Archive | November 2017

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Moyes starts to master midfield issues

By Hugh5outhon1895 November 28, 2017 12 Comments

By Harry Rawlings

David Moyes – after just a couple of games – appears to be supplying the Hammers with a well balanced and cohesive midfield.

It doesn’t need a great stretch of memory to recall the Slaven Bilic approach where Cheik Kouyate was the main victim having played variously at CB, RB, RWB, CDM, CM and CAM. I believe has been that has been the reason for his serious loss of form over the past 18 months.

Meanwhile, Manu Lanzini has often had to play out wide where he is less effective as he always looks to cut back inside which is easy to defend against.

Obiang looks a shadow of himself compared to last year and we are talking here of three extremely talented players who, under the right system, can complement each other very well.

Let’s start with Obiang. On Friday night he was the midfield anchor man. He has a great tackle and range of passing although he looks for the miracle ball a bit too often and concedes possession. If Moyes can instil the discipline in him to not venture forward, win tackles and battles and then give the ball simply, we could see the number of goals we concede fall dramatically.

Everyone knows how gifted Lanzini is and it is a joy to see him on the ball. I think he played slightly deeper on Friday, just behind where his normal number 10 position would be and this helps him get on the ball more and help our game to tick.

If he plays a bit deeper he can receive passes from the defence straight to feet and then look up straight away to put the ball out wide to our wingers. Moyes is known for wanting a lot of crosses which makes a proper number 10 less effective as he is not going to be winning any headers.

Lanzini can be our deeper playmaker and feed quality balls to the wide players for them to deliver. Playing in a 4-3-3 formation means we only have one striker. If Carroll is playing he is a clear target man but if it is Hernandez then we will need more subtle crosses. Also when Carroll is playing he is usually double marked and teams find ways to shut him out.

This leads me on to our final midfielder – Kouyate. He, like Carroll is also a 6ft4in powerhouse and good in the air. So having him playing in a more advanced role and arriving late in the box will provide another option. He is at his best when making those box to box runs and arriving .

If Moyes continues to play three in midfield, two wingers and one striker then Kouyate can thrive off joining up with the striker when he anticipates crosses coming in, almost like Fellaini did when he was at Everton with Moyes.

He got a goal with his head Friday and could have had another so there are early signs that the tactics are working. I hope Moyes persists with the team selection and tactics because I was encouraged by that draw more than I was by the scrappy wins over Swansea and Huddersfield.

So to recap:

Obiang: midfield enforcer, wins tackles, gives it simple.

Lanzini: deep lying playmaker, heartbeat of the team.

Kouyate: engine room box to box midfielder. COYI

COYI

Lawrenson tips Everton/Irons winners

By Hugh5outhon1895 November 28, 2017 4 Comments

Mark Lawrenson has forgotten any affiliation with merseyside he once had to tip Everton for defeat against the Irons tomorrow night (Wed).

Masuaku: We will improve under Moyes

By Hugh5outhon1895 November 28, 2017 8 Comments

Arthur Masuaku is convinced that things are going to change under David Moyes but admits the defence needs to improve.

French press turn on overweight former Hammer

By Sean Whetstone November 28, 2017 7 Comments

Former Hammer Dimi Payet has been labelled a failure and overweight by the French media who have grown impatient with the player’s recent form at Marseille.

Record signing linked with January exit

By Sean Whetstone November 28, 2017 11 Comments

Turkish website Ajansspor claims the agent of Marko Arnautovic has been invited to Istanbul for talks with Fenerbache next week over his client’s future at West Ham. The 28-year-old has been linked with an early exit from the London Stadium this January after failing to make an impact for the Hammers.