ELPO: West Ham Utd 0-1 (agg 1-2) Astra Giurgiu (25/08/16)

[Bergen Hammer]

Valencia is so short of confidence (not even gonna touch on his ability..,) that it's almost cruel to start him. If he is to play it needs to be upfront with us having a one goal lead where he will get space in behind.

I'd start Calleri. Fletcher to pair up if we go two up front.

[WCpete]

Is this match being broadcast?

[Puff Daddy]

Sunderland and Jermaine Defoe are about right for each other I think he is a loathsome little ****

[Johnny Byrne's Boots]

Is this match being broadcast?

BT Sport

[Noble Man]

Shouldn't really be resting any players - 2 games and then there's an international break.

We could go to City full strength and still have a big chance of losing, so it's a no-brainer to prioritise the Europa fixture. It's far more important.

Spot on!!

[Sanfranhammersfan]

Shouldn't really be resting any players - 2 games and then there's an international break.

We could go to City full strength and still have a big chance of losing, so it's a no-brainer to prioritise the Europa fixture. It's far more important.

Completely agree. Rest 'em for the City game if absolutely necessary.

[NottinghamTom]

Apart from playing 12 players, we should go as full strength as possible for this, more important than the Man City game IMO.

:lol: hahaha there was meant to be a Slash between Samuelson & Quina.

although if we play 12 players we should win comfortably

[sjb958]

I ordered my ticket ages ago and it still hasn't arrived :shock:

[TheHandOfDog]

Really looking forward to this game. I'd go full strength with maybe noble rested as he is oldish now and played loads of games recently.

[bobd_uk]

Bilic has again said that Lanzini could be on the bench for this. I really hope the admin type people know the rules on this one, as he still isn't shown in our registered squad on the UEFA site.

[HarlowEssexHammer]

I'd go full strength with maybe noble rested as he is oldish now

****ing hell :lol:

[Paddy O'Hammer]

I'm with the full strength squad callers!

Get though this round and the others start filtering back and maybe we will get some sort of handy striker.

But we don't do easy!

[Chadwell Hammer]

My team:

Randolph

Byram
Ogbonna
Oxford
Burke

Noble
Obiang

Antonio
Enner
Tore

Calleri

[Crouchend_Hammer]

The most important game of the season for me. If we don't get through, the whole of last season will have been for nothing
Of course the Europa League isn't the most glamorous of tournaments, but if we want to move on as a club it is a tournament we need to be in. We need to get used to playing lots of games, traveling to far flung places, using our squad. Plus it is great experience for our players (senior and younger) and will improve them as players and individuals.
If we get into the League competition then it gives us supporters a distraction from the Premier League and, if nothing else, will simply make the season more interesting, especially if we get through to the knock out stage
If it means we come lower in the Premier League, i am happy to take that trade-off

Therefore, we should play the strongest team we possibly can on Thursday, and worry about Manchester City afterwards

EDIT: Harry Kane would not be the player he is not if it wasn't for the Europa League as i doubt he would have got a chance to prove himself in the Premier League without scoring a hatful in the Europa League first. That is one of the biggest advantages

[wizzo_66]

Spot on Crouchy.

We spend all season busting a gut to get in Europe, so why would we just chuck it away the moment we are on the verge of getting into the competition proper.

Strongest team from the start. Can always take 3 of them off.

[upton o'good]

Astra rested a load of players ahead of the first leg. But played a full strength(ish) team at the weekend.

I guess that tell us something about how their priorities have moved on, having not won the first leg.

[Aceface]

Of course the Europa League isn't the most glamorous of tournaments

It isn't for anyone used to better things. But seeing Roma get knocked out against Porto yesterday your mind naturally drifts to a possible draw against them, and other teams of that ilk, in the group stages. That seems pretty glamorous to me. It's a completely foreign concept seeing us play decent European sides in competitive fixtures. Yes please.

[Crouchend_Hammer]

That was what i was alluding to in the second part of my post Ace. Definitely glamorous enough for West Ham

[upton o'good]

Astra rested a load of players ahead of the first leg. But played a full strength(ish) team at the weekend.

I guess that tell us something about how their priorities have moved on, having not won the first leg.

[LeonRivers]

Astra rested a load of players ahead of the first leg. But played a full strength(ish) team at the weekend.

I guess that tell us something about how their priorities have moved on, having not won the first leg.

Didn't they lose heavily at the weekend? I assumed that meant that they had rested the usual first XI.