PSF: West Ham Utd 0-1 Newcastle Utd (20/07/19)

[Puff Daddy]

Thing is , these competitions are only there to get players' fitness levels up , don't be too alarmed at these results .

I think it's a bit more than that. This is still a fairly prestigious tournament and if it is what you say it is, then let's just go to places like Grays Athletic, Borehamwood, Billericay and Heybridge Swifts

[Burnley Hammer]

For a bit of perspective... how did we start preseason in Bilics good season? Or the season under Allardyce where we made a storming start with sakho and Valencia leading the line? Wasn't it in one of those seasons where we couldn't beat an Australian pub team?

[funky chicken]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Lanzini or Fornals start on the right against City. I reckon Wilshere's place in the first team is virtually guaranteed now.

Maybe he'll move Anderson to the right hand side, like I see he experimented again against Man City a couple of days ago and will play Fornals on the left? Like so:

(From right to left)

----------------Anderson--------------Haller---------------Fornals--------------

Fornals has played in that position a few times for Villerael and even did at times for Spain u21s.

But as long as their is no injuries I expect this to be the front 3 Pellers may opt with to start the season:

-----------------Antonio----------------Haller-------------------Anderson-------------------


Wilshere IF fit will definitely start IMO. I think Pellers absolutely rates him. Just look at the start of last season. No matter how bad we were playing losing those first 4 games and no matter how many players and formations he kept chopping and changing he was the one player he refused to drop. And these is surely a reason for that.

[Burnley Hammer]

Yes, sorry it was New Zealand where we lost both matches against New Zealand part-timers. That was at the beginning of Allardyces season where we got off to an excellent start (after the Spurs game)

And Bilics super Payet season, we started with some embarrassingly awful Europa matches which left many on here predicting the worst for the new season.

no need to worry yet.

[Burnley Hammer]

Wilshere IF fit will definitely start IMO. I think Pellers absolutely rates him. Just look at the start of last season. No matter how bad we were playing losing those first 4 games and no matter how many players and formations he kept chopping and changing he was the one player he refused to drop. And these is surely a reason for that.

Absolutely. And judging from the first couple of preseason games, he looks like the only player in the team that can consistently pass a ball to a teammate so .... so far, it's deserved.

[Cellar-door]

Thing is , these competitions are only there to get players' fitness levels up , don't be too alarmed at these results .

Agreed, he's going to be working in not only new players, but also working back a number of players coming off long-term injuries in Wilshere, Yarmolenko, Reid, and Sanchez. Even Lanzini is probably still not 100%.

We also didn't even see the two major signings of the window today. Pre-season isn't about results, it's just about getting the players' legs under them, building a bit of chemistry, and maybe making a decision on players like Cullen, Johnson and Diangana in terms of if and for how long they'll be loaned out.

[wormley]

Thing is , these competitions are only there to get players' fitness levels up , don't be too alarmed at these results .

These competitions exist solely as a marketing exercise to promote the PL in Asia and increase the revenue for the broadcasting rights.

[Boo Boo]

The number 3 on Cresswells back, needs replacing with a question mark

[My_Sobriquet]

I’ve been thinking it for ages....

Anderson isn’t a winger. He comes inside all the time allowing the opposition to narrow their defiance and squeeze us out. He needs one of two things, to be played as a CAM or to have a fast attacking full back stretching the opposition on the overlap.

With Cresswell behind him he never overlaps quickly enough and the defence just closes ranks on them both, this causes issues in attack but because of his lack of pace, in attempting to get forward and fulfil the role Anderson’s style of play requires him too he leaves us really vulnerable in defence on the counter.

Masuaku isn’t much better not through a lack of athleticism but through a lack of positional sense and footballing intelligence. He’s the Ying to Bobby Moore’s Yang.

We could do with another Fredricks type full back for the left side.

[Cellar-door]

Once Haller is here, I wonder if we see Pellegrini try out a formation with him and Chicharito just to see how it works. It squeezes out a midfielder, but given Yarmolenko is still recovering it might not matter. Haller showed a real skill at setting up a second striker last season, and Chicharito has been really good at playing in a front 2 in the past. And Pellegrini traditionally used 2 up front a lot he did it at Malaga, at Villarreal and at City. Obviously wouldn't play that way against the top 6, but some of those matches against the mid-table and relegation strugglers really call out for a more effective attack.

[S-H]

With Balbuena, Fornals and Haller to come into the side, we certainly shouldn't be worrying about what we saw today.

The General galvanizes the defence.

Fornals will link the midfield with the forward and wide players.

Haller will hold the ball up and allow our midfield to play higher up the pitch, defenders will be focused on him allowing our technical players Anderson, Fornals and Yarmolenko the space to hurt teams.

Saul Goodman.

[arlhe]

Losing pre-season friendlies often leads to a good season for us.

[ereford ammer]

Losing pre-season friendlies often leads to a good season for us.

I can remember the apparent disaster in the pre-season in Slav's first season. It all went well afterwards. No need to panic.

[HammerMan2004]

Side note - congrats to Wolves.

[Hugh Jargon]

Fair play to those who travelled. You are barking mad though. Pardon?

[Ironing Board]

Losing to City is fair enough, but Newcastle is a bit embarrassing!

[Kialos]

I think it's a bit more than that. This is still a fairly prestigious tournament and if it is what you say it is, then let's just go to places like Grays Athletic, Borehamwood, Billericay and Heybridge Swifts

West Ham get paid to take part, that is why we are there. The club grabs any pound note going.

It's most probably not the manager's preferred pre season destination but he has gone along with it.

The pre season where Bilic had his hip operation the club had organised a pre season tour to Australia without even consulting him. He put a stop to it and the tour was cancelled.

[e17]

Fair play to those who travelled. You are barking mad though. Pardon?

Yep. Full credit as always to our lot. Hope they’ve enjoyed it.

For the rest of us: pointless preseason nothing game that happens to be on telly and between prem teams

[e17]

Losing to City is fair enough, but Newcastle is a bit embarrassing!

Fortunately neither matter at all.

[Patito]

Losing to City is fair enough, but Newcastle is a bit embarrassing!

It’s not really though is it. Very few of those starting today will be in the starting line up come August 10th.