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West Ham have just one option at Burnley

West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini has only one option as he takes his squad to Burnley this afternoon and that is to attack because we simply aren’t a very good team playing any other way.

We want to see them quick off the mark, carrying the ball into the opposition half from the start,not offering easy possession to the opposition as has been too often the case this season and the  slow starting nonsense simply has to end.

Burnley don’t take prisoners – they are hard and physical,  so this should be a game made for Robert Snodgrass who possesses the same qualities.

He ihas been star man over the last two games – bad though the general performances were. So two goals and an assist is top value from a guy of whom we expect a lot today.

I’m convinced Pellegrini has – from all reports – got into the squad this week and, just as was the case against Sheffield United, I expect there to be a definite reaction.

But whilst this is a game for the likes of Snoddy, Felipe Anderson has to prove that he’s really up for a fight and I expect Lanzini to get the call rather than Yarmo as we look for the Argentinian to come back to his creative best.

At the back Fredericks MUST return along, I hope with Ogbonna, given the threat of Chris Wood and the crosses Burnley love to pile in.

And given we are a poor team when sitting on the back foot I hope Masuaku retrns to offer additional pace and trickery down the left side.

My team: Roberto; Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Masuaku; Rice, Noble, Snodgrass, Lanzini, Anderson, Haller.

 

Prediction: 1-2

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

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

7 comments on “West Ham have just one option at Burnley

  1. Need to Play the three centre backs and push fhe full backs as far up as possible to give us the width, don’t need snod and Noble together as they both run like they are in quick sand.

  2. Sad, but all too true.

    What we need to NOT see, is a team that the opposition coach already knows is pretty easy to beat.

    Since the players have already proved they are actually capable, it now falls on the coach to instil a realistic and attainable method of playing. A system that is fit for purpose and especially the players he presumably chose.

    COYI!!!

  3. I agree with Trevor. We need to play in a 3-5-2 formation which should hopefully mean that the midfield will give better support to both our defence and forward line than we have seen in recent weeks. I would also like to see Coventry and Holland as 2 of our substitutes.

  4. I’d rather see Cresswell play cos if we’re to stop the crosses for Woods and Barnes, Cressie is better than Masuaku. Snoddy has to play- even without the Great recent stats he has he always gives 100% and that is what us fans want. Pelle should be trying to toughen up Anderson ( to be fair, he has improved this season) but needs to do more in getting back and helping out -not just making up numbers. He still looks a bit scared in making tackles or blocking for fear of injury.

  5. The thing is Pellegrini has been saying the same thing for the last 5 matches apart from the Bournemouth match where we played ok, but for Declan Rice we would of lost.
    He doesn’t seem to understand how his team are playing so poor. It’s about 100% effort , class and that killer skilful touch. Only Diop and Rice have shown it in most games. Ogbonna and Fredericks were close but then were dropped.
    He needs to look closer to home to realise where the teams errors are.He’s been a major reason for the crap last 5 games.
    Nothing short of a win will ease this against Burnley. A draw may just mask the problems.

  6. Optimistic that you think Burnley will only get one against us, Hugh !

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