Our resident Hammers in the Transfer Tavern are cursing the inconsistency of their side since they moved to the London Stadium.

The move certainly has not been easy for West Ham but after a torrid January, things were starting to look up for Slaven Bilic’s men, although that inconsistency has seemed to creep back in throughout the last couple weeks.

With that said, there is no doubt that the departure of Dimitri Payet has seemed to galvanise the squad.

The magnitude of this fixture against Bournemouth sees the loser suffer a major blow in a pursuit of a top half finish, should that happen and after the heights of last season, our landlord believes it will be a bitter blow for the Hammers not to finish in the top half of the Premier League.

The Irons can be confident going in to the fixture should the earlier game in the season between these two sides be anything to go by.

Bournemouth were defeated by an 85th minute Michail Antonio header at the London Stadium, which secured a win for the Hammers in the first game played at their new home.

Incidentally, Antonio should be returning from a one match ban in this fixture – following his sending off against Watford.

Our landlord is more than certain Antonio will return to the Hammers line-up and has had some thoughts on who will join him there, here is the XI he believes will face Bournemouth this weekend…

GK: Darren Randolph

The Irishman has made the Irons’ number one spot his own this season.

The former Birmingham shot-stopper has ousted Adrian from the number one spot at the club, and looks set in stone to start against the Cherries.

RB: Cheikhou Kouyaté

Since returning from the AFCON, the Senegalese international has seen himself made into an auxiliary right back for the time being following a series of impressive performances.

Our landlord expects to see him start this fixture!

CB: Jose Fonte

The former Southampton captain will be looking forward to a return to the South Coast in order to play former rivals, Bournemouth.

Fonte has had a relatively good start to life at the London Stadium, and will be looking to put in a top performance against Eddie Howe’s men.

CB: Winston Reid

Our landlord has been impressed with Reid and feels the Hammers simply cannot do without him currently.

LB: Aaron Cresswell

Although not outstanding this season, Cresswell has done enough for the Hammers thus far into the season.

The West Ham punters here inside the Tavern hope to see him in the England squad sooner rather than later!

CM: Pedro Obiang

West Ham’s outstanding player this season, the Hammers in the Tavern are certainly worried about Obiang’s future come the end of the season.

CM: Mark Noble

The West Ham stalwart looks to be back to his best and our landlord expects him to partner Obiang in the centre of the park here.

RM: Michail Antonio

Though Bilic has played him as a striker of late, Hammers fans would like to see the Englishman restored to his more natural position out wide.

CAM: Robert Snodgrass

The January signing from Hull has not got West Ham fans off their seats just yet, but that could change at the Vitality this weekend.

LM: Manuel Lanzini

The little Argentine has flourished since Payet’s departure, becoming the real hub of West Ham’s creativity.

We expect to see him start against Bournemouth.

ST: Andre Ayew

Following his long injury lay off, our landlord believes this could be the game where Ayew announces himself to the West Ham faithful – we will wait in anticipation…