THE ALREADY paper-thin striker resources at West Ham appear to have been torn in two ahead of Burnley’s visit, causing a selection headache for Nuno Espírito Santo just at the time that he’d like to field an unchanged side after the 3 – 1 victory last weekend.
Several outlets this morning are reporting that veteran striker (indeed, the only one available) Callum Wilson has a knock and is doubtful for today’s six pointer against the Clarets.
Which creates a dilemma for the Hammers boss, who has shown himself quite prepared to roll the dice and think outside the box for a solution.
If Wilson fails to recover, there are few options in this West Ham squad
Whilst his ‘inverted full backs’ idea didn’t work when trialled against Leeds and Brentford, the swapping of Todibo and Kilman onto opposite sides met with success – so West Ham’s head coach has an interesting ‘frontman’ quandary today.
When Wilson came off after an hour last week he was replaced by Tomas Soucek doing his best Peter Crouch impression: It may not be pretty but it seems to work out just fine.
Soucek is not the best of touch nor the most mobile, however, and it’d be a brave choice. Since the only alternative, young striker Callum Marshall, played 70 minutes last night for the u21’s, he can be ruled out from being in the mix for a start today.
The alternatives are to play Bowen as a striker – but then who plays on the right – or just play the two frontmen.
Neither option is a particularly palatable (or likely popular) choice if Nuno wants to carry the game to Burnley. Starting on the front foot at London stadium is important if the Hammers are to keep the momentum from their first home win in nine months, so starting without three at the front would seem like handing an advantage straight to the opposition.
Souchek up front is ideal. He has consistently scored more goals from midfield than the strikers have, as has Jarrod Bowen. As the big focal point up front we couldn’t do much worse.
Can Guilherme play centrally ? If so this could be his moment. Josh Landers came on late last night and Dan Cummings still hasn’t had enough U21 action to be considered for me.
Give Guilherme a shot at no 9 and he can interchange with Bowen, or go RW if it really does not work out. I know he once looked lost playing as a wingback, but 9 or RW pushing up on the shoulder of defenders to run in behind, he might not mind the slight shift in position – perhaps even the contrary.
That could be plan A, then need a backup plan; maybe 4-diamond-2 ?
Plan C, all down the pub to strategise?
Well you can’t blame the manager for that. It’s down to Sulivan and the board again doing it’s best to keep as much money as possible.
This was my reservation with Wilson, age and injury record. Soucek wasn’t too awful when he replaced Wilson against Newcastle. False nine didn’t work when tried, I’d prefer to keep Bowen on the right. Play Soucek.
Damn I was hoping for an unchanged eleven.
might still be John.. lots of smoke and mirrors around wilson tbh
Cummings not on bench last night, surely not still injured since joining back at start of July
Guilherme would be the choice to fill in at right wing.
Played all over the field as cameo roles and forte is right mid attack.
Come on Nano give him a chance.
Highlighted on a video on Friday that Wilson might not be available today just by watching training videos carefully
Hope we’re all wrong and that he is available
If not, then the video below suggests some options available to Nuno…
{edit – you can’t post external links on C and H, sorry MT}
I think play Bowen up front and have AWB replace him on the wing.
KWP can play at RB and the rest of the team remains the same as last week