18 Comments

Slav set for selection shake up at Saints

cresswellCandHSlaven Bilic looks set to make some big changes as the Hammers head into their second game of the season against Southampton at St Mary’s tomorrow.

The 4-0 hammering at Old Trafford has focused minds inside the Irons camp and the boss will be thrilled to have powerhouse Hammer of the Year Michail Antonio back in the frame.

Whether he plays him in his favoured right wing role or through the middle remans to be seen but with Diafra Sakho now avaialable he finally has some great choices to make.

Declan Rice is very much into the mix for a start after a hugely impressive performance when coming on as sub at Old Trafford but we believe he is again more likely to be on the bench.

However, Aaron Cresswell looks set to make the starting lline up after Arthur Masuaku suffered a nightmare  performance at OT.

This is the starting line up will believe the boss is likely to name: Hart; Zabaleta, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Antonio, Noble, Obiang, Arnautovic; Hernandez Sakho.

 

 

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

18 comments on “Slav set for selection shake up at Saints

  1. If that’s the squad I will be happy. 4-4-2 is a good formation when you have Sakho and Hernandez up top.
    Not only that you then have the pace and power of both Antonio and Arnautovic on either wing.
    We play this team and this formation… we win 3-1.
    I only say we concede purely because teams always break their scoring duck against us.

  2. Think Rice should be in midfield of should be in back 3 which worked so well for a us end of last season. And Masuaku is better wing back then fullback.
    Also think Adrian should have had nod from start but oh well went by Name not Merit

  3. I agree. Apart from can’t see Antonio starting. I think he will replace Sakho at half time.

  4. Your team Hugh is fine by me. It would be an enormous improvement on the last one.

    • I would still rather see Rice instead of Ogbonna, but with Masuaku and Ayew taken out, the replacements can make a big difference.

  5. Rice for noble !

  6. Defence still worries me. Masuaku & Cresswell- how do you choose between them? But I am sure somebody could turn the players we have got into a decent defensive unit. Is it Bilic? Ok it could be Man U are the new Barcelona. Will be watching how they deal,with Swansea tomorrow & our games against some ‘beatable’ sides in next few weeks.

    The other issue is how we get the ball up the pitch! It always seems a struggle & I have lost count of the sort of incident that occurred on Sunday with Obiang. Sides must have worked out this weakness & are just waiting to pounce. That looked like something Carvalho could help with – if he comes. If not, we need somebody to do it. Or just go for ‘lump it up to the big lad’!

    • how to choose between them? easy Cressie knows his first priority is to defend, Masuaku will never know that. He can’t defend .. simple

  7. We only ever win when Captain Slow plays apparently so he needs to start 😆😆 No point trying to sign Carvalho when we’ve got our lucky charm already 😆

  8. I think Rice will start also, Bilic has been talking him up in the press about how he took his chance at OT, in which case he would play in midfield for either Noble or Obiang, I think Ayew will be moved to right wing and Antonio will be a sub, as for Ogbonna and Reid, one of them has to go or he has to play three at the back.

    • 3 for me at the moment with chieck and lanzini out?
      Adrian
      Reid rice ogbonna
      Antonio zabba obiang Arnie
      Samuelson or Vic
      Sakho pea
      Cressy and makusaku are both struggling in the defensive bit for me !
      Noble will probably start ? 😕

      • Thank you one of Few who thinks Adrian should start and Back 3 Rice I’m middle would be great with his pace and passing.
        But Hart never earned #1 spot to begin with and think Adrian Gels better and less mistakes.
        Slav said Hart would have to earn #1 2 half games in preseason isn’t a earn and Man U he made mistakes bad should made himself big for first goal. And punch out a ball or two into box Masuaku actually saved one AMD clear it.
        Just this Adrian deserves it u til Hart shows its his or Adrian his poor. And I think he as fire to preform right now and would see the best at of him

  9. Honestly I think rice will be on the bench and then get a start against Cheltenham.
    I can’t see him starting a game that (I can’t believe I’m saying this already) we need points.

  10. Yeah I think my preference would be Cresswell Sleeps, but I don’t think his defending is that good either. Wicked crosses when he is in the mood though, so ok we will go with him! After Sunday he has to I guess!

    • I agree with that 64. The only real fullback we got is Zabaleta. All the others are less than 100%. They are all better wing-backs. I think this year that Byrom could come through. He had a very good pre-season, and perhaps he turned a corner.

  11. Weakest link is Ogbonna. Absolute terrible player, only one footed and that’s not very good. Amount of times he’s at fault for goals is incredible. Rice , collins ,Burke all far superior. When was the last time he looked close to scoring from a set piece . I know ginge in no spring chicken but he carries a threat from corners etc…

    • I’m always banging on about Ogbonna so I’m with you there. Ginge is great to have in reserve as a fireman even at his age, but Burke is impressing at Bolton already. He looks very good in the championship. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if he came back at Christmas on top of his game and joined Rice in our team.

      • I honestly can’t see how people rate Ogbonna . Felt sick when he signed a new contract. He was poor last season and I see no improvement this . Think our defence looked better last year when he got injured.
        Watch his bewilderd look when we concede ! He does a little tskip and jump round the pitch. Terrible player and it’s all the more sickening with the likes of rice , Burke and Oxford being loaned out or sat on bench !!

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