Benjamin Booker
EWest Ham vs Fulham Preview: The Fightback Starts This Saturday
It is time to stop looking at the league table and start looking at the opportunity right in front of us. This Saturday’s West Ham vs Fulham clash isn’t just another fixture; it is the moment our season turns around.
We know the reality. Sitting 18th hurts. The losses to Aston Villa and Man City were painful. But context is everything. We face a Fulham side this weekend that is ripe for the taking. This is a rallying cry to every Hammer heading to the London Stadium on December 27: Bring the noise, back the boys, and let’s make East London a fortress again.
Here is why three points are coming our way.
1. Fulham Are Decimated by AFCON
The media might focus on our struggles, but the real story in this West Ham vs Fulham matchup is the visitor’s team sheet. The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has hit Marco Silva harder than any other manager in the league.
Fulham arrive at Stratford without their spine:
- Calvin Bassey (CB): Their best defender is with Nigeria.
- Alex Iwobi (MID): Their creative engine is with Nigeria.
- Samuel Chukwueze (RW): Their pace on the break is with Nigeria.
Without Bassey, their defence lacks recovery speed. Without Iwobi, they struggle to transition. This is not the same Fulham side that sits 13th. They are makeshift, they are weakened, and they are beatable.
2. The Rise of the “Young Hammers”
Nuno Espírito Santo has made a brave call, and it is time we backed it. The old guard has moved on. The engine room is no longer slow and static; it is young, hungry, and full of energy.
Against Man City, we saw the future. Freddie Potts and Soungoutou Magassa battled hard, and £38m signing Mateus Fernandes showed flashes of brilliance. These lads have the legs to overrun a depleted Fulham midfield.
Furthermore, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo) and El Hadji Malick Diouf (Senegal) also at AFCON, the door is open for Ollie Scarles. The 20-year-old academy product is set to start at left-back. He is one of our own, and he will fight for every ball.
3. The Bowen Factor
Jarrod Bowen is leading from the front. With 5 goals in his last run of games, the skipper is the one world-class variable on the pitch.
He will be running at Jorge Cuenca, Fulham’s backup centre-back who struggles with physicality. If our new midfield trio can feed Bowen early, he will tear their makeshift defence apart.
West Ham vs Fulham: Team News & Predicted Lineup
West Ham are without Wan-Bissaka, Diouf, and Fabianski. Niclas Füllkrug is back in training but heavily linked with a move to AC Milan, so don’t expect him to start.
Fulham are missing Bassey, Iwobi, Chukwueze, and have doubts over Joachim Andersen, who played through a dislocated finger on Monday night.
Predicted West Ham XI (4-3-3):
- GK: Areola
- DEF: Walker-Peters, Todibo, Kilman, Scarles
- MID: Magassa, Potts, Mateus Fernandes
- ATT: Bowen (C), Paquetá, Summerville
The Verdict: A Massive 3 Points
West Ham are fighting for survival and playing at home. The London Stadium needs to be rocking from the first whistle.
Support the youngsters. Trust the skipper. We win this battle in the stands and on the pitch.
Prediction: West Ham 2-0 Fulham – Bowen x2
COME ON YOU IRONS! ⚒️
