Forum | General Discussion

West Ham United: 25 Hart 5 Zabaleta 4 Fonte 2 30 Antonio 14 Obiang 10 Lanzini 8 KouyaFonteMasuaku Arnautovic 17 Hernández Substitutes: 13 Adrian 16 Noble 20 A Ayew 21Ogbonna 26 Masuaku 41Rice 23 Haksabanovic
Brighton & Hove Albion: 1 Ryan 2 Bruno 22 Duffy 5 Dunk 3 Bong 20March 6 Stephens 24 Pröpper 19 Izquierdo 13 Groß 37 Brown Substitutes: 11 Knockaert 17 Murray 18 Goldson 21 Schelotto 26 Krul 29 Suttner 49 Molumby
*Teams to be fully confirmed from the London Stadium around 7pm - Ed

West Ham United fans feared the worst when ex-Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez was reported to have pulled up in training at Rush Green on Tuesday and was immediately sent to the hospital for a scan by worried West Ham medical staff. Chicharito did not return to training with the rest of the first team squad and remained a doubt for Friday night.

The next afternoon he joined Slaven Bilic and Mark Noble to meet Princes William and Harry at the London Stadium with a big smile on his face, and it was later confirmed that his injury was minor and that he would be available for the 'must win' home game against fellow Premier League strugglers Brighton & Hove Albion. However all is not rosy for Slave Billic or the vast majority of fans with the news that Diafra Sakho will NOT be available for the match due to a back injury, it had seemed that finally the 'sulkman' would be able to take the centre stage he had so lusted after given 'one trick pony's' indiscretions last week. Finally there was the chance for Sakho and Hernandez to work together as a big 'un little'un partnership, one which on paper could have been just the thing that fans had been waiting for, alas it is not to be, bollocks!

So plan B then, well for once Hammer's are not light in cover despite losing two of their best known forwards, Toni Martinez is 'ring fenced' to be called up in to the first team, the Spaniard has scored 21 goals in 23 matches for the U-23 team and even the conservative Slaven Billic school of thinking cannot surely ignore this enormous talent.

There will be those who might suggest that there is a gulf between top tier and second tier football, but to have such a prolific striker languishing in the U-23's is a travesty, especially given the hyper inflated values that overseas clubs attach to the talent they nurture and produce.

Slaven Billic was numero uno for the chop up until recently, a victory at home against Brighton could propel his team in to the top half of the table, such is the tightest of the midfield table. A draw or a defeat could see him back in the cross hairs! If you fancy a punt on Slav's 'taxi' or the result itself against what will be a determined Brighton side you could check out free footy tips

Mark Noble graciously accepted his omission from the team that face Burnley last week, and realistically he should assume a position from the bench at best for the fixture against the 'seagulls'. This is not to say that he is finished as a first team player, far from it. When it comes to matches under the flood lights and full on cup matches Noble most definitely still has a part to play, but that is what it will increasingly be, a 'bit' part. To excuse the pun, Noble is too noble to sit on his back side on the bench, he could move on to another club. There are many who would still want him, however we at the Org feel he will be offered a coaching position at the club he has served so well in the past, he will probably be one of the last of the one man one club players ever in the modern game, and good luck to him.

There is predicted travel chaos ahead of the fixture against Brighton, so advice is to set off as early as you can. - Ed