Newcastle Utd 3-0 West Ham Utd (26/08/17)

[aaronhammer]

Interested to see who doesn't even make the bench today.
18 places 19 possibles.

We were just discussing this on our drive up, guess it will be either Masuaku or Byram.

[DanT93]

Interested to see who doesn't even make the bench today.
18 places 19 possibles.

This is a challenge no west ham manager has ever faced before. 19 fit players! :shock:

[Doc H Ball]

Came up here yesterday so a lazy brunch before the ascent.

Everyone up here is fat! Increasingly convinced that Cheryl Cole, or whatever her name is this week, is in fact an alien.

Anyway, I'm assuming Lanzini nor Kouyate fit to start and would go:

..........................Goalie

.........Zab............Reid..........Ogbonna

Byram................Obiang...............Cresswell

..........Antonio......Noble........Ayew

...........................Hernandez

[Chrissieboy]

I like that team Doc but don't trust Bilic to pick it. Chicharito and Antonio will play though, we'll be **** at the back and we won't win so... 2-2.

[Hamburger]

Came up here yesterday so a lazy brunch before the ascent.

Everyone up here is fat! Increasingly convinced that Cheryl Cole, or whatever her name is this week, is in fact an alien.

Anyway, I'm assuming Lanzini nor Kouyate fit to start and would go:

..........................Goalie

.........Zab............Reid..........Ogbonna

Byram................Obiang...............Cresswell

..........Antonio......Noble........Ayew

...........................Hernandez

Nice post Doc! Only went there once, had a great time. Good supporters with a crap team who would've stood back in the day unlike the gobby Mancs. Alas long away days are past me now but still got the memories and the buzz. Do us proud up there lads, hope the crap journey is worth it.

Like your team but sad to say I suspect Bilic has to start Sakho or he will sulk again. We shall see if he has the kahunas but I think we know the answer to that.
.

[MadMart]

All Out Attack - get an early goal and the home fans will start moaning, get two in the first half and then shut up shop. Hernandes plus one up front, and Ginger Pele to get a start too - great at corners and a rock at the back, just don't pass to him as he'll hoof it. Win this and we're off at last, lose and we're in the shitter and this place will go mental. COYI

[Kesgrave Hammer]

The union rooms is rocking already

[leer34]

Have this nagging feeling he is going to play both rice and noble, thus constructing the slowest midfield in the league.

[bishbosh]

Lanzini on the bench, as is Sakho and Kouyate.

[Sir_Trevor]

One of those games where you feel that, if we lose, it might spur the Board into splashing the cash to bring in the new faces we need. However, if we win, they will put the cheque book away and hope to muddle through again.

[Patito]

I reckon we will line up like this

Hart

Zabaleta
Collins
Ogbonna
Cresswell

Rice
Noble
Fernandes

Ayew
Antonio
Hernandez

[HammerMan2004]

Collins keeps his place

[MD_HM]

Strong bench

Shocked at Fernandes keeping his place after the other night

COYI

[LongShot]

Why are Obiang, Kouyate and Lanzini not starting? All carrying knocks?

[Burnley Hammer]

Why is Obiang always the first one to be dropped in midfield? I'm not sure I like that decision

[Scratchy]

Bit concerned with that team. Our centre midfield is low on quality both offensively and defensively.

[EastleighHammer16]

Kouyate and Lanzini were never going to start, neither have had a pre-season. Not sure why Obiang keeps getting dropped.

[Rays Rock]

..........................Goalie

.........Zab............Reid..........Ogbonna

Byram................Obiang...............Cresswell

..........Antonio......Noble........Ayew

...........................Hernandez

This is the exact formation that Bilic should be using for plan A

It a) offers the best protection for the back 3 from the holding midfielder,
b) doesn't expose a full back expected to run the entire wing.
c) offers dectnt support to the striker as they can play as a proper attacking 3.
d) takes the pressure off of the likes of Ayew / Arnie / Antonio from deep defensive measures when the wing/ full backs get caught forward.

[Bernie_Lama]

Fernandes ahead of obiang???????? obiang whilst not up to last year's form. still offers a load more than Fernandes. Oh well COYI

[Blow Bubbles]

I think that may be set up as 4 at the back still, with Noble and Rice holding, Fernandes and Big Mike wide and Ayew roaming in behind Hernandez.

edit: it appears Sky have it that way too...