West Ham boss David Moyes looks to have the perfect opportunity to back up his claim that Marko Arnautovic and Chicharito can play together when Stoke City arrive at the LS on Monday evening.
Both Manu Lanzini and Andy Carroll face late tests for the game and are therefore only likely to be included on the bench at best which leaves the manager seemingly with the choice of Joao Mario or Chicharito in the offensive back up role to the central striker.
He also has to decide whether to include Edmilson Fernandes who was disappointing in the clash against Chelsea last Sunday for a game where he will surely want to adopt the most attacking formation possible.
I’d expect Fernandes to be included down the right side to give the side some balance but expect Mario to sit this one out with Chicharito included, probably replaced later by Lanzini assuming the Argentinian is fit.
The match will give us an opportunity to assess the extent of Moyes’ attacking ambition in a game that is there to be won and make us virtually safe.
CandH team: Hart, Zabaleta, Rice, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Fernandes Noble, Kouyate, Masuaku, Chichaito, Arnautovic.
I think he will play that team but Mario instead of Chicharito or maybe Mario instead of Fernandes with Chicharito uptop and Arnie on the right wing.
That starting 11 would be a statement of intent and with Lanzini and Carroll on the subs bench we should have too much for Stoke and hopefully claim the 3 points which will almost certainly clinch survival this season in the prem.
To win against Stoke and pull 9 pts clear of the drop zone would be a wonderful achievement when you consider the problems we have endured this season . But let’s not count our chickens just yet . Stoke will be hard at it to avoid the drop . Still reckon we need 38 pts to be absolutely safe .
COYHAMMERS
We should NOT be putting Lanzini on the bench. He is far too valuable to us and it doesn’t bode well when there are other clubs circling for his transfer. Its not going to prove to him that he is in our first team plans and might just get his head turned.
I would play him in his normal #10 role behind Marko & Chico and give Mario the role (RW, R Mid) in place of Fernandez.
Mario looks like he is finding his feet in the Prem now. I know he didn’t have the best of games against Chelski but they are a completely different animal to Southampton. Get Mario in the team again now against Stoke and see if he can provide another outstanding display and then look at him again when we go to the Emirates.