Call to drop most expensive Irons signings

Charlie Nicholas has called on Manuel Pellegrini to drop his two most expensive signings – seemingly unaware that he benched Seb Haller on Saturday anyway.

But he believes it’s also time up for Felipe Anderson  who it’s reasonable to accept has been poor over recent games for the Hammers.

The Sky Sports pundit said: “What a result for West Ham at Chelsea. Manuel Pellegrini was on the brink of losing his job and his side pulled something out of the hat for him.

They got their shape right, defended well and were a threat on the counter-attack. They do have a softness about them, though.

“Michail Antonio brings the power and strength but West Ham are too nice. Sebastien Haller has gone cold and Felipe Anderson has been poor. You have to take them out of the team, work with them on the basics, and build them up again.”

ClaretandHugh says: “It’s always fashionable to take a pop at the pundits although in this case there can be no argument over Anderson. It’s been a long time since we have seen the player at his best and even then, such occasions were few and far between. If anything, the Brazilian appears to have gone backwards after a decent first season and at times appears more than a bit lightweight in fifty/fifties where he may – given his frail stature – be keen to protect himself from injury. It seems an awful long time since the likes of Jamie Redknapp and others were describing him as inspirational and there was talk of him becoming a £75m player. Haller has gone off the boil after a bright start and if the manager continues to insist on playing one up, then the obvious candidate is Michail Antonio should he be fit. Nicholas is also right in claiming we have a ‘softness’ about us which needs to change.