FAC3: West Ham Utd 2-0 Birmingham City (05/01/19)

[westhamgardner]

Only just bought a ticket so assume it won't arrive in the post in time. Does anyone know if I just pop to the ticket office on matchday?

[brownout]

We should play the strongest available eleven.
We won't be relegated. We are unlikely to qualify for Europe through the league, so if the club have any ambition other than to maximise income the FA Cup should be top priority.

[arlhe]

Only just bought a ticket so assume it won't arrive in the post in time. Does anyone know if I just pop to the ticket office on matchday?

Get there early! Queues are always lengthy on match days.

[Cuenca 'ammer]

I’d go:

——————Adrian
Zab—Ogbonna—Oxford—Arthur
————-Noble——Obiang
——————Nasri
Diagana———————Silva
———-——Antonio

Subs: Fabianski, Diop, Creswell, Snodgrass, Anderson, Arnoutovic and Carroll

stu

concerned that you have 3 players in fairly key positions who haven't had ONE minute's football between them.

if we get smashed Pellers get caned. most everyone wants a good cup run.

unless we are doing a Big Sam and chucking the towel in already - I don't pay to go so it's not my money, but Shirley that line up is a disaster waiting to happen.

with the exception of Oxford who I don't see getting a look in ever any more Pellers seems to have said "Sorry young man you need to find a new club" I don't mind one starting Nasri say, and Silva playing some part....

big risk.......they don't appear to be a bad side at all.......

[Samba]

big risk.......they don't appear to be a bad side at all.......

They seem far better than last season, iirc.

[Cuenca 'ammer]

they're only 3 or 4 points outside of the play off spots and all the other teams are getting the press..

last 5 games: D-W-W-D-D - don't seem to score a lot - 38 but don't seem to concede a lot either 28

don't think it's going to be easy, so starting 3 players who haven't played this season for the first team is a big ask for me.

[Knighter10WHU]

If it was between reaching the later stages of the FA Cup, and us finishing 7th as opposed to 10th or so – I know which I would want.

As do I.

But there are certain players that would benefit from a break this weekend given that we only played on Wednesday night and are playing again on Saturday lunchtime and have had a busy Christmas schedule.

Frankly I think we would actually be better off playing some of the fringe players over the first teamers as at least they will be fresh unlike the likes of Snodgrass, Cresswell, Rice, Diop, Anderson etc who looked shattered last night. Arnautovic surely can't play 3 games in a week, it wasn't long ago he was unable to do 2 in a week when away with Austria and he is only just back from an injury too.

[bowltorious]

------------------------Adrian
Zabaleta-------Diop------Ogbonna------Masuaku
--------------------Noble-----Obiang
Antonio--------------Nasri-----------Diangana
----------------------Arnautovic

Take off Arnie after 60 mins. Snodgrass, Rice and Anderson all need a rest.

[Richard Bluenose]

I suspect that (like me) most on here don't know very much about the Brum team but recognise that Monk is doing a decent job.

West Ham will definitely rest a few, despite still having eight players out injured, so it could be a tight game. If it's 0-0 or you're 1-0 up, with 20 mins to go, I'd expect Arnie and Anderson make an appearance.[/quote]

To be fair we have a couple of decent players who can hurt a team, Jota, Adams and Magoma on his day but in general its a very hard working, organised team who fight to the end and have gone under the radar a little, we have no depth to the squad though. As for Monk he has transformed a team who have avoided relegation more or less on the last of the season for the last 4 years, a remarkable turnaround, be great to see what he could do with a decent budget.I reckon the better players will tell overall and you should nick it with a bit of quality, but Brum will give it a good go. Bit disappointed with the kick off time though.

Regards

[psychoscoredthelot]

Bit disappointed with the kick off time though.

youre not the only one mate

[Richard Bluenose]

Pubs still open after the game though

[davids cross]

Don't play Anderson..........don't play Rice.

Those two definitely need a 10 day break imo.

[Billydinho]

I like Che Adams, always seems to hold the ball up well but also run the channels and get in behind. Must be one of the top scorers in the Champ?

Still young as well.

[Richard Bluenose]

I think he's on 11 now, so a pretty good return, if he carries on progressing a Prem team will give him his chance, he's strong and very quick and to be totally honest it's him who will get anything out of the game if he's given a bit of space.

Regards

[Al Fisti]

Don't play Anderson..........don't play Rice.

Those two definitely need a 10 day break imo.

[Crouchend_Hammer]

Bluenose - what has happened to Isaac Vassell?

As someone with a more than passing interest in Plymouth, I was surprised he made it as a pro let alone got a big money move to the Championship

[Coops]

Strongest possible team.
Winning the cup is more important than the difference between a couple of mid table places.

[Jon]

Banana skin.

[TheHandOfDog]

I would start Silva too, give him a go. I'd start Diangana also. The rest should be picked on who is up for it fitness wise, I would start Nasri too.

Adrian
Antonio Oggy Diop Cresswell or Masuaku
Rice Noble
Diangana Nasri
Arnie/Perez/Caroll Silva

[Up the Junction]

Fabianski statistically the best PL goalkeeper in the opening half of the season.

http://www.kumb.com/story.php?id=133136

So he'd be in my team. I note many of you are not listing him in your preferred XIs.