Quite possibly the most unsettling of build-ups ahead of a [Premier League](https://www.claretandhugh.info/nottingham-forest-v-west-ham-preview-team-news-predicted-line-ups/) fixture really caught fire last night as rumours swirled around concerning Lucas Paqueta, Nayef Aguerd, Emerson Palmieri, Guido Rodriguez and Andy Irving – all linked with exits, some with ‘don’t want to play’ stories- hard to imagine Potter and the squad staying focussed through that.
However, the Nottingham Forest fixture presents West Ham with a challenge ahead of the international break and Potter gets to show whether his stubbornness in sticking with the negative formation wins out over a willingness to change what is clearly failing. Fundamentally there’s an opportunity to switch to four at the back or stick with the painful on the eye 5-3-2 formation.
Here we get to give our own guess as to Potter’s selection: Not our own preferences, you understand.
Stubborn Potter wins out and we see another – facepalm – 5-3-2 set up: Our predicted starting XI
Hermansen | Wan Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Mavropanos, Diouf | Ward-Prowse, Rodriguez, Fernandes | Bowen, Fullkrug
Score predictions:
Gonzo Forest win 2-0
Matt 2 – 0 Forest win
Martin 2-1 Hammers masterclass
Sean 1- 0 West Ham win
_**Check back for the official team news at 12.45**_