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Hammers New Year Resolution - To Avoid Catostrophic Injuries!

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Tue, 01/01/2019 - 20:16

Although buoyed by the return of Marko Arnoutovic from injury, Manuel Pellegrini still has the unenviable task of selecting a team capable of seeing off Brighton & Hove Albion at the London Stadium from an increasingly long injury list.
Fabian Balbuena has joined the list of long-term injuries with no return date after suffering from knee ligament damage, Balbuena joins Jack Wilshere, Winston Reid, Ryan Fredericks, Andrily Yarmolenko, Carlos Sanchez and Manuel Lanzini with no exact date scheduled for their return.

Pablo Zabaleta has a 50-50 chance of being available for what will be an 'upper half of the table six pointer', Hammers could go as high as 8th with a win, however on the last two opportunities to go 7th West Ham have failed to capitalise on their momentum by losing at home to Watford 2-0 and then away to Burnley by the same margin. Brighton don't travel well, indeed they have the joint worst away record in the Barclays Premier League, however West Ham do have a habit of giving clubs in difficulties a helping hand and so ther is no reason at all to thoink the three points are in the bag ahead of the match.

Returning players and ex-managers always have a point to prove, despite the club being known in the past for paying decent wages to honest 'Pro's' looking for a final pay day, Brighton manager Chris Hughton would confirm this as he was one of the recipients! Although he had previously played for Totttenham, he was able to endear himself to the Hammers faithful during his spell at the Boleyn between 1990-1992 when he played 32 games. Hughton will see Hammers injury list as a bright beacon in the darkness and do his best to exploit the lack of familiarity between Pellegrini's hastily assembled team.

No one said it was going to be easy, Samir Nasri might make the bench following his signing of a short term contract, he might just become the manager's eyes and ears on the ground that Mark Noble just isn't. - Ed

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albyforeverirons.'s picture

but I would leave Arne on the bench, still don't know why he was rushed straight into the side on Sunday. The team have done a great job while he was crook so why start him. I will be very disappointed if Perez is even on the bench as he has no heart and should be gone. Give young Silva a start as we need someone up front with a bit of hunger and he would be new to the Brighton players.

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La Vida Hammer's picture

To both of the above, not sure if we can watch tonight can't find a link anywhere??

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