Written by billythekid
After a disappointing performance against the Saints, Gary O’Neil’s six-game unbeaten run came to an end. O’Neil’s side going into the game against a side reported to be low on confidence after four consecutive defeats and a draw, their manager rumoured to be on borrowed time. Our side after going behind seemed to be lacking in ideas for once on how to break down the Saints defence. The game petered out with the visitors going home with all 3 points, their first win since the end of August. Our side’s next game is away at the London Stadium on Monday at 8 pm against West Ham which is being shown live on Sky. AFCB will need to be at their best in what could be a tough encounter at the London Stadium.
The last time we met David Moyes at the London Stadium, he was in his second stint as their manager. His first stint was to try and save West Ham from relegation, when he took over in November 2017 they were in 18th position. He did save them but wasn’t offered the job for the following season, Manuel Pellegrini was appointed manager. But just after a season and a few months in charge, Pellegrini was sacked and Moyes was appointed the West Ham manager for the second time on the 30th December 2019, with West Ham sitting in 17th place after 19 games with 19 points.
Moyes’s first game was at home on New Year’s Day 2020 against the Cherries, West Ham had a convincing win (more further down). At the end of that season, the Hammers finished in 16th place with 39 points. The 2020-21 season his first full season in charge, Moyes side finished in a very creditable 6th spot with 65 points (their best position since 2015-16 when they were 7th with 62 points). In the 2021-22 season, they finished 7th with 56 points. So this was the best spell in football for David Moyes since he left Everton after eleven years in 2013.
In the Summer West Ham signed nine players. The three most expensive were Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta from Lyon for £51.3 million, Italy striker Gianluca Scamacca from Sassuolo for £35.5 million and Moroccan centre-back Nayef Aguerd from Rennes for £30 million. One player to leave was full back Ryan Fredericks who joined AFCB.
David Moye’s team at home so far this season, started with two 0-2 defeats against Manchester City and Brighton. Drew 1-1 with fellow London club Spurs and won against Wolves 2-0 and Fulham 3-1. Away from home, they have beaten Aston Villa 0-1, drawn with Southampton 1-1 and lost against Nottingham Forest 1-0, Chelsea 2-1 and Everton 1-0. Their most recent game was away at Liverpool which ended in a 1-0 defeat. After 11 games West Ham are 13th with 11 points. The Cherries are 12th with 13 points.
The last time we met West Ham away, was as mentioned above on New Year’s Day 2020, West Ham won by 4-0. Scorers were their captain Mark Noble with 2, Sebastien Haller and Felipe Anderson.
Mark Noble retired at the end of last season after 18 years as a player for West Ham and will return in January in a newly created post as their Sporting Director.
In our league games at West Ham, AFCB have W 2, D 1, L 3.
In all competitions, AFCB have W 4, D 5, L 6.
West Ham v AFCB
West Ham Win
Draw
AFCB Win
Two big signings in the Summer are out injured, Lucas Paqueta is out with a shoulder injury and Nayef Aguerd with a foot injury. Craig Dawson has a thigh injury and Maxwel Cornet has a calf injury, both players could be available on Monday.
West Ham Player To Watch
Declan Rice in midfield will be one to watch, a really good player. They have three players equal top with two goals, Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio and Gianluca Scamacca their £35.5 million signing who is yet to really get going in a West Ham shirt. Of those three, Bowen will be one to watch.
AFCB Team News
Lloyd Kelly with a foot injury and David Brooks with a thigh injury will be missing.
AFCB Player To Watch
In our last three games, Ryan Christie has been a workhorse and has been MOM twice and was AFCB’s best player against Saints according to the BBC website stats. We need our players like Philip Billing and Dominic Solanke to show the form and understanding we saw from them on their last visit to London against Fulham and the games previous to last Wednesday night.
The Referee
David Coote is in charge of this game. We had him earlier this season for our away game against Manchester City.
NWCherries98 wrote…
They’re a good side but they haven’t been playing well, on the whole, this season. They can be got at.
Hope to see a more settled plan throughout this game. Keep players where they should be playing, keep it solid but also play with a bit less fear. We played perfectly against Newcastle, and these lot aren’t as good. It’s a similar challenge, there’s no reason we can’t give West Ham a game.
5-4-1
GK. Neto
RWB. Fredericks
CB. Smith
CB. Mepham
CB. Senesi
LWB. Zemura
CM. Cook
CM. Lerma
CM. Tavernier
CAM. Billing
ST. Solanke
I’m not a fan of Tavernier out wide, he’s not enough of a threat. I think he should be played centrally, rotating with Rothwell as the powerful ball-carrying No8 style midfielder.
Fredericks and Zemura as wingbacks for the engine, pace, trickery, and width they offer. I think we miss Zemura a bit, bring back the Billing and Solanke linkup.
Smith as the right-sided CB in a back 3 to offer width and attacking support when necessary.
Off the bench, we have good game-changing options like Christie, Stanislas, Moore, and Anthony. Can mix the formations up a bit. Stacey on for Fredericks if needed. Pearson perhaps to shore things up, Rothwell rotating with Tavernier. This is in my opinion our best-looking back 3/5 style formation on paper and one that’s fully capable of getting results.
I’m not a fan of Christie and Tavernier out wide atm and don’t like seeing Billing shunted around. Stick him behind Solanke, always. Keep Tavernier on the left if he has to play there and Fredericks on the right. Play with more pace and utilise the wingers/wingbacks more. Get Solanke and Billing involved. – Join the conversation, click here.
