West Ham Utd 1-0 Sunderland (22/10/16)

[The Green Man]

Thought I'd start this one as it was a winning thread last time! Sunderland have been the worst team in the league bar none, remove Defoe from their team and I'm not sure they'd even have a point on the board.

If we can pick up another win and really get behind the lads this should be a win for us, a win and we'll already be part-way to the midtable spots and starting to get this season going.

Shame to lose Cresswell but not much we can do about that now thanks to the twat Atkinson. Arbeloa to replace him at LWB?

Predictions - 2-1, Lanzini and Zaza, Defoe for them.

COYI

[szola]

How we are setting up would depend on Sunderland's strengths, but I'd guess we would like to keep the attacking trio of Payet - Zaza - Lanzini, and then we would have a rerun of the 3 - 4 - 3.

If Arbeloa is out, would we have Ogbonna or Nordtveit at left?

[MorthwylMawr]

Will Arbeloa be in contention for this one? We seem to be scratching around at FB for every game for some reason or another.

We'll win this one, Defoe is nailed on to score but we'll win. I fancy Zaza to get a goal, it's got to come at some point hasn't it?!?!

[mumbles87]

Yesterdays result has glossed over a defensive crisis for me. Just as we get our key player back he gets suspended. Poor decision from the ref! I really hope Arbeloa is back for this one.. Will have to play him out of position at Left wing back.. but then that begs the question do you play him at LWB and Antonio out of postion at RWB or play arbeloa at RWB and Antonio at LWB as he has played left wing a lot throughout his career and principles are the same.. only 1 player truly out of position then.. but anyways hopefully look something like this

--------------------Adrain

-------Kouyate---Reid---Ogbonna

Antonio----Obiang-----Noble-----Arbeloa

------------Lanzini--------Payet

----------------------Zaza

[bubbles1966]

Sunderland don't have the aerial threat of Benteke nor the width and pace of Zaha and Townsend - so I would expect us to go back to the formation that pretty much had the better of Middlesbrough two weeks ago.

I suspect that injuries/bans mean Antonio at RB.

[carnage]

Sunderland will do well to beat Derby's record.

[Lostcoco]

Reckon we will line up like this

Adrian
Antonio Reid Kouyate Ogbonna
Noble Obiang
Feghouli Lanzini Payet
Zaza

[BMLGirl]

Antonio was limping heavily at the end of the game yesterday - will he be fit?

[Chelmo Hammer]

This is the sort of game that is only going to go one of two ways.....we will either absolutely smash them, finally making our mark at our new home, with Zaza getting his goal. Or Sunderland will get their first win of the season (which would be so very West Ham).

[GwentHammers]

My first game at the new stadium ....

Really looking forward to it after yesterday.

Due to ill health not sure when I will get up again so do me proud West Ham - make me smile and entertain me ..... not asking much am I ?

[Beavis Danzig]

i'd rather play the same system with a re-purposed midfielder on the left than play four at the back or expect ogbonna to fly down the wing.

**** of a ref really did a number on us. this would've been the perfect game to build on the 3421 with cressers and iron mic (who turned in exactly the kind of performance i've been wanting all season from him) before chelsea.

[Doc H Ball]

With Cresswell out we can't play the same formation. At home to the bottom Club with our tails now more up, nor should we.

**** knows if Zaza is a player or not, but after yesterday's effort I think he has to start. Same could be said for Obiang but I still see him as an away game man.

So, depending on fitness, I'd go:

..........................Adrian

Arbeola.....Reid.....Ogbonna.....Masuaku

............Kouyate............Noble

...Antonio..........Lanzini...........Payet

..........................Zaza

[thejackhammer]

With Cresswell out we can't play the same formation. At home to the bottom Club with our tails now more up, nor should we.

**** knows if Zaza is a player or not, but after yesterday's effort I think he has to start. Same could be said for Obiang but I still see him as an away game man.

So, depending on fitness, I'd go:

..........................Adrian

Arbeola.....Reid.....Ogbonna....Masuaku

............Kouyate............Noble

...Antonio..........Lanzini...........Payet

..........................Zaza

I'd keep Obiang in for Defoe's sake. Masuaku is still injured so shift Ogbonna over to the left, move Kouyate into defence, Obiang partnering Noble.

[Iron-worx]

With Cresswell out we can't play the same formation. At home to the bottom Club with our tails now more up, nor should we.

**** knows if Zaza is a player or not, but after yesterday's effort I think he has to start. Same could be said for Obiang but I still see him as an away game man.

So, depending on fitness, I'd go:

..........................Adrian

Arbeola.....Reid.....Ogbonna.....Masuaku

............Kouyate............Noble

...Antonio..........Lanzini...........Payet

..........................Zaza

Masuaku isn't anywhere near ready is he ? Reckon it'll be Ogbonna LB and Collins CB

[Doc H Ball]

Didn't realise Masuaku was still out, so I see the sense in that Jack.

.........................Adrian

Arbeola......Reid......Kouyate......Ogbonna

..................Obiang.....Noble

....Antonio.........Lanzini.............Payet

...........................Zaza

[bubbles1966]

I'd guess that Antonio and Arbeloa (if fit) will start at RB and LB.

Kouyate will be pushed up alongside Obiang and Noble will be pushed up with Lanzini and Payet - essentially the same shape as against Boro, with Zaza having earned himself another start.

If Joe Allen can score two against this mob.....

[Jumby]

Nothing less than three points will do, if you can't beat Sunderland at home you have problems.

3-0 Hammers, Antonio with two and Payet curling in a beauty

[bubbles1966]

Pretty much all the players Allardyce recruited to improve them are injured or gone (Kirchoff /Kaboul /Kone /Yedlin). Every time we play them they seem to be on the verge of sacking someone.

[Jumby]

I can't believe that Gordon John Sinclair, who played Gregory in Gregory's Girl, has become such a clueless looking manager since leaving Everton.

If we outfootball them we'll walk this, tease this cluster of Man Utd cast offs and everyone else's rejects, they're literally there for the taking.

[simon1982]

Same system with feghouli at rwb and a reluctant Antonio as lwb.
Obiang, kouyate, Reid and ogbonna should be enough to keep Defoe quiet.