Topic: West Ham vs Liverpool (Pre Match Thread),Upton Park - Saturday 20/09/2014 5.30pm

[MrRaptorTurtle]

Counting shots is useless unless they go in or lead to a goal in some way.

Not if we're talking about creating chances....not goals.

[Kopenhagen]

I'd start with...



3 French speaking players at the back, 2 Spanish fullbacks, 4 English midfielders, 2 Italian strikers - That's what I call a balanced team

That's my team, too.

[Dakota]

Not if we're talking about creating chances....not goals.

Exactly. I never said we weren't shit at converting them, just that we made things happen more than v. Villa.

[Tobez]

I have to say I really hope we start with the same back four as the last couple of games. People calling for Skrtel's reintroduction as a way of making our defence less porous have clearly forgotten last season already. All our CBs have mistakes in them, but the best way of ironing that out is to allow them a measure of consistency which was sorely lacking last year. It also does nothing for Mignolet's fragile confidence to keep switching between two defenders who like to play on the front foot and Skrtel who loves the edge of the box.

Elsewhere Coutinho ahead of Lallana on the side of the diamond with Mario and Borini up front. It should be enough, because this game has taken on a fair amount of importance. Not because of the result in isolation, but because of the need to build up a bit of momentum. The start seems to be a little jittery at the moment and a routine win would go some way to assuaging that.

[Gerry83]

Not in the context of discussing weather we had any chances or not.

Yes, but if you're using said chances to justify a performance it doesnt really matter at the end of the day. U could have 20 shots and play crap or 1 shot and play brilliant. Anyway lallana, coutinho (or both) on the bench. No room for both in this imo unless we're brave from the off or going for the win late on.

[sambhi92]

Got to go two up top. We look so much more dangerous with the two up top. Would love too see Lambert given a chance, think he'd work really well with Mario.

[MazzaRed]

Lallana has to play, he needs games to get his fitness up...

[Gnurglan]

Need a win. Hope to see Lambert with Balotelli up front. Just have a feeling they will work well together.

[Gnurglan]

Got to go two up top. We look so much more dangerous with the two up top. Would love too see Lambert given a chance, think he'd work really well with Mario.

[Red-Soldier]

I'd start with...



3 French speaking players at the back, 2 Spanish fullbacks, 4 English midfielders, 2 Italian strikers - That's what I call a balanced team

Spot on with that lineup.

That''d be my choice to.   

[ScouserAtHeart]

So if we win this,  we'll have a massive total of 1 point less than the amazing start of last season.

[TheFlyingScouseman]

This won't be comfortable, always a pain in the arse is big Sam. But I expect us to get a narrow victory.

[diegoLFC7]

Im afraid its gonna be another one of those "park the bus against a big team game". We aren't very good at breaking down teams that park the bus. We have to come out of the gates with everything we have and overwhelm them, if we let them get possession early in the game they'll gain too much confidence just like Villa and Ludogorets. We have to take shots from the outside, and not waste any chances we get. Lets go lads we really need 3 points.

[Kopenhagen]

Im afraid its gonna be another one of those "park the bus against a big team game". We aren't very good at breaking down teams that park the bus. We have to come out of the gates with everything we have and overwhelm them, if we let them get possession early in the game they'll gain too much confidence just like Villa and Ludogorets. We have to take shots from the outside, and not waste any chances we get. Lets go lads we really need 3 points.

Are we necessarily bad at breaking park the bus teams down, though? Teams last season came to defend at Anfield and got a hiding; it's not as though every team, from my recollection, came to actually try and play. There's a vast difference between a team like West Ham, Cardiff, and Crystal Palace parking the bus, and a quality team like Chelsea putting 11 men behind the ball. Our performance against Villa shouldn't be a continuation of the "we can't beat teams that park the bus" narrative - it was an aberration, as far as I'm concerned, mostly due to injuries, new players, and players out-of-form.

For example, let's say that Chelsea game happens on the opening day of last season, and we go on to have the exact same season we had; and our 2013-14 campaign starts off the exact same way it has. If this was the case, nobody would be saying we can't break down park the bus teams.

[robgomm]

I think I'd try Sterling off Balotelli in a staggered front partnership, Lallana in hole and Coutinho on the left side of the diamond. Get him digging in, making tackles and working the ball from deep. 

[Kopenhagen]

I think I'd try Sterling off Balotelli in a staggered front partnership, Lallana in hole and Coutinho on the left side of the diamond. Get him digging in, making tackles and working the ball from deep.

I fail to remember Coutinho playing well away from home as a CM, and on current form he's not even good at Anfield. Far too much of a risk, for me.

[ScouserAtHeart]

I hate late kickoffs. We do our best work in thr afternoon

[robgomm]

I fail to remember Coutinho playing well away from home as a CM, and on current form he's not even good at Anfield. Far too much of a risk, for me.

Away from home issue is overrated for me. He needs to dig in in midfield, I think it's his future more than in the front three or even as a number ten.

And to me it's a bigger risk putting Lallana there as I don't think it's a role he's ever even played. Could be wrong of course.

[Red-Soldier]

So if we win this,  we'll have a massive total of 1 point less than the amazing start of last season.

If we win we'll be 2 points up comparing the equivalent fixtures from last season.

That's how I'm looking at it.

