Newcastle v West Ham Saturday April 17 @ 12:30 (on SKY )

Lukerz

Another option, as sometimes I feel three specialist CB's in a back 3 becomes a bit stodgy, is we could play Coufal next to Dawson & Diop if Cresswell is out, bringing in Fredericks at RWB. This may help with any threat from ASM.

OldCastleSwift

I did wonder whether Moyes would be tempted to do another 'Grealish' in this one and get Fredericks in to double up on him with whichever CB ASM decides to target

IronHerb

But ASM is not in the Grealish class. He had a good 5 minutes after a long lay off. He may not even start next week.
We're fourth in the league and should be looking to impose our way of playing on the opposition, as we have done recently against much better teams than Newcastle.

OutcastLondoner

Coufal isn't Zabaleta. I think we'll be fine against ASM, especially in a five where the right-sided CB can come across if the RWB is beaten. If Cresswell isn't fit then Lukerz's idea about Fredericks and Coufal in the five could be a good idea anyway though.

Expat_Hammer

I'd be tempted to put Diop along side Soucek in central MF if Nobes is out. He's shown that he can attack as well as defend ....................

claretandbluesky

BubblesNeverDies said:

Does anyone know what Noble's injury is? I thought at first it was a dislocation.

I was convinced he was just pretending to break up the momentum of the match at a crucial time............. until he went off.

claretandbluesky

It could be a difficult match as we have benefitted from the likes of Leicester and Arsenal coming at us and hitting them on the break. I think Newcastle feel they are almost safe and just need keep picking up points of some description. They know we are in form and hit people on the break with Lingard and Bowen. I can see them not committing and looking for a point. This will mean that we will need commit more forward to find a way through, at which point they will try and become us and hit on the break.

Kuchinghammer

Arthur without Aaron is looking for trouble. Issa is not confident on the left. Ben may be a better option in a back four. But repeat that with Family names and they all sound like better footballers!

Brother_Sledge

Yeoldhammer said:

So if I'm right? Newcastle are the only team left capable of doing the double over us this season. Only Man U. Man City and Liverpool have managed it this season.
If we beat Newcastle we go onto our highest ever away wins for a campaign I believe.
Let's do it.

We took a point off Man City ( during my stellar run of match threads )

Lukerz

Ex says Randolph, Ogbonna, Noble, Lanzini & Yarmo should all be back in the squad for this game & Cresswell felt his hamstring but Cresswell is optimistic it’s not too serious.

thornburyiron

It’s just Newcastle and Chelsea who can still do the double over us.

OldCastleSwift

Lukerz said:

Ex says Randolph, Ogbonna, Noble, Lanzini & Yarmo should all be in the squad for this game & Cresswell felt his hamstring but Cresswell is optimistic it’s not too serious.

So we're saying there's some good news on the injury front?

Feels weird.

OldCastleSwift

So we saying it's likely to be:

Fab
Dawson Ogbonna Cresswell
Coufal Soucek Fornals Noble Masuaku
Bowen Lingard

Randolph, Trott, Fredericks, Johnson, Diop, Coventry, Lanzini, Yarmolenko, Odubeko

IronHerb

Fab
Dawson Ogbonna Diop
Coufal Soucek Noble Masuaku
Fornals
Bowen Lingard

Lukerz

C&H say Cresswell will miss the next two games due to his hamstring injury but should be back after Chelsea. It’s not as serious as feared & is a strain.

puddleglumhammers

OCS. No Benrahma ?

OldCastleSwift

puddleglumhammers said:

OCS. No Benrahma ?

Oh yeah. Benrahma for Yarmo then.

Hammerwombat

They play in black and white. We must smash them. Like watching tv in the 1960s.



Nothing much to say about this game other than we deserve something after the reverse fixture way back at the start of the season.

Bazshuayi

I'm totally new to this derby lark (was going to put forward Lee Bowyer after seeing Keiran Dyers name but beaten to it). So my first offering is the Scott Parker derby!

