Should Emi Buendia and Philippe Coutinho both start?

[brontebilly]

Doesn’t tally with what I saw.

West Ham Sat deep in the first half with five at the back and two central holding midfielders.  This nullified us trying to play through the middle.

In the second half they changed their shape.  Rice pushed them 30 yards higher up the pitch and controlled the right side with ease picking out quick incisive passes.  Rice was in control regardless of Coutinho or Buendia being on the pitch. 

In other threads on here, several posts make the point that luiz going off and giving rice more freedom was the telling change.

Luiz was on the other side of the field to Rice. From memory it was Ramsey who was left of the three when Luiz went off and McGinn stupidly switched over. I thought Rice ran all over Kamara all second half to be honest, including that time he had to fly kick him down. Rice was rubbish in the first half but best player on pitch in second. Benrahma did well when he came on too. Bowen and their new striker were useless.

[oldhill_avfc]

He was really buzzing around in the first 25 minutes, trying to make things happen. I feel him, his form isn't great but he hasn't got much to work with, his teammates seem to want to pull up a chair and watch once they give him the ball.

Coutinho had minimal impact yet again and was shot way before he ducked out at around the hour mark.

I’ve been slated on here in the past for saying it going to be like Micah Richards all over again, but after 20+ appearances I’ll stand by my comments.

He’s had a pre season and still doesn’t look fit.  Players that tire easily tend to pick up more injuries  - he limped off again yesterday.

All in all I think we’re seeing why nobody else was interested in him and hasn’t played anything like a full season for a few years.

[cdbearsfan]

Coutinho played well, IMO. Some people seem to have decided to criticise him before kick off. Watkins offered fuck all. Stop playing two up front and play Buendia and Coutinho together, you twat.

[oldhill_avfc]

Doesn’t tally with what I saw.

West Ham Sat deep in the first half with five at the back and two central holding midfielders.  This nullified us trying to play through the middle.

In the second half they changed their shape.  Rice pushed them 30 yards higher up the pitch and controlled the right side with ease picking out quick incisive passes.  Rice was in control regardless of Coutinho or Buendia being on the pitch. 

In other threads on here, several posts make the point that luiz going off and giving rice more freedom was the telling change.

Luiz was on the other side of the field to Rice. From memory it was Ramsey who was left of the three when Luiz went off and McGinn stupidly switched over. I thought Rice ran all over Kamara all second half to be honest, including that time he had to fly kick him down. Rice was rubbish in the first half but best player on pitch in second. Benrahma did well when he came on too. Bowen and their new striker were useless.

You're right about mcginn switching so Ramsey could play on the left, and we agree Rice was the best player on the pitch in the second half by some distance.

In the first half I think Rice might have been on their left.  Certainly saw a lot of him on our side of the pitch from the Witton Lane stand anyway.

[brontebilly]

Coutinho played well, IMO. Some people seem to have decided to criticise him before kick off. Watkins offered fuck all. Stop playing two up front and play Buendia and Coutinho together, you twat.

Buendia/Coutinho have been rubbish when they have played together. Both occupying the same space. I was a bit disappointed with Buendia when he came on. I'm sure when Bailey came in he was meant to switch to the left but instead he just stuck in the middle. Left Digne isolated on left side and Ramsey/Buendia getting in each other's way.

[Monty]

If they occupy the same space, maybe the manager should like, give them instructions to run in different places?

[cdbearsfan]

They haven't been rubbish when they played together. They've hardly played together.

[cdbearsfan]

If they occupy the same space, maybe the manager should like, give them instructions to run in different places?

Crazy talk.

[ChicagoLion]

Well the manager manages to fit Ings and Watkins in the same team brilliantly so I don’t see what the problem …………

[Malandro]

If they can’t play together, one of them should be moved on. Soon.
But let’s let the next manager make that call.

[rooboy316]

I thought the first 45 mins were by far his best of the season so far, low bar though it may be. He was pretty good with a couple of nice flourishes, but the play was too deep for him to have a meaningful impact. Faded badly after that.

[ROBBO]

We remember Coutino the last time he played in the prem, the years have not been kind.

[Footy-Vill]

Buendía gets the nod v Arsenal tonight
Expecting good things

[Footy-Vill]

Buendía was awful Vs Arsenal.
No idea and he tries way too hard.
Its interesting to note both Buendía and Coutinho started v Man City at the end of last season.
I think we could see that again on Saturday

[LeeB]

Christ he was shite last night. It's been the same for years, loads of players that look good off the bench in the last 20 mins, then they're given a start and look shite against opposition that aren't already tired.

He coughs up posession so cheaply at times it undoes any positive work he does.