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

[bigfatjeff]

Green
Faubert Upson Gabbidon Illunga
Quashie Behrami Noble Parker Collison
Cole

The plan: Immediately from the kick off Quashie kicks the crap out of Arshavin off the ball and gets a red. Arshavin heads for hospital.
Within 30 seconds Parker beaks Fabregas' leg and gets a red (might get away with a yellow though!).
Then backs top the wall and hope that CC pulls one out of the bag.

[flysohigh]

I really think we have to go for it this game and give them something to think about rather than us chasing their shadows.

Green

Faubert Tompkins Upson Ilunga
Berhami Parker Collison Hines
Cole Nouble

I cant imagine their centre backs enjoying playing against Nouble & Cole. I'd rather we went for it and lost 5-3 than play defensively and lose 2-0

[szola]

You'd rather have Behrami, Noble and Collison chase, then Parker, Behrami and Collison?

[Zatopek]

We get five men sent off in the first two minutes and the game has to be abandoned.

It's our only hope.

[Sloop John B]

I'd rather we went for it and lost 5-3 than play defensively and lose 2-0

How would you feel if we went for it and got beat 0-6??

[Cockneyboy311]

I know Zola's philosphy on the game is like Wenger's but i do feel like we need to be as physical as possible in this game if we are to get something out of it. Get right in there faces from the off. If we pick up a load of yellow cards so be it.
Give Arshavin and Fabregas a couple of crunching takles and see if they fancy it.

This is the kind of game that i wish we had LBM in. We are lacking in nutters!

[flysohigh]

How would you feel if we went for it and got beat 0-6??[/quote]

Score doesnt really matter a lose is zero points. The fact of it is we need to strap on a pair of b@llocks and go for three points. Arsenal play against teams putting ten men behind the ball every week and beat better teams than us. Best form of defence is attack (apparently).

[Sloop John B]

Score doesnt really matter a lose is zero points.

I don't agree with that. At this stage with a team of strangers, youngsters and experienced pros lacking form along with a crowd running out of patience a crushing home result would have a much worse effect than a narrow 0-1 loss. I do agree about having a go though.

[Chazza]

Arsenal are in sparkling attacking form as their goals for column testifies but are lacking somewhat in defence. Clichy has been struggling for a good 6 months now. We should look to get Cole drifting to his side where he will win headers all day. Both their centre backs like to pick up the ball deep, travel and end up outside the opponents penalty area. Song and Denilson normally cover when this is the case but with the latter injured, Song has had a much more difficult time of late. We need to move the ball quickly in these situations and exploit the space that is open to us. I don't think it would hurt us playing more direct in this fixture, getting players close to Cole and looking to win the second ball in their half.

What I think will happen, if the fixtures last year are anything to go by, is we will sit deep, invite them onto us and then look to disrupt them as they creep closer to our area. While it worked at the Emirates, I don't think this is a good idea as they have match-winners all over the pitch and players who can find a pass or make something out of absolutely nothing.

[thamesmeadhammer]

Either 0-3 or 0-4 to L'Arse and chasing shadows all afternoon.

Face facts people we will be bottom come 6pm Sunday and bottom 8 come close of season in May.

Move along nothing to see here

[Dyer's Leg]

I am going for West Ham 3, L'Arse 0. Half time entertainment will be Lord Lucan jumping fences on Shergar.

[Midfield Dynamo]

I could just imangine the chant when Arsenal's 4th goal goes in , "4-4-2 4-4-2 4-4-2 4-4-2

[coxy]

My preferred team:

Green

Faubert
Gabbidon
Upson
Ilunga

Behrami
Parker
Noble
Collison

Cole
Diamanti


I think Noble will be up for this and put in a decent showing. That's the midfield that worked last season for us. Behrami is crucial with his energy levels.

[Torquemada]

I am going for West Ham 3, L'Arse 0. Half time entertainment will be Lord Lucan jumping fences on Shergar.

Hahahahah.

Nice.

[the pink palermo]

24 selections

Diamanti makes 6 teams

Jiminez 12 .

That sinking feeling as a schoolboy picking teams for the PE session , and you're last pick .

Allesandro , don't give up , it's only cause the others are so good .

[joyful]

TPP

I will bet you lunch in the Swan that Diamanti scores in the next two games (and I don't mean that in the slang way. )

[cockneyjock]

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

i'll have a 4 hour journey back to Newcastle with me asking myself the same thing!

[the pink palermo]

TPP

I will bet you lunch in the Swan that Diamanti scores in the next two games (and I don't mean that in the slang way. )

Just to be clear , if Diamanti scores against Arsenal and Sunderland , I buy , and if he doesn't score in both games you buy ?

If so , you're on .

And not of the two meals for a fiver menu either .

[1895]

Green
Faubert
Tomkins
Upson
Ilunga
Parker
Collison
Behrami
Jimenez
Diamante
Cole

Noble left out of the squad to go to Fat Club.

[westhamerica]

My gooner associates seem to think their defense has been very suspect as of late, and think teams could nick points off Le Arse if they defend well against them.

So, I'm going with a 8-0 loss. Forever the optimist!