One thing is quickly becoming clear at West Ham and it’s very good news – there are no longer going to be any ‘untouchables’ in a Manuel Pellegrini set-up.
Already it has become clear that like David Moyes before him, the manager is determined to re-shape the defence where Issa Diop has arrived, James Collins has left and another signing is on his way to the heart of defence from all accounts.
But it’s the midfield which is more interesting where last season we were so poorly served by a sluggish and slow moving set-up.
I will be particularly interested to see what happens to the skipper who, at 31, may find his future is behind him under the new manager and that bench time is likely to become a common scenario for him.
Whilst at Manchester City Pellegrini relied heavily on the box to box engine of Yaya Toure so it seems likely to me that he may hope to perform the same way with Cheik Kouyate.
My hope is that he can transform the Senegal skipper’s game in the same way as Moyes turned Marko Arnautovic’s game around. If not the winter window will be interesting.
Pedro Obiang is another who may be looking over his shoulder given some inconsistent form and Arthur Masuaku is a riddle the manager will need to solve.
Yes, he can, but not always, be brilliant going forward and have real influence on games whilst on other occasions there is little coming from him and defensively he’s often a big worry.
The Andy Carroll concerns continue of course but this will in all probability be the last season he is involved given it’s the last on his contract.
The manager has already made it clear he wants better players and four or five of them. Soon, hopefully, by those who arrive, we shall see the sort of West Ham approach to games he is going to employ.
Interesting times but it may be the skipper who has most cause for concern at this stage given his age and the mediocre midfield he has been leading .
I agree with no untouchables. I hope it means that Pellegrini’s superior football knowledge will see it obvious that the frailties of Ogbonna and Masuaku would be detrimental to progress at the London Stadium.
He could then bring in a junior left-back to compete with cresswell, and Mawson at centre-back.
Good everyone should earn their place!
I agree. No untouchables. Even Rice as likeable a lad as he is was still a teenager playing as part of the worst defence in the premier league last year. I hope he doesn’t start getting all billy big boots and think that he has made it because he still had a lot to learn and could still find himself back playing for the 23s next year if he does.
I would not mind dumping Masuaku and getting Diego Laxalt. Young and with a lot of potential, focused on his duties.
Mark Noble “Mediocre” he drove the team last season as we struggled, while someone we signed in 2012 on loan has delivered 39 Goals in the Premier League, has more splinters in his backside from the injury table and bench, gets the high wage we pay him, and you say we will let his contract run out? LOL!! what hold has he on those who signed him agreed his stupid salary, Top Striker no way! I would rather see us get Anything we can for him! Lets remember we can only Judge what the new manager does after Christmas at the earliest! We need someone on the pitch to be the managers voice.
Agree Jaybs, Noble was the catalyst for us improving, will wait and see who the managers voice is, if its not to be Noble then we should sell him along with Carroll have a completely new broom so to speak.