With two of their three forwards quite likely to be missing following separate incidents yesterday, West Ham may be in something of a fix when it comes to selecting a side to travel to Bolton for Tuesday night’s Championship fixture.
Taty Castellanos came off limping late-on in the 3-0 victory whilst team mate Pablo Felipe didn’t even make the starting eleven after a knock in the build up to the game.
Taty Castellanos limped off the pitch yesterday
Joel Piroe, meanwhile looked pretty done in after 94 minutes and clearly won’t manage a whole 46 game season, especially with these three day turnarounds not being something the forward has dealt with recently.
Which presents Nuno with something of a headache. His solution yesterday was to bring on midfielder Kanté and wide man Austbø to refresh West Ham’s attacking options but that is not an option for a starting line up should both Castellanos and Pablo prove unavailable.
Having sold Callum Marshall and loaned Josh Landers, signing a free striker such as Jamie Vardy might have made a lot of sense once the transfer window closed, with our own source suggesting claiming Nuno was an admirer, apparently believing the veteran had one season left in his legs.
Nuno believes Vardy can still do a job – but he’s just signed for Burnley
Evidently Burnley’s Nicky Hayen is of the same belief as the Clarets have just stepped in where West Ham feared to go and have signed Vardy on a one year deal at Turf Moor (main pic).
Whether the Irons have made the right choice by sitting on their hands over a short term deal for Vardy will become very clear during the coming weeks as Burnley will be desperate to start picking up points and leaving bottom place behind.
If Pablo and Taty both fail to recover in time for Tuesday night the the Hammers might yet regret turning their noses up at the prospect of landing the 39 year old on a free transfer.
Switch to 4-3-3 and play either Mukasa or Bowen behind Piroe.
There is Ajala, he may be an undervalued player. I’m not sure what his best, or preferred, position is, but he is quite quick, skillful, never gives up – he seems good at running late into the box, willing to roam like a no 10.
Have thought he could fit in very well with the current mobile front line that does not use an isolated no 9. Does not have Pablo’s physicality to be the same nuisance perhaps, but bounces off players or quick one-twos instead. Might combine Piroe with Ajala if keep a 4-2-4, switch to 4-3-3. It is a lot to ask of him, but he has succeeded when trusted – also an England U19 & U20.
Want to see Vardy join if there is a camera on Taty’s face when he first cracks a joke or tells an anecdote.
woops, obviously, also a good finisher who takes his chances.
I think we now have a strong squad of players in variable positions, this manager and his assistants will have many different ideas about winning a football match, move a bit more in the positive and leave it to the pros
Ibrahima Balde, the 23 year old Ligue2 prolific striker, at £3m provided an excellent option, with plenty of pace, physicality and goals. West Ham apparently asked for him, but in the end he signed for FC Llorient on deadline day. Another interesting low cost option with a potentially bright future ahead who might have been added to the squad.
Nuno needs to wake up and smell the coffee.
Before and during the transfer period it was obvious an additional striker was needed.
Pundits and fans urged for this and a player to cover Bowen.
His insistance of working with a light squad made no sense.
Could have kept Callum Marshall by all accounts scoring for fun.
Better hope that some revival is on the horizon and injuries are not to bad.
He needs all the players available including Cornet/Alvarez/Magassa.
Pride will do him no good if premiership sails by.
I do not agree
We do not need Vardy
Give one or two of the youngsters a chance off the bench.
We have plenty of goal scoring players now, so no need to panic.
With Piiroe,Bowen,Solomon, Abstuo,Masaka, Kante and Al
Bolton not in good form Nuno may take opportunity to rest Bowen.
Especially with Wrexham game following so soon on Friday.
Vardy has been a great player, but see him only as a player you bring on late if your chasing the game. That means his use is a bit limited.
Vardy he may well have a season left ( who can say for certain) and would be perfect for a Nuno ball especially as an impact sub, but the really big mistake is landing out Landers.
You seem to have forgotten Josh Ajala, who scored two away at Southampton just a couple of weeks ago. Would you really rather see 40-year-old Vardy up front instead of our promising youth prospect?
Just because Ajala scored two goals doesn’t make him a striker…should have kept Landers an U21so doesn’t take up a squad place, and the added bonus is that HE is a striker…in this league it’s ok playing the odd youngster, but not out of his natural position, does the team no good or the player. Once again no forsight from the men in charge.
We have bought aging players in the past and hasnt.worked out be positive and give the younger guys in the squad a chance
I’ll get my boots – I’m only 76 !
Go show’em how it’s done kc!! 😁