By Hughie Southon
Well. if he doesn’t go for it this weekend I guess David Moyes never will set up a truly attacking formation.
Nottingham Forest are there to be beaten – MUST be beaten – and should the Hammers boss go defensive as he does so often -and brings predictable subs on at the usual 70th minute plus- he will deserve everything he gets from the fans.
Although they have picked up a few results of late, the east midlands outfit are another relegation threatened team with a one-up philosophy.
And as explained to CandH by agent and former player Barry Silkman, if we go with two up we have every chance of beating this lot and giving ourselves some much needed breathing space.
Moyes is regularly talking of defensive errors both against Spurs and Chelsea but with Paqueta back to provide some creative impetus and the three strikers available this is the team I want to see given it has to be time for CHANGE!
Fabianski, Coufal, Aguerd, Zouma, Emerson; Rice, Soucek, Lanzini, Paqueta. Bowen and Scamacca as the double spearhead
With likes of Benny and Fornals, Mikey and Ings also available we have enough to win this well. It will be a disaster if there is any other result.
An it really is time to see what Manu can bring to the table after being ignored for so long!
If he starts ings up top on his own he has no clue. Ings has no pace, has to play with a second striker or a 10 close to him. Secondly he can not play Soucek if you want to win the game. If he switches to a back 4 the team I would like to see is Areoka, Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Cresswell, Rice, Paqueta, Lanzini, Fornals behind Scamacca and Antonio. I would not start Benrahma as he has been poor and Bowen has to make way aa he is not a front man in a 4-3-1-2.
My team would be a 4-2-4 formation or a 4-2-2-2 which ever way you look at it with Bowen and Antonio occupying the wings
Areola
Coufal Zouma Aguerd Emerson
Rice Fornals
Bowen Scammaca Ings Antonio
He may very well go two upfront for this match and win it but a week later he will revert to his favoured formula…….at home he cannot afford to be conservative the wolves are at the door or for the younger reader Winter iscoming!
Baffles me that we have one of the best CDMs in the world and still feel he needs a second to help him out… The ultra defensive approach stifles everyone.
I want to see a 3-4-1-2 formation as follows:
Fabianski
Aguerd, Zouma, Kehrer
Emerson, Rice, Paqueta, Bowen
Bennie
Ings, Scamacca
Totally appreciate this might leave our corners exposed, as Emerson and Bowen are lacking defensively, but I would expect Rice to cover in CB in the event that Kehrer and Aguerd are forced wide. I’d also be happy to switch Lanzini or Fornals in for Bennie in the 10 role, or move Bowen inside to 10 and release Antonio on the right wing.
COYI
We are all praying for a Moyes change, whichever line up it must use skill and options. I like a mid of Rice, Paqueta, Lanzini, Fornals with sub options Bowen and Benrahma. Must be two up using Antonio and either Scamacca (how fit?) Or Ings with another sub option there. It’s about time he got it, attack at home, and subs when necessary not on 70 mins and 85 mins.