West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo has a huge decision on his hands ahead of this weekend’s game against Newcastle United.
The Hammers boss has largely utilised Callum Wilson as a substitute since deciding against releasing the former Magpies striker in January, with Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos becoming the preferred attacking options following their arrivals during the winter window.
And in fairness to both of them, West Ham’s overall performances have improved since they came into the side.
The pressing is better, the work rate is better and there’s far more aggression from the front. The problem is that for all their endeavour, commitment and chasing lost causes, neither of them particularly look like natural goalscorers.
Wilson does.
Nuno Faces Pressing Versus Goals Dilemma
The issue facing Nuno is actually quite simple.
Do you retain the ability to aggressively press Newcastle from the front or do you select the team’s most natural finisher?
Having read the comments over the last few days, the general consensus seems to be leaning towards starting Wilson against his former club and giving Eddie Howe’s old favourite the opportunity to prove a point.
And honestly, I can completely understand why.
Whatever people think about Wilson’s injury record or lack of mobility these days, he still looks like the one striker at the club who instinctively knows where the goal is.
Should Nuno start Wilson against Newcastle?
Yes
No
Castellanos Looks Useful But Not Prolific
Since arriving at West Ham, Castellanos has generally looked like the sort of striker who might score one goal every four games or so.
As for Pablo, I still don’t really get the impression he’s ever about to score, even when he’s playing reasonably well. You have to love his endeavour and Nuno clearly values the pressing and physicality, but he’s not a genuine goal threat.
Wilson And Pablo Could Be The Surprise Combination
Oddly enough, if West Ham are genuinely looking for goals, I actually suspect the better partnership could end up being Wilson alongside Pablo rather than Wilson and Castellanos together.
The way he played Fernandes in for a wonderful chance against Arsenal, suggest there may be a target man in there somewhere. If Pablo can replicate that and feed Wilson against the Toon, I suspect we score.
start Wilson and who is coming on at the thirty minute mark?
It’s not a must win game , it’s a must not lose game !
Of course we want to win but I can only see Spurs getting one point in their last 2 games so 4 points will keep us up !
If we lose it’s all over .
So we need to be aggressive from the start .
I would play Pablo and Wilson and have Tatty to come on for impact .
Pablo will come good , I’m sure of that .
We just need the ball in the Newcastle box on a regular basis. Then we will see Wilson at his best. We have tried this before with numerous principal attackers. Unfortunately they were consistently left high and dry and deemed to be useless.
We can not afford to revert to the failed tactics of the past for the next two games.
Release the dynamite and pick up the pieces. Six points from two games. Nothing less will do.
Not sure dropping a guy with 5 goal’s since January is a good idea when we need to win
Complete madness to start Wilson who has very few minutes in his legs and even then he is easy to play against. You’re all ball watching and ignoring how much Pablo does for the team
Nuno certainly got it right with the starting line up against Arsenal, so there is hope he gets it right against Newcastle in once again it’s a must win
It’s not the line that’s a problem it’s the subs he brings on.
Add this to his timing and it’s a bad combination.
Good point Jeeps.