West Ham Utd 5 Burnley 1 (21/02/11)

[Muddy]

Give Parker a rest and Bung Fritz on.
Going to this one, so i hope we win it (i would've hoped we win it anyway but still)

[Happyhammer93]

A good game for the team after today's draw, showing good fight and spirit to come back from 3 down to get a draw, it'll be nice for the team to have a cup match and take their focus of the league - we will hopefully and should win this game and give the team a bit more confidence going into the 1/3 of matches in a season.

Would like to see Ba continue for this game, Hitz given a run out if he's fit enough and would like to see Ba and Keane try to forge a partnership and give us the fans some better hope that these two can and will combine well together in this important part of the season and push us towards safety.

[indiehammer]

Nice break from the league, i think it's needed. Need a win aswell to carry on the momentum. Our form hasn't been so bad but we need a win to bring that mentality back.

As it's a weekend game, theres not much need to rest players but a chance to give squad players some game time. Id go with:

..........................Green..................

Faubert......Da Costa...Reid......Bridge

Barrera......Spector........Hitz........Obinna

...................Ba.............Cole..................

Bench: Boffin, Spence, Kovac, Noble, Sears, Hines, Piq
Parker needs the game off, no question. O'Neil and Jacobsen can be rested to give other players a game.

[Fare-hammer]

Looks about right, maybe Sears and Noble starting with Barrera and Hitz on the bench. Give Hiz about 25 minutes if things go to plan.
Can't Illunga play in cup games even though he isn't in the 25 squad. Dodgy defence with Reid and Da Costa as well, but keep Bridge back for the league games.
O'Neil is cup tied so will have to be left out.

[kthammer]

Green
Faubert
Da Costa (if fit - I thought he got a knock v WBA - otherwise Specs)
Reid (because he's got to learn sometime)
Bridge
Barrera (he needs to get used to playing Championship teams)
Spector
LBM
Obinna (if 100% - otherwise Hines/Stanilas etc)
Ba (needs to get match fit)
Cole

Burnley appear to be on a good run at the moment and have players like Eagles who will enjoy taking on our defence. So keep Piq, Noble on the bench in case it goes tits up. But frankly, we could do without a Cup distraction this year.

[matty.h]

give Hitz a start and rest parker...
ba and obinna up top and who knows with the rest but for **** sake dont play flipping winston reid...

[kthammer]

give Hitz a start and rest parker...
ba and obinna up top and who knows with the rest but for f*** sake dont play flipping winston reid...

I think Hitz should get on, but I really don't want to rush him. Look what happened to Keane.

[Muddy]

I think Hitz should get on, but I really don't want to rush him. Look what happened to Keane.

Was Keane rushed? He wasn't out injured though was he (well not that i know of anyway). **** happenes, especially to us.

[Essex 'Ammer12]

Green
Jacobsen--tomkins--SPENCE--bridge
Fritz--noble--super specs
Ba--piq--obinna

[Swiss Pauli]

With a week between games (well, Saturday-Monday-Sunday which is a near as you'll get to week these days) then it's a first choice team for me, set out to attack and win the game.

Play 4-3-3 with a higher defensive line than we have been doing, with Green coming further off his line to play sweeper-keeper. Push the full-backs on and have Noble sit in front of the CBs, with Parker and O'Neil (or Spector/LBM) getting up and down the park. As a sub, Hitz can play in either the sitting or up-and-down role.

Ba on the left, Piq in the middle and Cole on the right (cos I think Carlton will track back more, and Piq has better attacking movement than him at centre-forward). As a sub, Obinna can cover either side of the front three.

Da Costa and Reid to play again, with hopefully one of Gabbs, Tomkins, or Upson on the bench.

[Eric]

With a week between games (well, Saturday-Monday-Sunday which is a near as you'll get to week these days) then it's a first choice team for me, set out to attack and win the game.

Play 4-3-3 with a higher defensive line than we have been doing, with Green coming further off his line to play sweeper-keeper. Push the full-backs on and have Noble sit in front of the CBs, with Parker and O'Neil (or Spector/LBM) getting up and down the park. As a sub, Hitz can play in either the sitting or up-and-down role.

Ba on the left, Piq in the middle and Cole on the right (cos I think Carlton will track back more, and Piq has better attacking movement than him at centre-forward). As a sub, Obinna can cover either side of the front three.

Da Costa and Reid to play again, with hopefully one of Gabbs, Tomkins, or Upson on the bench.

Sounds just like what a real team would do !!!!

Now, what will GRANT do ?????????

[JBs Caravan]

Dont let Cole,anywhere near the starting X1,Piqqy n Obina with Ba playing down the middle

[Hackney Hammer]

....................Green
Jacobsen...Reid...Da Costa...Gabbidon
Faubert...Hitzlsperger...Noble...Boa Morte
...................Ba...Cole

[Dyer's Leg]

Dont let Cole,anywhere near the starting X1

Why?

[UptonHammer]

They're in good form, but don't have a chance against us!

-------------------------Green----------------------------

Jacobsen-------Da Costa-------Reid--------Bridge

Stanislas------Noble------Spector---------Obinna

------------------Cole---------------Ba--------------------

Give Piq and Parker a rest and play a couple of youngsters
3-0 West Ham COYI

[davids cross]

I would think long and hard before playing Ba in this game. With Keane out for 3-6 weeks (which ever report you believe) any injury to Ba (who we know is delicate) would rob us of the two real goalscorers we have. To see him and Keane ruled out for a month or two would be catostrofic. Unless they feel he needs "game time" to get fitness, which is possible I would hate his impact on our season to come to an end in a game against Burnley when his biggest contribution will be needed against Liverpool and Stoke when Keane will still be missing.

Just a thought.

[Muddy]

Why?

Cole could score a hat trick in every game from now untill the end of the season and people would still hate him.

[m-h]

Whoever Grant is thinking of putting in the team in midfield and forward to play against Liverpool, should start against Burnley.
Parker, Noble, Oneil, Obinna need as much time as possible in match conditions to get used to having a combination up top of out Piq/Ba/Cole (admittedly this does mean actually having to think about formation/tactics). As for the defense, i've no idea, but we've already given up on that already, simply have to score more than we are going to let in. Not like we going to keep many clean sheets here on out, as we havn't all season, six in all competitions, 3 league, 3 cup. IMO.

[Aceface]

I would think long and hard before playing Ba in this game. With Keane out for 3-6 weeks (which ever report you believe) any injury to Ba (who we know is delicate) would rob us of the two real goalscorers we have. To see him and Keane ruled out for a month or two would be catostrofic.

Just a thought.

Totally agree.

Would love a win, but worst scenario in this would be to draw and get a replay - last thing we need in our situation is another game for the players at this point in the season, another game to pick up injuries. It makes me sick to say it, but I don't mind us losing this one. Love the FA Cup, but when you're in our situation it feels a bit like a luxury.

[Gerblatz]

Wouldn't want to lose this under any circumstances, least of all at home! With a few tinkered changes to rest players (they are on a 3 day break already this week), perhaps protect a few - nothing whole sale though. Would like to see Hitz get a run out.