West Ham vs Lyon (H) Thusday 20:00 KO
With Everton dispatched and the return of Jarrod Bowen to the West Ham starting line up.
West Ham turns its attention back to the continent of Europe and look to tackle its next opponent from the region. The French heavyweights of Olympique Lyon being their visit to the London Stadium as West Ham look to bid for a place in the Semi-Finals of the Europa League.
Will Coufal be available or Ben Johnson return for the first leg.
Its another big night under the lights at the London Stadium. Will history be made?
Thoughts?
West Ham turns its attention back to the continent of Europe and look to tackle its next opponent from the region. The French heavyweights of Olympique Lyon being their visit to the London Stadium as West Ham look to bid for a place in the Semi-Finals of the Europa League.
Will Coufal be available or Ben Johnson return for the first leg.
Its another big night under the lights at the London Stadium. Will history be made?
Thoughts?
Comments
Nothing to be fearful of.
EDIT; I took out Lanzini for Fornals as Steve reminded me he’s suspended.
Rudi Garcia quit at the end of last season because Lyon finished 4th and missed out on the Champions League. He was replaced by Peter Bosz who had been sacked by Bayer Leverkusen in March.
Top scorer Memphis Depay left for Barcelona on a free. He's been replaced by ex-Celtic and Fulham Moussa Dembele (scored two yesterday, total 13 goals in 26)
Bosz's three big summer signings haven't been a dazzling success, LB Emerson Palmieri - on loan from Chelsea - seems to have settled in nicely but Xherdan Shaqiri joined from Liverpool then left for Chicago Fire after just 170 days.
Ex-Bayern Munich CB Jerome Boateng has caused friction in the dressing room, managed to pick a fight with Bruno Guimaraes before he went to Newcastle and was absent from the squad for a month until yesterday (lasted 70 minutes before being subbed)
They got Lyon fans' favourite Tanguy Ndombele on loan from Spurs to replace Guimaraes but Lyon are definitely having a "transition" season
So his instinct may be too cautious, not because he considers Lyon stronger than us but due to the magnitude of the match and what's at stake, which may play into Lyon's hands as they may be happy to simply try and not concede as we did against Sevilla in the first leg. In my view we must have at least a goal lead to take into the second leg. This also gives us a better chance in the second leg as they will have to come onto us which allows our counter through Antonio and Bowen.
The main thing is Dec must not get a yellow. I wouldn't be surprised if they try and make sure he gets one by making a real meal of any tackle.
On Sunday CB Jerome Boateng started for the first time since 5 February and from the few reports I have been able to translate he was so poor that he was subbed after 70 minutes.
During Boateng's 2 month absence DM Thiago Mendes had been playing as a makeshift CB due to a self inflicted CB shortage (three senior CBs have left this season plus injuries).
The other CB is 19yo Castello Lukeba who only made his first team debut this season
So give Boateng another chance or revert to playing Mendes out of position?
Some very dodgy defending, just begging for a Cresswell cross
Johnson - Dawson - Zouma - Cresswell
Soucek - Rice
Bowen - Fornals - Benrahma
Antonio
I’m excited/terrified.