Fresh from Wednesday's appalling Carabao Cup defeat, Manuel Pellegrini's Irons need to bounce back on track, unfortunately today's south coast opponents Bournemouth are one of Hammers' many 'bogey' teams. Playing Brighton is always difficult, but Bournemouth have proved to be even fiercer opposition in the past with many fans thinking that the away team will be lucky to escape with a point from the game.
West Ham United has always had a soft under belly when it comes to 'lower ranked' opposition, lose to the losers and then beat the unbeatable, it's the way it has always been since back in the day. Yeovil, Hereford, Luton and plenty of others have humbled the mighty Hammers on numerous occasions, so it comes as no surprise that a team that was used to playing in the 2nd tier for most of it's existence, with a ground capacity that is 1/5th of the London Stadium, should be favourites for this fixture!
Apparently Manuel Pellegrini 'read the riot act' after the Oxford debacle, and so he should have, his team selection for today will be interesting, hw is able to include Manuel Lanzini and Authur Masuaku. Does he start Authur or retain Aaron Cresswell? As Callum Wilso is probably Bourenmouth's greatest threat it would appear that Pelle will select Masuaku due to his sheer pace, but it would be a harsh man to drop Cresswell after his inspired performance in the 2-0 victory over Manchester United at the London Stadium last Sunday.
As Lanzini is just back, ahead of time, from his foot injury Pablo Fornals will probably start the match, with 'Manu' coming on in the second half if needed. The rest of the team selection speaks for itself, as Hammers attempt to remain unbeaten in six Barclays Premier League games, a record that has stood for ages. Bouncing back from Wednesday night's defeat is essential and may well dictate how Hammers overall season pans out even this early on.
There will never be a better time to break in to the upper echelons of the Premier League, it just depends on how much the players want it! - Ed
Comments
Nev the problem is
Bournemouth have to bounce back from being turned over by Burton in the cup midweek so there players will be up for it and Wilson and King upfront for them will be a handful and a half for our defence....i would take the draw now but the team have to give it back to the travelling support big time today so get off your backsides and fight for the whole game to prove we are not just a flash in the pan.