CandH blogger Allen Cummings thinks he has come up with a strike partnership which can solve David Moyes’ problems up front
This time last week, with Arnie and Manu flying, all the talk was about whether we should keep Chicharito or whether he was fast becoming surplus to requirements.
After the dramatic events of last weekend the conversation now has to be not “do we keep him”, but who do we play with him for the immediate future namely the cup tie against Wigan this coming Saturday.
Ayew or Martinez are the obvious options. In fact they are probably our only options. So if the manager goes for two up, as I believe he should given the opposition, who will get the nod?
In my opinion Moyes should go for the youngster over the more experienced Ayew, who has had his chances but only really flattered to deceive since his £20m arrival at the LS in August 2016. Let me admit that when Martinez’s was being touted by some as the answer to our goal-scoring problems earlier in the season, I wasn’t one of those on the band wagon.
To be honest I’d never actually seen him play, and I suspected many of those on social media and in various football forums calling for his inclusion, hadn’t either. They’d simply latched onto the name and joined the throng.
As so often happens, particularly with our club. He was definitely flavour of the month for a while. But having had the opportunity to see him recently first hand in the senior team, I’ve been not only surprised but very impressed. Enough to fight his corner for Saturday’s game.
His 15 minute cameo at Shrewsbury was just a taster. But his home debut in the replay, all 120 minutes of it, was hugely encouraging in my opinion.
He never stopped running and working the angles all night, A thankless task sometimes. He stretched the Shrews’ defence whenever and wherever he could and his hold-up play was good too. Also his ability to bring others into play belied his lack of senior experience.
It was down to his persistence deep into extra time, not giving up on a difficult bouncing ball, that provided the assist for Burke’s match-winning goal. It was also noticeable that while Ayew was withdrawn that night, Moyes chose to leave the youngster on the pitch.
There are plenty of rough edges of course, but I believe Martinez’ unselfish work-rate and greater mobility would be a far better foil for Hernandez.
Ayew and Hernandez have never looked happy together in my opinion andnever really hinted that they would compliment each other or forge a partnership.
I have to admit I’ve never been certain what Ayew actually brings to the team or where his best position is likely to be. On the other hand a Hernandez/ Martinez partnership could work. We’ll never know unless it’s tried.
Little Pea likes a partner to do the running and chasing for him, doing the donkey work, in other words, while he does what he does best, latch onto the bits and put them away.
Martinez is capable of doing that and Moyes has recently given youth its head. Wigan as the opposition could be the perfect platform to experiment. What’s to lose?
The Cup is still a luxury compared to the main job in hand, staying in the Premier League. Win and it’s a bonus. Win well and it could be the short-term solution Moyes is looking for to get us through this difficult period.
I would also like to see Martinez and Hernandez start, I watched quite a lot of Martinez and it was obvious at u23 level in a team that moved the ball well his own movement showed characteristics of great strikers, curved runs, good runs off the ball and a high work rate. I personally think he is still some way short of first team level having seen him in the first team but that he can be a useful sub in a team that passes and moves, the contrast in the last cup between him with Arnautovic up front also against with Ayew was like night and day. For me Ayew should be used as a winger not as a central forward, it is not his best position but he also looks a better player in teams that pass the ball well such as when he was at Swansea or Marseilles, we haven’t found a good position for him but statistically he has been involved in many goals so its not all about perception I guess.
Be better of partnering with Antonio up top, I reckon. Not quite sure Martinez has the strength to win balls and provide Chicha. Which frees up Ayew as a winger, if you like – but w/3 at the back, I’m thinking retain Zaba for that role – perhaps if we go 4-4-1-1.
Have to agree with Allen & 32.
2 poachers don’t work together but Toni & Chic could work very well especially if we get someone in who can help provide service.
Some fans gave Toni stick for that game but I thought he was good especially for first start looked better when Arnie came on. But worked hard the whole game & is assist was smart & not easy w defenders on him to keep it an air & look back to fins Burke.
Hopefully Moyes will give him anther chance didnt give him praise like Burke but i thought trhu out the game he was better then Burke both did there part at the end.
Moyes will not play 2 up top ? Period !
We have nothing going forward to create !
Unless signings come in its going to be fekin awful watching ?
Otherwise it will be 1-6-4 scrapping for draws and hoping for some luck !
There’s no excuses for this predicament were in , it was always going to happen and the chancers didn’t act as they should have by spending some money ?
If they fek up again this window then they should sell up as I’ve mentioned before lol !
A few days left to prove a point sully but the truth is you can’t ! 😤 cheap little market spiv
With delusional ideas ! Its bare bones time and it was always coming with this mob, its been
Hovering for 2 seasons nearly , well its here ! What’s you’re plan ? What fekin plan ? There isn’t one, apart from suck and see and hope ! More Bob hope and no hope ! keep doing what you’re doing , you and you’re family heirloom will be history , supporters have had enough?
Time to deliver !!😎
Martinez will be one for the future ! He needs game time and a supply line ?
Are the games coming g up those games ? No ! Not when we need points on the board , who in their right mind would play youngsters when fighting relegation which is a possibility ?
Suicide !! Fek the cup ? That went out the window when Arnie and lanzini got injured so play the kids ! They need to bring in bodies and quick !