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Valencia ‘return’ raises headaches

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ValenciaactionEnner Valencia’s imminent return throws up yet another fabulous headache for manager Slaven Bilic.

There will be others emerging …but that’s for further down the road.

David Gold in his regular tweeted bulletins has declared: “Enner Valencia is edging closer to a first-team return after scoring for the Development Squad in last night’s 4-0 win against Wolves. ”

But the ‘edge’ he refers to may be a lot wider than either he or the player expects as we enter into what promises to become a massively interesting period in the club’s recent history.

It’s Chelsea at the weekend – a match which is going to tell us an awful lot about where we are. Whether this is a game for Enner, Andy Carroll, Angelo Ogbonna and the others is fascinating.

Personally I would expect to see him arriving as a second half sub if required – a situation half confirmed by an insider who told us: “That is the most likely scenario and Enner knows that.”

That ‘further on down that road’ I mentioned is whether Slaven can keep s many good players happy when they will be getting more limited opportunities than perhaps they expected when joining the club.

There are many challenges ahead of him – more and more success which we all want could mean more frustrated but hungry players.

Lovely problems to have from a fan’s point of view but it will test Slav’s man management techniques to the limit. I think, however, we are in good hands.

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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

5 comments

  • WestGoaHam says:

    I think players are happy to share when they smell success and see upward progress. The team are together. Let’s keep it up!

  • West Ham Fan No 32 says:

    I think Valencia will start most games when he is fit, Moses is ineligible for the Chelsea game Valencia runs the channels the same as Sakho except more on the left side, he is all action and I think that could win him a place over Moses in the starting 11, I am not sure where it leaves Antonio who you would think would be the natural replacement for Moses I guess we will find out at the weekend whether he sticks with one up front or changes the formation slightly to accomodate Valencia.

  • bubs says:

    Valencia or Antonio is a poss with Moses missing,
    But Ogbonna is a must against Costa alongside Reid with Tomkins at right back
    Obiang instead of Noble to give the midfield the bite,
    But who am I to tell Slav he will find the answer I am sure,

  • canchaz says:

    If we put a good cup run together and with this depth we should, there will be plenty of playing time and opportunities for glory to keep everyone happy

  • johnboy says:

    It might be a nice headache for us supporters but Bilic has a hell of a job to keep everyone happy !!!
    Im sure he has the tools for the task but at the end of the day you have to field you’re best eleven at the time !!!
    What it boils down to is , are the players willing to stay and be part of a emerging squad that can compete with the top tier of clubs like a chelskie , m.city man u area arsnall with limited game time or would they prefer moving to lesser squad for game time .
    Good situation could end up a bad situation and disrupt the whole feel good factor !!!!
    Rotate or not !!! Only bilic can sort this one , good luck Slav .

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