It’s incredible to think that our season starts in less than a fortnight with the first qualifying round of the Europa League. We will discover the identity of our opponents on Monday in a live televised draw. I am praying that the first leg is at home, but I fear that as we are top seeds that won’t be the case. The reason is that because my LBC radio show runs from 4-8pm I can never go to evening matches at Upton Park, but it just so happens that I’m covering the Breakfast Show that week. Fingers crossed.
I suspect the team that Bilic puts out will be very different to the one which plays at Arsenal on the first day of the Premier League season. One question is whether Enner Valencia will be available to play. Equador have been elimnated from the Copa America despite a 2-1 win over Mexico in which Valencia scored. However, one assumes he will need a break before returning to England. So we only have one striker – Diafra Sakho, who has presumably recovered from his injury. Elliot Lee is the only other striker on our books at the moment who is fit to play.
So this is the team which Bilic will probably pick…
Adrian
O’Brien
Cressell
Reid
Tomkins
Kouyate
Noble
Obiang
Downing
Amalfitano
Sakho
Or do you think Nolan might play instead of Obiang?