West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini is poised to make plenty of changes for tomorrow’s clash against Leicester City and Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers has promised to do the same.
With another game on New Year’s Day against Bournemouth at the London Stadium it begins to look as though nothing but six points is going to steer the Hammers away from their serious problems
The club were this afternoon being very secretive about any injuries and a potential starting line up and the first worry is whether the promised return of Lukasz Fabainski will become a reality
Ryan Fredericks looks certain to take over from Zaba at right back whilst we can expect to see Issa Diop teaming up with Angelo Ogbonna after the Paraguayan being turned inside out by Ayew for the Palace winner during a generally poor performance. That’s often the Pellegrini way after a less than average display.
Masuaku will be drafted in on the other side of the back line for the suspended Cresswell,Mark Noble at 32 can barely be expected to perform again and the same can be said for Snodgrass but how do you reshuffle the midfield.
Maybe we will see Fornals alongside Rice with Yarmolenko coming in for the Scotsman and Anderson returning behind Antonio and Haller.
Very much a possible CandH line up would be: Fabianski, Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Masuaku; Fornals, Rice, Yarmolenko, Anderson, Antonio, Haller.
Asked after the defeat by Liverpool – whether he would make changes the Foxes boss said: “Yes, just purely for the welfare of the players. It’s when you see we put so much into tonight physically and we have a massive January coming up for us as a squad and as a team.
“Normally, in a day where your body is recovering, I’m going to need to make those changes.”
“I think we’ll make a number of changes but there are also going to be guys that will want to play in every game. They will want to play in every single game, but of course, physically and mentally, it’s hard to do that, especially to play at the level that we want to.
You wouldn’t be surprised to see Masuaku – Cresswell is suspended of course – but I’d play Zabaleta at left back. Masuaku is a liability in a flat back four.
The Paraguayan wasn’t turned inside out, that was Ogbonna. Balbuena simply tried to cover and pulled out for dear of giving away a pen.
Frankly we should be playing 3 at the back with Fredericks and Masuaku wingbacks.
Midfield then sorts itself as you play Rice Noble and Snodgrass. And change the latter two midway through the 2nd half for legs. Sadly its Sanchez that would have to be one of the changes.
Of course if we had an athletic box to box midfielder in the entire squad, we could play him next to Rice which would the allow us to then play either Lanzini or Fornals ahead of them in an AM role. But alas we bought one without the other.
Antonio and Haller up top to sneak a shot whenever they can, but helping one another.
Amazingly that means neither Lanzini or Anderson fit. Frankly they don’t fit in a 442 either. Or a 4321.
Terrible squad full of mismatched players.
Managers a fraud. No plans. Making it up as he goes.
He needs something miraculous lets be honest.Even the Times are reporting he is on the verge of being sacked now.Sorry but it is nearly all of his own making and his stubborn stance in believing it would all come good eventually with such out dated tactics and formations has led to this sorry state of affairs.A heavy defeat tomorrow against a team who now look light years ahead of us under Brendan Rodgers should bring the axe crashing down on a man who has been shown to be completely out of his depth with a club on limited resources and archaic owners.Like the look of that line up but dont be surprised if you see Noble and Snodgrass still starting in our aged predictable midfield.A very weak and old midfield has done for us this season.Unable to feed the strikers or protect the defence is a cardinal sin in football.We said it in August did we not.?
Not such a bad team choice. Just no Sanchez or Ajeti starting please!
Perhaps on Wednesday evening they can have a nice little chat with Mr Howe….
Busy digging the Cherries out of the mire Andy – won’t leave while they are in schtook
According to The Times talks are taking place with Moyes. He is holding out for a long term contract, which is understandable. It is crazy if the decision on Pellegrini is being made on the basis of the next one or two games. Further proof that the problems at this club go deeper than the manager (or the captain, as some are suggesting). It is ‘Football Manager’ level decision making by owners who are still living in the 1990s. Moyes is not everyone’s choice. He was not my first choice, and this time it may be too late to save the ship, but after creating this mess the least the owners can do is MAKE A DECISION!! Then back the new manager -properly this time. And then pray….