**West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion**
**Premier League, London Stadium, Saturday 21 December 2024, 3pm**
‘[Lopetegui](https://www.claretandhugh.info/lopeteguis-charm-offensive-to-win-back-the-west-ham-dressing-room/) the man’ deserves considerable sympathy and kudos for making it back to London Stadium today after an emotional few days. I take my hat off to him. It would have been easy enough for The Spaniard to miss the Brighton game, but to his enormous credit, he was back answering questions in the pre-match press conference.
Interpreting and decoding his cryptic comments is becoming a regular pre-match challenge. Apart from the ‘one little problem’ player today (who I bet is Jean Clair Todibo with his ‘bad toe’ – nudge nudge).. Lopetegui has a fully fit squad bar the suspended Carlos Soler to choose from.
When asked about his attack, it is clear he sees Niclas Fullkrug as an ‘impact’ player even now fully fit: This is exactly as Borussia Dortmund and the German national side used him, so is no surprise.
Lopetegui’s comments seem to confirm:
> _“I think Füllkrug had an injury for three months that was unfortunate for him and for us, but he’s recovered the rhythm and is ready to be a part of the demanding Premier League…”_
>
> _“Sometimes people only put a focus on the starting line-up, but in today’s football the players on the bench have the same, if not more, importance sometimes. They’re the ones who can change a game and are a key part of the squad.”_
Which is pretty clear signal that Fullkrug will be introduced as a substitute rather than a starter – probably West Ham will be lined up in similar fashion with two wingers either side of Bowen as a striker: And surely I speak for the 60,000+ who attend tomorrow: Summerville has to start this week!
Lopetegui hinted that Fullkrug will be benched
However, It could well be that Lopetegui repeats his ‘overhaul’ at half time and introduces Summerville at the same time as Fullkrug in the second half. Sounds to me that this is _his Baldrick-style cunning plan._
Again I’ll bemoan the fact that the Hammers Head Coach just cannot stop overthinking: _Just b\*\*\*\*\*y well put out the best eleven!_