Slaven Bilic appears locked into the Andy Carroll scenario – full stop.
As many look on wondering how he can stick one of Europe’s top strikers on the left wing and rely on AC as a lone front man the manager continues to plead the big man’s virtues.
And in his post match presser he gave every indication that this is how things are set to remain into the foreseeable future so long as the Geordie stays fit.
He said: ” He looks good, touch wood, he looks good. This is his second game, he looks fit and competitive. The quality will come with the games but it is a big boost for us and hopefully it will continue.
He looked unhappy [to be subbed off] but no, we just wanted to have quality on the pitch and we have quality on the bench so we changed it.
We went to three up front with Ayew, Arnautovic and Sakho and as I said, I was very happy with the way we kept the shape, defended from the front with pressing and all that.”
Won’t make Chicharito happy gald AC is fit. But think for WBA game Chicharito should have been up front bc Pulis knows how and has handled AC in the past so having Chica up front to poach and maybe get in behind might have been better option esp w Antonio beside him.
I think this typifies Bilic. For 2 or more years now he has played players out of position. This is not a one off. As a past supporter of Bilic, he has to go! If we get in a really good manager in with the playing strength we have, top eight is there for the taking. Then, add a touch of pace to the squad (we have none at all other than Antonio) and permanently bench Noble, we have top six potential. But we cannot continue to play players out of position and continue to use the bench poorly.
I can’t help but I honk Sakho and Hernandez are a better combination than Ac and either of the other two. AC gives a lot defensively but he is a 10 goal a season player, he should provide a lot of assists but never has. We should as I have always said use him as plan b except against a few select teams, like Arsenal and Bournemouth.
so he knows that he prefers to play one up front.
he then buys hernandez for a heap of money after chasing him for two years and lauds him as a great striker.
then then puts him on the left wing and says the extremely injury prone lump of a centre forward he has at his disposal is who he’ll rely on instead for his one up front ‘tactics’.
all seems a little made up and without planning to me.
****ing fraud. nice guy, but poor manager.