West Ham Predictions: Green St Hammers staff predict Bournemouth

After a disappointing opening weekend, West Ham must regroup. How do our writers think they’ll get on against Bournemouth at the weekend?

If you were to predict out our season based on the opening day defeat, then it would seem that the Hammers are going to have a really tough time of it all. But the fact remains that West Ham have lost more opening games in the Premier League than any other team, and we haven’t had awful seasons every time.

So we move on to Bournemouth at home, which I am sure is the match that Pellegrini would have been targeting as the real start of the season. This is a match where the new boys should have some space on the ball, and with the full support of a home stadium behind them we should see a better showing from everyone. Hopefully. So here are our staff predictions!

Scott – Result: 3-1

I watched the Liverpool game with grim realisation that any dreams the fans had been having of a newly formed team would waltz into Anfield and get a result was very naive. But unlike the doom and gloom seen on social media, I do think we have a good side and I expect us to start gelling in the coming games.

I like Eddie Howe and his Bournemouth side play decent football, but they do leave themselves open in defence. I would expect the Hammers to be more than a match player for player, and with some adjustments to the shape we saw at Anfield I think that we will prove to be too much for the Cherries. I’m hoping for a clean sheet, but 50% of the backline is new, so I’m expecting one or two errors per 90 minutes in the opening part of the season. 3-1 to the Hammers.

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Adam – Result : 3-1

This match has bounce-back game written all over it for West Ham. Bournemouth is not pushovers and should be able to challenge West Ham’s defensive backline with their speedy forwards, but Pellegrini’s defenders should be poised to please their manager. A name to watch for from Bournemouth would be Ryan Frasier. The right-sided midfielder is quick to jump up in attack and scored against Cardiff City last week.

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I think we’ll see Pellegrini go to his trusted 4-2-2-2 formation with a possible midfield twosome of Wilshere and Obiang/Noble. Uptop would be Arnautovic and Chicharito with Yarmolenko and Anderson with Masuaku and Fredericks at fullback and Balbuena and Ogbonna in central defense. I do believe Antonio and Rice will be dropped simply based off of the Liverpool match. Not forever, not as a punishment, but to set the precedent that everyone has to earn their spot. Hopefully optimistic for this one!

Jeff – Result: 2-1

West Ham United and Bournemouth head into this match facing opponents in each other that figure to be quite a bit different than the sides they opened the Premiere League campaign against. For the Hammers, Bournemouth are not going to be nearly as explosive as Liverpool. On the opposite side, West Ham should be a much tougher team to breakdown that Cardiff City was for Bournemouth. On paper, West Ham’s talent is superior in nearly every place in the starting XI.

Last season’s meetings between these two clubs both ended in draws. West Ham have not scored more than 2 goals in any match since the start of preseason. That’s why I see the outcome 2-1 in West Ham’s favor. Winning in the club’s first home match of the season, the home debut for Manuel Pellegrini and for all of the new Hammers.

Jeremiah – Result 3-2

There’s no doubt we went into Anfield an underdog and it showed. The back line didn’t gel and at times looks a poor shape. Does that cause me to panic? No not in the least. Liverpool is a far better side and showed it last Sunday. With a new man at the helm and 5 new starters there no doubt we need time to gel and get into the right scheme that Pellegrini wants to play.

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Now we return home to face Eddie Howe and Bournemouth. I was oddly impressed with how they played last week on the backs of Fraser and Wilson but they faced Cardiff City, a team that is in many peoples teams to get relegated. With that being said, we have another week to grow and firm together. Although the defense still might not be fully gelled I believe our offense and midfield will perform loads better this week and excited to see our attacking trio go again after an underwhelming previous start.

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West Ham v Bournemouth Predictions

By Green Street Hammers Staff | Aug 17, 2018