This is written by Deportivo Hammer
The Premier League is back, big name players and big name managers. Bright lights, new stars and new stadiums. The Premier League is going to be bigger and better than ever.
With the Euro Championship in France this year it seems to have disrupted many teams pre-season plans ours included, with Dimitri Payet only being back at the club a week.
During the off season our Chairman promised to bring in a big name striker for a lot of money, while everyone was waiting for this big name to come, we quietly managed to pick up free agents Havard Nordtveit and Sofiane Feghouli, as well as adding exciting young talents Domingos Quina, Ashley Fletcher and Jonathan Calleri.
We then waited and waited…Then suddenly along came Andre Ayew for a club record fee of £20.5 million pounds a lot of money some people might say, but in today’s market i feel we have a bargain.
Pre-season for West Ham United hasn’t been great results wise, but avoiding injury is probably the most important thing unfortunately Aaron Cresswell looks to be out for 4 months. This made the board go out and get a proven player with Champions League experience Arthur Masuaku from Olympiakos.
Playing 2 competitive games in the UEFA League against NK Domzale should give us a little bit of an edge over Chelsea. Our opponents in the next round are FC Astra Giurgiu.
Chelsea on the other hand have beaten Liverpool, AC Milan and Werder Breman and lost to European giants Real Madrid, also managing not to pick up any major injuries.
New manager Antonio Conte has been busy bringing in players such as N’Golo Kante from Leicester City and Michy Batshuayi from Olympic Marseille. I fully expect them to be more active in the transfer market before the window closes.
Predicted teams –
Chelsea – Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Kante, Fabregas, Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Costa.
West Ham United – Adrian, Byram, Reid, Ogbonna, Masuaka, Nordtveit, Noble Kouyate, Ayew, Feghouli, Carroll.
Big decisions for Slav in the full back positions as he likes to play Antonio there but I hope he gives Byram a run in the team in his natural position. He could also play Byram at left back depending on the fitness of Masuaka.
I would love to say Payet will start, but I think he will be given a role from the bench as I think he still needs time training with the rest of the squad.
One thing for sure there is going to be plenty of competition for places this year with Tore, Obiang, Calleri, Oxford and Lanzini all pushing to get into the team. With the hopeful extra Euro games all will be needed at some point.
I predict this game to be very open and finish 2-2 with Carroll and Ayew getting our goals on the night.
Deportivo Hammer