Manuel Pellegrini has one seriously important change to make within the Hammers team if people aren’t to start questioning his judgement in a big way.
Ok, one or two pertinent questions are starting to be asked, but the biggest by a distance for me is the decision to continue playing Jack Wilshere in the most important area of the pitch.
Having watched him in the pre-season games and four PL outings, it is now clear to me that he is gone and that he must be replaced by Declan Rice.
That not one other club – apart from Fenerbache were reported as being interested in him during the summer – tells us all we don’t really want to know and I believe Pellegrini must have picked him on his memories of what he was about when managing Man City.
Rice for me has everything now missing in the former Arsenal man’s game – pace, athleticism, and the desire to play forward passes which mean something rather than the endless sideways movement.
Yes, he will make mistakes – at his age but they all do… like Sanchez – AT 31 YEARS OLD – but for me Rice is now a must with the impressive Yarmolenko alongside him and a real leader ( for all his faults) in Mark Noble.
Snodgrass too may have to step aside from the starting X1 in my opinion. I have sung his praises over the opening games and I am delighted he is part of the squad but for all his excellent running and energy, the final ball is invariably lacking.
It’s clearly the midfield whixh is struggling and this would be my line up when the action starts again.
Fabianski; Zabaleta, Balbuena, Diop, Masuaku; Sanchez, Noble, Rice Yarmolenko, Anderson, Arnautovic
Hugh I like your team – which seems to be a 4-3-3 – and believe that the 3 in midfield would work well – but I don’t think it will happen as Pelle seems fixed on a 4-2-3-1 so will play only 2 out of Sanchez, Noble and Rice
I hope he proves me wrong but that’s what I think he will do
Noble is either unfit due to his stomach / back problem or he has finally gone, never want to write him off but something feels different this time like he might be questioning himself, he may well be captain for the cup games, Obiang and Sanchez didn’t look too bad together at the weekend at least both of them are mobile and can tackle but would be willing to see Sanchez and Rice given a run, Wilshere needs some confidence he has actually played a lot of good passes which seem not have been noticed by his detractors but agree we need a little more bite in midfield and he may be the one to sacrifice in the short term.
Some people wrote noble off and he finished as the best midfielder we had second half of the season, finishing off the season with a cracker from 25yards at Leicester. To be honest some of the stick he gets after his service and ability over the years is crazy. I like rice but like him at centre back. I’m hoping that we could play obiang holding and rice with Nobes or Sanchez. I think noble has more under his shirt than Sanchez if honest and will get the guy’s going.
Have to agree. As a free I think he was worth a punt. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Again it is not ideal to have a young inexperienced player coming into clean up a mess, but perhaps it will be the making of him. I sure hope so, as we won’t hold on to him if we go down.
I don’t care what system or what players play if they are not willing to put in a shift and fight for every ball or press and defend as a team your not going to get results .
I agree that Wilshere needs to not be an automatic starter. I don’t question his desire to do well, but his confidence. It seems as if he is still reluctant to really push his body, and will need to find a balance there.
For me, our team looks like this:
Fabianski; Fredericks, Diop, Balbuena, Cresswell; Rice, Noble; Masuaku, Anderson, Yarmolenko; Arnautovic.
I rate Snodgrass’s endeavour but not his end product. Obiang looks like his head is in a mess. Antonio looks like he’s struggling to regain his power. Anderson needs to play central, and Cresswell is a better LB than Masuaku who should be playing further up. I would also consider playing Noble a little further up, and letting Rice, Diop and Balbuena establish a formidable defensive triangle.
I agree with your team except one, NOBLE out and probably Sanchez in or Holland
COYI
Or you serious Nathan Holland in a relegation battle? Nobes or Sanchez I’m afraid. Obiang holding.
Rice should be playing CB, not learning a new position in the cauldron of the PL,imo.
We should play to the strengths of the players – 3CBs with WBs pushing on.
Fab
Rice – Balbueno – Diop
Fred/Zab ———- Cress/Mas
Obiang/Sanchez-Wilshere/Noble
————–Anderson————
Yarm/Antonio—-Arnautovic/Hern
Pelligrini is a poor motivator . Needs to be on the touchline barking out orders . No good just to sit there with elbows on knees . If he is too old to do that then it needs somebody to do it for him . I agree with “ iron surfer “ ; untill this team gets motivated and begins to show some real effort it doesn’t matter a lot on the formation . This team isn’t demonstrating any hunger to win no matter who plays or where . It’s a mess that needs sorting .
I would like Pelle to eat humble pie for the sake of our club.
My suggestion is Fabianski, Djop Rice and Balbueno in a back three, Fredericks and Masuaku as wing backs, Zabaletta as dmf, Obiang Anderson and Yarmalenko in midfield and Arnie up front.
Why has Pelle not tried Zabba as the defensive midfield player. I think it would work! Thoughts please.
I worry about the work rate of Yarmolenko and Anderson..I think I worry about pellegrini and his motivational skills as well. Very concerning all round.