By Dave Langton
There is no other option for David Moyes next week but to match Eintracht Frankfurt up if the Hammers are to reach the Europa League final.
On Thursday, the German side won 2-1 at the London Stadium and it’s fair to say that they looked very good, although the Irons had plenty of chances of their own to score.
Jarrod Bowen hit the woodwork twice and Said Benrahma also rattled the post with a long-range effort.
But part of the problem was the fact that Frankfurt simply outnumbered the Hammers at most points of the game.
They began with a 3-4-2-1 formation, meaning they had five in defence without the ball, and two wingers overloading both full-backs each time they attacked.
That’s how they scored their first goal, with Ansgar Knauff able to ghost in at the back post, after two left-sided players freed up space for a cross.
Against them in Germany, Moyes MUST play the same formation and match them up.
It would mean playing the following: Areola; Fredericks, Dawson, Zouma, Cresswell, Johnson; Rice, Soucek; Bowen, Fornals, Antonio.
Doing so would allow the Irons the chance to have their own overloads, and create even more clear-cut chances in the second leg.
It may be the only way the Hammers can reach the final.
Moyes has made some terrible decisions this season that has cost us points and ultimately will cost us European football, this week alone he made 2 terrible mistakes, mistake 1 not selecting his strongest team against Chelsea from the start, anyone who watched Chelsea against Arsenal a few days earlier would have realised they were there for the taking. A terrible decision, his second mistake was playing Johnson instead of Coufal and what a mistake, Johnson basically is a very average championship player who is not good going forward but is a solid defender (even at that he was completely caught out of position for the second goal. Moyes in his wisdom played Johnson in a more attacking position, how anyone could come up with that is baffling. We had really good positions in both halves that came to nothing when Johnson got on the ball. The second half of the season has not gone the way it should have and the blame has to sit with the manager, lack of signings, poor decision making for example bring Fredericks on at Old Trafford when a draw was secured only for him to make his usual mistake. I could list out the mistakes he has made that has cost us points. We need to play our strongest available team this weekend against Arsenal, finishing 6th in the league is a minumun requirement after the start we made to the season. .
Although I agree with Johnham1 that Coufal has better attacking skills than Johnson and would probably have crossed better, I really must disagree with the dismissive ‘average championship player’ label – this young man at 22 has performed in 3 different positions for us in just a few weeks at the highest level and whilst not excelling in every aspect has let nobody down. Fredericks has given away vital possession at r/b and Benrahma sublime to ridiculous.
Coufal hasn’t done anything this season.
Johnson more goals and assists.
If you’re looking for a poor player and someone who needs replacing then Cresswell is your man. To slow and looking vulnerable with every attack at our defence.
Had two months off injured didn’t he?