So on to West Brom as one critical game follows another!
A defeat here and we go back to square one with the anxieties and concerns starting all over again.
With the game being at the Hawthorns the conundrum is which formation the manager will play because the usual one-up seriously doesn’t do it for me.
It would mean, should he go that way, that we return to a don’t concede mentality, and a set-up which is aimed at not losing rather than winning.
Truth is – as we showed on Monday – we are clearly a better team when pressing forward which is the way of all the top teams.
There has been a debate going on as the Marko Arnautovic’s involvement (or otherwise) but I believe it’s a given that he’s included on the left which at times has looked as troublesome a position as right back was last season.
That Andre Ayew was responsible for the assist for our fortunate first goal and grabbed the second from two yards doesn’t alter the fact that he started as a substitute and is probably a useful option when coming on rather than starting.
So for me Arnie plays, allowing Hernandez to move into the central role he was obviously bought to fill alongside Andy Carroll who was excellent on his return.
England’s World Cup winning manager Si Alf Ramsey once said: ” You pick your best 11 players and develop the syystem or formation to suit them.” Spot on!
Here for me are West Ham’s current eleven best fit players and Slav needs to find the system to suit them for a game which would have things looking pretty healthy after the awful start should we get the win.
Hart (marginally), Zabaleta, Reid, Ogbonna (let the rows begin!), Cresswell; Antonio, Kouyate, Obiang, Arnautovic; Hernandez, Carroll.
Err….so it’s 4-4-2 then 🙂
COYI
agreed.
actually no, i’d have collins alongside reid. 🙂
Actually, no, I’d have Declan Rice alongside Reid. The boy needs to return to the fray, and in his preferred CB position.
Otherwise, agreed. I feel sorry for whomever has to be dropped to allow for Lanzini when he’s fit though. If this side did well, I’m not sure where I’d put him…
Fortunately for him, we know it’s only a matter of time before Andy gets another knock, which opens the door for us to return to one up top with Lanzini as a 10.
I agree with the first 2 posts. Ogbonna ( not my favorite ) out, and either Ginge or Rice in. Preferably Rice.
Also are we really ready to discard the winning formation after only 1 win? Are the problems now fixed, or do we need to consolidate after Huddersfield with another win, with a safer formation away to WBA?
apart from all that, the 4-4-2 looks like quality.
A 4-4-2 formation would depend on Obiang stamping some authority on the middle of midfield, as he did against Huddersfield ( and he didn’t in previous games this season )
I am assuming of course that Kouyate will improve a lot with game time.
Why change Collins for Ogbonna ? Collins did well and Rice is there waiting . Enormous improvement in midfield with Obiang and Kouyate who is still struggling with injury . As long as Bilic does not change it for Noble who should be retiring gracefully before he makes an even bigger fool of himself .
COYI
Think 4-4-2 would be ok with WBA and press but back 3 does this season and last make us Much more solid at back. BC as we saw last Season WBA came back to win 4-2 and have Jay Rodriquez now w Phillips and Burke could play less defensively then Pulis usually does. So back 3 might be playing it safe bc with 2 CBs we look I shambles w 3 last season as well looks much stronger but takes player out attack
I would also like to see Rice at CB esp if go back 3.
Why change a winning team. Start the same and if it ain’t working change it around.
+1 Mooro
+1
yes and don’t play the team which finished against Huddersfield, but the team that started. Although Ayew made a difference, he seems best at coming off the bench.
I agree. Plus Sakho from bench for Carroll after 60 minutes.