David Moyes appeared to have made it clear that two names are already on the team sheet for tomorrow’s game at the Etihad.
And he reckons that both Arthur Masuaku and Michail Antonio could well be the pair who create what would be a major shock to the league leaders.
He has already made it clear – as reported here – that he believes the duo have the pace to unsettle City whom he reckons have frailties at the back.
That will come like music to the ears of Masuaku who would appear to becoming a fixture on the left.
Antonio’s role will presumably depend on Andy Carroll’s availability which would see him, probably down the right if so, or through the middle otherwise.
Should he become the main striker we can presumably expect to see Marko Arnautovic continuing on that side.
With Winston Reid looking set to miss the match and with neither Collins or Fonte available it seems likely that Declan Rice could partner Angelo Ogbonna at the heart of defence.
The alternative is for Cheik Kouyate to slot in there with Noble returning to midfield alongside Pedro Obiang
Antonio instead of a proven striker in sakho down the middle instead of playing him in his natural position? Bilic mk2 comes to mind ! And noble on the park with city’s pace would be suicide ffs , if that’s the case forget about getting at them we need some sort of pace in m/f to achieve that and that means all the m/f contributing ? So that IMO will be brain dead team selection ! But looks and is are two different words lol , unless basils got the nod 😉
Noble will get run ragged if he plays. Personally I would pick Masuaku over Arnautovic on the left, Lanzini through the middle with Sakho up front. Would even opt for Byram over Zaba for pace but need a leader on the pitch so Zab has to play.
Adrian,
Zaba, Rice, Oggy, Cresswell,
Kouyate, Obiang,
Antonio, Lanzini, Masuaku,
Sakho.
Sounds good on paper but this is west ham 😐
Who is he kidding ? Masuaku is one of our weaker players (& there are plenty of them !). MaybeMoyes has to talk up the team’s chances, but the danger is that he is going to make himself look foolish – when we come away with a thumping defeat ( which I truly don’t want to happen). Just being realistic ; & I’ll take a win, if the impossible happens !
He wants Pace I’m not sure coming put discussing your game plan is best everyone knows City have frailities they were exposed last 2 games. It won’t matter anyway but hope we get something.
I wouldn’t play Zab at RB bc he won’t be able to keep up w Sane (No Bryam tho) Zab can defend I’d play him at DM has played there before & if he can resisit bombing fwd & hold he could do better there then what we’ve seen.
Adrian
Kouyate Rice Ogbonna
Fernande . Masuaku
Zab. Lanzini
Antonio Sakho Arnie
Or go 2 up front
Adrian
Kouyate Rice Ogbonna
Antonio Fernandes
Zab Obiang
Lanzini
Ayew Sakho
Are squad is to thin
Masuaku LWB not Fernandes
I like these teams especially with Hart, Cresswell and Noble out. I would play Arnie, Lanzini, Antonio and Sakho from the start. I would also start Masauka instead of Cresswell. I would also drop Ayew. So here is the team I would go with Adrian, Zaba, Reid, Ogbanna, Masauka, Obiang, Kouyate, Antonio, Lanzini, Arnie, Sakho.
Reid is out
Doesn’t matter who plays at City it’s going to be a damage limitation exercise.
How about dropping Cresswell and playing Arnautovic in front of Masuaku, City are frail at the back but no one seems to want to press them high enough up the field to capitalise, they have more mistakes trying to play out from the back than they do higher up the field and the higher up the field we win the ball the less we have to do to create a goal scoring chance, simple logic against a team that targets winning the ball back in 6 seconds, less required passes to a successful outcome and greater success probability.