David Moyes is likely to give Andy Carroll a second chance to impress him when the Irons step out against Leicester City tomorrow evening.
The new manager is long enough in the tooth to understand that he can hardly judge performance levels on one away game and he has a history of using a big man up front.
And with Marko Arnautovic now set to play and with Michail Antonio back in the frame for a starting position he may believe Carroll is better judged when he is hopefully getting the tight aerial supply from left and right.
Moyes has better choices this weekend and we see Arnautovic and Antonio playing left and right if both are available.
However, he is not so well blessed in midfield where there was a noticeable lack of energy and athleticism at Watford and he may be tempted to bring in Fernandes – possibly for Pedro Obiang – although he too is likely to get another opportunity to impress.
We would like to see some youthful energy in the shape of Declan Rice involved but here is the team we expect Moyes to pick should the expected players be fit:
Hart, Zabaleta, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble, Kouyate, Lanzini, Arnautovic, Carroll, Antonio
Pass another nail for the lid !!
As I said before , he’s got no better on the bench and Jan can’t come quick enough !
He’s pinning his hopes on Antonio it seems even though the videos of the performances of zabba noble , no pace ? Cresswell nothing at all ? Reid not good enough ! Kouyate not interested ! Obiang not performing ! Arnie ? Will he turn up ! Then there’s Carroll ffs he’s got more lives than fritz the cat ! Then there’s the sakho problem as in why isn’t he playing !!
Suicide squad utd ! But as always hope we win and perform well ? Vardy and marhez to rip a new one more than likely ? Poor squad , Moyes on a mission to mordor carrying a heavy load lol. Get beat expect more criticism , not abuse ? Just criticism ! Win and relief ! Then there’s those games ahead ? Where’s me prozac lol!!
Hi Laz/Salmon!
Surely Moyes wouldn’t play 9 against 11 by starting with an ever slowing Noble and hapless Carroll (who has had more than enough fair chances to prove his worth-time for Sakho, IMHO!)
BTW Laz, I can suggest something far more therapeutic than Prozac, should you need to resort ot antidepressants to survive (LOL)
Hello max , hospital ? Hope its nothing to worry about ! The tikka is it ! Its what west ham does to you !
Wish you well mate , health is what matters ! Not the circus at west ham ! Moyes is banging his head up a brick wall ! But seems to have been bitten by the noble , Carroll myth ! We will see tomorrow mate , good luck and get well soon 😁
Oh ! And I’ve still got plenty of oramorph from my recent gall bladder opp !
Kills the pain of watching this shower instantly 😂😂
I hope he plays Lanzini Hugh.I would also like to see Fernandes in there too, which means dropping 2 of the central midfielders.
There is a case for Rice at the back or in midfield.
Greetings from my hospital bed, Hugh.
What has been mooted here, is possibly what Moyes may play..
However, we will lose this game ‘big time’,if he has the audacity to play a 4-3-3, with Noble and Carroll as part of the starting line-up. By all means use both of them as late game subs
Adrian in goal (because he is simply a better GK than Hart); back four looks fine (although some may argue that Masuaku is a more creative and dynamic player?)
Lanzini and Antonio/Fernandes (depending on fitness) as our attacking midfielders, Kouyate and Obiang as our defensive midfielders (Rice for consideration); Sakho and Ayew as our two central strikers (Arnautovic on if we fail to score within the first 25-30 mins).
Sorry did we say sakho – in the 5 seconds before he elbowed the Watford defender Carroll did more than sakho the whole time he was on the pitch. What games are you all watching? He has no option but to play Carroll – sakho doesn’t care less and hasn’t done so for last two seasons.
Hernandez is unfit and we are yet to win with him starting up front on his own. Indeed we have only won with Carroll starting in the league this season.
The first three games that he didn’t play we lost all 3 – got stuffed in all 3 and Hernandez was up front. Sakho came on in the first game and was utter rubbish.
Yes our strikers aren’t performing but the real issue is that our crossing and final ball has been so poor.
Sorry but we are a really poor side – blaming all on Carroll is ludicrous. First three games we were bottom below palace. And only got any results when he joined squad whether you like it or not.
Sakho couldn’t commit a foul unless he actually makes a challenge for first time this season.
Yes it was Swansea wasn’t it ! Carroll started and sakho scored as a sub !lofl 😂 😂
Glad I watched that one 😂
Moyes would do much better to play a 4-4-2 for a little while, at least until we start winning a few games. This formation, although somewhat old-hat is still solid in midfield while still providing some decent options in a 2 man attack (Sakho and Ayew/Arnautovic, and when fit, Chicharito, of course).
The 4-3-3 is great if you have the right attacking players and a decent centre-forward, plus a very solid midfield, which we don;t have.
Therefore, aside from a 4-4-2, he could also go for a 4-5-1, a 3-5-2, which would allow us to dominate midfield and potentially, allow attacks to generate from the midfield. Only a thought..
COYI
Whoever he plays, whatever the formation, I’ll back his and his coaching staff’s decisions and want us to desperately win. He’s got 10 full games before I start criticizing him for having a different opinion to me, and he’s the one on the inside seeing how the players are responding after all. COYI
Hart
Zaba Reid Ogbonna Masuaku
Antonio Kouyate Obiang Arnie
Lanzini
Sakho
Think the pace of Kouyate and Obiang will be needed to counter Leicesters break aways (If they track back). Whilst I rate Rice very highly I don’t think tomorrow is the game to put him in at CB. Would love to say Martinez over Sakho but think we need to bench AC and would like to see Martinez brought in with 20 – 25 to go and not all our hopes pinned on him straight off. Having watch the U23’s a fair bit Quina needs to start getting game time or he will be off and I think that a 20 – 25 minute run out for him replacing Obiang would be a great start. Problem is that our December fixtures are not going to allow for taking risks but our current set up clearly isnt working.
I really fear for our defence against Leicester. We have been destroyed so many times on the break in the last two seasons. Vardy probably can’t wait for the game to start.
Vardy isn’t scoring for fun anymore , Hammer64 .
Let’s play with 11 at the back aaaahaaha . Problem is our Bus is parked up and no permission to get it onto the pitch . …. joking of course old boy . …. truth is we really need 3 points from this game . Hope to see Adrian in Goal . Hopefully Leicester will keep Thier shots to The right if Hart plays . Can we ask for a right handed Ball? .
ONLY ONE OPTION ; WIN . A single point does us no favours . It’s win or bust imo .
If we have to win by a penalty or down to dodgy goal or with ten on the pitch it don’t matter .
We need 3 points , not 1 . That’s how desperate things have become . Talk all you want and give it biggun’s but , we must get 3 points .