Forum | General Discussion

West Ham United's last season's player of the year, Lukasz Fabianski, picked up a hip injury during the club's 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Saturday, he was forced to leave the field during the first half and was replaced by substitute keeper Roberto. Unfortunately the news doesn't look too good with regards his recovery time, the only compensation being the pending International break following next week's home game against Crystal Palace.

Here is what manager Manuel Pellegrini had to say about the ever reliable Fabianski. “Lukasz felt a problem in a muscle in his hip when he tried to kick the ball,” he confirmed.. “We need to know more about it with a medical examination on Sunday.. “Goalkeeper is an important player, but I trust a lot in Roberto also. Roberto played well, he’s a very good goalkeeper and we will see what will happen with Lukasz’s injury and how many weeks he will be out.”

The alarming extract being ......"and how many weeks he will be out.” This does not bode well, because despite Pelle's protestations, Roberto is not a 'very good goalkeeper', in fact, to most Hammers', fans far from it. Of course his manager is going to back him in public, but privately he knows, after all it was Roberto who was in goal for last week's debacle against Oxford.

David Martin is technically the 3rd choice keeper, but perhaps Manuel Pellegrini might see fit to use him against Palace, because Roberto doesn't inspire confidence among his defenders, this was plain to see on Wednesday night and for the time he was playing yesterday. Still, a champions league place at the moment is not to be sniffed at! - Ed

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