The old proverb ‘ necessity is the mother of invention’ rings true in the football arena as in life. Niclas Fullkrug’s injury means he will definitely miss the game at Craven Cottage whilst Antonio is probably landing back from Honduras some time about now – not really rested and ready to play in 48 hours. Especially with those hamstrings..
Since we hear Crysencio Summerville has been impressing Lopetegui in training sessions during the international break – check out the West Ham official video here it would seem the perfect time to start him in his favourite left sided position and then for Lopetegui to decide where best along the front line to deploy Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus.
This three up front selection could be everything we seek, allowing three midfielders and a back four behind, reasonably defensive and compact when playing away’.
The alternative to Summerville, Kudus and Bowen up front is really worrying – Danny Ings as a lone striker never worked for David Moyes and I don’t see it working for Lopetegui under his system: Well known now that Ings needs a second striker, a number ten, to feed off and work around. In any case I don’t see him keeping up with the likes of Summerville and Kudus.
It will be an intriguing team selection: Carlos Soler has had two weeks with the squad and Head Coach to get some serious conditioning and tactical training in- will he get a start or be on the bench? If Lopetegui deploys all of his new-found riches from the summer transfer market then I see West Ham as a very potent, fast counter- attacking side away from home if he starts the ‘three’: The alternative of a jaded Antonio or a solo Ings just doesn’t get the pulse racing….