Most would agree that West Ham United boss Nuno Espírito Santo ideally wants to play a 4-4-2, with Taty Castellanos and Pablo leading the line.
But with Pablo currently out injured, that system looks unworkable until the Portuguese forward returns— especially given that Callum Wilson simply doesn’t have the energy levels required to operate at the ferocious pace Nuno demands from his front two.
At the same time, Pablo’s injury has coincided with Jean-Clair Todibo returning from his three-match suspension following his red card against Chelsea FC.
And that has handed Nuno something of a pleasant problem.
Such has been the form of Konstantinos Mavropanos that he’s almost made himself undroppable. Meanwhile, January loanee Axel Disasi has also impressed and given no reason to be left out.
Considering Disasi hadn’t played competitive football for almost seven months, his fitness levels have been surprisingly strong — which probably says plenty about the intensity of training at Chelsea.
The issue for Nuno is this: Todibo has arguably been West Ham’s best defender this season.
So who misses out?
Could Nuno Finally Make a Back Three Stick?
Which brings us to the obvious question: could Nuno finally switch to a back three against AFC Bournemouth?
It’s a system he’s flirted with before but never truly made work — largely because West Ham simply haven’t had three top-level centre-backs available at the same time.
Maybe that’s about to change.
A back three would solve two problems in one: it keeps Mavropanos, Disasi and Todibo on the pitch, while also allowing Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville to operate in more dangerous advanced roles.
So, purely hypothetically, here’s what that side could look like:
Hermansen (GK)
Mavropanos (CB) Disasi (CB) Todibo (CB)
Wan-Bissaka (RWB) Diouf (LWB)
Soucek (CM) Fernandes (CM)
Bowen (RAM) Summerville (LAM)
Castellanos (CF)Whether Nuno actually goes down this route… who knows?
But it does address two major issues in one formation — and might finally give the gaffer an answer to the question created by transfer window inactivity on deadline day. The welcome news from earlier that Pablo might not be absent for the rest of the season adds further to the permutations – in a positive way!
Let me know what you’d do in the comments.
Would you stick with a back four — or is it time to roll the dice with three at the back?
I would stick with the back four which has shown success over the past weeks, and got us in touching distance of teams above us. Why go back to a formation that has cost us points this season.. We need to address the issue as who fills Pablo’s boots while he is out, surely we have somebody in the development squad who can be a menace to opposition defenders, I do not feel Traore is the answer, but he has plenty of pace and may be an option?
Gonzo, it would be the right thing to do, why? Because you also keep your best players on the pitch simple as that.
Todibo and Disasi for me and an extra man in midfield – ideally Magassa. Dinos done okay lately but still has a silly mistake per game in him – he’s just been getting away with them lately. Case in point – Spurs – terrible header led to Xavi Symonds blasting over from 6 yards in first couple of mins – should have scored. Then this relegation fight could now be looking a whole lot different.
Lot of attacking potential in that line-up – as long as we play on the fornt foot. Also a lot of height for aerial threat at set pieces.
OTOH, only two real midfielders and there’s the risk (certainty?) of being overrun in midfield, especially when playing teams with 4 or 5 midfielders and who know how to keep possesion and play through the lines
Why change a winning system? Our upturn in form has occurred since switching to 4-4-1-1 and so surely that’s what we must be looking to maintain
defensively we have done ok while Todibo has been suspended I’d keep Mav & Disasi in a back four with Diouf and Wan Bissaka and play Fernandez Soucek and Maggasa Bowen Summerville and Taty and put Todibo on if needed later in the game.
I am not an expert in how the side should be set up, so please excuse any naivety on my part; but I can see nothing wrong with this selection as far as the footballing abilities of this eleven are concerned. So, give it a try.
Or magassa plays the Pablo role…
Pressing from the front and linking play…
Potts could play that role too but he’s banned I believe..
Stick with what has been working at the back. I find it hard to believe that Pablo is the only player in the squad that can make his position work to some extent. Nuno chose Traore who, as expected, has turned out to be a waste of space, and they sent Marshall out, so it is his problem to solve.
Our problems have been poor defending and conceding too many penalties. We are starting to look more solid at the back so providing we have flexibility in midfield I would welcome the increased attacking opportunities playing a back 3 would provide. We need to improve our goal difference to maintain pressure on Forest so why not give it a go for the next three matches 🤞🤞⚒⚒
West Ham fan since 1961.
This 11 with a back 3 looks our strongest team for a along time and hopefully can produce the results needed against most teams!
And then one of the three will get injured or suspended, the hazards of being a Centre back.Then what revert back to something else?
I’d definitely be tempted to give it a go but maybe trial it against Brentford in the FA Cup game but nonetheless if we do play a back 3 then we need to do it with attacking intent if we sit back then we will just be inviting pressure.
I think the only way it could work is if it is deployed as a back 3 and not a back 5 like Nuno usually does. I’m not convinced as we have tried it before without much success