[Kopenhagen]

Away from home issue is overrated for me. He needs to dig in in midfield, I think it's his future more than in the front three or even as a number ten.

And to me it's a bigger risk putting Lallana there as I don't think it's a role he's ever even played. Could be wrong of course.

Fair enough on Lallana. For some reason I'd be more willing to give him a go there, though.

[robgomm]

Fair enough on Lallana. For some reason I'd be more willing to give him a go there, though.

He's not fully fit either and it's a demanding role. But yeah, Coutinho has been bobbins so far and needs a performance to get some form going.

[brownbear11]

I'd start with...



3 French speaking players at the back, 2 Spanish fullbacks, 4 English midfielders, 2 Italian strikers - That's what I call a balanced team

Yes, please. Balo needs someone opening space and Borini runs plenty to do that. Lallana needs game time. And the diamond is our best formation, practically regardless of the players, because most of our strikers need a partner.

Markovic or Coutinho on as a sub after 60 for Lallana, Lambert for Balo at 75. Maybe Cou first and Markovic for Borini a bit later.

[diegoLFC7]

I would rest Coutinho and give him the full 90 against Middlesborough to get his confidence back.

[JackWard33]

Need a win. Hope to see Lambert with Balotelli up front. Just have a feeling they will work well together.

Agreed - he's a level above Borini. Him or try Sterling off Balotelli

Fucking hell our central midfield doesn't look too clever. Stay strong Jordan

[Caffeine]

So if we win this,  we'll have a massive total of 1 point less than the amazing start of last season.

We have to win this first.

[MolbyLovesGravlax]

Think the idea that West Ham are more expansive is a media tale more than reality. I think Sam has a little more pressure on him to be really positive against say QPR or West Brom, but when they are playing one of the big boys he'll get more criticism for going for it and being beaten 4-2 than he would keeping it tight and losing 1-0. He knows his chances of going toe-to-toe with the better teams are much more limited than shutting up shop and hoping for a set piece or breakaway goal.
This'll be tough and if we play as we have the last two games we will be unlikely to get 3 points.

[my usenme changed?]

Why do all these line ups include Borini
Bizarre how overly impressed people were with his sub appearances

If we play a diamond I'd play Sterling off Balotelli, Lallana or Coutinho at the top of the diamond rather than suffer the drop in quality of having Borini up there

I'd actually go with Lambert and Balotelli up front, he's going to be fresh at least.

[Cusamano]

Please start with 2 strikers

that is all

[Madan]

The way we're performing, i can't see us picking the 3 points.

I'll honestly take a draw and then hopefully we can pick up 3 points in the Derby next week. That'll leave us with 10 points from 6 games.

Sturridge will be back by then, and we should be performing better with him to pick up 10 points from the next 4 games. We should be getting 10 points from this - WBA h, Hull h, Newc a, QPR a.

That will give us 20 points from 10 games. I'll be happy with that.

We can't be doing with another loss here. There will be a bit of a panic if that were to happen.

[Reeves]

What's with the Borini love? Everyone wanted rid now he's good enough?!

[kopite17]

What's with the Borini love? Everyone wanted rid now he's good enough?!

Probably because we seem to be a lot better off with the 2 up front, and when he has been coming on he's looked decent. It's either Lambert or Borini and as expected, more want Borini to start. He offers something different to Balotelli in that he's always moving looking for space, whereas Balotelli is usually somewhat static, wanting the ball to feet.

[JackWard33]

Probably because we seem to be a lot better off with the 2 up front, and when he has been coming on he's looked decent. It's either Lambert or Borini and as expected, more want Borini to start. He offers something different to Balotelli in that he's always moving looking for space, whereas Balotelli is usually somewhat static, wanting the ball to feet.

Yeah Borini is the king of purposeless running around

[Keita Success]

Got to be a 442 diamond. Villa showed us that.

[Pistolero]

always a tough game this.....and hugehead will have his troops primed as usual .......would like to think they'd continue with the more expansive tactics they displayed at Hull (and which had their own fans rubbing their eyes in disbelief) ...but knowing Allardyce that was probably a one off..

a dogged 2-2..

[Red Sea]

Got to be a 442 diamond. Villa showed us that.

yeah, triffic formation. mario and daniel running the lines, raheem, adam, jordan and stevie with the supply.
boss formation, boss team

[Keita Success]

yeah, triffic formation. mario and daniel running the lines, raheem, adam, jordan and stevie with the supply.
boss formation, boss team

'Arry Wedknapp

[jets red 44]

the best way of stopping them from parking that bus is to get at them and score early. really push for that early goal imho

would also like to see Lambert up front with Mario

[Qcase1977]

Has to be 2 up top really but if it's Borini alongside Mario I'd feel bad for Lambert really. All summer we've been trying to flog borini and lambert was the first or second signing.

[beardsleyismessimk1]

the best way of stopping them from parking that bus is to get at them and score early. really push for that early goal imho

As the home team the onus will be in them to attack and go for the win, am sure the fans will want and expect as much, and will turn quickly if that does not seem to be the point in case.

We will have more chances to counter then we do at home, and I think we can get a good result if we allow the hammers to think they are in the game.Lure them out , let them have possession and keep the ball, then manipulate the inevitable mistakes they are going to make.

[Tobez]

Yeah Borini is the king of purposeless running around

Woosh? I hope so