West Ham Utd 2-2 West Bromwich Albion (11/02/17)

[martin allen fan club]

Thought id start this as looking at the table this is a huge game for us .

If we Win we have a 'chance' of progressing beyond 8th and above

If we Lose i think 9th and lower half of table is where we will be at end of season

If we Draw ...hmmm cant see us going above 9th

[Hammersfaniow]

Only change I'd make is Lanzini in for Feghouli. Snoddy & Antonio out wide, both cutting in to work off the big man. Other than that, 3-0 to us

[Aceface]

We've not been very good against them in recent times.

I've been surprised how resilient they've been this season - assumed they'd regress to the usual bottom half of the table slog at some point, but they keep bobbing along.

[Clucking Bell]

I really wish this was at their place. I'd fancy us to get a decent result away from home but, I can see us losing this one.

Our best hope is Pulis setting them up for a draw, us getting an early, fortunate goal that forces them to come at us, and then getting one or two more on the break.

[bubbles1966]

They are a team a big lumps in positions 1-11 with the possible exception of Morrison. They have a bit about them going forward and are the best team in the league at attacking set plays (closely followed by us).

Slav's selection needs to factor these things in. Not a game for lightweights.

If it's level at an hour, we win late on when we introduce the flair players.

Randolph: Nordtveit or Fernandes: Cresswell: Fonte: Reid: Kouyate: Obiang: Noble: Snodders: Antonio: Carroll

Subs: Adrian: Nordtveit or Fernandes : Collins: Ayew: Lanzini: Feghouli: Fletcher

[WTID]

Lanzini in for Feghouli only change.

[only1post]

Tough game.
Both teams have scored 32 goals this season, but we have a goal difference of - 9 & they are + 3.
To put it bluntly they defend better than us and love him of loathe him Pulis deserves a lot of credit.
Top UK manager in the division and he probably deserves a shot at managing one of the big clubs.
Bilic has some tough choices to make on formation and who to bench but we must defend well and win the midfield battle.
Tight game won by the odd goal probably from a set piece, Reid, Fonte or maybe Antonio with a header while they focus on Andy.

[Ben]

the game passed me by this weekend, intend to catch up and watch it but what was the deal with Randolph?
saw a few comments early on in that he wasn't looking great... has the win papered over a nervy display or was it just frustration at going 1 down?
didn't think he was up to much in the city game

[Aceface]

I've been quite keen in theory on Kouyate at RB for a while, and now I'm keen in practice having seen it against Southampton.

Albion are definitely the type of slower-tempo'd basketball team worth continuing it against.

He makes more sense on paper than the other 17 players who've had a crack at it this season in any case.

[Ben]

agree, he could play anywhere.
makes an absolute mockery of our transfer dealings again though as he should be playing in midfield.

[seaside hammer]

decent team WBA wouldn't be surprised if 0-0 or a 1-0 either way can't call it.

[coyi27]

What I want to see:

.............Randolph.......
Byram..Reid..Fonte...Cress
........Obiang....Kouyate.....
Feghouli....Lanzini....Snodgrass
..................Carroll..........

What we are going to see:

.............Randolph..........
Kouyate...Reid....Fonte....Cress
Snodgrass....Noble...Obiang...Lanzini
..............Antonio.....Carroll........

[rhysvol1995]

WBA are a good team, as they showed in the 4-2 at the Hawthorns earlier this season when Chadli gave us the run around. Our back 4 that day was Nordtviet-Collins-Ogbonna-Masuaku so we should hopefully be stronger at the back this time round. Does anybody know if Byram is back for this one?

[Ben]

What I want to see:

.............Randolph.......
Byram..Reid..Fonte...Cress
........Obiang....Kouyate.....
Feghouli....Lanzini....Snodgrass
..................Carroll..........

curious what you see in Feghouli over Antonio?

[sharphammer]

What I want to see:

.............Randolph.......
Byram..Reid..Fonte...Cress
........Obiang....Kouyate.....
Feghouli....Lanzini....Snodgrass
..................Carroll..........

What we are going to see:

.............Randolph..........
Kouyate...Reid....Fonte....Cress
Snodgrass....Noble...Obiang...Lanzini
..............Antonio.....Carroll........

why would anyone want to see a line up without Antonio in it?!

[Belchio]

Is Arbeloa and Massuaku still crocked?

Unbelievable if true.

Part of me suspects we will never see Tore again

2-0 to Westham this weekend. First game of 2017 for me. Bring on the boat bar!!!

[sutts07]

With the exception of their hammering at Spurs, all WBA away games this season have either been draws or had just one goal separating the teams.

With the exception of the Watford game (2-4) we had not managed to score more than one at home in the league prior to the Palace game.

I think everything points to this being a fairly tight one and can't see too far past a 1-1 draw. Hope I am wrong and we can pinch a 2-1 win.

I'd like to see us play a back four with 3 in the middle of Noble, Obiang AND Kouyate... I honestly think that is us at our strongest.

Obviously that only leaves 3 places up for grabs with Lanzini, Carroll, Antonio, Feghouli and Snodgrass all looking for starts.

Personally it would be Lanzini and Antonio as wingers for me (or Lanzini at the front of a diamond and Antonio up top) with Carroll up top and the other lads on the bench to make an impact as and when needed.

We are too soft in the middle with just Noble and Obiang in there.

[Johnzo]

With the exception of their hammering at Spurs, all WBA away games this season have either been draws or had just one goal separating the teams. <br abp="793"><br abp="794">With the exception of the Watford game (2-4) we had not managed to score more than one at home in the league prior to the Palace game. <br abp="795"><br abp="796">I think everything points to this being a fairly tight one and can't see too far past a 1-1 draw. Hope I am wrong and we can pinch a 2-1 win. <br abp="797"><br abp="798">I'd like to see us play a back four with 3 in the middle of Noble, Obiang AND Kouyate... I honestly think that is us at our strongest.<br abp="799"><br abp="800">Obviously that only leaves 3 places up for grabs with Lanzini, Carroll, Antonio, Feghouli and Snodgrass all looking for starts. <br abp="801"><br abp="802">Personally it would be Lanzini and Antonio as wingers for me (or Lanzini at the front of a diamond and Antonio up top) with Carroll up top and the other lads on the bench to make an impact as and when needed. <br abp="803"><br abp="804">We are too soft in the middle with just Noble and Obiang in there.

Totally agree wouldn't be adverse to seeing


........................Obiang
...........Kouyate.............Noble
...................Snod/Lanzini
..............Antonio..........Carroll

As a diamond with 2 up top

[coyi27]

Prefer Antonio in mantches where we play on counter attack. Against WBA possession will be key so prefer players more comfortable on the ball.

[sutts07]

I've been quite keen in theory on Kouyate at RB for a while, and now I'm keen in practice having seen it against Southampton.

Albion are definitely the type of slower-tempo'd basketball team worth continuing it against.

He makes more sense on paper than the other 17 players who've had a crack at it this season in any case.

I agree with all of that but just think we miss him too much through the middle. Noble and Obiang can get far too easily overran in their on their own, and with catastrophic consequences (see Man City).