Pellegrini needs to up his game

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Blind Hammer argues that improvement is needed from the top.

Football is a harsh taskmaster.  Yet Pellegrini has shown signs of losing his way recently.

Firstly we had the bizarre communication that Declan Rice was available “for a price.”  Despite the ultimate reality that this is true for all players it was still disappointing for the manager to sanguinely signal the exit door.

By all accounts, Rice has invested loyalty in the West Ham setup, as, apparently did Rio Ferdinand in earlier times. It would be sad for this loyalty to be similarly swept aside for the quick cash return.

It is no surprise that agents talk about a Rice transfer to Old Trafford should now surface after Pellegrini’s apparent ‘come and get him’ quote. If Rice becomes unsettled we cannot complain.

Next, we had the odd communication of the ill set up team against Everton. Reasons for Noble’s, Fredericks, Anderson’s and Hernandez’s absence only emerged in dribs and drabs after the game.

Nobody expects Pellegrini’s to tip his hand ahead of schedule but at the point of team announcements, the club should clarify via Social Media to reduce fan’s understandable puzzlement.

Most importantly Pellegrini must come under scrutiny for his recent tactical decisions. Playing both Perez and Arnautović up front against Everton was an experiment which clearly failed. It contributed to our disjointed, outnumbered, and ineffectual midfield.

I was astounded then when he decided to repeat the formation against Chelsea. Personnel changed but the tactics did not. Perez was replaced with Hernandez to similarly provide a top loaded formation.

Rice and Noble laboured manfully but it was no shock that Hazard ran the show. Time after time on commentary you could hear Hazard choosing the West Ham defender to isolate.

Fredericks was repeatedly left one on one. It was no surprise when Hazard scored,  Ogbonna earlier having to sacrifice a yellow card to prevent a goal.

Both Don Hutchinson and Paul Parker described Pellegrini pleading with Arnautović to double up on Hazard.

Yet to set up a team which relies on Arnautovic’s ability to restrict Hazard seems odd at best.

Pellegrini finally abandoned this formation for a more solid midfield which competed better in the second half. This second half setup must be Plan A for Old Trafford.

I remain a Pellegrini loyalist but Managers, like players, have dips in form. He is one of the highest paid managers in the PL. He, more than anybody, knows that the highest standards are expected.

COYI

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