West Ham v Crystal Palace (and probably VAR) (a) - Boxing Day 2019, 3pm
To be honest I didn’t expect to be doing this thread, such were my levels of confidence in us beating Southampton, but obviously this was the one time in a calendar year that I was wrong, so here we are…
4-4-2 worked well against a dreadful Southampton team, but will Pellegrini continue with it? Haller looked much better with Antonio beside him, and I think they could cause any defence a problem. But if Anderson is back, will we see a return to Haller up front on his own?
Son of Alvin went full West Ham and got injured by kicking the ball. Sounds like he is a doubt for Palace, but Fab was expected back for this one anyway so hopefully we won’t see Roberto back in-between the sticks, terrorising our defence.
Elsewhere, Fredericks is suspended and Ben Johnson injured, so it’s looking like perennial turf-botherer Wilfried Zaha will follow in Allan Saint-Maximin’s footsteps and lap the ageing Zabaleta. This is an obvious area of concern, particularly as the less-than-rapid Snodgrass is likely to be Zaba’s cover on the right.
This has many things written all over it; a Kouyate masterclass, a Tomkins goal from a corner that should have been a goal-kick, a dubious Zaha penalty approved by VAR, an Antonio goal disallowed for handball and, ultimately, a loss.
Any thoughts on the opposition, Ham...?
4-4-2 worked well against a dreadful Southampton team, but will Pellegrini continue with it? Haller looked much better with Antonio beside him, and I think they could cause any defence a problem. But if Anderson is back, will we see a return to Haller up front on his own?
Son of Alvin went full West Ham and got injured by kicking the ball. Sounds like he is a doubt for Palace, but Fab was expected back for this one anyway so hopefully we won’t see Roberto back in-between the sticks, terrorising our defence.
Elsewhere, Fredericks is suspended and Ben Johnson injured, so it’s looking like perennial turf-botherer Wilfried Zaha will follow in Allan Saint-Maximin’s footsteps and lap the ageing Zabaleta. This is an obvious area of concern, particularly as the less-than-rapid Snodgrass is likely to be Zaba’s cover on the right.
This has many things written all over it; a Kouyate masterclass, a Tomkins goal from a corner that should have been a goal-kick, a dubious Zaha penalty approved by VAR, an Antonio goal disallowed for handball and, ultimately, a loss.
Any thoughts on the opposition, Ham...?
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Comments
I'm clutching at straws, aren't I.
Man, we've struggled in that position for years.
And Demel.
And Tim Breacker, obvs.
But we've had some proper dross playing there.
Think we could do with a few more like that now.
Ray Stewart :bowdown:
Zaha vs Zabaleta :puzzled:
They are missing Van Aarnholt / Schlupp on their fullback position.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g190355-d8374930-r361726215-Upton_Park-Esch_sur_Alzette.html
Oh and Crystal Paloss
Zabaleta - Balbuena - Ogbonna - Cresswell
Snodgrass - Noble - Rice - Fornals
Antonio - Haller
Martin, Diop, Masuaku, Sanchez, Anderson, Lanzini, Ajeti
Should Martin not be fit, Fabianski needs to come back in. If Fab is not ready, we must play an U23 keeper. We can't throw Roberto back into the firing line.
He also said Ben Johnson is fit, which contradicts reports elsewhere that he went off injured for the U23s, so it sounds like he may be an option at right back (though I fully expect Zaba to start).
Just please, please, no Haller on his own up front.
And I hope Tomks and Koyate get a good reception: IMO we've missed them both as squad players.