West Ham v Stoke - Official Match Thread

[Taansend]

Thank you oh wise man of the Official Threads...

I'm glad you understood.

[redhammer88]

Sakho will play. Just a feeling. When is Carol supposed to grace our presence again?

Bench v villa. Read my fekin blog lol - view external link

[SepticHammer]

does anyone else see the irony in The Taans 4-5-1?! I mean we can dress it up as a 4-3-3, but an away game with our manager at the helm, I never thought I'd see the day!!

Are you saying it's a good thing or a bad one [/quote]


It's got to be the Taansend formation, just hope that midfield domination will allow someone to go up top with Valencia - but I do see the irony !!!

[Wokinghama]

Sakho will play. Just a feeling. When is Carol supposed to grace our presence again?

Bench v villa. Read my fekin blog lol[/quote]

I think we will come away with the same result as Aug 13, what odds would that be

Good read though fella

[redhammer88]

Cheers. I think we will win

Valencia will have shawcross, it's him am predicting a red for.

Song and noble will keep nzonzi and Adams quiet, did a decent job with silva and toure.
Collins can easily handle diouf, don't even rate him, everyone talks about his goal v city but hart should have saved it.

This is even without sakho. I hope he plays cold from the start with valencia, about time he has a strike partner and wasn't left alone in a 10 yard raduis, have lee in the bench. We can afford to take risks so let's take them. Bear in mind we are home to villa with sakho and Carroll probably available.

Only niggly thing is gold has tweeted saying we will see a Nolan chicken dance soon, so unless that's a hint he is set to start.

[thomas_swe]

I'm not sure who should start tbh. Kouyate is back and Amalfitano had done really well. If Sakho is injured that leaves us with only one striker in Valencia, if Cole should parner him (which i think would work very well), who drops to the bench?

With these options i don't think Nolan is the right man to start, even if Sakho doesn't heal in time. And if Sakho makes it who does Kouyate replace?

My prediction is t's either gonna be a 3-man holding midfied: Song, Noble and Kouyate, with Downing and Amalfitano supporting Valencia. Or Amalfitano on the bench with Cole partnering Valencia upfront. This means I think Kouyate is certain to start and i think our midfield could crush theirs. It depends which route you want to go, pace upfront or Cole creating speace for others

[redhammer88]

Gold has stated Zarate will be in travelling squad

Doesn't say he will be fit but perhaps that would he is getting at

[mrbubbles]

Gold tweeted' its gona be 50'50 that sakho will be on the bench saturday

[mikeveep]

To be honest, with that solid midfield,I wouldn't mind Nolan starting alongside Valencia.

Our only possible weakness has been not defending sufficiently well from the front (the first half v.Burnley) Nolan would be able to pressurise their defenders (and goalkeeper,and referee !) better

[SepticHammer]

Revisiting the Taans Formation (if there's no sakho) would be much better than starting Cole or Nolan. You have to think that Song, Noble & Kouyote can boss the mid enough to allow either Downing or Amalfitano (or both) to join Valencia in the high pressing game we've been seeing of late. Cole & Nolan are both good holding players once we have a lead, but def not to start.