AZ Alkmaar v West Ham, Thurs 18th May, 8pm ECL Semi-final 2nd Leg (1-2 agg)
Surprised no-one has opened a thread for this match so thought I would.
Huge game, going into it with a slight one goal lead from the first leg. Both teams played today, 9 changes for us for our 2-0 defeat by Brentford, 2 changes for AZ, one of which was Kerkez coming back in after being suspended for the first leg, in earning a 5-1 victory against a relegation threatened side.
As you might imagine, it was a comfortable day for them, and they made 4 substitutions just after the hour mark. One of those introduced was Jesper Karlsson, their usual LW who missed the first leg through injury, so we're likely to see a strengthened left side for the second leg with potentially improvement at both LB and LW.
Antonio is our main injury doubt after being left out of today's squad entirely with a calf issue; as usual his absense could create a lot of issues given that Ings is so unsuited to our usual style of counter-attacking play which, given they need to come at us, you'd think could be effective. Had Fornals or Cornet played well today I think Bowen would have been an option through the middle should Antonio not be able to start, but they hardly pressed their claims so it looks like it would have to be Ings if Antonio misses out through injury.
At least a number of our players were rested today, but unfortunately few of our usual bench players suggested they are capable of changing the game should they be needed to do so, Mubama being the possible exception but he's very raw still and I find it hard to see Moyes trusting him in such an important game if we're struggling to get a result.
I think it's fair to say that we underperformed in the first leg, but equally they tend to be much stronger at home than they are away, so this match could easily go either way, but you'd hope we have enough to get through the tie.
COYI ⚒⚒⚒
Huge game, going into it with a slight one goal lead from the first leg. Both teams played today, 9 changes for us for our 2-0 defeat by Brentford, 2 changes for AZ, one of which was Kerkez coming back in after being suspended for the first leg, in earning a 5-1 victory against a relegation threatened side.
As you might imagine, it was a comfortable day for them, and they made 4 substitutions just after the hour mark. One of those introduced was Jesper Karlsson, their usual LW who missed the first leg through injury, so we're likely to see a strengthened left side for the second leg with potentially improvement at both LB and LW.
Antonio is our main injury doubt after being left out of today's squad entirely with a calf issue; as usual his absense could create a lot of issues given that Ings is so unsuited to our usual style of counter-attacking play which, given they need to come at us, you'd think could be effective. Had Fornals or Cornet played well today I think Bowen would have been an option through the middle should Antonio not be able to start, but they hardly pressed their claims so it looks like it would have to be Ings if Antonio misses out through injury.
At least a number of our players were rested today, but unfortunately few of our usual bench players suggested they are capable of changing the game should they be needed to do so, Mubama being the possible exception but he's very raw still and I find it hard to see Moyes trusting him in such an important game if we're struggling to get a result.
I think it's fair to say that we underperformed in the first leg, but equally they tend to be much stronger at home than they are away, so this match could easily go either way, but you'd hope we have enough to get through the tie.
COYI ⚒⚒⚒
Comments
Same starting XI as against us apart from the return of Hungarian international Milos Kerkez at LB and 18yo CB Wouter Goes replacing Pantelis Chatzidiakos who was absent for some reason
In addition Swedish international LW Jesper Karlsson made his first appearance since 15 April, coming on in the 65th minute
‘How can we lose to Alphabet FC’ 😂
Kehrer - Zouma - Ogbonna - Cresswell
Soucek - Rice - Paqueta
Bowen - Antonio - Benrahma
But I’ll accept it could be 1st season syndrome
COYI ⚒⚒⚒
Referee: Ivan Kružliak (SVK)
Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko (SVK)
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Pozor (SVK)
Fourth Official: Sven Jablonski (GER)
Video Assistant Referee: Marco Fritz (GER)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert (GER)
Just in case anyone was wondering (I was), the VAR will be, AFAIK, in UEFA HQ on the shores of Lake Geneva; I thought it unlikely to be at Stockley Park for our home leg so looked into it a little.
He was ref for England's 4-0 win over Moldova in 2013
COYI ⚒⚒⚒
I'm not nervous, just want us to do a job there and give everyone a West Ham in a cup final day
Have been thinking about getting back into it, I mostly fished for carp back then, and I can't believe how much that's changed in recent years judging by a few Youtube channels I've watched recently; back then a double was an achievement and a twenty something special. Nowadays everyone (slight exageration) seems to catch 30s, 40s, 50s and even 60s.
“Micky Antonio has travelled and so has Vladimir Coulal. They’re both doing well so hopefully they both have a good chance of playing.
“Everything else seems okay, so hopefully elsewhere we’re in the clear.”
https://www.whufc.com/news/live-blog-david-moyes-and-tomas-souceks-pre-az-alkmaar-press-conference
Started 28 out of 29 games he's been available this season and scored 13. Would replace Sven Mijnans if he is in the starting XI