Potter’s history suggests changed formation on the cards

The West Ham squad has come a long way since Nigel Reo-Coker bemoaned the lack of leaders and the lack of a buzz around the squad in the summer. Clearly the Potter bounce is working its way through the team and compared with the strained faces and deathly silence of November’s videos under Lopetegui, morale is sky high.

These videos released by the club are a useful litmus test – without reading too much into a six minute video clip clearly players can be seen performing with a strut – as in the case of forwards Bowen and Kudus – or as Evan Ferguson, a little more tentative and ring -rusty. The 22 year old desperately needs a run of half a dozen games in the team to build up match fitness and recover his swagger.

Graham Potter needs to juggle the teams’ requirements – Bowen and Kudus up-front alone is not the most offensive set-up and leaves no room for Ferguson. However, switching to a 3-4-3 layout offers Newcastle more opportunity to exploit the Hammers. At home, looking for a third win on the bounce I wonder if Potter is considering tinkering with the formation.

Sometimes the best means of defence is attack – adopting a more conservative 3-5-2 set up invites opponents to press forward themselves. Ferguson needs game time – and there is an argument that says West Ham need to stop being so defensive from the start. There’s no need to drop one of the Hammers’ attacking quartet if Potter is more pragmatic.

Graham Potter in previous clubs had little hesitation in switching formations in between – or sometimes during – games so I wonder if a more attacking tweak might be on the cards tonight.