The great thing about this season’s Hammers squad is the depth and breadth of having two quality players for every position, well almost.
Slaven Bilic likes to play a 4-2-3-1 formation although he says he doesn’t like to be restricted by set formations and likes his teams to be moire fluid throughout the game.
So here is my 4-2-3-1 team starting formation without Dimtri Payet or Enner Valencia, it assumes Alex Song, Angelo Ogbonna and Difra Sakho will be fit by the time we play Spurs at White Hart Lane after the International break.
At the back fallbacks Aaron Cresswell and Carl Jenkinson pick themselves even though James Tomkins did a very fine job as right back, Jenkinson is faster, gets forward more and has scored two goals this season. The first choice centre backs when fit have to be Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid for me, some might say that is harsh on an in-form James Tomkins but Ogbonna edges Tomkins for me.
The two defensive midfielders have to be Chek Kouyate and Alex Song when fit, I know this is hugely controversial to drop skipper and local lad Mark Noble to the bench but when fit and motivated Alex Song is world class. Mark Noble would be on my bench to replace Song if he didn’t deliver.
The attacking midfield would have an in-form Manuel Lanzini in the middle with Victor Moses and Mauro Zarate either side of him. I know many will say give Michail Antonio a chance but I would have him on the bench and gradually introduce to gain game time him if Moses didn’t deliver in the first half. He would need to prove himself to gain a first team starting place.
As for the one up front there can be no argument with Diafra Sakho as first choice striker.
If you propose a different team with Payet create one at footballformation.co.uk and leave a link to it in the comments section.
I would like to see us take it to the spuds with a 4 1 4 1, with Tompkins instead of Ogbonna, Obiang or Antonio instead of Zarate, Song sitting in front of the back floor sweeping up and starting counter attacks. Spuds seem pretty poor defensively against aerial balls especially from corners though so who knows a 4 4 2 may work with Carroll and Sakho and trying hard to get lots of set plays, need a lot of ball winners in midfield to negate them in the centre of the park in which case you lose Zarate and Moses put in Obiang and Carroll for them.
Headline
Hammers lack of Nobility
sub head
out of town Surrey man leaves out local lad in hammers selection horror
Sakho and Song are maybe starters, it’s getting near Christmas, maybe time for Jelly and Carrolls
Why leave Tomkins out?
Charlie Adams !!!!!
I think we all know deep down song will be on the bench and noble will play with the only change being zarate and sakho,
Interesting one this ,anyone know if there’s any one else with a niggle?
Massive this game v the spuds . Lanzini and moses need to carry the banner , we must win
and make a statement as we are being written off already without payet !!
Massive game.
which ever way you slice it, we will still be able to put out a bloody good team.. but i do think Sean has got it right with that line up.
I would swap Lanzini with Zarate as they would play better with Lanzini giving more width
But agree with the rest maybe Samulsun and Callum could be used as well as Antonio
Worse scenario we can add Obiang to Song and Kouyate play 2 wide with Sakho or Antonio up the middle,
We need to buy an assassination expert in January,so we can bring the game down to a Scouse football level,Souness would agree,
Yes agree wholeheartedly bubs.We need an enforcer.Give the lads mentioned a go for sure.
For me , tommo for jenks .
Obiang for song , song for lanzini and lanzini for zarate,
Song would beef up the c/m and creativity going forward , if fit of course !!! And Antonio to replace moses if on a cold one ?
COYI!!!!!S
I guess Tomkins playing RB is a great option when we need more defensive formation. He did great playing against big teams. Still i think his partnership with Reid – strongest combination we have at the moment.