⚽ West Ham Utd 1-0 Southampton: (2/4/23)

[El brooko79]

Yeah, each to their own regarding xg so whatever works for you is fine. I could see it with my own eyes though that they had the more clear cut chances compared to us.

Even xG showed out most of ours was made up of set pieces and half chances.

xG is a useful/interesting guide.
But I think we would all agree one 50/50 chance of scoring is more preferable to five 1 in 10 nothing chances.

Yet xG would say 0.5 for both.

[JohnnyLyall]

Wasn't it playing as a makeshift Centre Forward?

A number 10 surely...

[il_martello_di_genovesi]

That doesn't mean it's the easiest game we can face at all.

I think it's the easiest game we have. The issue is how important of a match it actually is. If we were sitting 10th, I think this would be widely accepted as our easiest fixture, with little consequence if we ****ed it up. In our current position, it's the complete opposite. I still think this is the easiest fixture we have. Southampton have popped up with some results, but they are a poor team overall and we are at home. If we were doing this as hole index on a golf course, this for me is the short par 5 with no water ranked 18.

[Colours never run]

A number 10 surely...

It was weird, it gave me Ian Pearce vibes when we used to play him up top when we literally had no other Steiker available during that fateful season. And yet we still had Ings, Bowen as well as Scamacca and Cornet on the bench to do that role.

[I am Legend]

------------------Areola------------------
Kehrer----Zouma--Aguerd---Emerson
------------------Rice---------------------
-----------Fornals---Paqueta-----------
Bowen-------Scamacca-----Benrahma

Ings, Cornet on 2nd half if not leading. Maybe Ings and Luca up top.
Antonio on last 20 to terrorise their tired defenders.

[Colours never run]

Even xG showed out most of ours was made up of set pieces and half chances.

xG is a useful/interesting guide.
But I think we would all agree one 50/50 chance of scoring is more preferable to five 1 in 10 nothing chances.

Yet xG would say 0.5 for both.

It's why I don't personally pay too much attention to it.

[sutts07]

Soucek is nailed on to start on Sunday, reagrdless of whether he deserves to or not

Agreed. I can't see anything other than the same XI who started against Villa starting again here. I can't see Coufal coming straight back in, even if he is fit and I can't see Moyes being remotely adventurous from the outset.

This one is crying out for someone more attacking and dynamic in behind Ings, but it just won't happen from the outset.
For me, Cornet, Benrahma and Bowen in behind Ings would be the way to go... but Moyes will not do that unless we are chasing a goal. Even then it is doubtful.

We need a big afternoon from Bowen here. Perraud at left back for Southampton seems to be consistently the lowest ranked player on the pitch.

Southampton looked to have switched to a 442 in the last game against Tottenham, but made two subs in the first half an hour and a further 3 subs in the 70th min... I'm not even sure they know what formation they were using by the end of the game. But it worked.

I can't see them coming to us and giving it a go in a 442, if they do, I think we could rip them apart. Our middle three will be too strong and our wingers will love being 1v1 with their full backs.

[El brooko79]

I think it's the easiest game we have. The issue is how important of a match it actually is.

OK but he said easiest game of the season.
With the stakes, form and pressure I'd disagree.

I bet we have an easier game. But that would be after a bit of confidence.

[il_martello_di_genovesi]

OK but he said easiest game of the season.
With the stakes, form and pressure I'd disagree.

I bet we have an easier game. But that would be after a bit of confidence.

Yh of course, there are factors that can change that. For example the opportunity to play someone 'on the beach'. At the moment though, that looks pretty unlikely. The bottom 9 are all in a scrap and anyone above that can make Europe. So for now, I think it's the easiest fixture we have, but easiest of the season? Not really a comment I'd agree with as I don't know how you can judge that tbh as it needs a line up of factors. For example. 15/16, the easiest fixture we had was Watford at home. However, that needed them to be safe and in an FA Cup semi final for them to not give a ****. However, it's not what our easiest fixture woud've been when they needed points and were only in round 4...

Perhaps using the word easiest is wrong full stop. Perhaps, our best opportunity to get 3 points.

[hammerheadjim]

We need a big afternoon from Bowen here. Perraud at left back for Southampton seems to be consistently the lowest ranked player on the pitch.

Also, 2 of his 5 Southampton goals have come against us...

[Crouchend_Hammer]

Benny's chance was more than a 0.1, whatever the stats claim. With his skill he should have at least worked the keeper.

it was a long cross from the right that he had to take on the volley from a fairly wide angle. that was about a 1 in 10 chance of scoring. Should he have got it on target? Yes. BUt that still doesn't mean it was an easy chance because if he had managed to get it on target it was very likely to be saved gven the position he was in and the pace he would have needed to keep it down

[Colours never run]

OK but he said easiest game of the season.
With the stakes, form and pressure I'd disagree.

I bet we have an easier game. But that would be after a bit of confidence.

Yeah, stand by it.

[El brooko79]

Perhaps using the word easiest is wrong full stop. Perhaps, our best opportunity to get 3 points.

The crux of it for me is we have no excuse for not putting in a bloody good performance.
Whether we win or not can come down to moments of what we do,they do and officials.

No where to hide for the manager and players.
We have already blown most of our margins for error.

[Exiledin cardiff]

If as some posters have said Moyes will go down the trusted players route then can we expect Cresswell and Antonio to start, I have pity with Areola as I think he'll be ousted and trusty Fabianski returns.

Moyes will go safety first and to do that he'll want his go to guys, if with 15 mins to go and its all square he may try to up the pressure with Scamacca and Ings coming on.

Safety first will be the battle cry.

It's going to be a long attritional 90 minutes

[Bubbles Fortuna]

Yeah, stand by it.

Were they Chelsea, Leicester, Man Utd's or Tottenham's easiest game of the season in the last 6 games?

[MB]

Perhaps using the word easiest is wrong full stop. Perhaps, our best opportunity to get 3 points.

If you were looking at the start of the season you'd have put it as 3 points. Clearly the circumstances make that less likely but if we cannot get three points or at least create enough to get 3 points then we are really in trouble.

Play like we did second half at their gaff and we will be fine. Play like the first half and not so much but that is most of the story of this season!

[Crouchend_Hammer]

Were they Chelsea, Leicester, Man Utd's or Tottenham's easiest game of the season in the last 6 games?

tbf, it probably is our easiest fixture left
That doesn't mean it is easy, or that we will definitely win, but it is probably the easiest

in teh same way, i thought Villa at home was the 'easiest' one we had left

[Colours never run]

Were they Chelsea, Leicester, Man Utd's or Tottenham's easiest game of the season in the last 6 games?

They were certainly Grimsby's at Home 5 games ago.

[djbubbles]

1st trip to London Stadium for this. In fact the last time i was over was Adrians pen against Everton.
Couple of q's if someone can help.
Im a smoker. Is it totally non smoking, even in the foyer etc? Or is there a designated smoking area. Unofficial smoking area?
Also is the stadium shop open after the game?
Thx

[Colours never run]

They allow you at half time to smoke outside amongst the food stalls.