Having already qualified for the knock out stages of the Europa League West Ham find themselves in the enviable situation of only needing a draw to avoid TWO further games if they can win or even draw tonight against Freiburg.
This week Newcastle AND Manchester Utd both ended at the bottom of their respective Champions League groups meaning that neither team will drop down to the Europa League. Therefore avoiding play off games against the teams that HAVE dropped down is all but essential!
Surely David Moyes has learned from the chastening Olympiakos experience to know that he HAS to start with a strong starting line up and then possibly bring on subs depending on how things are going during the evening.
Starting a weakened team spells disaster and it is indeed hoped that Moyes goes 'strong' and by that we DON"T mean starting Danny Ings!
If Hammers can wrap this game up properly tonight there will be a teo game break in what is already a frenzied schedule, not only that but it would help the team avoid having to play games against big hitters like Galatasaray,
.Lens, Sporting Braga, Benfica, Feyenoord, AC Milan, Young Boys or Shakhtar Donetsk
Of course arch rivals Liverpool lurk waiting to be matched against Hammers but you can only play what is in front of you, hopefully Hammers will avoid the scousers having already been drawn against them in the League Cup 1/4 finals. - Ed
Comments
At home against the Freiburg
At home against the Freiburg Turtles surely it's a win. I don't remember them having much at their place??
i have to disagree Nev
I think this is the time to play Cornet Benni Mubama and Ings as a front two because if he does not then Sunday Moyes knows he cannot afford another display like the one we saw against Fulham then onto the Carabooo cup at Anfield where the bindippers will rest a lot of first teamers but Moyes will not and then its Manure before Christmas then the Gooners on boxing day so tonight is the only time anyone will get a rest but i do not see that happening.
We have qualified and so what if we have to end up playing an extra two games as i do not see us winning this competition in all honesty.