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

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.

Vorselaarhammer

I would like to see Kouyate / Obiang / Noble play together.

Have they ever?? I think due to injuries / form they have never started a game a three??

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

Lukerz

Midfield is very weak today.

Rice, Noble and Fernandes.

puddleglumhammers

Yes, Obiang should be in there.

grey_til_I_dye

Jorderz_Moyes_will_be_Moyes

Newcastle have an extremely average team. It's a Championship team.

I fear, however, West Ham will continue their run of being very generous when the opposition needs it most ;weep

baracks_a_hammer

It was said when we got thumped by Man Utd that we wouldn't be facing sides like that every week. Equally we won't be facing sides like Newcastle every week either so we had better not capitulate like we have in each league game thus far

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

Apart from Fernandes starting ahead of Obiang or Kouyate the team looks pretty good

Hope we can finally get some points on the board

Pearces_Left_Foot

Bench has some good options

tomkinsworldclass

I'm feeling good. Think we'll get a good result today; Antonio and Hernandez will be too much for them. Bench looks excellent. ;pray ;thumbsup

SuzanneClaret

So pleased Ginge and Rice have kept their places, it's well deserved.

coyi

chicagohammer

Antonio looks up for it

chicagohammer

Not that great a start from us, struggling to get any sort of rythum together

grey_til_I_dye

Chicarito borrowing Arnie's brains for this game.

Very frustrating start; another game where we are unable to transition form defence to attack, whilst allowing Newcastle plenty of chances to do so...

SuzanneClaret

So Zabaleta goes off to get a blood injury (cut above his eye) dealt with and we have to defend a corner without one of our defenders. How can that be right?

MIAHammer

Ayew down. Not looking good.

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

Don't really understand what's happened to him but he's been down for a while

Possibly Lanzini to come on....maybe it's a bit too soon for him

buffybegood

MIAHammer said:

Ayew down. Not looking good.

At least it appears to be a facial problem - less likely to be a lengthy layoff than if he'd done a knee or ankle or something.

chicagohammer

Ayew is back up which is good but I would still like to see Lanzini in that position, thus far he has failed to impress me once again

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

........