West Ham v Villa Monday evening 8.00 pre-match thread

[Lastfootstamper]

My thinking too, the straight swap for Hourihane. I think bringing him in but dropping him in next to Luiz to push McGinn on would be asking for trouble.

[Toronto Villa]

Would it be that much of a shock though to play Trez down the left, Traore right, Jack as 10 with Doug and SJM in behind? I can see us doing that.

[olaftab]

Maybe that's the way to go whilst Barkley is out but it will leave us short of attacking option to change the game if we need to.

[eamonn]

In the presser Smith was drilled a bit about Hourihane's demotion since Barkley came in. The way he answered makes me think Traore will start ahead of him.

[SoccerHQ]

It would surprise me given the 3 man midfield structure has got us three good away wins.

West Ham had decent options centrally with Rice, Soucek and Fornals linking up with the forwards so would be a gamble to take a midfielder out of that equation and would leave Doug and McGinn covering plenty of ground.

I'd be surprised if DS suddenly alters the system.

[olaftab]

Antonio will return for them whilst Yarmolenko is out.

[Bad English]

Unless I'm very much mistaken:

Kit-stealing, jellied eel-munching, Cockney fuckers.

Facking laverly staff!

[robbo1874]

FTKSJEMCF!
Fk the kit stealing jellied eel munching cockernee mo-fos?

Think I’m getting the hang of this...
1-3

What’s the M?

[robbo1874]

Coventry away. Rest a few players, give them a goal start and then grind their noses into the dirt. Ideal scenario.

[Risso]

Unless I'm very much mistaken:

Kit-stealing, jellied eel-munching, Cockney fuckers.

Facking laverly staff!

Shat it you facking slaaaaag! Oi oi!

[robbo1874]

Saveloy!

[malckennedy]

There is another option for tonight’s starting line up. We could start Nakamba as further defensive midfield cover and push McGinn further forward. I’d prefer that to Hourihane starting.

[paul_e]

Seems to be an unusually high vote for them given we've won all our away games without conceding a goal so far.


Not tempting fate or denying it's not an easy place to go but they must go into this more nervous than us.


0-2 villa away win, Watkins with both.

[tomd2103]

Seems to be an unusually high vote for them given we've won all our away games without conceding a goal so far.


Not tempting fate or denying it's not an easy place to go but they must go into this more nervous than us.


0-2 villa away win, Watkins with both.

Still think we are quite a fragile side and conceding the first goal seems to really impact on us. 

I would go with either Hourihane as a replacement for Barkley or bring Nakamba in alongside Luiz and push McGinn further forward.

[paul_e]

I get the reasons I just think it's odd that over a third of the site think we'll lose, away at west ham, with an unbeaten away record.