Compared with the dark days of December, there seems a positive buzz around West Ham’s training at the moment. Michail Antonio looks like he’s walking again and is due to be presented to London Stadium’s 62,000 faithful to show him the love ahead of the Bees’ visit.
But the good vibe goes much deeper. The Lopetegui era is over. Players suddenly start to make more speedy recoveries and want to play for the team again – Jean Clair Todibo appears back at Rush Green for training after being missing in action for weeks: Niclas Fullkrug is pictured having a kick about in Dubai obviously on the road to recovery.
Reported this morning in the standard.co.uk (‘West Ham get major triple injury boost’) – Lucas Paquetá and Edson Alvarez along with Todibo are likely to be fit again for the London derby on Saturday following recent absences.
Jarrod Bowen is back and firing on all cylinders and new recruit Evan Ferguson looks likely to feature alongside ex-loan returnee James Ward Prowse who is no doubt lining up to place the ball exactly where the Irishman needs it. Only Antonio and Crysencio Summerville remain on the long term sick list – which at this stage of the season is a minor miracle.
Hammers’ head coach will have the luxury of choosing which players make his starting XI instead of scraping the barrel, probably for the first time as Hammers’ supremo. Maybe for the first time Potter will get to play his three dedicated centre-backs as one unit: Although after the two ‘warhorses’ Coufal and Cresswell (main pic) contributed so effectively as makeshift centre-backs against Chelsea there must be a temptation to leave the back three well alone.
That would mean trouble ahead for Konstantinos Mavropanos who has been in and out of the side with an error strewn first half of the season. If the makeshift duo do retain their places, Mavropanos’ long term future must be in doubt.
Issues inside Potter’s camp remain – notably the recent reports of Lucas Paquetá’s agents discussing with his former club Flamenco a return to homeland Brazil: so I’d like to be a fly on the wall of that West Ham dressing room right now!
But compared with the winter chaos, it will seem like plain sailing leading up to the Brentford fixture as the squad have had time off to be with families so will be rested and well drilled with no fixture last weekend to distract from Potter’s coaching.
Are we really believing the Flamenco / Paqueta rumours? Why would any club be looking to buy him prior to the outcome of his investigation?
Thank goodness we are not looking at Thursday/Sunday football for the rest of the season.
Lovely to play so well in European competitions, but has shown to be a killer for Premier League ambition. David Moyes and company did a tremendous job all things considered. Eventually undone by contract uncertainty and worn out players.
We should see much improvement in identifiable style and results over the next few months. Especially with no other distractions and demands.
COYI