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Moyes spells it out for World Cup stars

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David Moyes insists every West Ham player who was at the World Cup needs to shift their focus to all things claret and blue ahead of Boxing Day.

The Hammers play Arsenal when the Premier League resumes.

The Irons have been on a run of three successive league defeats, and they have a number of players returning to the fold after the tournament.

Declan Rice, Lucas Paqueta, Nayef Aguerd, and Alphonse Areola are all returning to the fold, and Moyes insists they now need to shift focus to the Premier League.

He told reporters: “No, I’ve not spoken to them about it because they’re paid to play for their club so if there’s football games on, that’s what you’ve got to do. You’re not paid by your international team, so you’ve got to get back and do the work here for your club side and the way you get in your international side is by playing well for your club side, so hopefully you have to get back to playing really well.

“I think it’s a harder thing at this time of year for South Americans than maybe it is for the Brits because we’re sort of hardened at as supporters or watching it as boys or girls at this time of year. I think that it’s a little bit different for boys overseas and I think the South American boys it’s probably even harder.”

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A journalist with 10 years' experience of working on National newspapers, now chief reporter covering the club that I've loved since I was a boy. Upton Park remains the greatest football stadium ever built.

5 comments

  • Austrick says:

    Cannot see Moyes going with 3 attackers when he won’t even consider 2. This kind of formation won’t be possible till about mid-Jan when all mentioned are fit unless he uses some of the younger members of the squad. Judging by what he has said so far he ain’t gonna change tactics. ??? I hope I’m wrong.

  • Budgie says:

    Looks a really interesting option now we have our best squad in depth that I can remember. Perhaps Moyes may consider this or near option once we have cleared up injuries to key new players. Something we have not had the benefit of in first 15 games

  • johnham1 says:

    When u have a player like Rice there is no need for a second defensive mid so Soucek and Downes are out for me. I wud play Fornals with Paqueta in front of Rice. Bowen has lost his form and it would be a front 3 of Benrahma, cornet and Scamacca. Apart from that I do like the formation and rest of the team. The big problem is Moyes, he simply wont pick a team like this. He is holding the team back in a big way..

    • lokfaen says:

      I get you Jonham, point Im trying to make is formation rather than player (except Dec). I agree with using 1 defensive, but trying to appeal to Moyes’ style, I’d be ok with one of Soucek or Downes in front but not both. I agree with the Fornal (or Lanzini) pairing with Paqueta – I would however keep Bowen on the right, we don’t really have better options in my opinion

  • lokfaen says:

    Watching Brazil in World Cup, it struck me that their formation could really suit West Ham.

    They played in a 4-1-2-3 at most times, a formation that gives defensive assurance and attacking quality; but for it to work you need a very good CDM (Casimiro in this case). This is one thing we absolutely do have!

    I would love to see a lineup with that formation, assuming no injuries looking something like this:
    Fab/Areola (another discussion..)
    Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Cress
    Rice (in front of the back 4)
    Paqueta – rotating mid (Soucek, Downes, Fornals, Lanzini depending on match)
    Cornet – Scamacca – Bowen

    Who is RB, LB, CM is not really the point. But having Rice defensive and Paqueta + 1 in more offensive CMs, with 3 attackers in front would ve great to see! The only nono for Moyes is Rice, Soucek and Downes in the centee 3.

    What do you guys think?

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