Moyes avoids ‘big lump’ striker options with good reason

Jarrod Bowen – successfully took on striker role

The more I think about this back-up striker thing the more I tend to believe that people are talking about a big lump up front!

A mindset which dictates we look for a big target man has been the case since the likes of Andy Carroll and his ilk entered most people’s minds.

Yarmolenko – a flop up front

Now there is no question that Mikey Antonio has been quite brilliant over the last part of the 2019/20 season and this – when he’s been available. He stand 5ft 8in

But – whilst the manager is clearly keen on a big man up front – he has also showed us he can put a front line together of guys who are far less than monsters!

Indeed, the Hammers’ most successful strike force in over 40 years came in the shape of Tony Cottee ( five and half feet) and Frankie Mac – just a bit taller with the team playing to feet football as is the case now by and large.

It’s too easy sometimes to slip into stereotypical thinking and Jess Lingard at 5ft 11 and Said Benrahma a bit lesslook up to the job.

Jarrod Bowen is the latest to take on the role and very successfully – he stands 5ft 7 inches.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not comparing any of these guys with the two Hammers legends but maybe our minds should remain slightly more open to other possibilities.

In the two of three games we have seen so far – Villa and Sheffield United – Lingard has looked as good as any striker we’ve seen in recent seasons.

By contrast Seb Haller – 6ft 2 in and Andriy Yarmolenko 6ft 2 inches have been significant failures.

If I’ve got this wrong forgive me but what it does prove is that Moyes is not a manager who we simply write off as wanting a target man .