Written by @deportivohammer
Well it seems even the Beast from the East can’t stop the Premier League and as I write this the game is still on. Lets hope the Hammers turn it on against a Swansea team who have looked good in recent weeks and are playing well at home although they lost in their last game out.
Swansea, despite picking up some good results still find themselves in the bottom 3 although only through goal difference a win for them will see them really climb the table and keep their run going. West Ham now have 2 defeats in our last 3 games and while we are not in as much trouble as Swansea I would like to see us pick up the points needed sooner rather than later. There always seems to be a team dragged into the scrap in the last few games of the season and I really don’t want it to be us.
Swansea have Andre Ayew in the squad for today and I’m not sure if this is good news for us or them. Probably depends on which Ayew decides to turn up as we all know if he feels like it he can be a difference maker in any side. Playing with his brother may just spur him on a bit. I hope not. Mawson, and Fabianski were rested for the mid-week F.A cup clash and return to the squad. Hopefully that cup game would have taken abit out of a team who have won their last 3 home games.
It is all getting very tight at the bottom with teams all beating each other and only a few points separating the bottom half of the table. I really can’t say how important todays game is and I’m looking for a repeat of our performance away at Huddersfield where we really played well and had the game finished well before the end.
The usual suspects will be missing for the Hammers Carroll, Obiang, Masuaku and Fernandes but there are all 2 others missing today Ogbonna and Collins will also miss the game one due to Injury and the other with a slight knock. Lanzini should be available after coming off during the game against Liverpool.
Predicted teams:
Swansea City : Fabianski, Olsson, Mawson, Fernandez, Van der Hoorn, Naughton, Ayew, Ki, Carroll, Clucas, and Ayew.
West Ham United : Adrian, Zabaleta, Rice, Reid, Cresswell, Evra, Noble, Kouyate, Lanzini, Arnautovic and Hernandez
Marcus Browne comes into the squad too.
While the loss of 2 other centre backs is not great I’m pleased to see the return of Rice to the line up as I feel he deserves a run in the team. Up front its hard to see where someone like Antonio would come into the team if we keep playing 5 at the back but I think maybe coming off the bench when the opposition is tired could be a great tactic and could be crucial in the last 15 mins. Players coming from the bench is not something Moyes has had the luxury of recently. In the final 9 games of the season this could be crucial. I predict a big win for the team today and we will win 3-0 with us running riot. Hernandez and Arnautovic spurring us on to victory.