Although both players are due to have a late and final fitness test, it appears Hammers most expensive signing, Sebastian Haller, will make the starting line up against 'Bogey' team Brighton at the Amex Stadium this afternoon. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the club's second most expensive signing Felipe Anderson, apparently the medical team feel that the Brazilian needs to be rested for the Seagulls match, and that Pablo Fornals will fill the void.
While many fans will be thinking same old West Ham, it should be remembered that the idea of having two players available for each position is in order to avoid using players who are carrying an injury, what can start as a 'little niggle' can quickly deteriorate, so why take the risk? Surely if even Mr West Ham himself, captain Mark Noble, can miss four games through having a 'dead leg' which has now morphed in to a calf strain, it is prudent to avoid turning a small injury in to a long term one by exacerbating it.
The goals will come eventually for the Hammers strike force, what is more worrying is the porous state of the defence, although he wasn't the only one to blame, captain for the Manchester City match, Aaron Cresswell, had an absolute stinker of a game and will surely be replaced by Pellegrii favourite Authur Masuaku. Worryingly the 'crown jewel' that is Manuel Lanzini looked awful at the London Stadium, the complete polar opposite of what he had been during pre-season, hopefully it was just an off day, but perhaps 'Manu' needs to be brought on as a substitute and let Antonio 'bully' the opposition first.
Despite his legs having gone years ago, the team still needs Mark Noble, it seems that without his presence many of the players appear to lack the fight required by the rigors of the Barclays Premier League. The club needs a positive result against Brighton in order to make up for last Saturday's disaster, and also help dispel the memory of last season's dreadful start. Foot note, both Haller and Anderson failed tests this morning. - Ed
Comments
Agree
Noble makes a difference, however still very nervous about the game this afternoon, we need more aggression.
Yep spot on
Good news about haller,as much as I like Anderson could be a blessing in disguise,Antonio is needed to bully em a bit & I'd start forkhandles to add a bit of bite in the middle...coyi let's stick it up em!!ooh er missus
Anderson
Blows hot n cold so for me not a big miss we have players who can take his place....what all the players need now are a set of balls and not take a backwards step today...front Brighton up and show them you wont be intimidated and prove to us the fans that you are worth our support
Haller passes fitness test
Yet does not start or make the Bench....typical another bloody Carroll on our hands!