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Moyes faces up to same problem

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ReidyDavid Moyes continues to face the defensive issues problems which have plagued him from the start of his Hammers reign as we head towards the gme against West Brom on Tuesday.

And the big decision he has to make is whether Winston Reid should be recalled to a defence which has leaked seven goals in three matches – well six if we forget the third at Bournemouth.

Wit the exception of Sam Byram and Jose Fonte all the defenders are fit and with West Brom suffering front line injuries the Hammers could be set for  a less problematical 90 minutes than on the south coast.

Albion boss Alan Pardew has lost his second forward in as many games after Salomon Rondon was forced off shortly after half-time in the 0-0 draw with Everton.

The striker has suffered a hamstring injury so is out for the foreseeable, along with Nacer Chadli who has suffered a thigh strain.

Michail Antonio will miss the game with a calf strain of his own, but Mark Noble may overcome a hamstring complaint to play.

Whilst Adrian didn’t cover himself in glory on the south coast he is expected to retain his place in goal and there could be a return for Chicharito despite him becoming something of a fringe figure under the new manager.

The intriguing question of course is whether the boss will show any commitment to Reece Oxford who was recalled from Germany and whether he, Declan Rice or both will find themselves in the squad or even starting.

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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

0 comments

  • Hammer64 says:

    They have not won since second game of the season….what could possibly go wrong! You have that uneasy feeling that we are set up to embarrass ourselves as usual. Home defeats against two of our relegation rivals in consecutive games? Does not bear thinking about…so I will go and have a drink instead lol.

  • Dunlopilo says:

    We already know how it is going to go against WBA. They will sit tight in the back, waiting to get us on counter attack with Phillips, McClean and Rodriguez. The only way to beat them is by being inventive and wait for their human errors (which they will make, but you have to take advantage of them), as well as having enough pave and composure when defending against the arrows they will throw at us.

  • Hammer64 says:

    Baggies gave Arsenal a game & looked too good for us to beat. But they should be weary on Tuesday & if we can’ t beat a side that have only had two days rest & have a long injury list then we deserve to go down. Christmas has, as usual, been bad for us. Anything less than 4 points from the 4 games & it is a disaster.

    Yet again appalling refereeing has helped one of our rivals. Mike Dean-who else- gave a penalty for handball when Chambers had the ball whacked at him at point blank range. The day before I saw one exactly the same disallowed. Dean is such a prize pillock. How he has kept his job all this time is beyond me.

    • Dunlopilo says:

      He is one of those who needs attention and think he will figure on the cover of “mr sexy” one day or another. I still remember the intimidation he gave to Obiang last season “Look at me again and you’re out” he apparently told Perico. Shameful and unacceptable. Many players are no saints, but walking around with a Swastika on the arm is unacceptable. He did it again to Cech today. Cech is too polite. I would have replied “same to you and happy new year”.

  • BrookingtoDevonshire says:

    If Moyes is worth is salt then both Oxford and Rice should start against WBA. Our defence and whole team is to old. More energy needed.
    I would prefer to see Oxford at center back and preferably Rice there too but that won’t happen. We have Reid,Ogbonna,Collins,Cresswell and you could say Kouyate with Zab better suited to a back 3 you could play Oxford at right wing back. 3 games in 6 days 2 games each.

    V WBA
    Adrian
    Zab Reid Ogbonna
    Oxford Obiang Rice Masuaku
    Lanzini (Ayew 60)
    Arnautovic (Sakho 70) Hernandez (Carroll 60)

    Away Tottenham
    Adrian
    Collins Reid Ogbonna
    Oxford(Zab60) Noble (Obiang 65 ) Kouyate Cresswell
    Lanzini
    Antonio (Sakho 70) Arnautovic

    Away Shreswbury
    Hart
    Oxford Rice(Collins 75) Cresswell
    Zab(Johnson 60) Haksabank Obiang Masuaku
    Quina Carroll (Ayew 60) Martinez

  • The Demon says:

    It would be a great statement of intent by Moyes if both Oxford and Rice were at least on the bench and some of the likely offloads (Ayew especially) are left out to protect them. I’m still convinced Reece is the real deal, and he must be match fit having played in the last four games for MG. I could never work out why Slav gave him a debut where he starred against Arsenal, then dropped him.

    If Lanzini is going, then we need to screw maximum cash out of Liverpool; if they think Dick Van Dijk is worth £75m and are getting £115m for Coutinho, then Lanzini has to be worth mid way between them. We’re in a relegation scrap, for Christ’s sake! We can’t afford to le5 our best player be snaffled on the cheap when asouthampton seem to be able to get the Scousers to cough up top dollar for lesser players such as Lovren and Clyne.

  • robbiem says:

    Antonio out again. I thought it was a groin strain not calf. His injury record has got worse and is going into games looking knackered. Not the same player since getting his big contract.
    I like the look of Rice – only a young lad who will learn from mistakes. He was at fault for the first goal at Newcastle away as we all know, the Man City winner and Bournemouth’s equaliser where the ball travelled over 40 yards and wasn’t dealt with. Still probably better than Reid and Fonte.

    • JRS says:

      Agree & even the Newcastle one was a bad pass from Oggy when he had 2 players on him.
      Every other player makes mistakes but Rice has earned a start.

  • WakeTheWolf says:

    I’d love to see both start.
    Perhaps one in midfield and the other in a centre back role.
    The way moyes is dropping players, Cresswell could well be dropped after his performance against Newcastle and Bournemouth..
    Stick oxford in centre back with Collins and Ogbonna, and Rice in the centre of the park with Noble (if he’s fit)

    • JRS says:

      Agree but might have Rice in back 3 & Ox in mid where he has been playing they are both good there tho.
      Just hope they both get chances this new year bc Rice has shown he deserves it & Ox too in Bundesliga. They are our future & talented now both have decent Pace which others lack like Mawson who I like but now at £40m way to much we need midfield players creativity & SM who can pass & hold ball

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