Manuel Pellegrini will be forced to change the winning team that beat Southampton away last week.
Ryan Fredericks faces suspension on Boxing Day as the Hammers faces Crystal Palace after the right-back picked up five yellow cards.
The West Ham manager looks like he will be forced to play Pablo Zabaleta on the day after Christmas and West Ham fans will be hoping that Palace players will have overindulged over the festive period to counteract Zabaleta’s lack of pace.
The 34-year-old defender whose contract with West Ham is due to expire this summer has already made it known he plans to retire from Professional football when his current contract ends.
Supporters will be hoping the team stays the same apart from the forced change with Antonio starting upfront with Haller in a 4-4-2 formation.
That could mean that Felipe Anderson is forced to sit patiently on the bench despite recovering from his sickness.
I was watrching a recent match where Zaba played and Don Hutcinson was commenting and he said that Zaba should now just concentrate on defending and the team shoudl not expect him to go on overlapping runs – if we do that and he gets support from whoever is wide right (Snoddy or whoever) then we coudl be OK – watched Palace – Newcastle yesterday and I think it is quite easy for Zaha to become frustrated (maybe especially now as his mind gets to wonder about a dream big money move)
I agree with that. Zaba has been a fabulous footballer and a great defender. The footballing intelligence is still there, he always give 100% and he’s a tough competitor. He can still do a good job in defence – he’s better at that than Fredericks, in my opinion. Leave the attacking to the others, don’t get caught upfield and concentrate on keeping Zaha quiet.
Zaba is a far better footballer than Fredericks. Fredericks is a championship player at best and anyone that thinks he is better than Zaba confuses pace with technical and tactical ability which Fredericks has neither of. I would also start Anderson instead of Snods because he will flourish with both Haller and Antonio up top.
Jonham1
I you for real.Zab is finished,he was last year. Now is even worse.
Tangent also saying use Yarmolenko on the right to cover him is stupid.
Rosa or Johnson is a forward step but Pellegrini is not a brave maanger.
He does have a choice go 3-5-2 creswell, ogbonna, drop / masuaku, Anderson, rice, antonio, yarmolenko / fornals and haller and tell yarmolenko to never leave zaha’s side. Simple but then that would take a level of tactical nous our manager just doesn’t possess.
It would be an ideal opportunity for Ben Johnson to play in his preferred position, he’s always performed well in his limited opportunities!
With the best will in the World, Zabaleta has been a fine Professional but is now a bit of a liability, particularly if he’s directly opposite Zaha! IMHO
Unfortunately Ben Johnson only lasted 15 mins before pulling up injured during the U23s win against Newcastle in his 2nd comeback match this week after a long injury lay off so highly unlikely i think.
Hopefully the 10 days rest should be sufficient.
Zab should not have been given another year.He wasn’t good enough last year.
Can you imagine him on and Snodgrass together on the right hand side.
Palace double.