Just an hour to go before Julen Lopetegui announces his line up for the crucial (can we really say that in September?) visit to the G Tech stadium where West Ham United and all associated with the club will be hoping for a win to get points on the board and to calm the nerves of the board room and the fan base. With the absence through suspension of Edson Alvarez and the ‘apparent’ continued absence through recovery from the achilles issue for Niclas Fullkrug, there are a number of issues which Lopetegui faces.
We hope, sincerely that the Irons will ditch the dumb ‘three at the back with high wing backs’ variant which proved so disastrous against Chelsea last week.
Having seen Todibo perform against Liverpool and duck away from a shot which led to goal 5, I’m back to ‘the devil we know’ Mavropanos at centre-back next to Kilman.
Two defensive midfielders – fingers crossed – Soucek and Rodriguez – gives us the mobility of a World War One tank but Soler is untried in a defensive role. Paq-man to start as the ‘tip’ of the midfield trio with a three ahead of him. Crucial that Paqueta links the play as otherwise its will be the ‘side-side back’ slow step of yore and bore.
Soler ready to bring on at half time if Paqueta doesn’t turn up.
So the C and H ‘would like to see’ eleven – well, mine not Gonzo’s as I’m sure he will differ..
Areola: Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos,Kilman, Emerson: Soucek, Rodriguez, Paqueta: Summerville, Bowen, Kudus.
Impact Sub 65 minutes Antonio, if needed, Irving if Rodriguez flops again.
Team News from West Ham United follows as soon as we have it. In the meantime, feel free to tell me where I am wrong.