West Ham Online

A game not dissimilar to last week's encounter with Spurs, against a team that has had a terrible season by their standards.

There are many parallels to us, with them hiring a new manager that prefers to play a back 3, and it not going well at all...but with most of the fan base hanging onto the fact they're 'not his players'.

Sadly though one of either our opponents last week or this week will end up playing in the Champions League next season. Whilst we'll end up with a squad decimated by the loss of our saleable stars, punts on a load of unknown foreigners, journeymen, and lower league hopes, and Cock Piss Potter clinging to Premier League survival.

Anyway, this game...with Man Utd having played Thursday, we should have the edge in terms of energy, but at the same time they have a reason to stay sharp, and we have a squad more than likely already on the beach, along with on going rumours of squad friction and divide.

Prediction:

Away at Old Trafford, Potter's side are in an undesirable patter of draw-loss-draw-loss....and last time out was a draw.

So...predict a limp defeat here. 0-2.

Lineup.

At this point it feels somewhat immaterial who pulls on the shirt, but likely a lot will depend on if Paqueta is in the right frame of mind to play with more of his Kangaroo Court Case looming.Feels like only two positions are debatable...does the error strewn 40m Kilman keep his spot over equally error strewn Mavropanos, and is Paqueta good to go.  Other than that the team looks like picking itself.

COYI-------------------------------------

 
Match Centre:


Odds:
West Ham: 53/21
Draw: 27/10
Man Utd: 6/5

Pre-Match Press Conference:
Official Press Conference

Tactical Preview: 
Babbling Irons

Watch-along:
Hammers Chat

Streams:

SportHD 

(With all live streams be mindful they can carry viruses etc.  Don't click on any ads and use a VPN).
  

2 poor sides, but nailed on we will find a way to lose. 

Alvarez is back in the squad, hopefully that means he'll start and Soucek and JWP won't.. In front of a back 4 and just fucking holding. 

Thought the Guardian did quite well to summarise this preview:

You’ve got to credit Manchester United and West Ham – not words often written but bear with me – for their remarkable dedication to exploring just how badly a rich club can perform without fearing relegation. In 35 league games, these lavishly appointed squads have each lost 16 times, scoring 42 and 40 goals respectively; the last time United beat a side other than the relegated three was on 26 January, while West Ham have not done so since 22 February. Which is to say that both teams remain, despite changing managers mid-season, in absolutely despicable form, and as such this encounter threatens to rival United’s November game against Chelsea for ineptitude per pound spent.

Scathing indictment but every bit of it earned. This used to be the game I looked forward to most. Not sure I'll even bother with it.

This weeks video of him making drinking noises.

I'm just glad its not on the telly, I'll be able to enjoy a sunny afternoon in the garden with a BBQ and cold beer.

It's embarrassing just how shit we've been and only one of them (albeit not in the last 3 games) is getting anywhere near the bench even.

We don't necessarily have to start them, but at the very least put some in the squad.

What nothing game this is. Normally I would hope to see some interesting experimentation. Something he wouldn't risk when there are meaningful points at stake. But I think he will be getting so nervous about his job that he will be thinking defensively and won't want to be seen to do anything risky. Players have given up and are just seeing the season out. I can't see us doing anything other than we did against Tottenham but will concede more goals as it's away at Man U. Well done to the brave souls travelling up for this one.

0-2

 

Mad Ferret" wrote: ↑09 May 2025, 12:38 Loads of the youth players who Allardyce played at Forest in the cup never recovered from the experience.

Huggie wrote: ↑09 May 2025, 12:28

Rossal wrote: ↑09 May 2025, 07:47

Id rather see an abject performance from the kids than the likes of Soucek, Paqueta, Kilman, Emerson, JWP etc 

How does this make sense?  I would understand it if you say you would rather see a plucky performance a run out for the kids but lose, rather than an abject performance from the old guard and lose.  Not sure how an abject performance from the kids helps anyway.

 

Loads of the youth players who Allardyce played at Forest in the cup never recovered from the experience.

Huggie wrote: ↑09 May 2025, 12:28

Rossal wrote: ↑09 May 2025, 07:47

Id rather see an abject performance from the kids than the likes of Soucek, Paqueta, Kilman, Emerson, JWP etc 

How does this make sense?  I would understand it if you say you would rather see a plucky performance a run out for the kids but lose, rather than an abject performance from the old guard and lose.  Not sure how an abject performance from the kids helps anyway.

Rossal wrote: ↑09 May 2025, 07:47

Id rather see an abject performance from the kids than the likes of Soucek, Paqueta, Kilman, Emerson, JWP etc 

For the Bingo fans....

Another opportunity to punish an average team that has their eye on a cup. But seeing what we made of the Spurs game I have little confidence that Potter will go there for the kill. I think we will lose 2-1 and be bang average. It could be the result that sees Potter jettisoned. 

Of all the places to chuck kids in to play straight off the back of a Semi Final win, I'm not so sure it would be wise to play them in this fixture. Maybe off the bench have Scarles and possibly 1 other but certainly not starting 1 under the circumstances,  especially as we haven't won in 8. Scarles will still be licking his wounds after his Anfield nightmare starting in that game. 

 

there may be some youngsters back, they didnt play last week as they had a u21 cup game on sunday........which they lost......to man utd 

Just as I suspected...

Just our luck they find a bit of form albeit in the Europa League just before we play them. They will be up for this, places for the Final to be secured.

3-0 Mancs

A comprehensive Man Unt win1

There will be no surprises.
Same line-up as always, perhaps 1 or 2 changes but nothing spectacular.
No youth in the team or on the bench once again.

I'm going for 0-2, too.

Hold on at 0-0 until the 87th minute then 2 defensive lapses, two goals.

Their Final isn't for another 2 weeks yet with Chelsea game just before it which I think they'll then make widespread change, as will Chelsea because of their Final as well. I fully expect Old Trafford to be jumping and player's eager to impress Amorim auditioning for the Final against us.

                              Areola 

     AWB  Toibo  Casey Scarles 

                Alvarez   Orford 

   Kudus     Soler     Ghillurme  

                     Bowen


Writing a team and realising that Mavro or Kilman have to start......depressing as fuck. Throw Casey in, what we got to lose, they'll rest a few after last night with the final in mind? 
Go up there, play some kids and give it a go.  Got nothing to lose. 

Id rather see an abject performance from the kids than the likes of Soucek, Paqueta, Kilman, Emerson, JWP etc 

Let's have a little game of Potter Bingo today and hazard a guess at what bizarre analogy he'll conjure up for us to describe how shit we are this week.

"West Ham at the moment kind of reminds me a bit like when I'm sharting in the bath. What starts out as good intentions of just happily farting away trying to create your very own natural jacuzzi, unfortunately can lead to trying too hard before suddenly realising you've launched a couple of unwelcome floaters which aren't at all pleasant to experience. Does that answer your question, Roshane?"



"Can we cut the cameras there please..."