Relive every moment of every first team game since the beginning of the 2005/06 season. Our archive of matchday threads originally posted in the General Discussion Forum.
Should be a good game this. Leeds will be Leeds and come at us, plenty of opportunity to get the front 4 causing havoc on the break if the others can stand strong.
Leeds have looked crap so far this season. Draws against Burnley, Everton and Newcastle but thrashed by both Man Utd and Liverpool, whilst needing penalties to squeeze past Fulham the other night. Plus they have numerous injuries.
It'll be the West Ham way to struggle on Saturday but there'll be no better chance to stick a few past them.
Probably the best team in the league we can play against. They don't stop attacking even though we struggle against teams parking the bus. Even if they take the lead we should have plenty of opportunities.
Just need no silly red cards, lapses of concentration and I think we should be fine... gulp
Back in the good ol bad ol days, we would beat ourselves in matches like this. You just knew beforehand, we would lose here. Now I expect us to win and we will win
With all their injuries I assume the 19 year old lad Charlie Cresswell will start at CB with Cooper. Very exciting prospect him, a mix of old school centre half and the new wave of ball players. Never been youth capped for England yet for me he’s one that will go all the way.
No Koch, Llorente or Struijk is massive for us. They may play Phillips there, which means their midfield is instantly weakened against our very good one. Bamford out also a bonus. Massive chance for us to take 3 points really. They'll still have their threats, Raphinia (if he plays), James and Rodrigo, but I'd be confident of beating them, especially after doing so pretty well twice last season.
Puff Daddy wrote: ↑Thu Sep 23, 2021 1:20 pm
Back in the good ol bad ol days, we would beat ourselves in matches like this. You just knew beforehand, we would lose here. Now I expect us to win and we will win
If we’re serious of competing for a top 7 place again this season then we really need to win this game IMO. A draw away to this mob wouldn’t of been a bad result on paper. But we have probably dropped points in at least 1 game too many.
If we picked up 1 win out of the Palace and Southampton games then that would’ve taken off a bit of pressure for this game. Failure to lose this game would mean it’s been 4 games without a win. And to finish in a European place you can’t really go on a winless run as long as that.
Last chance saloon for Fabianski in this game. Another poor performance or if he lets in another soft goal and I’d drop him to the bench for our next League game.
I’d play Benrahma in the middle like we did at their place last season. And keep Bowen and Fornals out wide to offer our fullbacks protection. We’ve conceded too many goals in the League this season. So we really need to put that right.
They’re still weak with set pieces. So we really need to exploit this.
With their makeshift defence you'd have to back us to score, but Raphina (if available), Daniel James and Rodrigo are all capable of delivering a sucker-punch even if we end up getting ahead. Will need to make any periods when we're in the ascendancy count on the scoreboard, which should be slightly easier with Antonio back in the fold.
Zouma wouldn't be a bad bet for first scorer given what went down last time we were there.
Last chance saloon for Fabianski in this game. Another poor performance or if he lets in another soft goal and I’d drop him to the bench for our next League game.
I'm wondering whether Moyes has his eye on starting Vlasic over Bowen given that Bowen played 90 last night and on Sunday? And then go for a similar line up to last night against Vienna next Thursday.
I'd be tempted to start Areola over Fab as well. Thought Areola did well last night and deserves a crack at a league game. Fab has been a bit patchy so far this season but I reckon Moyes will stick with Fab for a little longer.