Forum | General Discussion

Having already qualified for the knock out stages of the Europa League West Ham find themselves in the enviable situation of only needing a draw to avoid TWO further games if they can win or even draw tonight against Freiburg.

This week Newcastle AND Manchester Utd both ended at the bottom of their respective Champions League groups meaning that neither team will drop down to the Europa League. Therefore avoiding play off games against the teams that HAVE dropped down is all but essential!

Surely David Moyes has learned from the chastening Olympiakos experience to know that he HAS to start with a strong starting line up and then possibly bring on subs depending on how things are going during the evening.

Starting a weakened team spells disaster and it is indeed hoped that Moyes goes 'strong' and by that we DON"T mean starting Danny Ings!

If Hammers can wrap this game up properly tonight there will be a teo game break in what is already a frenzied schedule, not only that but it would help the team avoid having to play games against big hitters like Galatasaray,
.Lens, Sporting Braga, Benfica, Feyenoord, AC Milan, Young Boys or Shakhtar Donetsk

Of course arch rivals Liverpool lurk waiting to be matched against Hammers but you can only play what is in front of you, hopefully Hammers will avoid the scousers having already been drawn against them in the League Cup 1/4 finals. - Ed

Fulham :Leno, Castagne, Adarabioyo, Bassey, Robinson, Palhinha, Cairney, Iwobi, Pereira, Willian, Jimenez. Subs:Rodak, Tete, Reed, Wilson, Ballo-Toure, De Cordova-Reid, Muniz, Lukic, Vinícius.
West Ham :Fabianski, Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Cresswell, Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Fornals, Bowen, Kudus, Paqueta. Subs: Anang, Mavropanos, Cornet, Ings, Ogbonna, Benrahma, Kehrer, Emerson, Mubama.

Hammers manager David Moyes faces a bit of a selection problem when it comes to this afternoon's game against Fulham at Craven Cottage. The 1st half's lamentable performance against 'Tottingham' was followed by a blistering display of 'positive' football that no one, least of all Moyes we suspect, saw coming.

The issue for Moyes is does he stick with the same line up or make a couple of changes? Alphonse Areola was unavailable midweek due to a 'minor' wrist injury with 'Fabbo' deputising really well, however the deal between keepers is that the 'Euro' spots and domestic cups go to the 2nd choice keeper right up until the finals, therefore who should make the cut for today?

IF Areola is not 100% fit then Fabianski MUST start, if however Areola is fit then he should.

Some misguided souls have suggested that talisman Lucas Paqueta should be dropped from the starting line up, citing that his last couple of games have been below par. THey of course have forgotten or not realised that Paqueta was himself struck down by the virus that saw several players miss games but elected to play in spite of the illness.

Perhaps the fact that 'Pacman' has been forced to play as a 'defacto' left back hasn't helped any either! Jarrod Bowen keeps on going from strength to strength and is banging the goals in, but you can't jelp but wonder how many MORE goals he could score if he wasn't being played out of position.

Nevertheless, Hammers currently have a chance to 'jump on to the coat tails' of the top four IF they don't blow it against Marco Silva's side. It all depends on which team turns up, the 1st half rubbish from Thursday or the scintillating counter attack team from the 2nd? - Ed

Hammers Jekyll & Hyde performance against Tottingham last night left fans frustrated and then elated against a team that should have been 3-0 up at half time but for the heroics of the Irons defence and more than a small amount of luck combined with a complete lack of aptitude from the home side.

Many are of the opinion that David Moyes' stirring half time speech was not actually conducted by the manager who had been locked in the toilet and was in fact delivered by the newly arrived from Ajax cheroot toking John Heitinga! "Listen boys, forget all about Moyesball and go on and express yourselves" Well it seemed to have worked as Hammers suddenly became a team full of International players actually trying to play forwards instead of sideways or backwards!

The three unexpected points helped compensate for the loss of two points in the home game against Palace, which leaves Fulham next in Hammers trio of Local Derbys. There is no point in winning at White Hart Lane and then go losing at the Cottage, but it is the West Ham way, so expect nothing more than a resounding loss!

With that potential banana skin in mind, four points out of a very tricky nine is not to be sniffed at, it is the equivalent to more than three draws! All in all the balancing act of playing in Europe and competing on three domestic fronts appears to be going averagely well, but how long may it continue?

Hammers are due to lose at least TWO incredibly important players during AFCON and results WILL dip during their absence, hopefully the 'Dutchman' will continue to influence the outcomes, just as his pal Tim Steidten has influenced the club's recruitment!

If Hammers can get anything out of Sunday's game it will be a big result and show that the team are developing a level of consistency that is needed to compete at the highest level. - Ed