hammers poor start to the season.

EXETERHAMMER

Hammerex said:

The Mirror is reporting that West Ham are already looking for another manager
due to the Hammers poor start to the season.

I hope not. Bilic is our man.

ASLEFshrugged

Usual rubbish, we lost 5 of the first 6 games last season and Bilic is still here.

SuzanneClaret

I do not want to swap Bilic for Benitze.

Benitze was offered the job before Bilic got it but turned us down.

I don't like Benitze and think he is all about the short term, chuck huge amounts of money at it and sulk if he doesn't get said huge amounts of money. Then sulk a bit more.

The only manager I would want instead of Bilic is Carlo Ancelotti.

Pengeman

Should Fonte play? I think in about the 18 games that he played we have only won about four times (I am sure someone more tech savvy can check this). The Southampton game exposed his lack of pace and positional sense. How long can he be carried?

ASLEFshrugged

If they are looking to replace Slaven lets hope they make a better job of it than they did replacing Avram with Martin O'Neill.

I don't believe they are, its the same as last season, speculation by the press.

alderz

IronHerb said:

But Antonio is a winger by trade so he goes wide with Lanzini at the top.

But the sides of the diamond aren't wide positions, they are central midfielders

SuzanneClaret

#headache

Fortuneseeker

What I want to know is will Andy Carroll be up front for the Magpies? ;whistle

Lukerz

grey_til_I_dye said:

Yes, all senior competitive games count towards the ban.

;ok

Lukerz

I would now go:

Hart
Zabaleta - Collins - Ogbonna - Cresswell
Antonio - Noble - Rice - Obiang - Ayew
Chicharito

Jorderz_Moyes_will_be_Moyes

Hopefully Lanzini is back for this, in for Ayew. Possibly Kouyate in for Rice, too.

SuzanneClaret

Rice and Collins have to play... imo.

Lukerz

Heard the commentator say he reminded him of Eric Dier. Now I know it's lazy to say 'the next so and so' but I thought the similarities were frightening. If he plays it means when under pressure he can drop into the back four to make a five as well. Think he needs minutes going forward. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one for saying 'just play kids' but this kid looks like he knows it's his time.

Lukerz

Wasn't the Ginge/Ogbonna partnership one of our most solid ones in terms of clean sheets kept during Slav's first season?

IronHerb

When I met Lanzini on Monday I asked if he would play at Cheltenham and he said "no, Newcastle"

ASLEFshrugged

Lukerz - yes

Ogbonna Collins partnership 2015-16 in the Prem
Played 10 Won 5 Drew 4 Lost 1 Goals conceded 7 Clean sheets 6

Other combinations
Played 28 Won 11 Drew 10 Lost 7 Goals conceded 44 Clean Sheets 5

SuzanneClaret

Lukerz said:

Heard the commentator say he reminded him of Eric Dier. Now I know it's lazy to say 'the next so and so' but I thought the similarities were frightening. If he plays it means when under pressure he can drop into the back four to make a five as well. Think he needs minutes going forward. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one for saying 'just play kids' but this kid looks like he knows it's his time.

I thought the commentator was poor. When he had nothing to say he still insisted on saying something...

steve

;hmm seems like most of us then,.................. ;sofa

ASLEFshrugged

Adam said:

Who were we playing in those 10 games, ASLEF?

Stoke H 0-0
Swansea A 0-0
Villa A 1-1
Saints H 2-1
Liverpool H 2-0
Bournemouth A 3-1
Newcastle A 1-2
Norwich A 2-2
Sunderland H 1-0
Spurs H 1-0 (with Kouyate in a back 3)

Only 5 clean sheets which proves I can't count, that's why I became a train driver and didn't go work in the ticket office (lucky escape as they're all closed).

tomkinsworldclass

Not 100% on the condition of the players but I would like to see:-

------------------------HART-------------------------
----ZABALETA-----COLLINS-----OGBONNA---CRESSWELL---
------------KOUYATE----RICE-----NOBLE ---------------
------AYEW-------------------------------ANTONIO----
------------------------HERNANDEZ--------------------

Jorderz_Moyes_will_be_Moyes

I think Obiang should play ahead of Rice, and hopefully Lanzini is fit to replace Ayew. Agree with the defence.

tomkinsworldclass

Jorderz, fair enough ;thumbsup , I just feel Obiang isnt quite there yet after his injury and needs to be eased back a bit to get back into form, he has been a touch off pace so far. Also Rice will add more for set pieces(which could be decisive) and a natural shield to the back 4 which would free up Noble and Kouyate a bit more. Anway, big fan of Obiang though ;bowdown ;bowdown ;bowdown

Jorderz_Moyes_will_be_Moyes

Twc ;thumbsup

You might be right about Obiang, but hopefully he can get back to last season's form ASAP.

McHammer

Kouyate looked less sharp than Obiang to me on Wednesday

tomkinsworldclass

McHammer, id agree but that was kouyates first appearance since the start of pre-season so you can understand him not either being at 100% or given the situation of the game, playing completely within himself. 2ndly Obiang is alot more refined and technical than Kouyate so if he is abit off or struggling it is more noticeable where Kouyate is very raw, powerful and a bit unpredictable anyway so he can probably get away with it more.

puddleglumhammers

If he goes with the usual 4 2 3 1 the only debate seems to be the 2 central midfielders.
I would go
Hart
Zabaleta Collins Ogbonna Cresswell
Obiang Kouyate
Antonio Lanzini Ayew
Hernandez

But if he goes with the diamond as in midweek then -
Rice
Kouyate Obiang
Lanzini
Antonio Hernandez

Jorderz_Moyes_will_be_Moyes

Please please win this ;pray

IronHerb