Squad vision presents Pelle with new challenge
He moved Aaron Creswell into a more withdrawn role in central defence whilst this season the former Hammer of the Year finds himself very much second choice to our Arthur and failing to find an alternative role given the summer arrivals.
He’s in much the same sort of position as Adrian – once untouchable as the No 1 and now probably looking for alternative employment at the end of the season.
For Cresswell, however, there are three years left on his current deal and no immediate route out of the London Stadium where once there were even rumours that Manchester City and Chelsea were keen.
It’s a significant situation and demonstrates how serious Pellegrini was when on his arrival he declared that he was not building a team but a squad.
(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
The current ‘victims’ of the new way forward are of course Cresswell, Antonio, Fredericks or Zaba, Ogbonna, Snodgrass, Perez, Sanchez and Chicharito.
Winston Reid and Andy Carroll will join them in the Hammers waiting room in all probability on their return.
Ok, it’s a problem for the players but more importantly a challenge for Pellegrini although he has been there before at virtually every club he has managed.
He will soon be facing up to the issue of how he keeps big name players happy at West Ham – a situation very new at this club where for too long we have been able to name the team while on the way to the game.
I have no doubt he will manage the situation with his usual mix of calm, charm and ability ut the situation demonstrates one thing very seriously.
Things are changing rapidly at the club – there’s real pressure for places – and as the results start to flow, I am sure they will, we will have to become accustomed to this being a very different WHUFC to the one we have been following for so long.
COYI