West Hame - Fac 4th Round

[hamstrung_pigeon]

So maybe it ends up like this, taking into consideration Clyne's and Henderson's unavailability:

-------------------- Mignolet ---------------
Flanagan -- Lovren -- Sakho -- Smith
----------Brannagan --- Can ------------
Ibe ----------------- Allen ------- Teixeira
-------------------- Benteke ---------------

subs: Ward, Caulker, Moreno, Lucas, Milner, Lallana, Firmino

We really have to prevent them scoring first as they'll just set up shop to keep us out after that and hit us on the break with their pace. The wide forwards out there need to put in a shift to protect their full backs. I trust Brannagan to hold his own if he's given a start; the lad's got some fight and a good eye for a pass in him.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

And the ref for tomorrow's game is... Martin Atkinson.

Oh joy!

 

[Judge Jules]

Well, at least he's an equal opportunity referee - both sides will be on the wrong end of sh!t decisions.

 

[Modo]

I'll be very surprised if Teixeira starts.

 

[Hansern]

Which Teixeira?

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

We'll hammer them.

 

[Gary25]

They'll put us out I reckon.

 

[Athens]

They'll put us out I reckon.

I'll put you out.

 

[moron]

I can't remember the last time we lost 3 times to a single team. I hope we really screw them over 10-0 or something. Hate them this season.

 

[Buddha]

Play the kids.

 

[ILD]

We on BT yeah? Half 5?

 

[Jack D Rips]

yes

 

[Shadey]

He wants to play the youth again, oh boy that won't work if we can't even beat them with the first team.

 

[FoxForceFive]

He's said in an interview I read before that he'll play Caulker & Lovren.

I can understand him not wanting to play the first teamers though. Let's face it, they've been beaten twice already by them so why bother risking injury & fitness instead of just seeing how the 'reserve' players do.

Normally I'd expect a manager to field a strong side in the fa cup but with the amount of injuries to key players we've had I think it makes sense.

 

[Skullflower]

you can barely call any of these cunts first teamers at the moment.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Exactly. They haven't done enough to give me, or the manager, belief in what they can do, so why not see what the others do against decent opposition. A couple of them may surprise us.

 

[manwithnoname]

He's said in an interview I read before that he'll play Caulker & Lovren.

I can understand him not wanting to play the first teamers though. Let's face it, they've been beaten twice already by them so why bother risking injury & fitness instead of just seeing how the 'reserve' players do.

Normally I'd expect a manager to field a strong side in the fa cup but with the amount of injuries to key players we've had I think it makes sense.

Caulker and Lovren should be in the first team, based in recent evidence supplied by the Kolo & Mamadou Comedy Show

 

[doctor_mac]

I'm taking a party of six girls to Pizza Hut during this (its my daughter's 11th birthday). Lets hope I miss the performance of the season.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

He's said in an interview I read before that he'll play Caulker & Lovren.

I can understand him not wanting to play the first teamers though. Let's face it, they've been beaten twice already by them so why bother risking injury & fitness instead of just seeing how the 'reserve' players do.

Normally I'd expect a manager to field a strong side in the fa cup but with the amount of injuries to key players we've had I think it makes sense.

Apparently, Ward will start in goal. So it looks like this could be a team that's rather similar to the one that played Exeter. Not sure if Stewart is eligible though after he got sent off for the U21s. I'm not too keen on him anyway.

So now it feels like we might just throw a team like this into the game and see if they sink or swim:

---------------------- Ward --------------------
Randall --- Caulker --- Lovren --- Smith
--------- Brannagan --- Chirivella ---------
Ibe ----------------- Allen ---------- Teixeira
-------------------- Benteke ------------------

subs: Mignolet, Flanagan, Ilori, Lucas / Milner / Can, Kent, Ojo, Sinclair

 

[Pesam]

I'm hoping the Caulker/Lovren partnership works well. At least we have 2 tall strong players to counteract West Ham's aerial threat through Collins, Tomkins etc. And at least we'll have 2 players who will attack the ball in the air rather than wait for it to arrive at them.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

Ward to be MOM.

 

[Hansern]

Will be interesting to see Caulker today, hope he has a good game

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

#LFC line up to face West Ham: Mignolet, Clyne, Caulker, Lovren, Smith, Brannagan, Stewart, Allen, Ibe, Teixeira, Benteke.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Confirmed #LFC subs v @whufc_official: Ward, Enrique, Ilori, Chirivella, Sinclair, Ojo, Randall

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

Ok we'll lose. Ward's not starting.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

And who's [emoji50] ?

 

[Jack D Rips]

How can we lose with Jesus as our captain

 

[Hansern]

Our midfield will be dominated.

West Ham XI vs. LFC: Randolph; Tomkins, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Obiang, Song, Kouyate; Moses, Payet, Valencia

 

[Modo]

Where's what's his name? The little reserve midfielder...

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Good to see Clyne back. That will give us proper cover at the back against Payet. Stewart in the middle will probably be the weak link though. Not sure why we'd need 3 defenders on the bench instead of just bringing another attacker or a more experienced CM.