West Ham Utd 2 Arsenal 2 (25/10/09)

[PrawnSandwich]

I'd go with this:

------------------------Green---------------

Specs---Noble----Upson-----Parker--Tomkins---Ilunga----Kovac---Stanislas
----Jiminez-










------------------------Cole--------------------------

3-0 Arsenal

[davids cross]

I'd go with this:

------------------------Green---------------

Specs---Noble----Upson-----Parker--Tomkins---Ilunga----Kovac---Stanislas
----Jiminez-










------------------------Cole--------------------------

3-0 Arsenal

I see you've shortened the space that normally appears behind Cole........

[the pink palermo]

16 selections

4 with Diamanti

8 with Jiminez

Looks like the Jurys still out on Jiminez, but heading towards being a settled case for Diamanti .

Hasn't started to snowing yet either .

[PrawnSandwich]

I see you've shortened the space that normally appears behind Cole........

That's actually a visual anomaly caused by light refraction from Jimenez' new barnet giving the illusion the distance is shorter than it is.

[Hambrosia Stu]

Looks like the Jurys still out on Jiminez, but heading towards being a settled case for Diamanti .

Hasn't started to snowing yet either .

A bit harsh, imo

Sure, neither have pulled up any trees, but I don't think all the blame should be placed with the player's ability.

Our tactics and formations have hardly helped them!
Even in the report for the friendly game last night it was mentioned that Jimenez didn't seem to have a clue where he should be playing, and what he should be doing. Good to see our reserves are getting players used to what the 1st team is all about!

As for Diamanti, I'd like to see us give him a go on the left flank. But it seems that playing left footers on the left is an idea alien to Zola

[Tel The Hammer]

-----------------------------Green-------------------------
---Faubert-----Tomkins------Upson-----Ilunga---
------------------------------Kovac------------------------
------------Behrami------Parker------Collison-------
--------------------Cole--------------Hines---------------

If we concede in the first 15-20 minutes, it could turn out to be a 5/6/7-0 belting.

I used to always fancy us a bit against the big boys, but that's disappeared under Zola.

I'm not even looking forward to going to this one, which is ****ing grim.

[prophet:marginal]

------------------------Green---------------

Specs-------Upson----Tomkins---Ilunga


-----------------------Kovac------------------


Noble-------------Parker--------------Stanislas


----------------------Jiminez-----------------------

------------------------Cole--------------------------

Pretty much the line up I would pick

Whilst i do feel we need to give Cole more support, this is one game where we need to pack the midfield, imo. I'd probably have slightly different personell (I think I'd start with Behrami for Noble, and Collison for Stanislas), but agree with the formation. I'd would like to see Stanislas given a chance to run at them, even if it's from the bench. I agree with Spector at RB

Can't believe I missed out on Behrami! Him in for Noble.

[davids cross]

I used to always fancy us a bit against the big boys, but that's disappeared under Zola.

We've become pussies, nice footballing pussies. We need some good old fashioned guts to go with the football. We used to turnover the big boys on a regular basis with lesser teams than we have now....... and a couple of centre forwards of course.

[the pink palermo]

Looks like the Jurys still out on Jiminez, but heading towards being a settled case for Diamanti .

Hasn't started to snowing yet either .

A bit harsh, imo

Sure, neither have pulled up any trees, but I don't think all the blame should be placed with the player's ability.

Our tactics and formations have hardly helped them!
Even in the report for the friendly game last night it was mentioned that Jimenez didn't seem to have a clue where he should be playing, and what he should be doing. Good to see our reserves are getting players used to what the 1st team is all about!

As for Diamanti, I'd like to see us give him a go on the left flank. But it seems that playing left footers on the left is an idea alien to Zola

Stu, my comments are reflective of the selections others, as well as myself , have made .

For Jiminez not to have any idea where he should be playing and what he should be doing is wrong .I asked on here a few weeks ago what the point of reserve fixtures was , hoping to get replies along the lines of having the first team and reserves playing the same type of game, so the players would know what their role is in the side -i.e make it easier to step up to the first team .

