West Ham Vs Newcastle Sun 2nd Nov- 2pm (sky)
I fear this could make Brentford and Leeds look like close matches! Yet I retain a little hope that Nuno has been rummaging around for the key and that he will at some point find it and turn the tide.
Our big issue is our useless centre backs and I Think Mavro is out for few more matches, so I am not against trying Soucek in defence for either Kilman or Tobido (take your pick) or even a very deep midfielder just in front of them to try and give some backbone, which would of course weaken our midfield. I would start Potts and Fernandes.
As for Newcastle I thought they looked good against Spurs in the week and will out muscle us, and out run us.
Our big issue is our useless centre backs and I Think Mavro is out for few more matches, so I am not against trying Soucek in defence for either Kilman or Tobido (take your pick) or even a very deep midfielder just in front of them to try and give some backbone, which would of course weaken our midfield. I would start Potts and Fernandes.
As for Newcastle I thought they looked good against Spurs in the week and will out muscle us, and out run us.
Comments
Hermansen
Wan-Bissaka - Todibo - Kilman - Diouf
Potts - Magassa - Souček
Bowen - Paquetá - Summerville
I would like to see this though I suspect Nuno will play Paqueta.
Areola
Wan-Bissaka - Julio - Kilman - Diouf
Potts - Magassa
Fernandes
Bowen -Wilson - Summerville
Pope is still in goal although Ramsdale (on loan from Saints) is now 2nd choice after Dubravka left
Livramento and Hall are injured so Burn is playing LB, Trippier RB while newcomer 24yo German CB Malick Thiaw (£34.6m AC Milan) is playing alongside Sven Botman
Fabian Scharr suffered a concussion playing against Barcelona but he got half an hour against Fulham at the weekend and the full 90 against Spurs in the Carabao on Wednesday. Emil Krafth is another option off the bench
In midfield It’s any three from six although as captain Guimaraes is pretty much nailed on to start. Otherwise pick any two from Jacob Ramsey, Jolinton, Joe Wiilock, Sandro Tonali or 19yo Lewis Miley
Antony Elanga and Jacob Murphy are in competition for RW while Antony Gordon has come in for some criticism over his recent performances and Harvey Barnes is an option on the left
Up front Woltemade has replaced Isak with 6 goals in 11. Wissa is still injured so William Osula is back up CF
They're on a three game winning streak (Benfica, Fulham, Spurs) but those were all at home. Away in the Premier League they've drawn three and lost one, their only away win was against Union St.Gilloise
A draw would be nice and not beyond the realms of possibility
Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Todibo, Diouf, Potts, Fernandes, Paquetá, Bowen ©, Summerville, Wilson
Subs: Hermansen (GK), Walker-Peters, Igor, Mayers, Rodríguez, Magassa, Irving, Luis Guilherme, Souček
As an aside, though, it's pretty frustrating that we just spent about £40m on two players who seemingly aren't fancied by the new manager. When we're as cash strapped as we seem to be, that feels incredibly wasteful.
COYI