I hate 12.45 kick offs but if we can get something out of this game, I’ll happily eat my words. I suspect most of us feel more confident about that eventuality than we did last season when we took some right hammerings from them. But let’s not get carried away. They have been in great form, although their trip to Moscow this week may have left them a little jaded. Let’s see if our new attacking style of play can capitalise on any weakness they show. And we need to start as we mean to go on – attack them from the off, show them that we mean business and that we are not afraid of them. I see no point in trying to adapt our play to a more defensive formation, despite the temptation.
Cheikhou Kouyate is back from injury and I’d like to see him start the game. We need to overrun them in midfield, and a three of Kouyate, Noble and Song gives us a good chance of doing just that. So that would mean Amalfitano making way. I expect James Tomkins to come in for James Collins, but other than that I would have thought there is little reason to change anything in the side that beat Burnley.
Just a reminder that there is a WHTID meetup after the game. This is from Safe Hands…
The meetup will be at The Miller’s Well, 419-421 Barking Road (from the ground, go towards Barking and it’s on the left past East Ham High Street). We’ll be on the left-hand side by the window as you walk in – if you’re not sure, please ask the bar staff as they know we’re coming and where we’ll be. As usual, all are welcome – it’s good to meet those from the WHTID community to have a drink, laugh and chat about our team.
Who’s the special guest? Well, I don’t want to say too much but … hmmm, let me think … only 30 West Ham players have won a FA Cup Winners medal and one of them will be at the drinks on Saturday :).
And don’t forget that the Predictor League closes for entries today at 11.15pm. On the right hand side you can see the cumulative results. You can only be included in this if you have have entered predictions for at least half the games.
Team: Adrian, Jenkinson, Collins, Reid, Cresswell, Noble, Song, Amalfitano, Downing, Valencia, Sakho.
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Kouyate, Vaz Te, O’Brien, Poyet, Cole, Nolan