Strong 3-5-2 Formation to Continue League Run

After an insipid performance against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup, West Ham return to the critical business of EPL football as they welcome Newcastle for Saturday’s afternoon clash. While we struggle to put together our best midfield unit, with Lanzini, Kouyate, Fernandes, and Nathan Holland all unavailable, we have sufficient strength and pace to create goal-scoring chances against a struggling Newcastle team.

A well-organised 3-5-2 West Ham formation ((Insert Diagram), should allow us to carry on the fine form we demonstrated against Stoke. The combination of a ‘small man-big man attacking duo’ (Chicharito and Arnautovic), should be able to create numerous scoring opportunities, on the assumption that they are provided with sufficient opportunities from a cohesive, fast-moving midfield.

In the absence of the creative Lanzini, I am assigning a key central distributive role for Michail Antonio. His physical presence and blistering speed, will be a key factor in setting up numerous options (direct and indirect) for pushing the ball around in numerous ways towards the Magpies penalty area. From the left flank, Arthur Masuaku can attack directly down the wing, or alternatively, make incisive movements involving Obiang and reaching Antonio at the tip of the midfield pyramid. A similar strategy can be set up from the right flank, with quick short passing involving Zabaleta, Rice, and onto Antonio. From central midfield positions, Obiang and Rice can push direct passes to one of the strikers, who in turn, can slip a  short backward pass into the path of a rampant Antonio, who can split the Newcastle central defence to shreds. Arnautovic and Antonio should be encouraged to swap positions when openings appear.

On other occasions, Chicharito or Arnautovic can adopt wider and deeper positions in order to allow the formation of moving triangles involving Masuaku and Antonio (left side)or Zabaleta and Antonio (right side).

Another strategy allows the option of Winston Reid pressing high through the centre to create a central diamond with the supporting wing-backs in proximity. In much the same way that Antonio can knock the ball around from a central attacking position, Reid can distribute in a forward motion to players on the flank or centre.

Then there is always the option of the ‘thinking man’s hoof’, where players like Masuaku or Obiang (left) can send a lofted pass towards Arnautovic, and down onto the quick-reacting Chicharito to slot home from close range. If Arnautovic and Chicharito swap central positions, this could allow Zabaleta or Rice to float a pass towards Arnautovic in order to simulate the same movement, again involving Chicharito as the finisher.

An alternative formation could allow a transformation to a 3-4-3 structure. Antonio could join Chicharito and Arnautovic on the right attacking side. To cover the middle o the park, I would instruct the striking trio to pull back deeper towards the midfield four. Masuaku could be used as a left-sided wingback to add thrust down the left flank. If possession becomes problematic, Arnautovic could fall back into a deeper central position, leaving Antonio and Chicharito in the more advanced positions.