Manchester United vs. West Ham: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
Manchester United have captured three points just once in five attempts this season, providing West Ham United with a real opportunity to up the pressure on Louis van Gaal and his struggling stars during Saturday's upcoming Premier League fixture.
The new-look Hammers routed Liverpool last time out. Sam Allardyce's men played with real intensity against the Merseyside club and proved they can beat the best when in form.
United fans will likely feel an ominous sense of foreboding but will be ready to cheer their heroes to victory at the Theatre of Dreams.
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Here's all you need to know about the upcoming fixture:
Date: Saturday, Sept. 27
Time: 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET
TV Info: NBC Sports (US)
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra (US only)
Big Sam is Ready to Attack
Allardyce pulled no punches when assessing United's recent 5-3 loss to Leicester. Van Gaal's men were unable to see out their 2-0 and 3-1 leads, eventually falling to a Foxes outfit who enjoyed a surge of confidence once Mark Clattenburg awarded Jamie Vardy a fortunate penalty.
Controversial or not, the ensuing fightback rammed home the feeling that United's transitional period will continue to be a painful one.
Allardyce twisted the knife ahead of visiting Old Trafford, reported by Shaun Custis of The Sun (subscription required) and via ESPN:
"A normal United would have regrouped and won 5-3 at Leicester, not lost. You don't expect them to go under like that. Apparently they are in transition. But we've been in transition too and, while ours has been smooth, theirs hasn't. We've brought in nine new players and eight have gone out.
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Allardyce also criticised the United board for failing to financially back David Moyes during his ill-fated tenure. He believes "complacency" was shown during the Scotsman's reign, who allegedly "didn't get any" of the players he wanted to sign, per ESPN.
Big Sam suggests if Moyes had been afforded the £150 million Van Gaal mobilised this summer, he would still be in the job.
Such an offensive is perhaps typical of Allardyce, whose teams have always been built in his combative image. The difference this season, however, is the creative passing play and runners from deep who are supporting West Ham's attack.
Allardyce made some excellent signings during the summer—led by Enner Valencia, Cheikhou Kouyate and Diafra Sakho—all of whom have significantly improved a side that combines character with added creativity.
Although Kouyate will miss the Manchester trip after suffering a groin strain, per Reuters and via The Guardian, the visitors can trouble United by playing on the front foot and with attacking numbers.
Defensive Frailties Destined to Worsen for Van Gaal
This brings us to United's defence. Van Gaal failed to sign a handful of top-quality defenders across the summer and is now paying the price as Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans and Tyler Blackett struggle to dominate at centre-back.
While Blackett's performances deserve credit—he has proven physically capable at 20 years old—his red card against Leicester means he will sit out of Saturday's fixture.
Phil Jones remains injured and Evans is likely to take no part in the action after leaving the King Power Stadium on crutches, reported by Jack Gaughan of the Daily Mail. Smalling is also set to miss the match, per Chris Wheeler of the same publication.
This leaves Marcos Rojo, who put on a stinker of a display last time out. The Argentinian lacks positional awareness in the full-back role but will be pushed centrally to cover and could even line up alongside Daley Blind or Darren Fletcher, who will have to play out of position.
This would allow Luke Shaw to make his competitive debut in a back line that looks exposed every time it faces pressure.
Mark Ogden of The Telegraph believes Blackett's place in the stands is the "best place" for him, saying, "prolonged exposure to the chaos that is currently engulfing the team could do him more harm than good and turn a genuine prospect into another bright young thing who fell by the wayside."
The team's problems are somewhat defined by the opinion that not playing is a better option than stepping on to the hallowed turf of a former Premier League fortress.
West Ham's added swagger threatens to undo a United side who lost against similar opposition in Swansea City during their first home tie of the season. QPR were easily brushed aside, but it would no longer be shocking to see United stutter once more in front of their own fans.
Van Gaal's team continues to offer hospitality to opposition who wouldn't have dreamed of getting anything from the fixture in recent years, a trait that could see Allardyce's team rise five points above their rivals at the final whistle.
