West Ham Online

"After the reverse at the weekend and Manchester City next weekend this is already looking like a must win, or min must not lose. Palace losing to the Bees at the weekend probably won't do us any favours as they will be hurting and desperate to get off the mark in front of the noisy Palace ultras. I think everyone will expect a couple more of our summer signings to feature from the start. Can't say that I'm too optimistic my friends - Palace are a decent outfit now with a good coach, one that we probably missed out on. Bugger. 3-1"

"Ha! Yup bit of a 180 for both of us. I think Fullkrug should be starting all the games, but I've a feeling that as we are away and we might be pinned back a bit and have somewhat less of the ball (and it might be his solution unless Alvarez somehow is fit to have us drop far deeper to stop them doing what Villa did to us) that he might opt for the old Moyes eqsue put all the pace you're got up front and hit them on the break tactic"

"El - Last week you said that Fullkrug would start against Villa, I said I believe that Antonio would start, Antonio was shocking on Saturday and I think Fullkrug will start at Palace, but you're saying Antonio will start again. All over the place?"

"Takashi Miike 12:41 Or could AWB play in a back three, if the defensive part is by far the bast part of his game? He's tall enough. Then Bowen can play wing back freeing up space for one more attacker. You can also then go to a 4 during the game if it calls for it."

"It's good Olise isn't there. Would have been helpful if Guehi was gone too. Our perceived weakness so far plays right into their strengths which is a worry. We will struggle to contain them if we line up like last saturday. The are not a great team for us to play in this situation and seem a bit of a bogey team anyway (We've only beat them 4 of the last 15) I see a draw or a win for them, unfortunately, but I think we should and will make some changes to the starting line up. Centre mid is a big problem right now until Alvarez is back. Areola AWB Todibo Kilman Emerson Rodriguez JWP Paqueta Bowen Fullkrug Kudus Is what I'd do. I think he might stick with Antonio up front though, with a thought in mind it might be a barren afternoon and not suit Fullkrug at all.Mainly he needs to solve the problem that we seem very easy to play through. There was an alarming amount of times when players were allowed to run 40 yards with the ball unchallenged on Saturday. I haven't seen that for years. Hope it was just some growing pains.."

"I was actually at their last home game, when they destroyed Aston Villa 5 - 0. Exhibition stuff from Eze, and Mateta got a hat - trick. Olise has gone , but they have bought Sarr, who was great at Watford Their overlapping full backs are excellent, Munoz and Mitchell I will say 2-2 as well ."

"TM’s team only with Kudus in the middle. Play it on the floor, keep it and when you lose it, get it back, preferably in their half."

"do that, and I think we win. I expect very little difference, soucek/antonio/coufal all shutting the bed again"

I normally hate the formation but for this one i'd be tempted to match them formation wise and go with...... --------------------------------- areola ------------------------------------------ -------- mavropanos --- todibo ------- kilman ---------------------- awb ------------ rodriguez ----- paqueta -------------- emerson ---------- kudus ----------- bowen ----------- summerville --------

"Scrape a Desmond, that we will do, yes."

"Sydney - But will we be hurting badly, I'm not so sure. Who are our leaders? It's their first home game of the season and they will be massively up for it and attack us from the start, I'm far from sure we will contain them, defenders playing together for the first time too. Put it this way, for us to win we will 100% need to ''turn up''."

"They have Chelsea away next so big game for us both. Both need to win really, we seem to have a OK record there. I've been 3 or 4 times and not seen us lose. Suspect AWB, Fullkrug and Todibo may start which will be a big boost. If Soucek is dropped we have a chance, if he plays we won't be able to win away from home playing with 10. 1-1 i reckon with plenty of chances for both sides"

We lose 2-1 :(

"Not sure how you conclude that Palace losing will be of significance? Expect their fans could say the same about us losing to Villa and also hurting and desperate to get off the mark, which we are. Had Palace won, the argument would be they are full of confidence would it not? Going to be a tough game at their place, and if history is anything then will be close and will be goals! Granted they beat us 5-2 last season but close the year before when they edged it 4-3, but then we won 3-2 for 2 seasons on the trot in 2021 and 22. COYI 3-1 Hammers."

"Not sure how you conclude that Palace losing will be of significance? Expect their fans could say the same about us losing to Villa and also hurting and desperate to get off the mark, which we are. Had Palace won, the argument would be they are full of confidence would it not? Going to be a tough game at their place, and if history is anything then will be close and will be goals! Granted they beat us 5-2 last season but close the year before when they edged it 4-3, but then we won 3-2 for 2 seasons on the trot in 2021 and 22. COYI 3-1 Hammers."

Glasner looks a great manager. I wished we'd binned off Moyes earlier last season and got him. He's managed to come in and pretty much immediately got Palace playing much better than they were under Woy. He didn't even need a preseason with them to do that.