West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini has a big problem facing him with his only option to face the menacing Wilfried Zaha – seemingly – is 34-year-old veteran defender Pablo Zabaleta.
The Palace danger man -reportedly in line for a possible move to Manchester United or Chelsea in January – is in top form right now – having scored against Liverpool, Burnley and Brighton in recent games.
With Ryan Fredericks suspended and young Ben Johnson reportedly injured, the Irons boss is in a predicament by having to play the Argentine right back against the blinding pace and trickery of the Palace winger.
Zaba’s opportunities to get forward must be severely limited and one can only pray that his years of defensive experience can see him through what is bound to be a major test.
Given the circumstances let’s hope nobody inside the club has told him Michail Antonio was used as a right-back in the past.
A win at Anfield?!! Zabaletta will do the job what he lacks in pace he makes up for in experience and effort.
Zaba? Undefeated in 6? Win at Anfield? Are you having a stroke?
The guy donates 10% of his wage to charity. Just sorted 10k donation for a local football team. Is a talented player and you’ve chosen a picture of him spitting, from an incident where your fans pretended he had spat at a player. Such a tin pot move. Championship mentality.
I thought Ryan Fredericks was Suspended – maybe I’ve got that wrong!
We have no problem, we would have had a problem if Fredericks was available. Zaba is a top man and a top professional. Still the best right full in the club by a long way. I agree just let him focus on defending. I would also play Anderson in front of him on the right as Anderson do so much work defensively too. I believe one of the reasons we have not seen the best of Anderson too is that he does not trust the defensive or attacking work of Fredericks which limits his own game when he plays in this natural wide right position. Fredericks in my opinion should have been dropped even if he was not suspended. I just hope Zaba takes his chance and is put into the team for the rest of the season.
play diop at right back!
Diop at right back?
Play 352 with Zaba, Balbuena, Oggy at the back.
Problem sorted.
Zaha , a problem ? . Pretty sure Diop can handle him . Shouldn’t be all that difficult .
With four at the back and four in midfield he should be canceled out . It’s Palace that should be doing the worrying because Saha is not one to help in defense like Antonio .
It now depends heavily on how Pelligrini wants to play this vital game in our struggle to avoid relegation ( yes relegation ) and come away with three points .
The only problem we have is a 72yr old English manager against a 66yr old Chilean manager . One that understands English football against one that understands nothing .
It really is A MUST WIN game ,, and we are all very tired of that now after so many years .