Manuel Pellegrini will wrestle with some midfield problems after being disappointed at seeing the team over-run in that area of the pitch by rampant Liverpool on Sunday.
The clash against Bournemouth on Saturday is a key fixture given Arsenal (a), Chelsea (h), Everton (a) and Manchester United (h) are on the horizon within the next six games.
The lack of pace in the middle of the park where Noble and Wilshire were involved was a worry to the boss and Declan Rice’s half time sending off exacerbated the issues.
Word is that changes are on the way and an injection of pace from Felipe Anderson (right) as the No 10 behind Arnie, with Antonio moving wide could be on the cards. However, a start from Robert Snodgrass may be a preferred option.
It also seems likely that new boy Carlos Sanchez will be brought in for Rice as the boss aims to provide a more solid and pacey set-up in the middle of the park.
Bournemouth arrive having scored a convincing win over League newcomers Cardiff City but the Hammers will be looking to get their first points of the season on the board.
Sending off?
I know I was drinking Hugh but I think Rice was substituted 😉 Rice actually has pace, Wilshere used to have enough also so not sure where it has disappeared this season, Noble is Noble but would definitely back Anderson or Yarmo moving to no10 or Perez, Arnie was isolated for much of the game, Perhaps try Noble, Sanchez as the midfield with Wilshere at 10, Yarmo and Anderson on the wings ? We now have a lot of pace in the team but none of them seem to be running directly at the opponents. Lets watch how things develop looking forward to Saturday COYI !!!
“……Declan Rice’s half time sending off exacerbated the issues.”
Details, please.
I hope this is coming from the manager as he needs to make radical changes. Here are the changes I would make for the game this weekend. First and most important change is Fredericks out, I would really consider playing Zaba or Rice at RB, I don’t think Rice has the pace for midfield but I think he would make a decent RB. I would keep Balbiena and Ogbanna at CB. If Cresswell is fit I would consider starting him at LB. In midfield I would start Sanchez and/or Obiang. l would move Anderson to 10 with Antonio on the left and Yarmo on the right side with Arnie up top.
its way too earlier to make such radical changes of the back of a game against the 2nd best team in the premier league. Also one of the most attacking teams in the world. Such drastic changes would be terrible management.
The only change i would consider is playing 2 strikers, as I believe that might be the plan for when we play teams we aim to have more of the ball, and be able to show our attacking colours.
We wont play a team like liverpool every week, i hated having this fixture as the opening game, as i new what drama it would cause. Every one stay calm and don’t overreact. Liverpool are a miles better team then us, they have had 3 years under the same manager, and signed world class players, they almost spent our transfer funds on a single player.
some times i do wonder if its just Westham fans who overreact soo much. We are ether the best fans in the world or the worst, there is no in-between. (obviously not every fan, its prob just the minority, but they speak the loudest)
CHill chiil chiill. It takes time Clichy but true, ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY.
They mean subbed.
I haven’t taken any from last game, its Liverpool and waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to earlier to be negative.
Come one bring back the old Westham fans who backed there team, week in week out. **** these overdramatic cry babies, fans who expect instant results.
Bring on Saturday, i’m soo existed to cheer my boys on again!!! COME ON YOU IRONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bit late for musing,seeing as we’re light in this area the loan of Edi to Fiorentina is a weird thing to do,don’t see the reasoning behind that one.COYI
For me both Anderson and especially Wilshere are operating in 3rd gear so far. It noticed in pre-season and overlapped into the Liverpool game. Hopefully they will both intensify their games for the next fixtures.
Sanchez must surely be considered for the Bournmouth game, after Rice did not shine in that department. The experience of Sanchez would help our cohesian between MF and defense. I’m sure he could also communicate with Balbuena in co-ordinating the MF and defense.
Arnie looked to be carrying a knock quite early on, so I hope he gets fit for next week.
Antonio made his presence felt more than most going forward.
I’m also praying for Cressie to be fit, because we will always be up against it with Masuaku in defense. Fredericks could be forgiven and must be given time to adjust his game.
I agree with all your comments until I read your last sentence. Fredericks is not a FB in a back 4. He is not a good enough footballer and equally importantly he is a terrible defender. He is and will turn out to be a terrible signing. He is worse than Jenks and Byran. At least with the two of them they tried to defend. This guy is a joke. If you look back at the game on Sunday you will see some of the players looking at Fredericks in disbelievement at some of the things he did. Let him learn but not at the expense of the first team. Either Rice or Zaba has to start against Bournemouth.
I think a lot of people are being quite harsh on Fredericks. He was left exposed more often than not. You could see it was a world from what he’s used to in the championship but give the lad a break. I was impressed by his link ups with Yarmolenko during preseason. Here’s my team.
Fabianski
Fredericks Balbuena Ogbonna Cresswell
Obiang Rice
Yarmolenko Wilshere Anderson
Arnautovic
TBH you basically have to ignore what Johnham1 says about Fredrick, because he haited him before we even signed him. according to him he was the worst RB in the championship, even though the stats will tell you other wise.
If you cant see why judging a defender after a game against Liverpool is stupid, then your opinions will always be irrelevant.
I have a strong feeling you will see why we signed Fred on Saturday. A far more reasonable team to access us on. (although it is till early days).
What baffles me is we all know from last season that the biggest problem by far was the midfields lack of pace and mobility and quick ball to the forward line(no Lanzini).Why was this not addressed in the recent transfer window.Yes forwards score the goals but the engine room of a team has always been the most important factor in protecting and shielding the back line and winning and distributing the ball to the pacey attackers.No ball possession nearly always leads to the same outcome.Our midfeld is very weak and static sorry to say.