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Moyes faces up to first game poser

antonio2707abcDavid Moyes faces a tricky dilemma as he faces up to his first game in charge of the Irons against Watford at Vicarage Road on Sunday( Sky Sports 4pm).

For it looks a certainty that he will be without Michail Antonio who has admitted in interviews that he is entirely frustrated at not being on the training pitch as he recovers from a rib injury.

And his absence means that we are without natural right side players who would provide a natural aerial supply for Andy Carroll who looks certain to become a part of the Moyes game plan.

The striker was one of four senior players taken aside by the new manager to discuss the club’s situation and therefore looks certain to be involved at the weekend.

And whilst there is no problem down the left right with the likes of Aaron Cresswell, Arthur Masuaku and Marko Arnautovic  available,  Pablo Zabaleta is the only regular fit for action on the other side.

One could forgive the manager for wishing that the much maligned Robert Snodgrass was still available after becoming an instant success at Villa where he is on a season’s loan.

As a fellow Scot, and knowing the player’s game, he would have been a serious – probably certain option – for a game such as the one facing us at the weekend.

It’s a real poser for the manager who looks locked into the Fernandes option unless he asks Arnautovic to switch sides given Slaven Bilic comment, on signing him, that the club’s record signing is capable of playing anywhere across the front line.

Such a move would allow Masuaku to play in an advanced role down the left where he has been effective twice as a late sub this season.

 

 

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

2 comments on “Moyes faces up to first game poser

  1. I think he has a lot of options, Fernandes/Ayew/Holland/Haksabanovic obviously best if Antonio is fit but no point rushing him back, rib injuries take a while to heal. Would be great to see the young kids at the very least on the bench. I am certainly a lot more curious as to who he will play in the centre of midfield and centre of defence and whether Sakho will start alongside Carroll. If he goes for less favoured names under Bilc it will certainly suggest he is going to go for the team he thinks best rather than the bigger ego’s as has been the case before, it will also show if he has learned from Sunderland that isn’t the way forward.

  2. Masuaku is not the answer.
    He’s fine when we are chasing the game,but even then he needs several attempts to control the ball.He’s a liability. We need to control the ball better and move it on better .
    Arnie will play and so will Ayew .A front four of Arnie,Lanzini,Ayew and Carroll is my expectation.

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