West Brom vs West Ham - Saturday 16.09.17 3:00 Match Thread

Yeoldhammer

Our next game see us take on the resolute Baggies riding in their usual mid table endeavors. West Ham face a West Brom who were soundly beaten 3-1 by Brighton.

Can the Hammers unlock the Baggies defence ? Can West Ham secure their first point or three away from home.

As with most West Ham vs West Brom games its usually a draw on the cards with a few goals either way.

Predictions ?
Line Up ?

FlorinRaduclious

Ha! Nice and early, top job Yeold!

I sincerely hope you're still starting the match threads come May!

Yeoldhammer

Hopefully

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

Are Lanzini and Noble back?
Arnies suspension is surely finished

Hart
Fonte Collins Reid
Zaba Obiang Kouyate Cressy
Antonio Carroll Hernandez

Sub: Adrian, Byram, Masuaka, ogbonna, Ayew, Arnie, Sakho

When Lanzini comes back I don't really know where he goes but he has to start, maybe for Chicarito as he isn't natural on the wings, it's also the position Arnautovic is most comfortable at

Nice to see lots of options though in such a short space of time

Jorderz_Moyes_will_be_Moyes

Hernandez on the left wing is such a waste, IMO, and yet hard to see how you leave Carroll out after last night.

alderz

An option would be to have Antonio at wing back, bring Lanzini in and play Carroll and Hernandez in a proper two. (I know Lanzini is injured)

Hart; Zabaleta Reid Collins; Antonio Obiang Kouyate Cresswell; Lanzini/Arnautovic; Hernandez Carroll

ASLEFshrugged

Antonio at wingback is as much a waste as Hernandez on the wing

alderz

I disagree pretty strongly on that. At right back, yes. But at wing back he gets forward just as much

Vorselaarhammer

Zab was a man possessed last night, I think Antonio would be a better WB in view of getting our best players on the pitch, but Antonio doesn't want to play WB..

Against a Pulis side I see no problem playing a setup exactly like we did yesterday, high balls and battling MF, get a draw 4p from 6.

Arnie should not start, totally wrong msg if he did imo.

Without going to 4at the back I would like a system with both AC & CH where CH is central.

alderz

When I go through our squad, the players that I want to have on the pitch as much as possible are:

Hart, Zabaleta, Reid, Cresswell, Obiang, Kouyate, Lanzini, Hernandez, Carroll, Antonio, Arnautovic.

Hart; Zabaleta Kouyate Reid; Antonio Obiang Lanzini Cresswell; Arnautovic; Hernandez Carroll? (3-4-1-2)

Hart; Zabaleta Kouyate Reid Cresswell; Antonio Obiang Lanzini Arnautovic; Hernandez Carroll? (4-4-2)

If I try and put them into a formation, I struggle to get something that works and is balanced. So then it's a case of do I drop one of those, or do I try to make it work. I think the two I'm most likely to be willing to move out of the team are Arnautovic and Carroll.

Jorderz_Moyes_will_be_Moyes

I wonder if we could do something along the lines of:

-Obiang-Kouyate-
-Antonio-Lanzini-Hernandez
-Carroll-

With the caveat that Hernandez is effectively central or very close to Carroll whenever we are attacking, with Cresswell providing width on the left.

And then, when defending, Lanzini is the one who slots in to support Cresswell on the left, rather than ending up with Hernandez in the LB spot when there's a chance for a quick counter.

It seemed as though we kind of did this last night, but potentially Hernandez got stuck out wide more than he should have been.

tomkinsworldclass

Sometimes we can get a bit fixated on terminology, we could very well play Antonio on the right hand side as a genuine right mid and then, in an aggressive high pressing team, if he needs to drop in to make a back 4/5 he can easily do so but when we regain the ball he is a position to attack the final third and there would be plenty of cover for him to do so.

--------------------HART-----------------------------
-----------FONTE----REID----COLLINS------------------
---ANTONIO----KOUYATE--LANZINI--OBIANG--CRESSWELL--
--------------HERNANDEZ--CARROLL--------------------

I think we all know how WBA will play; they will concede possession, play on the break and off set pieces and mistakes. We will need a strong aerial side, a good shape and I think having a genuine 2 up front would cause them a lot of issues.

NEoldiron

So that we could make use of our record signing, could Arnautovic not play as a striker in place of Carroll, if and when Carroll is subbed/injured; he has the same physical attributes - height, strength, plus a little more speed and better ball skills ;hmm

IronHerb

Only issue I have with your XI TWC is that we will not get the pressing from Antonio that Zab gave usl last night.

SuzanneClaret

Agreed. I would want to keep Zab in he side.

Yeoldhammer

just wouldn't bother fitting players in.

