No ‘untouchables’ as boss re-shapes the Irons
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 .