Slaven Bilic is set to name a defensive formation as the Hammers bid to take something from a tough-looking clash against Everton this weekend.
CandH has learned that with Andy Carroll injured and Diafra Sakho unlikely to play a lengthy role, a defensive approach is expected.
With his front man options limited but with Aaron Cresswell and Winston Reid fit, some radical options emerge for the boss should he take the opportunity of employing them.
It may well be that although Sam Byram misses the game through suspension, Bilic will opt for a five-man defence which could see either Havard Nortveidt or Robert Snodgrass drafted in as an emergency right-back alongside Winston Reid, James Collins, Jose Fonte and Arthur Masuaku.
Were the choice to be Snodgrass he will also push forward as did Michail Antonio during his days in the role although the threat of Leighton Baines down the left side looks “awkward.”
The midfield would presumably see Cheik Kouyate and Edmilson Fernades paired together with the interesting possibility of Cresswell on the left with Lanzini tucked in behind Ayew or Sakho – although the Senegal international could play a limited role.
However, we would expect the manager to take the safe option of playing Nortveidt with Snodgrass used in his usual role.
Slav’s likely team (5-3-1-1): Randolph; Nortveidt, Reid, Collins, Fonte, Masuaku; Snodgrass, Kouyate, Fernandes; Lanzini, Ayew.
CandH Team (4-4-1-1): Adrian; Nortveidt, Reid, Collins, Masuaku; Snodgrass, Kouyate Fernandes, Cresswell; Lanzini, Sakho.
should play masuaku as right back the others are just not good enough and chesswell on the left with 3 C/B
Ayew should play as he’s the only one scoring at the minute! Adrian in goal is a must!! Coyi
Adrian has to start in goals for me. Nordvelt should not even get a place on the bench – we would be safe only for some of the mistakes this lad has made at full back. I would play Cgrollins at right back ahead of Nordvelt. I am sure Bilic is not stupid enough to play Nordsvelt at rb again ! I would play masuaku at left back. Kouyate and Fernandez in midfield, Lanzini on one side and Snodgrass on the other with Ayew in behind either Sakho or Calleri.
Surely we have a development squad / PL2 right back in the club?! PLAY THE KIDS SLAVEN. Utterly ridiculous situation where we’d rather put players out of position, thus compromising other areas of the pitch at the same time.
This is the dumb reason we’ve ended up with Antonio, Kouyate, Lanzini & Ayew all over the shop this season, chopping and changing. That’s 4 of 11 players playing in not their strongest positions, and thus 8 positions of 11 compromised. No wonder we play like strangers.
This season Antonio has barely played right wing. Best position.
Kouyate barely played box to box mid. Best position.
Ayew barely played left side coming in. Best position.
Lanzini barely played up the pitch centrally. Best position.
Could even count Nordviet who played 3 games in defensive midfield. Best position. And before someone tells me how crap he is, In those three games I believe we actually conceded only 1 goal.
Team of compromises sent out every game.
Saw a stat in the papers. A league table of the number of players who have started more than 30 games for each club. West Ham=0. Maybe that tells a bit of the story. OK injuries can be part of the excuse. But perhaps also suggests the lack of a clear plan from the manager. As mentioned above he seems to have no idea what to do with several of the players ( or knows what HE wants to do with them but it turns out not to work). I still find it hard to believe that this squad of players are still faffing around at the end trying to scramble to 40pts.
The team seems as usual a makeshift job Slav does not seem to have a plan B so when we have injuries or his selected team do not perform he does not know what to do. We need a complete overall in the summer I am just glad the bottom three teams are so poor otherwise we would have been down there in the relegation battle & with the current team we would go down. After last season I thought Slav was the right person but this year he does not have a clue he does know how to motivate the players or to change things when the team is not performing I have not enjoyed one home game this season & with the aggravation of getting to the ground ( no trains on Abellio the last four home games ) the 25 minute walk from Stratford the crap food & beer in the stadium I will do not see any reason to go next year