I may be being a little harsh on Jiminez as half of the selections include him- but that looks like a case of "ummm, not really sure, give him a game, see what he can do" .

Nobody has doubts about Collison, Upson, Green, Parker,Behrami,Cole, Illunga,Tomkins - a couple of them sure because we have no viable alternative , but nobody is kicking down doors saying Jiminez and Diamanti must be in the starting 11 .

Coming good in April won't help us .

FWIW I think Diamanti is a championship player, Jiminez looks better but needs to start delivering quickly .

[ageing hammer]

-----------------------------Green-------------------------
---Faubert-----Tomkins------Upson-----Ilunga---

----------------------------Parker------------------------
------------Behrami------ -----Collison-------

--Jiminez------------------Cole-------------Diamanti---------------

[westhamerica]

--------------------- Green --------------------------
Fozzy Bear -- Tomkins -- Upson -- Ilunga
---------------------- Parker --------------------------
---------------------- Kovac --------------------------
---------------------- Noble --------------------------
-------------------- Collison --------------------------
-------------------- Jimenez --------------------------
---------------------- Cole --------------------------

[prophet:marginal]

I can just see that formation, by looking at your avatar!

[cockneyjock]

i still maintain that from what I've seen of Jimenez he is a good player, but Zola just doesnt seem to use him in the right way. Diamanti, a totally different player from Jimenez, does give the odd glimpse of real talent, but then proceeds to **** up more often than not. I would play Jimenez against le Arse and bring Sideshow Bob off the bench if we need him.
I'd go:

Green

Faubert, Gabbidon (if fit), Upson, Illunga

Parker

Behrami Collison Stanislas

Jimenez Cole

[tjr008]

Green
Faubert Upson Tomkins Ilunga

Parker

Jiminez Collison Behrami

Hines Cole

Bench: Dyer (ha!), Diamanti, Franco, Spector, Gabbidon, Noble

This is our best team, with the best balance.

Note: Kovac is not in the squad because he is total gash.

[Stevey]

I may be being a little harsh on Jiminez as half of the selections include him- but that looks like a case of "ummm, not really sure, give him a game, see what he can do" .

Nobody has doubts about Collison, Upson, Green, Parker,Behrami,Cole, Illunga,Tomkins - a couple of them sure because we have no viable alternative , but nobody is kicking down doors saying Jiminez and Diamanti must be in the starting 11 .

Surely that's a given, seeing as we've seen those mentioned for over a year now, whereas Jiminez and Diamanti only have a handful of games between them. Let's face it, Cole wasn't the most popular man in East London when he first broke into the first team but once he knew his role he soon became a big player for us. Who is to say those two cannot do the same?

[Matt of iron]

-----------------------------Green-------------------------
---Faubert-----Tomkins------Upson-----Ilunga---
------------------------------Kovac------------------------
------------Behrami------Parker------Collison-------
--------------------Cole--------------Hines---------------

If we concede in the first 15-20 minutes, it could turn out to be a 5/6/7-0 belting.

I used to always fancy us a bit against the big boys, but that's disappeared under Zola.

I'm not even looking forward to going to this one, which is f***ing grim.

I'd agree with the formation here, and I'm not particularly up for this either.

[Rodney]

West Ham 0-2 Gooners. Green, Faubert and Jiminez all to have shockers

[roblo]

Thank god the Liverpool v Man U game is on at 2. Can have a few beers and try to forget about the stuffing we're gonna take from Arsenal.

[Monkey Mike]

Thank god the Liverpool v Man U game is on at 2. Can have a few beers and try to forget about the stuffing we're gonna take from Arsenal.

I fear I have the same inevitable conclusion as you. It will be even more painful for me as I've got a birthday party to go to which will be comprised of 90% Goons.

[roblo]

I fear I have the same inevitable conclusion as you. It will be even more painful for me as I've got a birthday party to go to which will be comprised of 90% Goons.

What a grind. I'll have a two hour plus journey back to Oxford with the missus asking why West Ham never win.