West Ham Utd 1-0 Swansea City (30/09/17)

[Polaroid]

Same formation as Spurs with Nathan Holland in for Michail Antonio.
Round peg for a round hole.

I know he's untested at the required level but it'll be nice to find out if he can take his chance (dare I say it, ala Rashford).

[asters89]

Same formation as Spurs with Nathan Holland in for Michail Antonio.
Round peg for a round hole.

I know he's untested at the required level but it'll be nice to find out if he can take his chance (dare I say it, ala Rashford).

Slav would have to be a brave man to play Holland with his job looking like its on the line.

If Antonio isn't fit, I wouldn't be surprised to see Carroll start in a 3-4-3 with Hernandez shunted out wide which might not make for the most enthralling game but at least Carroll tends to turn up against the swans.

[StackerJJ]

I'd like to see

---------------------Hart--------------------
---------Fonte - Reid - Oggy--------
Zaba - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Cress
---------------Nobes - Kouyate----------
Byram / Arnie - - - - - - -Masu / Arnie
----------------Hernandez------------------

Either Bryram and Arnie or Masuaku and Arnie occupying the wings is fine with me.

Think that would be solid, and have enough pace with the forward three and allow enough cover.

2-0 to the hammers

[sutts07]

Difficult for Slav this week, we need to try and get as settled as we can at the back so chopping between a 3 and a 4 each game is not ideal. That said, it would make a lot more sense to have an extra creative player on the pitch for this as it could be a tough task breaking them down.

Would personally like to see something like this...

------------------- Hart -------------------
Zabaleta Ogbonna Reid Cresswell
---------- Kouyate Noble ------------
Ayew ----- Arnautovic --- Masuaku
------------- Hernandez --------------

Wouldn't be surprised if we saw something more like this though...

----------------------- Hart ------------------------
Zabaleta Ogbonna Reid Fonte Cresswell
Arnautovic - Kouyate Noble - Hernandez
--------------------- Carroll -----------------------

[seaside hammer]

Arthur has to start he deserves it after goal in cup then assist on Sat. Could he even play further forward? I don't know but he has earned it.

As for Carroll why should he start? the fella hasn't scored since a league goal since April, I know he has a decent record Vs Swansea but who cares? His mistakes costs us x2 goals on Sat and Chico deserves to start central because: has scored x3 goals, looks sharper and has put a shift in for the team playing wherever asked. Carroll has to sit on bench and take his chance when it comes. Rotate the two of them I say.

[HammerMan2004]

I'd like to see

---------------------Hart--------------------
---------Fonte - Reid - Oggy--------
Zaba - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Cress
---------------Nobes - Kouyate----------
Byram / Arnie - - - - - - -Masu / Arnie
----------------Hernandez------------------

Not trying to have a go here, but given the abuse Slaven gets for playing players out of position, you'd rather see fullbacks occupying our wide forward positions instead of players we've broken our transfer record for twice in Ayew and Arnautovic?!

[mumbles87]

Not trying to have a go here, but given the abuse Slaven gets for playing players out of position, you'd rather see fullbacks occupying our wide forward positions instead of players we've broken our transfer record for twice in Ayew and Arnautovic?!

to be fair Byram's second position is wide right

[sutts07]

Not trying to have a go here, but given the abuse Slaven gets for playing players out of position, you'd rather see fullbacks occupying our wide forward positions instead of players we've broken our transfer record for twice in Ayew and Arnautovic?!

Have to agree, I would imagine he would get dogs abuse if he were to start with seven recognised defenders in the line up (plus Noble and Kouyate) against Swansea at home!

[Crouchend_Hammer]

Not trying to have a go here, but given the abuse Slaven gets for playing players out of position, you'd rather see fullbacks occupying our wide forward positions instead of players we've broken our transfer record for twice in Ayew and Arnautovic?!

It is absolutely mental
We struggle to get much attacking threat with our defensive version of 3 CBs anyway, without putting players who are full-backs/ wing-backs in a front 3

[StackerJJ]

Not trying to have a go here, but given the abuse Slaven gets for playing players out of position, you'd rather see fullbacks occupying our wide forward positions instead of players we've broken our transfer record for twice in Ayew and Arnautovic?!

