12 Comments

Ginge backs the ‘new’ system

CollinsJames Collins has given the ‘three at the back’ Hammers set-up a big thumbs up!

The central defender – delighted with the victory over Huddersfield Town – explained that the defenders really like the formation.

He said: “We played it for the last ten games of last season and a few before that without conceding many goals so it was a case of getting back to basics.”

That was an expression used by Bilic several times before the game and thus it appears that three at the back is the favoured formation.

Collins admitted the defence had had its own issues this season adding: “We know we haven’t defended as well as we should and we knew this was a big game. We played well and really put a marker down.

“Andy Carroll was massive. We didn’t pass as much  through midfield because as we sometimes do (because) Andy is a massive threat and so good at what he does.”

 

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

12 comments on “Ginge backs the ‘new’ system

  1. There’s tumbleweed blowing across the blogs after a win.Where have all the armchair managers and experts gone lmao

    • Still believe Billic should go. Thought it last season and until we start getting consistent results that won’t change. One win against Huddlesfield doesn’t change longstanding opinions. I really hope he turns it around-but can’t see it imo

      • Thats the point though we win and the blogs are dead.They dont want to talk about a win.Lose and the they crawl out of the woodwork.

        • Carroll played well and Noble wasn’t playing so that rules out at least three quarters of the people that comment.

    • I made a post after watching the game describing the performance as average which it was, certainly not a new dawn and much of the same that we saw last season, we did nothing special the entire game but just enough to win. I am happy with the result and hopefully we can kick on from it against WBA but Bilic card is still marked and imo we should get Tuchel in, we need consistency and players to play in position and know their roles with and without the ball 😄

  2. Not sure why we deviated from 3 at the back in the first place – does mean one of the several midfielders won’t play – but we are much more solid. Fonte also looks far better in a back three. Would like to see Rice play there in the way Rio did in the Rio-Unsworth-Ian Pearce era!

    • Yes, but Huddersfield gave Fonte and Collins so much space on the ball – it’s unlikely that other half-decent teams will be so generous, also Fonte playing on the right and Collins on the left looked a lot more comfortable.

      Three at the back must be the way to go, we obviously lose out in midfield but you have to use Carroll’s strengths – he’s a lot better on the ball than he’s given credit for!

  3. That was a very needed win for us . Especially being at home in the LS .
    It obviously showed up the fact that we have missed Andy Carroll . His presence on the pitch gave the whole team a massive boost and momentum . The new formation of three up top was terrific to see . The penny finally dropped for Bilic that playing one up front is pointless and a losing plan . Hopefully we will keep the formation of more than one up front .
    To go back to a single one man target would be stupid . There is no real place for the sideways play of Noble now and I doubt his injury was a reality .
    The big test for the new system will be against West Brom . If Bilic doesn’t get all stubborn again and revert to one up front we will be a tough team to beat . Obviously Carroll must play , he is at times unplayable and his hold up play is unquestionably important .
    Strange that the Carroll trolls have shut shop . No points for guessing why !.
    It was Zabaletas , Fontes and Ayews best game of

    • AC did have an impact, however playing the out ball to him all the time is too sterotypical and Hernades must not be starved of ball to allow him do what he does best.
      For all our dominance and mutiple corners we did not apply any real variation and if you do what you always do, you’ll get what you always get – in our case not much.
      There is a place for AC’s style, but there is also a major case to keeping it on the floor and passing through teams.We have the players to do both, but I fear it is going to be a bit one tracked with AC as the main thrust.
      Thought both Zab and Fonte were good but jury still out with regard to Ayew at moment.

  4. Continued ; the season to date . The formation is the root cause , I’m sure .

    • I would disagree Kevin and say the coaching is the problem, with top quality players we shouldn’t be relying on AC to make the difference we should be able to create and score no matter the personell.

  5. A much needed win and they were all obviously up for it which is great from the point of view of team spirit.

    However the quality of football was dire, and more importantly is that going to be the way we play when Lanzini is back? Against Huddersfield we just played the type of football that got Allardyce crucified.

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