West Ham Utd 1-1 Stoke City (16/04/18)

[Bill]

If we beat Stoke we will definitely be safe. There is no way that any of the bottom 3 are going to get 37 points so long as we win this game. Also, Brighton and Huddersfield have very tough run-ins even if they did. In fact even a draw would probably be enough IMHO.

[Clacton-ammer]

I would suggest we all, being the 50k plus on Monday get right behind the team from start to finish, hopefully get a hard fought 3 points then we can all go on holiday until next season. In the meantime pray we get some sort of positive movement from then until next season on board, investment etc.

I am pretty much done on football, we win on Monday night and I'm out of that place until I get a warm fuzzy feeling back, or WC starts...

[Pob!]

Under the lights must win game on sky ...

We will Win and put the last nail in Stokes' coffin...

Hopefully Chelsea will have beaten Southampton on the Sunday too.

[rottiel]

I would love to help this lot into the 2nd division.

[Coops]

Under the lights must win game on sky ...

We will Win and put the last nail in Stokes' coffin...

Hopefully Chelsea will have beaten Southampton on the Sunday too.

If all of this happens we will be pretty much safe.

[The Gibbins]

It would be nice to practically send Stoke down

[Ladzini]

If Arnie is fit, it will be a feisty game.

Get the feeling he will love the chance to effectively relegate them, and prove to them he was 'right' in moving.

Lambert will probably tell them that they need to come here and get the crowd on our players backs. I expect a lot of anti-football and a physical game, because if they lose this they are down.

Would take any form of win. In an ideal world Arnie scores and celebrates in front of the orcs, but this is West Ham, so who knows.

[Al Fisti]

If Arnie is fit, it will be a feisty game.

I hope he will be fit after that game as well. Wouldn´t be surprised if the Potters will treat him very rough next monday, considering their situation and the fun Arni had with them at Britannia

[warp]

we're still west ham: we'll lose 3-0

[ryanrc]

Horrible team, horrible fans, been in the league far longer than deserved. Would absolutely love to seal their fate. 1-3

[only1post]

Looks like those horrible fans don't fancy it.
More tickets available because they have not taken their full allocation.

[bowltorious]

They will be up for it but hopefully we produce another performance like against the Saints.

--------------------------Hart
-----------Rice-------Collins-----Ogbonna
Zabaleta-----Kouyate----Noble------Masuaku
------------------------Lanzini
-------------Hernandez-----Arnautovic

Reckon he may drop Hernandez though and play Mario next to Lanzini to be more defensive. Not needed imo though as Stoke lack the pace that is normally our downfall on the counter.

[carnage]

This is more of a must not lose game than a must win game in my opinion. Defeat brings Stoke closer, a draw keeps them well away from us.

[simon hammer]

Tbh I would be happy with a little of that old 'under the lights at the Boelyn' atmosphere. It would be most welcome...a weekday game, under the lights, the hammers fighting for the points, jumpers for goalposts...marvellous!

Nailed on three points I feel, and that will be us safe for the season.

2-0.

[Kev59]

They'll come looking for a draw or flukey 1-0. We need to be at them from the off, with Arnie leading the line and Hernandez in support.

------------------------Hart
-----------Rice------Collins -----Ogbonna
Zabba -----------------------------------------Arthur
-----Noble----------Mario--------Kouyate
-----------------Hernandez
--------------------Arnie

Assumes Cresswell is injured.

[the celestial insect]

I don't think they can afford a draw at all given their situation. I'm sure they'll throw everything at us. This could potentially work in our favour unless they get an early lead and then park the bus. I expect Moyes will go for solidity, so same as we were vs Chelsea.

2-1.

[AmzP]

Would love to see this but doubt we will see it.....

Hart
Rice. Chek. Oggy

Zabaletta. Noble. Masuaku

Mario. Lanzini.

Hernandez. Arnie

[thejackhammer]

Would love to see this but doubt we will see it.....

Hart
Rice. Chek. Oggy

Zabaletta. Noble. Masuaku

Mario. Lanzini.

Hernandez. Arnie

We’d lose 3-0.

Noble holding the midfield on his own. Absolute suicide.

[AmzP]

Would be a 3-5-2 with chek coming forwards to help noble as needed. Could see us dominating play for this one which is why I think it would work, obviously wouldn't work every time

[sutts07]

Anyone expecting this to be a walkover needs to have their expectations managed!

Stoke are well drilled if nothing else and will not allow us to stroll through this one unchallenged. They narrowly lost to a very strong Spurs side, they gave Arsenal a game before a total collapse with 10 min to go, they have picked up a point against Brighton and Watford, and narrowly lost to Everton and Bournemouth...

If we attack this game in the same way we have done the previous two, we 'should' have no issue. However we really do have to be at it and it will not be a rollover.

I expect us to take a very tense 2-1 victory. The Arnautovic factor could well be the thing that gets us by. Their fans may just regret giving him quite as much stick as they have come the end of this one.

Have to start with the same XI that played the majority of the past two games. How anyone wants to change that shape and XI is beyond me. We are working hard, pressing the opposition high and creating chances due to finally having some runners in the team.

-------------------- Hart -----------------------
-------- Rice Ogbonna Cresswell --------
Zabaleta ------------------------- Masuaku
------------- Noble Kouyate ----------------
------- Mario ------------- Fernandes
--------------- Arnautovic

Lanzini and Hernandez on the bench to throw on is not exactly the worst option either.