Maybe you misunderstood. Arnie plays on one wing, with one of the others (Byram or Masuaku) occupying the other.

Byram and Masuaku are more suited to the winger position than Ayew (who is a number 10 or forward) so I would say it makes sense yes.

[jphammer341]

Hoping for more semblance of a game plan to combat a swansea that will sit deep in a block and make it difficult for us.

Hart

Fonte Reid Ogbonna
Zabaleta Noble Kouyate Masuaku
Ayew (deserves his chance) Arnautovic
Hernandez

Plan B against a deep defence will be to bring on Carroll and/or Sakho and get some crosses in the box. Not lumping it from our half but working a good position and getting it in there.

Optimistic though 1-0 and a similar tight game to last year at home.

[ageing hammer]

We are at home and not playing one of the big boys. We need points. No need to play 5 at the back.

I want to see Sakho and Hernandez to see if it could work.

Irons to win this one.


------------------- Hart -------------------
Zabaleta Ogbonna---Reid--- Masuaku
Ayew ----- Kouyate--- Noble ------ Arnautovic
--------- Hernandez --Sakho------------

[My_Sobriquet]

Has to be three at the back as we concede ridiculous goals with any less, even with three at the back we are often a mess as highlighted on MotD this week, our defense coach must be mental.

I would go:

------------------------ Hart --------------------------
------------- Kouyate Reid Ogbonna -----------
Zabaletta Obiang Noble Masuaku
---------Ayew------------------- Arnautovic ----
------------------- Hernandez -------------------

If Lanzini and Antonio are out.

[asters89]

I'd like to see Hernandez and Carroll start up top with Ayew in behind them. I don't reckon Mawson and co will be looking forward to the physical battle and Hernandez and Ayew can float around him to poach the knock downs.

If we start with those three though I fully expect Ayew to start right and Hernandez to be shifted out left where both will struggle to get into the game.

[LincolnshireHammer]

Antonio won't be fit for this.
We don't need 5 at the back vs Swansea.
Must win game

Hart
Zabaleta, Fonte, Reid, Cresswell
Byram, Noble, Kouyate, Arnie
Ayew, Hernandez

Subs:
Adrian, Ogbonna, Rice, Masuaku, Holland, Martinez, Carroll

Byram played a lot for Leeds at right wing.
Ayew and Hernandez could link up well.
Bring Carroll on with 30 to go

You say we don't need 5 at the back then include 5 defenders in your starting line up! Surely we have a better RM than Byram!

[Billy Hunt]

You folks suggesting Byram as a right sided midfielder... seriously ?

Have you seen him when he gets into the final 3rd ? His decision making is woeful, and the result is often a rushed cross/shot or something in between.

[StackerJJ]

You folks suggesting Byram as a right sided midfielder... seriously ?

Have you seen him when he gets into the final 3rd ? His decision making is woeful, and the result is often a rushed cross/shot or something in between.

Can't be any worse than Arnie's decision making and we paid 20million for him.

It's my opinion of course but I think he'd make a solid right mid.

Most of our players don't have the best decision making (bar a few) which is why they play for West Ham pal.

Antonio, Arnie, Cresswell, Kouyate etc all make some as you well put 'woeful' decisions.

[Billy Hunt]

Can't be any worse than Arnie's decision making and we paid 20million for him.

It's my opinion of course but I think he'd make a solid right mid.

Most of our players don't have the best decision making (bar a few) which is why they play for West Ham pal.

Antonio, Arnie, Cresswell, Kouyate etc all make some as you well put 'woeful' decisions.

Byram's lack of composure when in an attacking position is pretty shocking, he genuinely does not know whether to shoot, pass or cross, so he often just hits the ball anywhere - and that kind of writes him off being any kind of attacking threat. He's OK as a right back, but that's about it in my book.

Agree with you though that the others you mention can all be guilty of woeful decisions at times.

[Puff Daddy]

[quote="LincolnshireHammer"]

You say we don't need 5 at the back

Not against a team that has only scored 3 goals so far this season

[trevshead10may1980]

I just cannot understand why so many of you want Arnie on the side. He has done absolutely nothing useful so far in the league games he has started. Leave him on the bench and put Ayew in, who can score and create chances.