West Ham Utd vs Leicester City: match thread

[Up the Junction]

Another team in need of three points. How far will our benevolent nature stretch?

[Believer]

I can't say I'm looking forward to this one bit. You'd like to think they'll be fired up but Bilic didn't seem that fussed with our performance today ??

1-2 unfortunately. However square pegs in square holes and we could win this 3-0. Big game for Slav I think.

[Westbourne Bill]

We've shown against WBA, Chelsea and yesterday we're as likely to leave gaps at the back when we attack as any team. Tailor made for Leicester and Vardy.

[cockney farmer]

Watch out for "fake" injury news this week which will allow stubborn Slav to make the changes everyone know he needs to make us more solid. Would not be surprised if our captain is rested for this one and we get the box to box energy Kouyate can give .

Would also like to see Ayew start

My preferred line up

Randolph
Bryam
Fonte baby
Reid
Cresswell
Obiang
Kouyate
Lanzini
Antonio
Ayew
Carroll

[cockney farmer]

Sorry boss didn't see one started please add to original

[Puff Daddy]

What game plan, if at all, will he have for this must win game ?

[cockney farmer]

Hopefully their exertions Tuesday night in champions league might give us an edge .

I guess a real back 4 , 2 covering box to box midfield , Lanzini in the middle pulling strings , an energetic Antonio , tracking back to support Bryan and a confident Ayew would be My thinking

[StevePottsGoalsReel]

I think there's a decent case to be made for Byram and Masuaku to be our starting full-backs for the next couple of games (maybe not for Arsenal away). Let's get a bit of energy and forward drive and trickery in to our FB positions again. Let's see if attack can be our best form of defence out wide because we're certainly not shutting up shop even with supposedly more defensively-sound players there at present.

Cresswell needs a rest and/or kick up the bum and time to give Kouyate a go alongside Obiang given Noble's form. (Although I guess Bilic is more likely to push him across as a third CB).

That won't solve everything but it's definitely worth a go at the moment given the status quo is definitely not working.

[Roby]

Most likely another draw while we plod our way over the finishing line.

[funky chicken]

Big changes needed!

------------------------------------Adrian--------------------------------

-Byram------------Collins---------------Reid------------Masuaku-

----------------------------------Obiang---------------------------------

--------------------Kouaye---------------Lanzini----------------------

----------------------------------Ayew------------------------------------

-------------------Antonio----------------Carroll-----------------------


Subs: Randolph, Cresswell, Fonte, Noble, Fernandes, Snodgrass, Fletcher.

[61dicksey]

I like that line up Funky Chicken.

[Puff Daddy]

Could Sakho be back for this one ? and back being the operative word. Just what is the extent of his back injury, that one appearance aside has sidelined him for 15 months? One other thing that has puzzled me is, in that brief appearance at Old Trafford in which he scored, he didn't look to me like a player who was unfit and neither do I recall he limped off with an injury and even if he had aggravated his back again, how come it has taken nearly 5 months to clear up?

[MB]

We've shown against WBA, Chelsea and yesterday we're as likely to leave gaps at the back when we attack as any team. Tailor made for Leicester and Vardy.

Was just thinking exactly the same. He will have a field day if we play like we did today.

Their centre halves are also perfect to counter Carroll. Not expecting anything from this one

[Blow Bubbles]

Big changes needed!

------------------------------------Adrian--------------------------------

-Byram------------Collins---------------Reid------------Masuaku-

----------------------------------Obiang---------------------------------

--------------------Kouaye---------------Lanzini----------------------

----------------------------------Ayew------------------------------------

-------------------Antonio----------------Carroll-----------------------


Subs: Randolph, Cresswell, Fonte, Noble, Fernandes, Snodgrass, Fletcher.

Where has this nonsensical calling for a midfield diamond that doesn't work and will never play towards our strongest players strengths come from in recent match threads?!

I think your team is the one though - just lined up properly with a front four of Antonio and Ayew either side of Carroll and Lanzini behind him

Agree with bringing Ginge back in too. I would sit here and debate not dropping Nobes... But I seem to see a completely different game than most here as far as he is concerned.

[bowltorious]

Please West Ham make the changes needed.

------------------Keeper
Byram-----Fonte-----Reid------Masuaku
--------------Kouyate----Obiang
Ayew--------------Lanzini---------Antonio
--------------------Carroll

Other than Cresswell, who needs to be dropped due to form, thats the best we have. Ayew can come inside when Byram overlaps because Leicester will just look to sit back and counter. We need to keep the ball and move it quickly. These aren't great but I feel the old trait of giving teams points or goals when they can't buy any at the time will rear its ugly head much like yesterday.

[TommyHammer]

Proper fancied us to beat Bournemouth yesterday, but now i'm fearing the worst against a Leicester side on the up. I suspect Slav will make changes, but I think this could mean Byram coming in for Kouyate at RB and Noble staying in CDM, as annoying as that is. Ayew has to start, bar giving the ball away for their third goal yesterday (i'm sure we're top in terms of giving away goals from errors) he is starting to prove why he was worth the 20 mil.

[the pink palermo]

My starting line up .

Noble
Reid

I'll come back on the rest in due course .

[hammer1975]

Leicester have three draws away from home and no away wins in the Premier League this season

why do I get the feeling their first away win is coming up next Saturday?

[Doc H Ball]

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

Byram.........Fonte........Reid........Cresswell

..................Obiang........Noble (c)

...Antonio.............Lanzini...............Ayew

.............................Carroll

[Stepney]

We looked pretty poor yesterday so I'm going for a loss here. The remainder of the season might not be as comfortable as we all thought. It's been a funny old season. Personally I just wanted to stay up and avoid the embarrassment of getting relegated in our new 'stadium'. Hopefully we'll just about have enough firepower to do that. Get this season over and done with now and see where we are in the summer and how much our owners are willing to invest in the team....