What do the following all have in common?
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Read into it what you will but what do the following all have in common? Cresswell, tore, noble, snodgrass, ayew, feghouli, zaza, fonte, nortveldt and calleri.
Forum | Non-Football Related
first knee jerk reaction of the season
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Sack Bilic
Spuds
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Made my mine up ,cant watch them anymore their so fekin boring im not just saying that cos i hate the smarmy bastards but because i think they've lowered the standard of the prem with their one dimensional football ,im goin out now to watch my grass grow till the real k o
Manchester United v West Ham United Confirmed Line Ups
Manchester United : De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Bailly, Blind, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rashford, Lukaku. Subs: Martial, Smalling, Lingard, Romero, Ander Herrera, Fellaini, Darmian.
West Ham United : Hart, Zabaleta, Reid, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Noble, Obiang, Fernandes, Ayew, Arnautovic, Hernandez. Subs: Cresswell, Fonte, Adrian, Sakho, Collins, Byram, Rice.
Lineup for today?
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With the sick bay filled to overflowing, as usual, who do you start with today? Or does Slav just see if he can find 11 fit bodies and send them out.
Here's my thoughts
Hart; Zaboletta, Ogbonna, Ried, Masouako; Nouble, Obiang, Fernandes, Ayeu; Arnautovitch, HernandezLambs To The Slaughter Or Lions Off To Battle The Foe?
Martin Tyler and all the other Manchester United disciples will be salivating at the chance to eulogise about Saint Moan-in-you and his 'economically' assembled squad as they take on their favourite serial losers and perennial punch bags West Ham United at Old Trafford 'live on Sky'. Romelu Lukaku will be expecting to score at least one goal, as he has scored in seven of his last eight games against West Ham and Manchester United have won 17 of their 21 Premier League home matches against West Ham, only drawing 2 and losing 2! Consequently on paper things don't look too promising for Slaven Billic and his team, but as we all know the game is not played on grass or a composite thereof rather than paper.
Lack of numbers and the usual Andy Carroll injury meant that Slaven Billic was forced to think outside the box at the beginning of his most successful season as Hammer's manager, and it looks as if he is going to have to use a bit more 'left' field thinking if his team is going to get anything out of a match which will be beamed around the World with particular interest from North and South America due to Chicharito's involvement.
Devoid of the services of Michail Antonio, Manuel Lanzini, Cheikhou Kouyate, Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho, Billic is going to have to be positive, there is no point in going to Old Trafford and lying down to accept a beating, just as equally there is no point in being 'gung ho' and getting a severe 'tonking', but look at how Burnley ignored the stats and embarrassed premier league champions Chelsea yesterday!
It was thought that Diafra Sakho might just have made the match day squad, it was hoped that newly arrived teenage sensation Sead Haksabanovic might feature as part of a surprise package to bamboozle Manchester United, however as both featured for the U-23's recently that is not going to happen, which is a pity because ALL teams are a bit 'out of sorts' for their opening game and players who have previously not been on their radar can, in the right circumstances, have a massive effect in the short term.
Sunday's is the first of FOUR away matches, courtesy of the athletic's games hosted at The London Stadium, if you include the cup tie against Cheltenham. The first home tie will be against unknown Premier League starters Huddersfield Town on September 11th.
Most people have written this match off as a Manchester United banker, but do you remember what happened to the banks not that long ago? - Ed
5 Things that won't change in the Prem this season!!
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1. Arsene Venger still won't be able to do his maggot bench coat up on the touchline.
2. Gary Neville will still be biased to his beloved Man Utd.
3. Mike Dean will still think everyone has come to watch him when he refs a game.
4. Jurgen Klopp will still be doing his Beaker (off the Muppets) impression on every post match interview.
5. Jose Mourhinio will still be a miserable morose shit in his interviews.......
when you sell your soul the devil wants his due
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sep 30th a special day for west ham this season..whys that you ask? well it is one of only 3 yes 3 games we will play at home that will be the traditional 3pm kick off before the turn of the year thats just crazy to me...its the price you pay for selling your "product" to the tv companies...younger fans its not a big deal but to me it just takes a bit from the whole saturday tradition for me...and how long before the overseas fixture becomes reality? 5 years 10? its coming mark my words it will happen because the premier leagues the most watched league in the world and money talks.
