Major sources inside West Ham United want to see many of the first team rested for the match at Manchester City.
They echo the view voiced here by blogger johnham1 that with little or no chance of winning this game the major players – as they have become – are saved for the more winnable game against Manchester United at the weekend.
Sources want regulars rested against Manchester City
Manchester City are again on an extraordinary run of success have won 15 times and drawn three in their last 18 games.
We were told by on source “We need to rest the team then try and get something versus Man Utd and convincingly win the Euro Semi Final.”
Our last six Premier League trips to Manchester City all ended in home wins, with the Irons scoring just four goals in total in those matches.
Our last win at the Etihad was during the Farewell Boleyn season, 2015/16, when first-half goals from Victor Moses and Diafra Sakho secured a 2-1 success – our only victory in 16 Premier League visits to City’s new home, which was originally built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games..
In fact, that was our last Premier League win over Manchester City anywhere, with City winning eleven and drawing three of the 14 meetings since.
I think John’s suggestion of a defensive rotation makes total sense. Surely Moyes would be in his element?! With the availability we surely must play a back five especially with Grealish out wide. There is a big shout to play Downes and Lanzini surely? He must rest players now it is unrealistic to expect the same levels of a core of players with few subs and no rotation. Apart from anything else, we are now shipping goals with his ‘first’ team.
If as I suspect Sullivan has stepped in and told Moyes the score . It’s the best thing he’s done at the club for a long time .
If we play our second team, as you suggest Hugh, and we get beat 8-0, do the anti-Moyes people still blame the manager? Or keep seeing the bigger picture?
Dammed if you do… territory again?