Pre Match: West Ham vs Liverpool F.C (16:00 GMT , 9 December )

I quite like the idea of playing Allan, Sahin, Lucas as a midfield trio and having Gerrard on the right and Shelvey in the middle where they could rotate.
Too much to put it all on Shelvey shoulders and Gerrard as we all know is a certain goal threat when moves further up field.
Love to know if anyone has any bib theories from today's training.

I wonder if Brendan rested Andre as a ploy to get some more height in the back for Sunday?

Reina

Wisdom
Skrtel
Agger
Johnson

Lucas
Allen
Gerrard

Sterling
Shelvey
Enrique

I could see that. Enrique gets in the box like a madman when he plays on the wing, and moving Wisdom at right back gives us another player to deal with the long ball.

Andre isn't that tall. He's only 6'1

Andre isn't that tall. He's only 6'1

Only?!

I'm hoping he starts 'cause he is in my fantasy team. Be a bit gutted for him if his injury has caused him to be dropped out of the team although i sort of understand because he was becoming a bit liable for some errors.

Reina

Wisdom Skrtel Agger Johnson

Lucas
Allen   Shelvey

Sterling          Enrique
Gerrard

That is the team that i would like to see but i know that it no doubt will be different, can see Gerrard and Shelvey swapping positions in my formation. The left hand side would be solid and as always Sterling will track back to help out Wisdom whenever needed, that is one thing i like about Sterling's game - he has enough energy and pace to get back and burst on a run again within seconds.

It's bloody ridiculous that we go into a game without a recognised striker. Embarrassing really.

I'd play Sterling, Shelvey and Gerrard up front, with Lucas Sahin and Henderson behind.

Reina

Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique

Lucas

Henderson, Sahin

Sterling, Shelvey, Gerrard

I saw Shelvey play up front in the past for Blackpool (i think it was them), and Charlton, and i think that selection would have the best chance of getting a goal from elsewhere.

I have pretty much the same team in mind except playing Enrique at left back and glen at right.
Agree on your approach.

Shelvey was a West Ham fan. He would've joined them or us, but chose us because Stevie was his idol. Hope he goes and bags a couple against them.

Bang Enrique in the middle of the front three. Been possessed recently.
     

West Ham will take every opportunity to pump the ball into our box and if we can limit that, we would have reduced their threat. Without a recognise striker may be a blessing in disguise for us and I'm sure every player is tasked too score except Reina and it'll be hard for the hammers to predict. If we take very opportuniy that comes our way to shoot, I'm sure the goals will come. Defensively, they're not very solid and I'll go for a 2-1 in our favor. The long steep climb up the table starts this weekend.

Think shelvey can fill the void left by saurez, he is always hungry for a goal. Think enrique is on fire, and will be good for a goal Reds to win 2-1

Think shelvey can fill the void left by saurez, he is always hungry for a goal. 

Might be a good idea. Do we have another choice? Which player can fill the role as a leading striker closely? Borini still coming back from is injury. Sterling, Assaidi and Suso are not the type of players who can fill this role "perfectly", the three players are be more a threat when they can operate over the wings. So which player left? Yesil?  Maybe.. but not sure if he can put enough danger on the opposite defenders.

There's been lots of talk of Shelvey fronting our team, even by our own press releases which is kind of surprising if we're trying to give little away.

Makes me wonder if Shelvey will actually start up front, or whether we're trying to make West Ham think we will.

Am I thinking too deep? Probably.

Sam Allardyce has said when West Ham move into the olympic stadium they will become a bigger team than Liverpool.What a deluded c**t.

Sam Allardyce has said when West Ham move into the olympic stadium they will become a bigger team than Liverpool.What a deluded c**t.

But he'll be off managing Real or Barca by then. 

Gets right up my nose does Fat Sam. Never liked him since he refused to use Tranmere's facilities in 2000 I think it was.

If he was chocolate he'd eat himself - just a deluded snob who think's he way, way better than he actually is.

The game. Really hard to predict what will happen as always with us, just hope Lucas coming in can help Stevie concentrate more on his attacking duties, due one or two isn't he? Getting him back amongst the goals will help us no end.

Think we'll win, 2-1 I'll go for.

Hopefully we put either Morgan or Yesil on the bench. Think we always need a natural striker in the squad, regardless of experience and opposition.

Beat these tomorrow Everton beat Spurs we will be 4 points of a CL place.

Shelvey cannot play in the striker role, he proved that last time he played there.

Stick Morgan or Yesil on!

Shelvey cannot play in the striker role, he proved that last time he played there.

Stick Morgan or Yesil on!

didn't he scored one last time he played there?

Shelvey cannot play in the striker role, he proved that last time he played there.

Stick Morgan or Yesil on!

I thought he done pretty well last time he played there for us.

Think we'll need Morgan or Yesil on just to give the hammers something to think about. Mabey a half each. Shelvey will be better employed a bit deeper as an attacking center mid. Gerrard can then get further forward and Lucas can sit in front of the back 4. We need to get at the hammers midfield and defenders quickly. Close down their space to cut out the long balls forward. Sure we can do these and have to agree a 2 - 1 win for us is a good shout.  Think we are due a Shelvey THUNDERBOLT and a goal from Gerrard too. Think theirs might be a late deflected o.g. some how.           Now what the F**k makes me think that ?             Never crossed my mind before.

I thought he done pretty well last time he played there for us.

He was alright but he is far more effective in the middle

What's the odds for us getting a penalty in this? 

Anyway I can see us doing this lot, they're nothing special and I despise fat features Sam.