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Pellegrini’s big mistake made no sense at all

Oggy set to continue at central defence

Manuel Pellegrini’s decision to drop Angelo Ogbonna was big mistake number one and the stats demonstrate clearly that he needs to be recalled for the Spurs match.

For they demonstrate that in the five games in which Fabian Balbuena has been involved, 12 goals have hit the back of our net – seven if you exclude the Manchester City mauling.

Ogbonna, meanwhile, has played eight games and seen eight goals go in yet the manager decided he should be dropped to give the Paraguayan an “opportunity.”

At the time I asked why and it was at that stage I started having my first doubts about the manager. If a man is in form – and Oggy’s was better than most over his eight games then there is no good reason to drop him.

After yesterday’s utter shambles in which Balbuena played a leading part it’s time to give Oggy the opportunity he should never have been deprived of in the first place.

Pellegrini’s opinion on recalling Balbuena frankly shocked me. I didn’t understand it then and I don’t now. In fact, I don’t think it’s an explanation at all. It sounds more like soft sentimentalism.

Bring him back and I believe we will see an immediate tightening at the back against a Spurs team almost as out of sorts with itself as us.

The second change must be Michail Antonio during that forthcoming 90 minutes at the expense of Yarmolenko who really does look as out of form as the rest.

Not all is lost but many of the problems we have are self inflicted by the manager – to be this dar in and not know your best team is really pretty shameful.

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

6 comments on “Pellegrini’s big mistake made no sense at all

  1. Agree with you entirely the manager has not got a clue he seems to persist in playing out of form players and not giving any one else a chance. I would like to see Danny Cowley have the job look what he’s done for Lincoln & Huddersfield

  2. It still leaves the goalkeeping problem though. As we currently don’t look like scoring it only takes one error and we are chasing the game.
    And against Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Leicester & Wolves our chances would be slim to non existent on current form.

    • 3rd change MUST be the goalie. I know few people have confidence in Martin but he must play. Roberto is out of form and badly short of confidence too. To be fair the fans do have a point but when your goalie gets heckling cheers in the last two games every time he manages to catch a ball, he has to be dropped.

  3. Completely agree with you Hugh. The only explanation I thought he played Balbuena I.M.O is since the goal keeper change unluckily for the Hammers Roberto stepped in speaks Spanish, and so does Balbuena and Pellegrini thought they could have a understanding at the back??? Well that theory was blown to bits yesterday?? Neither had a clue what the other was doing or what they were supposed to do?? Communication my ar#e 🤔 the best defence I’ve witnessed from our team came with Moyes’s playing 3 at the back that was Reid Collins and Cresswell in the middle with Masuaku left wing back and Antonio right wingback we beat a few good teams with that system and we had a dodgy keeper (Joe Hart) ! But Pellegrini sadly does not seem to sway from HIS ONE game plan and unfortunately the Hammers have been sussed ??? Shame🤔

  4. Never wanted Pellegrini. No passion; no ability to motivate; clueless tactics with his form of walking football. Line up a new manager (let Brooking choose) and swallow paying Pellegrini off. Otherwise we are in serious danger of going down.

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