Forum | General Discussion

Despite having been sacked as Bayern Munich manager, Niko Kovac is a man in demand, and as such has been 'linked' with the vacant managerial job at Hammers Monday night opponents Arsenal. Some wishful thinkers are hoping that his previously announced attendance at the London Stadium could possibly be a portent of him replacing Manuel Pellegrini instead!

However, it is Panto season, and probably the only people to be 'looking behind them' will be Hammers defenders, as the beleaguered Arsenal players put in a shift to impress their potential new manager. It seems the Irons are destined to face 'newly invigorated' teams and provide them with the opportunity of experiencing the 'new manager bounce', and that Manuel Pellegrini is firmly rooted in his spot due to the fiscal perniciousness of terminating his contract.

There are far fetched rumours that Pellegrini might start with two up front, featuring a 'risk fit' Michail Antonio which would enable Sebastian Haller to play the role that he is accustomed to, a role that bought him and Eintrecht Franfurt a lot of success, which was one of the reasons he was signed by West Ham for £45 Million.

Please remember though, it is Panto season, and we are talking about the tactics and line up stipulated by one of the most stubborn managers in the Barclays Premier League! Manuel Pellegrini's 'my way or the high way' stance has already cost the club dearly as a result of him backing Roberto in goal, he finally succumbed to fan, and no doubt board pressure, by replacing the hapless Spaniard.

It is to be dearly hoped by the vast majority of those in attendance this evening, and the millions watching on TV around the Globe that Pellegrini 'adapts' to the situation, after all, if he fails after satisfying people's wishes, he will be on a far better footing when facing their criticism.

All the ingredients are there for a classic encounter at the London Stadium, but you can guarantee neither sets of supporters would ever have envisaged this match being a 'relegation six pointer ' as little as three months ago! As they say, "look behind you!" We will be there to cover the match at the London Stadium, and as has already been mentioned on KUMB as well as other media outlets, there will be 'enhanced' security checks this evening. Whether it is to prevent 'down with the board' banners, or a more serious security issue is a matter of conjecture, but the already time consuming and invasive procedures on entry look as though they are going to get a whole load worse!

Where ever you watch it, enjoy the match and be safe. - Ed (from a very, very blustery Stratford)

Renowned for giving struggling teams a helping hand, West Ham face Arsenal on Monday night in a fixture that threatens to continue the visitors worst run in their modern day history, a terrible run of results that culminated in the sacking of Unai Emery. Traditionally West Ham will flatter to deceive before Arsenal, guided by former Hammer Freddy Lungberg, finally steal the points in a smash and grab raid.

Emery joined Mauricio Pochetinio as sacked managers of London Premier League teams, many thought that Manuel Pellegrini would also be joining that select group, however Pellegrini earned a stay of execution with the surprise 1-0 victory away to Chelsea, but normal service was resumed in the 2-0 defeat away to Burnley. The difference between the two games was like chalk and cheese, with the main factor being the fitness and availability of Michail Antonio. How on earth can a team assembled at relatively vast expense be so dependant on one player, a player who arrived on transfer deadline day from Nottingham forest for a fee of £8 Million four seasons ago?

For game after game, fans screamed out for Roberto Jiminez Gago to be dropped following his appalling displays as replacement goalkeeper for the injured Lukasz Fabianski, before Manuel Pellegrini acquiesced and replaced the hapless Spaniard with David Martin, which had an immediately positive effect on team morale. Those same fans have also been calling for the beleaguered Hammers boss to change from his traditional and stubbornly rigid 'one up front' formation which has left £45 Million signing Sebastian Haller as an increasingly isolated striker.

Why spend £45 Million on a striker who was blisteringly brilliant playing as one of a front two and then play him as a lone striker? The thought of facing Haller AND Michail Antonio is a terrifying one for most defenders, if you then add Felipe Anderson playing behind the two of them in a similar position to that which brought him enormous success in Serie A, and you would have an awesome front line comprised of players in their natural position!

It's not rocket science is it? Playing players in their 'correct' position, and one that suits them most in order for them to perform to the very best of their abilities. Antonio is like a Duracell bunny compared to most of the rest of the team, but by playing in their proper position the rest of the squad might just begin to be 'infected' by his enthusiasm. Although it is a sorry state of affairs that so much responsibility for the team's progress rests on the not inconsiderable shoulders of 'Big Mich', if he fails his late fitness test, Monday's fixture against Arsenal at the London Stadium could be a further embarrassment for Manuel Pellegrini, who, despite being an older statesman of the Barclays Premier League must realise he is next for the chop unless results really turn round! - Ed

Wolves: Patricio; Dendoncker, Coady, Saiss, Doherty, Neves, Moutinho, Jonny, Traore, Jimenez, Jota. Subs: Ruddy, Bennett, Kilman, Vinagre, Neto, Cutrone, Ashley-Seal.
West Ham: Martin; Fredericks, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Noble, Snodgrass, Fornals, Anderson, Haller. Subs: Roberto, Zabaleta, Sanchez, Yarmolenko, Masuaku, Ajeti, Holland.