Mike Manera is the No 1 Hammers funny man and has become a bit of a legend for his excellent Mike on Monday videos in which he sends up and  knocks down everything in sight in his alternative look at all things Hammers. But there’s far more to our Mike than meets the eye and he is actually a very serious man when it comes to systems, formations, and styles of play as he shows here in his look at a man he admires and whom he has followed for several years – one MANUEL PELLEGRINI. And this blog is Mike’s first after agreeing  to become CandH’s tactics man and this season will dissect the Irons performances! Welcome  Mike – good to have you on the team!

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….and find his Mike on Monday videos on CandH every week during the season 

I have followed Manuel Pellegrini for a number of years. He is a devilish tactician. The opposition kind of know what they are going to get, but then he’ll switch things to throw them. His preferred formation is an attacking 4222.

That’s four at the back with pacey full backs that can attack (hello Ryan Fredricks), two dedicated central midfielders, two wide players who can cut inside and two centre forwards. In attack, as the wide players cut inside that shape can look like a 424, and if the full back overlap even a 244 as he attempts to overwhelm the opposition with numerical superiority.

Without the ball, his teams drop more in to a 442 shape, drop deep, compress the shape and look to close the passing lanes. But sometimes he will change that around, even during the game, he will suddenly have the team press high up the pitch and totally baffle the opposition.

So having said all that… You will be surprised to see that this is a piece about Declan Rice. Because once you get your head around the shape that Pellegrini uses, it’s hard to see where he fits in.

There has been a lot of speculation that he will be played as a defensive midfielder.but with only two midfield places up for grabs, and one of them going to Wilshere, I am wondering if Pellegrini will go with the more experienced head of Noble or Obiang.

Apparently Rice (or his agent) has failed to agree a new deal at West Ham, with the club aiming to re-visit this in January? Really? Or is the club stalling until they see whether Declan fits in to Pellegrini’s plans?

Here’s another thing (it’s related, trust me), who are the two strikers going to be? OK, Arnie and Hernandez, but are they going to play every minute of every game? Because we have no cover for them (no, AC does not count) if we sell Antonio, as many believe we will.

Looking at the players we currently have, I would have thought 4231 would work better, and would leave us with a striker to come off the bench. With that formation we could have Wilshere as a No.10 and Declan alongside Noble/Obiang in front of the back four.

But Pellegrini has very rarely played that shape. However, he did sometimes move to a 433 while at City, with a holding midfielder, and that shape would also work well for us and could incorporate our talented youngster.

Rice was exceptional for us last season, but with the influx of new names I hope he isn’t one of the “old guard” that loses his place. Pellegrini is a very intelligent man, and he values intelligence in his players. Rice clearly has footballing brain, I just hope that all involved can see that and he gets the chance to develop into the player many of us believe he can be.