West Ham away Sunday 30th Nov at 205pm

[danperkins]

Go back to basics, play Endo and Grav get some protection in the midfield, start Chiesa for energy and effort. We need players willing to battle, that's where we are at, Gomez has to start.

[super_xabi]

<slot>
I'd go with
Mama
Kerkez
VVD
Konate
Szob
Jones
Grav
Mac
Salah
Gakpo
Isak (only coz I HAVE to)
</slot>

[Slinky Skills]

<slot>
I'd go with
Mama
Kerkez
VVD
Konate
Szob
Jones
Grav
Mac
Salah
Gakpo
Isak (only coz I HAVE to)
</slot>

[BigChief]

I'm sure he's mixed up the Isak comment with Salah's.

[peterbread]

Living in a fantasy world with this one but if there isn’t enough CB’s I’d play 3 at the back with a midfielder in there. Plus we know Chiesa and Endo aren’t getting starts.

Endo VVD Robertson
Dom Gravenberch Jones Mac Allister Kerkez
Chiesa Isak or Ekitike if he’s fit

I’d prefer to have Dom in midfield for the press but right now I’d say sit in pack the midfield and play a bit more conservative and use the counter so it’s less important.

Endo might not be the best option in defence but with three there it’s a bit easier than in a two. With the form Konate is in and Gomez looking like he can’t play any significant minutes at least you know you’ll get all effort from Endo plus he’s a leader.

It’s desperation times so he needs to really shake things up and show who’s the boss and drop some big names from the team.

But what’s the point of talking about this because we all know what’s going to happen.

[Slinky Skills]

I genuinely believe we'll see a change on Sunday, both a change of formation/tactics AND a change of personnel.

I think Robbo will come in for some reassurance at the back. Probably Gomez too and Endo as well.

I still don't think Chiesa will get a start which is just bizarre but one can only hope!

[memzey]

As much as I like Endo, he's a liability with the ball and should only be used in backs against the wall scenarios. Like in the last 5 minutes of a game when we are defending a one goal lead. Not replacing him with an upgrade was one of the big mistakes of the past window, at least as big as not getting in a senior centre half, in my opinion.

I think Kerkez's and Wirtz's ****ness for us has been exaggerated to some extent. It's like we bought a pair of Ferraris but are using them to haul pallets of tinned tuna from the factory to the wholesaler. It's not the car's fault it isn't optimised for your task, you should either have bought a van or used them for pulling skirt instead.

I haven't seen enough of Isak in a red shirt to get a much of a sense from him. I didn't like the arseholery he pulled in getting his move and I think I was one of a small number who said as much at the time. He deserves a fair crack of the whip though, as he does have that clinical edge to him that top strikers need.

I'm really not looking forward to this game. Considering the demolition job we did on them last season, this just goes to show how far we have fallen.

[frank the tank]

As much as I like Endo, he's a liability with the ball and should only be used in backs against the wall scenarios. Like in the last 5 minutes of a game when we are defending a one goal lead. Not replacing him with an upgrade was one of the big mistakes of the past window, at least as big as not getting in a senior centre half, in my opinion.

I think Kerkez's and Wirtz's ****ness for us has been exaggerated to some extent. It's like we bought a pair of Ferraris but are using them to haul pallets of tinned tuna from the factory to the wholesaler. It's not the car's fault it isn't optimised for your task, you should either have bought a van or used them for pulling skirt instead.

I haven't seen enough of Isak in a red shirt to get a much of a sense from him. I didn't like the arseholery he pulled in getting his move and I think I was one of a small number who said as much at the time. He deserves a fair crack of the whip though, as he does have that clinical edge to him that top strikers need.

I'm really not looking forward to this game. Considering the demolition job we did on them last season, this just goes to show how far we have fallen.

Good post.

Agree about Endo but I'd prefer to see a young fella from the u18s start in place of Ibou checked-out Konate.

I think the line up I'd like to see on Sunday is

Mama

Jones Gomez Virgil Robbo

Szoboslai Grav Mac Wirtz

Salah Isak

[frank the tank]

Looks like Becker will be back too which is good. I thought it might have been an issue with his recent hammy injury but apparently it was just the two-bob-bits.

Which is good news. Mama hasn't made huge clangers but he hasn't exactly got us out of the **** either.

[Yozza]

BBC Recap: Slot's best bits

Slot 'his usual calm and fairly chilled self'
West Ham v Liverpool (Sun, 14:05 GMT)

I have to say Arne Slot was his usual calm and fairly chilled self despite some difficult questions being fired his way, and he did crack a smile on the way in.

Interestingly he admitted he had been in conversation with the Liverpool hierarchy since last night but the message he’s getting is the same as it always has been, one of support.

He also admitted he didn’t sleep well last night (do Premier League managers ever?) but was keen to dispute a suggestion about low morale being constant on the pitch.

It wasn’t quite a run of the mill presser but Slot’s performance in front of the world’s media didn’t exactly indicate panic or desperation.

One thing that is clear is that West Ham away on Sunday is now a massive game for him and Liverpool.



The Reds boss was questioned about the side's form and conversations had with the owners after Wednesday's defeat to PSV.

Here are some of the top lines:

Slot said the conversations with the owners were the same as they have been for the last one-and-a-half years
He gave fitness updates on Alisson, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz and added that Joe Gomez is close to a return to action and he wasn't used yesterday due to the scoreline
The Dutchman said he feels no anger towards his players despite their recent torrid form
He stated that he and Curtis Jones are "on the same page" following Jones' post-match comments against PSV
Finally, Slot said he could see that Wednesday's loss visibly "hurt the players" after the third and fourth goals had gone in

[kingfunk]

Ali
Jones, Gomez, VVD, Kerkez
Grav, Endo
Dom
Chiesa, Isak, Wirtz

[ronanm]

It'll be the same team. Concede in first 15 mins.. Rinse, repeat

[Harv]

It'll be the same team. Concede in first 15 mins.. Rinse, repeat

West Ham to score on 8 minutes after Konate sneezes, coughs and farts at the same time, causing him to go into a full body spasm and kick the ball straight to Paqueta who then slides it over to Bowen for a tap in.

[Exiled_red]

Surely Gomez has to come in for Konate, Quansah was dropped for a poor 45 mins, Konate has stunk the place out for weeks.

[frank the tank]

Please just go back to basics Arne.

Becker

Gomez Gravenberch Virgil Robbo

Szoboslai Macallister Jones Wirtz

Salah Ekitike