Newcastle United hosts West Ham United in a match-up of two clubs headed in opposite directions. While both clubs have been splashing the cash recently, the Irons are not seeing good ROI right now. Meanwhile the Geordies are on their way up, and getting there faster than expected.
They didn’t come to play, they came to slay, this campaign.
West Ham United at Newcastle United FYIs
Kick: Sat. Feb 4, 5:30pm, St. James Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
PL Form: West Ham WLDLL Newcastle DWDDW
PL Standing: West Ham 16th, 18 pts Newcastle 3rd, 39 pts
Google Result Probability: West Ham 17% Newcastle 59% Draw 24%
Team News for Both Sides
Okay, so let’s preview this bad boy. Not much has really changed, from a team news perspective, really, for either side. The same missing players who have been absent, will be absent again.
Thus, we combined the preview material here into one. We start with the Geordies will be without the services of the following five players:
Bruno Guimaraes (suspended), Alexander Isak (head injury), Javier Manquillo (unknown reason), Matt Targett (foot), Emil Krafth (knee issue)
Meanwhile the Hammers will be sans this quartet of footballers: Kurt Zouma (hamstring), Danny Ings (knee), Gianluca Scamacca (knee problem), Maxwel Cornet (calf injury).
Starting XI Predictions for Both Sides
West Ham
Fabianski; Kehrer, Ogbonna, Aguerd; Johnson, Soucek, Rice, Emerson; Paqueta, Bowen; Antonio
Time to hand new signing Anthony Gordon a first team assignment in his debut? Sure, why not!
Newcastle
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Willock, Longstaff, Joelinton; Gordon, Wilson, Saint-Maximin
Prediction: Newcastle 2, West Ham 1
Does that mean it is time to turn the thermostat up on David Moyes again?
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He’s written for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. He regularly appears on NTD News and WGN News Now. Follow the website on Twitter and Instagram.