'Wild' Willy Carvalho Transfer Update
Encouraging news is emerging from various Portugese media outlets with regards to what would be an upping of the stakes Hammers move for William Carvalho. Reports suggest that the player's representative, Pere Guardiola, Pep's brother, has already agreed terms for the 25 year old combative midfielder for a five year deal. The suggested wages seem a little on the low side but that might be because Sporting Lisbon are holding out for the player's release clause value of €50 Million, it is thought Hammer's officials have been negotiating a deal closer to €40 Million, €5 Million of which would be in bonuses.
If Carvalho does arrive at The London Stadium, it will represent a significant statement of intent from the much maligned board of West Ham albeit a year too late! Over £30 Million on one player is a massive investment but is only just a step up from the money paid for Ayew and 'Arnie'. The Two Davids, Gold and Sullivan, are quite rightly loathe to committing to a player's purchase without some form of redress, especially given some of their past shockers, they have adopted the loan first policy as a safeguard, but now is the time to bite the bullet otherwise the club risks losing touch with those around who are all investing heavily just to stand still!
Diário de Notícias is one of the most respected Portugese media portals, they have been running the story about William Carvalho non stop, only problem is they don't confirm that West Ham is his club of choice to go to, only that the Premier League is where he wants to end up, which leaves the lingering doubt that another 'money bags' EPL team might hijack the move. It is to be hoped that is not the case, because last season West Ham United's midfield was ripped apart on a regular basis, especially by the top teams.
There is a general feeling that 'Wild' Willy Carvalho (as he is called by the Sporting fans) wouldn't be as accommodating when it comes to giving the opposition space as those who have occupied his potential berth in the past, far from it, his tenacious approach is renowned and would hopefully rub of on his team mates. Quite who would make way for him in the team is a matter of some conjecture, although given that Cheik Kayoute's injury is looking like it is going keep him out for at least a month there is an instant vacancy, however once Kayoute returns there will be some hard choices for Slaven Billic to make, one of which will be how to incorporate 'captain West Ham' Mark Noble in to a line up that is clearly designed to have a lot more pace and purpose than last season's leggy insipid displays (Tottenham, Chelsea and Swansea matches excluded!)? - Ed
Snodgrass Set Back
Those West Ham fans hoping Scottish International Robert Snodgrass was about to be shipped out to Aston Villa will be severely disappointed that Villa chairman Dr Tony Xia has distanced the club from any move for the 29 year old Hammers signed from Hull for an astonishing £10.2 Million during the January transfer window as a 'replacement' for Dimitri Payet! This was alice in wonderland thinking that has manifested itself in a player who was a big fish in a small pond but who has found himself completely out of his depth and consequently bereft of any of the confidence and swagger he once showed for now relegated Hull City.
The problem West Ham have with Snodgrass is that he is on big money, £75-80,000 per week, and is on a long contract, so who would realistically want him with Villa out of the running? Leeds have been mentioned but the attacking mid-fielder's wages would be more than an issue, similarly Norwich and Ipswich have been mentioned but a cut price deal with a wages subsidy might be the only option for a Championship side move, the only Premier League suitors are Brighton who may well toss the amiable Scott a lifeline having just lost their attacking midfielder to injury during the pre-season friendlies.
There are those who would feel that this site has an agenda against Robert Snodgrass, we expected great things from him having seen at first hand how good he was for Hull on their visit to The London Stadium where they completely outplayed the home team, only the post, which was credited as West Ham's best player prevented a deserved away victory! Unfortunately 'Snoddy' has been as poor for West Ham as was great for Hull, his time in London has been marked with a litany of dreadful performances that make him look a shadow of the player he once was, quite how such a massive transition could occur is bewildering, but a move would most definitely be beneficial for all concerned. A fresh start for the player and FFP wages back on board hopefully. The club will have to take a considerable financial hit, but the situation clearly shows that there are few bargains a to be had during the 'panic' January transfer window.
Recruitment wise the board are clearly determined to avoid last season's catastrophe, and have acted quickly and spent proportionately, big bids put in but actual intent! - Ed
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