Bazshuayi

Oh and yeah, despite Newcastle being toilet most of the season, I am worried its a banana skin so needed to say it to anti jinx it. After the Leicester win its sinking in that maybe a miracle can happen. So I am trying to ride the enjoyment and nerves rollercoaster while its operational

Lukerz

The Mo Diamé derby

IronHerb

The Glen Roeder derby

ScotHammer

The Shaka Hislop Derby

ScotHammer

I agree with a couple of people on here, and would seriously consider Balbuena for this one. We played some of our best football ( in defence ) IMO when he was in the back three with Ogbonna and Cresswell.
I’m not convinced Dawson has not had his purple patch - for this season at least. I realise putting Ogbonna and Balbuena back in at the same time may be a bit much. But I’m also not convinced changing centre-halves during a game is a good idea (other than for injury).

Fab
Balbuena Ogbonna Cresswell (or Diop if injured)
Coufal Soucek Noble Masuaku
Fornals Lingard
Bowen

Lukerz

Scot - I think that is more or less going to be the side, but Cresswell is not going to be fit to play. I think this is a key decision for Moyes, as I don’t think three of Dawson, Diop, Balbuena, Ogbonna will work as a back 3. I think what we will see, to allow us the flexibility to go to a back four which Moyes seems to like, is:

Fabianski
Diop - Dawson - Johnson
Coufal - Souček - Noble - Masuaku
Fornals
Bowen - Lingard

I think Johnson is a a more natural link with Masuaku & more ‘like for like’ with Cresswell, equally he has played on the left & it allows us to go to a back four of Coufal - Diop - Dawson - Johnson if we want to in the game. My money would be on Johnson for Cresswell more than Balbuena (not sure Ogbonna will be fit enough to start anyway). Even if Oggy is fit to start, I would still consider Johnson as the LCB if we are staying with a back 3.

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

I can see Ogbonna coming in at LCB directly for Cresswell

Hes probably the best of our natural CB at bring it out, is naturally left footed and played as LCB/LWB at Juve so has experience

EXETERHAMMER

For me, Dawson, Diop and if fit Ogbonna start. Balbuena on bench

Lukerz

EXETERHAMMER said:

For me, Dawson, Diop and if fit Ogbonna start. Balbuena on bench

For me that will make for a very slow & rigid back 3. I think the option of Johnson as LCB or Coufal at RCB would make it much more balanced & fluid. Happy for Ogbonna to start if he is fit, with Dawson, but not Diop/Balbuena too.

alderz

Lukerz said:

Scot - I think that is more or less going to be the side, but Cresswell is not going to be fit to play. I think this is a key decision for Moyes, as I don’t think three of Dawson, Diop, Balbuena, Ogbonna will work as a back 3. I think what we will see, to allow us the flexibility to go to a back four which Moyes seems to like, is:

Fabianski
Diop - Dawson - Johnson
Coufal - Souček - Noble - Masuaku
Fornals
Bowen - Lingard

I think Johnson is a a more natural link with Masuaku & more ‘like for like’ with Cresswell, equally he has played on the left & it allows us to go to a back four of Coufal - Diop - Dawson - Johnson if we want to in the game. My money would be on Johnson for Cresswell more than Balbuena (not sure Ogbonna will be fit enough to start anyway). Even if Oggy is fit to start, I would still consider Johnson as the LCB if we are staying with a back 3.

I think that if this is the XI, this won't be the shape.

I would imagine it would be: Fabianski; Coufal Diop Dawson Johnson; Soucek Noble Fornals; Bowen Lingard Masuaku

jay_in_cpt

IMO there is no way Dawson will be dropped, ( not that people have said he will )! but he is Moyes go to guy for giving instructions etc ( if you saw on Sunday anyway )....
His form also does not also equal sitting out a game ( I know some will disagree ) but that's what I think!.