Hammers boss David Moyes has given full-back Emerson Palmieri his West Ham debut against Aston Villa and has also started Gianluca Scamacca up front as he bids for a change in fortunes.
The Hammers have yet to win a Premier League game and are bottom of the table ahead of the clash with Steven Gerrard’s side, who are 15th.
Thilo Kehrer is handed another start in defence after his dispiriting debut against Brighton, when he managed to concede a penalty within the first 20 minutes.
Elsewhere, Lukasz Fabianski continues in goal; Ben Johnson plays at right-back, with Kehrer joining Kurt Zouma and Aaron Cresswell at centre-back, with Emerson at left wing-back. It appears Moyes has reverted to a back five.
Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek play in midfield, with Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen providing support to Scamacca up front.
Full West Ham XI: Fabianski; Johnson, Kehrer, Zouma, Cresswell, Emerson; Rice, Soucek; Bowen, Scamacca, Fornals. Subs: Areola, Coufal, Ogbonna, Downes, Coventry, Lanzini, Benrahma, Cornet, Antonio.
Full Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Chambers, Konsa, Digne; McGinn, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, Coutinho; Watkins, Ings. Subs: Olsen, Augustinsson, Young, Iroegbunam, Nakamba, J. Ramsey, Buendia, Bailey, Archer.
After first half: seems we’re playing a mix of counter attacking football, whilst at the same tine trying to slow the play. Thats is a tactical combination I’ve never seen before; needless to say, it ain’t working…
That has to be one of the worst 45 mins I’ve watched since the Big Sam days. Fingers crossed for a much improved second half.