As club football returns this weekend, West Ham United travel along the River Thames to Craven Cottage, where they’re set to face off against Marco Silva`s Fulham.
Since Fulham’s return to the Premier League in the 22/23 season, the Hammers have faced off against the Cottagers four times winning twice and falling to the hands of defeat the other remainders.
Coming back off a disappointing result against Manchester City at home before the international break, Julen Lopetegui`s men will look to clinch their second win of the new season and progress further upwards the table into those European positions.
Will Todibo finally make his Premier League debut?
After many lacklustre performances defensively last season, West Ham seemed to have made it a key priority to fix up the defence as they saw a few names leave the club this summer transfer window.
With fans biding farewell to both Kurt Zouma permanently and Nayef Aguerd on loan to Real Sociedad, defenders Max Kilman and Jean-Claire Todibo dawned the colours of claret and blue in hopes of improving what was once a broken defence under David Moyes.
It didn’t take long for the former Wolverhampton Wanderers skipper to settle in at the club after almost instantly making the starting XI partnered alongside Greek international Konstantinos Mavropanos who has been heavily criticised by fans as of late.
Having played only around 50 minutes of football played for his new club, many fans are beginning to question Julen Lopetegui`s decision in starting the inconsistent Mavropanos over the classy Frenchman who statistically is a much better centre half both on and off the ball.
With Mavropanos struggling to catch up with Erling Haaland last game out against Manchester City and constantly struggling to track back, it should be no question that it is about time that Todibo gets his first start in the English Premier League this weekend.
The Frenchman’s precise passing and quick reactions makes him the perfect choice to partner alongside Kilman as the pairs calmness on the ball could potentially create some progressive play up the pitch from the back line and cause Fulham some frustration over 90 minutes.
A new face to fear?
Securing a move from North to West London in the summer for a fee of around £27 million, former Arsenal youngster Emile Smith Rowe looks to reignite the spark he once had at the Emirates under Mikel Arteta before being plagued with many unfortunate injuries, sidelining him to the bench throughout the most of last season.
Having started life in the colours of black and white very well in pre-season, Fulham’s new boy opened his account after scoring the winner against Leicester in a 2-1 win at Craven Cottage in GameWeek 2.
Having scored against the Hammers when playing for the Gunners in the 21/22 season, Smith Rowe will be desperate to bag another goal for his new club and jumpstart his once promising career, making him a key threat to Lopetegui`s back line and definitely one to watch on Saturday.
Who will play upfront for the Hammers?
As the international break finally comes to its conclusion for now, the Hammers welcome back their very own international Hammers to rush green.
Unfortunately, however, not all Irons have returned fit with German striker Niclas Füllkrug injuring his Achilles during training with his national team, most likely sidelining him for this fixture in West London leaving Lopetegui to assess his options up top.
With the controversial Danny Ings not featuring for the Hammers so far in the league since the new season has commenced due to poor form, many fans should be led to believe that either Michail Antonio or Jarrod Bowen will be the two options for the number 9 position this weekend.
In the early parts of last season, Hammers fans got a taste of what Jarrod Bowen can offer upfront as Scotsman David Moyes opted to playing the Englishman as a striker where he was not shy from scoring the odd goal or two.
His Ariel ability could prove vital for the team as he is the perfect target man for both skilful wingers Crysencio Summerville and Mohammed Kudus who can easily cross the ball into the box to that said striker whilst also being able to create magic from nothing with ease.
However, despite his recent critics, Michail Antonio’s immense strength and physicality could pose a threat to the Fulham defenders as it easily allows him to bully the opposition of the ball and make a run forward.
Although this may be the case Antonio’s age is beginning to show, with the striker not scoring a premier league goal since late April- an equaliser against Liverpool at home in a 2-2 draw- whilst also lacking in pace due to his heavy weight, Jarrod Bowen looks to be the preferred player to start upfront on Saturday due to Füllkrug’s absence.
Revenge on the horizon?
Last season in the Premier League managers David Moyes and Marco Silva met twice, with the Hammers travelling to Craven Cottage in mid-December of 2023, high of confidence after beating Tottenham in North London 2-1.
Unfortunately for David Moyes' men, this confidence didn’t last too long as Fulham humiliated the boys in claret and blue, demolishing them 5-0 away from home- one of West Ham’s worst recorded away defeats in the last decade in the Premier League.
The two sides met once again in the closing days of the Premier League in April at the London Stadium where a “Bowen-less” Hammers side plagued with injury was shockingly defeated 2-0 through an Andreas Pereria brace, making it 7-0 on aggregate against the Cottagers over the season and killing the Irons European dreams and beliefs.
Looking to hopefully put these humiliating results behind them, Julen Lopetegui’s men will hope to finally get the better of Marco Silva once again and put the East London side 2 points ahead of their London competitors in the league and hopefully aim high regarding the upcoming fixtures.
Difference in quality
So far this season Fulham have played three games in the Premier League, all 3 being frustrating affairs against Manchester United, Newly promoted Leicester City and Ipswich town where they claimed 4 points overall, leaving many Fulham fans disappointed and feeling as if they deserved more.
Coming short against United at Old Trafford, Silva’s men responded well in Gameweek 2 against Leicester City where they won 2-1 however fell short of the three points away at Ipswich in a disappointing 1-1 draw.
So far West Ham have only won one game out of the three they played. Losing the other two against tough oppositions Aston Villa and Manchester City, the Hammers sit on three points in the Premier League table hovering one point below their West London opponent this weekend.
With new signings slowly beginning to gel together as a team, it shall not be long until we see the full strength and threat of this new and improved West Ham United squad.
