19 Comments

Pellegrini sends out first team signals

Manuel Pellegrini looks to be getting closer to sorting out his first team with some possibly significant signs coming from the team’s most competitive match so far at Preston yesterday (Sat).

It’s still far too early to make  hard and fast judgements and Chicharito’s return will change things up front as of course will record signing Felipe Anderson  but the boss made fewer changes to the starting line-up yesterday than at any point so far this pre season.

 

Pablo Zabaleta’s absence until the 79th minute when he appeared on the LEFT side for Arthur Masuaku suggests that Ryan Fredericks is close to nailing down the right back role and was highly impressive.

And there was some surprise when it was £21 million signing Issa Diop whom the boss chose to make way for Angelo Ogbonna in the 79th minute rather than Declan Rice who played through the 90  – an encouraging sign for the 19 year old as his contract talks continue.

Exciting Nathan Holland got 25 minutes as a sub for Jack Wilshere and Saed Haksabanovic played the whole of the second half whilst the boss took a 10 minute look at Toni Martinez near the end.

Also possibly significant was that Robert Snodgrass was involved throughout, confirming reports we had from Switzerland earlier that he had been impressing the manager.

We keenly await the line-up for Villa on Wednesday night however, before starting to draw hard and fast conclusions.

THE LINE UP: Adrian, Fredericks, Diop (Ogbonna 79), Rice, Masuaku (Zaba 79), Obiang, Noble, Yarmolenko ( Holland 65), Wilshere (Haksabanovich 46), Snodgrass, Arnautovic.

 

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

19 comments on “Pellegrini sends out first team signals

  1. I haven’t looked in detail at the new players. I have learned from bitter experience that those YouTube clips often give a false impression. So does anyone know if any of the newcomers are free kick specialists? With Lanzini out I am wondering who will take them. Cresswell has had a bit of success & Snodgrass was handy at his previous clubs, but neither seem to regularly manage ‘wow factor’ kicks.

  2. I think the first real indications about the first choice team won’t come until the last pre-season game.
    The attack is looking each game more capable of doing it in the Prem, especially when Anderson is fit to be played. It is picking itself with Arnie and Yarmolenko looking better with every game, and the probability of Wilshere and Anderson in support.
    Unless we buy another DCM Obiang and Noble will also pick themselves.
    The defense has a lot more to do to get picked, as both Diop and Rice made numerous mistakes individually as well as as a pair. It’s early yet and the likes of Diop and Balbuena have still to settle in to the rigors of English football. I think all our acquisitions will eventually be very successful, but it will take all the pre-season and probably more to really decide our first team.

  3. Other than Payet there are not many players in the world that do score consistently from free kicks h64 I would imagine if he plays Snodgrass will take many of them but will he get a place when Anderson starts ? I am encouraged that Holland got to replace Wilshere hopefully we will see more of him in the centre where he can affect the game more and draw fouls COYI !!!

    • I’m wondering whether he is thinking to play Snodgrass in central midfield. As with a lot of ageing wingers they can be successfully re-invented in midfield. He is big, strong, physical and can pass the ball. He can also run with it a limited distance; enough to get himself out of trouble in the middle. He can also shoot and tackle good enough for it. They won’t have to teach him to be aggressive; that’s for sure.

      • I think the best outcome for us and Snodgrass is that the new money going into Villa means that they can make us a serous offer. We didn’t miss him and they certainly enjoyed having him. Rather sell him than Obiang, Kouyate or Fernandes.

      • Would be an interesting call Sleeps if he did put him in central midfield, I think that is where he said he wanted to play of I remember correctly from Hull ?

    • I would be happy to see Payet back at West Ham!

      • Where is your pride and self-esteem? And can’t you see this was all about he whose name cannot be mentioned’s agent trying to secure his client a pay rise? He doesn’t want us any more than we want him.

  4. Can’t see him playing rice in Ogbonnas position. rice defends well on his right side where he played last season and where he made a good last ditch tackle in the Preston game but on in his left side he is poor. He should have stopped the second goal in my opinion. The Preston striker got away from him far too easily. I think Ogbonna or Reid would have stopped it. I understand he doesn’t usually play on that side and he’s still learning, and will learn from his mistakes.

  5. I thought Fredericks and Yarmolenko were great. Fredericks pace in particular is a real advantage. He can turn defence into attack very quickly.

  6. Very simply , Rice must play in centre midfield in place of the awful Noble who continues to slow the game down and waste ball after ball. It is appalling that posts are saying Rice will leave , Obiang will leave , Kouyate will leave . ALL have much more to offer than the terrible Noble and are sacrificial lambs because no one has the balls to tell Noble the truth and move him on to a job coaching loyalty .

    • The season hasn’t started yet and there you are again , Bubbles , doing your Noble bashing . Good grief .

    • He did miss a penalty so he should be hung I suppose, but then again he did score one too, and has 2 assists from 3 games so far; and along with his general game he has been our best central midfielder this summer.

  7. Looking as if it will be more a case of set pieces rather than direct attempts on goal at free kicks . The closer to goal the free kick the more difficult it becomes to get the ball up over and down . I am expecting the longer range ( 25 – 30 yards ) to be set ups . We’ve got some players tall enough and hard enough to get in there . For the shorter free kicks we can mix it up a bit with Arnautovic & Cresswell . That’s how I see it , anyway ! .

  8. Long will it continue as long as the slug is cluttering up our midfield . How can anyone possibly say he is the best midfielder in pre season games when half the new signings haven’t even trained . Get a life …, NOBLE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH >>>

  9. Ok Hugh but for abuse please read TRUTH …. Not another word until he cocks up again . Hope it will be months but fear it will not last beyond mid August . COYI.

  10. Fair enough . I will enjoy writing about the good performances we are all hoping for in the coming season .
    COYI

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