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.
e17 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:11 pm
Midweek cup game, start of the season, train strikes, probably torrential rain, no ribman, new players hardly arrived and still plenty of lingering dissent about the wacky wall and the jaw dropping sovs needed for a Heineken.
Alas, I am a regular at this sort of shindig.
1-0 to us. Some scuffed goal from a corner after 70 minutes.
Yep. I look at this and I don’t think Turkey shoot at all. I think Kidderminster, without Rice on the bench.
Never underestimate the opportunity. The Danes love being the underdog too.
Play a top side first leg, get the job (mostly) done.
That's optimistic BF - I don't think we'll be taking any chances though, espeically with the captain, vice-captain and manager all suspended.
It's the team that played Forest that starts, except for where we need to make changes. And Areola of course.
Lansini in for Rice, I'm not sure what happens at the back though - maybe Johnson moves to the left back position and someone comes in at centre back, but who as I'd be pretty surprised at Kehrer coming straight in, or maybe we just make a change at left back. I'm leaning towards Cornet coming in at left back.
Areola
Coufal - Johnson - Zouma - Cornet
Soucek - Lanzini
Bowen - Fornals - Benrahma
Antonio
Perhaps Fornals is moved to the left to protect Cornet, and Downes gets a chance in place of Benrahma.
Scamacca may get a start, but Antonio introduced at half-time if we aren't comfortably leading.
We aren't going to take any risks, we need to qualify to attract players and the revenue.
A new shirt sponsor is going to be needed soon. There's a fair bit at stake.
I don't think Kehrer will be involved at all, although it's pleasing to see that you're not suggesdting Rice and Cresswell as many others keep suggesting.
I'd swap your Johnson role for Cornet and maybe stick Fornals in a deeper defensive (Or Lanzini) and give Oko-Flex a go in your Cornet line-up.
Watford Hammer wrote: ↑Wed Aug 17, 2022 7:29 pm
I think there is a reduced service on the Elizabeth Line due to the industrial action - whether that results in no trains as you describe I don't know.
Whufc06 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 17, 2022 9:56 pm
EL is the same as the others mate, completely finished by 18.30 I believe.
Thanks chaps. It looks like there are no trains on the Liz line after 1730 today, and I can't be arsed to faff about to Upminster or Loughton for this. Rather spend time with the kids!
Up the Junction wrote: ↑Thu Aug 18, 2022 7:57 am
I'd be delighted with a two-goal advantage to take into the second leg while playing the strongest team possible.
Viborg, while missing their left winger and striker are in tip top form. They will be no pushover.
Yes they've played 5 games....but they're Fifth in the Danish league (mid table) and finished bottom half of the league last season. Of course with west ham that means nothing and I'm sure at some point it'll look like we're playing Real Madrid
All of you talking about Viborg being on the same level as Kidderminster are severely underestimating them. They are far better than a conference team, that is for sure.
I live in Denmark, and there is a buzz about Viborg at the moment. They are doing well in the league, and have a feel good factor about them. They are well up for the game and are treating it as a historic moment for their club. They are WELL up for this, make no mistake about it.
Of course, on paper we should smash them. But if we play like we did against Kidderminster, it will be Astra Goo Goo all over again.
I just hope we smash them. As I will never hear the end of it if we lose.
I bet we sit deep and try and counter again, like we're the underdogs.
Viborg will have 70% possession and we'll make them look like Man City.
There'll be a growing sense of unease for West Ham fans during the game, eventually building into a sense of impending doom and finishing with anguished howls, wails of despair, and much tearing out of hair.