Overall as much as Carroll is a beast in the air and a handful he still is in my opinion that guy you bring on in the 70th minute for 20 minutes or so.

I would personally like to see Antonio Hernandez Arnie in a front 3

then Zab Kouyate Obiang Cresswell in a 4

Fonte Reid Collins in a 3 at the back

NEoldiron

Yeold - no Lanzini? Or is this just your team for WBA and you're assuming Manu is still out injured?

Yeoldhammer

ultimately i want to see us go back to the Allardyce 4-4-2 Diamond with Manu at the tip.

tomkinsworldclass

IronHerb, Fair point ;thumbsup Difficult to fit everyone in so it will have to be a risk vs reward from Slaven.

Carroll simply has to start vs WBA for his defending alone, will be badly needed on set pieces.

baracks_a_hammer

I don't know whether people think noble might still be injured, but having read the above posts, there doesn't seem to be an overwhelming clamour to reinstate him into our midfield ;hmm

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

At least we found out that Zabaleta is capable (more comfortable?) At playing a RWB, he looks much happier going forward with security behind him that Fonte gave

We have a lot of options which is good

There is a reason why Slaven likes 4-2-3-1 because it's the formation that best suits the players we have as it allows us to get the best out of Lanzini

Sadly we as a unit do not look comfortable whereas we do with a back 3

It's going to be interesting.to see who slav fancies with these players coming back

Yeoldhammer

Noble isn't in my first 11 when most are fit. He is approaching the Nolan role now imo, cup games and the like.

thornburyiron

Judging by the look on his face last night, even when we were winning 2-0, I think he's beginning to realise that too.

SuzanneClaret

I've always though Nobes would put the club before himself.

Vorselaarhammer

I think when we have our ball players fit then AC can start on the bench maybe,

But last night was the perfect example of what he can bring without scoring a goal.

He bashed up the whole B4 / MF in the air.

NEoldiron

Suze, I think he was aware of his limitations and 1st. team prospects when he signed his long-term extension.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/26/mark-noble-signs-west-ham-2020

£50,000 a week is quite soothing ;wink

SuzanneClaret

I don't think he does it just for the money either.

Putney_Hammer

We would be mad to risk Carroll maybe for the last 15 mins he played more than he should have the other night it's asking for trouble. Sakho should start with Hernandez.

Lukerz

Hart
Fonte - Reid - Collins
Zabaleta - Obiang - Kouyate - Cresswell
Antonio - Chicharito - Ayew

Adrian, Ogbonna, Byram, Masuaku, Arnautovic, Carroll, Sakho (assuming Noble is out)

Completely agree on not risking Carroll. He has to be managed. He probably played 20 mins longer than he should've on Monday. We aren't going to beat WBA going direct. Dawson, Evans, Hegazi etc.

Arne should not walk straight back in. Sends out completely the wrong message after his red card.

They have strengthened and have a decent XI.

Foster
Dawson - Evans - Hegazi - Nyom
Barry
Phillips - Livermore - Krychowiak - Rodriguez
Rondon

With signings like Gibbs and Oliver Burke on the bench.

Money on the draw. 1-1.

SuzanneClaret

Arne should not walk straight back in. Sends out completely the wrong message after his red card.

Absolutly...

I would start with the same 11 that started on Monday. Would like to see though Hernandez play a lot closer to Carroll.

Hernandez and Antonio need to attack Evans, he is very slow.

eskimoking

alderz said:

When I go through our squad, the players that I want to have on the pitch as much as possible are:

Hart, Zabaleta, Reid, Cresswell, Obiang, Kouyate, Lanzini, Hernandez, Carroll, Antonio, Arnautovic.

Hart; Zabaleta Kouyate Reid; Antonio Obiang Lanzini Cresswell; Arnautovic; Hernandez Carroll? (3-4-1-2)

Hart; Zabaleta Kouyate Reid Cresswell; Antonio Obiang Lanzini Arnautovic; Hernandez Carroll? (4-4-2)

If I try and put them into a formation, I struggle to get something that works and is balanced. So then it's a case of do I drop one of those, or do I try to make it work. I think the two I'm most likely to be willing to move out of the team are Arnautovic and Carroll.

I know you don't think this is necessarily the best tactic for picking a team, but I'll say it anyway. This is a trap that many bad managers fall into, imo. England managers with the whole Lampard/Gerrard debacle being a very well known example. You can't think like this.

You have to decide what style and formation is best suited to the match, then fill those positions from the pool you have available, round pegs, round holes.

As opposed to saying these 11 need to play, how can I force them in.

Anyway, same 11 for me. Maybe Ayew in for Hernandez as he should be rewarded for changing the game.