With seven new arrivals I'm still trying to decide what will be West Ham's first-choice side. My guess would be: Adrian; Jenkinson, Ogbonna, Reid, Cresswell; Payet, Noble, Kouyate, Obiang; Sakho, Valencia. This would leave a reserve XI of Randolph; O'Brien, Tomkins, Collins, Hendrie; Jarvis, Nolan, Lanzini, Amalfitano; Zarate, Carroll. And there are also squad players such as Poyet, Maiga, Burke and Henry and youngsters Lee, Oxford, Page, Cullen and Samuelson.
So it's looking pretty healthy competition-wise. Another option would be to play three centre backs from Tomkins, Reid, Collins and Ogbonna. We could also play five in midfield and a fit and firing Andy Carroll could well replace Valencia up front in my first-choice side.
If anything we have almost too many players and it might well be that if good offers come in for the likes of Nolan, Maiga, Jarvis or Amalfitano we take the money and put it towards another striker. Interesting times at Upton Park and some tough selection decisions for Slaven Bilic.
6 comments:
When everyone's available, Noble won't feature in the starting XI
He could be dropped for Lanzini or an extra centre back maybe, but it would be a hard decision to leave him out and I'd prefer to see at least one home-grown player in the side for the sake of team spirit.
Not hard at all actually. He is not good enough so how would playing him be good for team spirit . Get rid , play the best team and win matches ... that would give good team spirit
I'm not sure that West ham have too many players. The last time I looked, the squad consisted of 26 plays. Usually, premier team squads are around 31 players. I still think we need another striker. My hope is for Charlie Austin.
Hard as it is: I agree about Noble. There's a lack of creativity in MF right now and his passing accuracy and technical skill are not on a par with some others. What he does have is heart. With all the warm blooded acquisitions, on pitch language issues and potential lack of "club culture/history" we are going to need home-grown leadership like he offers in December, on a greasy pitch, in a soulless venue up north. Noble has to be included in every match day squad, and wear the arm band when on the field simply because he adds a leadership dimension. Nolan has to go - his energy levels are below par and playing him with noble is suicide. I feel that poyet and amatifano should be in the squad. Zarate, when he regains full fitness and used correctly would be good cover for Payet (super-sub scenario), and maiga has shown glimpses of potential when faith is shown in him: he is a confidence player who cannot be played the way Allardyce forced him to play (the Cole/Carroll big man scenario). I feel if that goal against the Maltese had been allowed we might be seeing a different player soon. He certainly will not net us any money in a transfer, and, currently his wages are low. I would like to see kayoute as a holding midfield and not as a CB; with him there we don't need Song; kayoute has far mor energy and is a better player over the whole season. Samuelsen, Oxford, Burke, Hendrie, Henry must be used at home on the subs bench when possible. I don't want to see another Letget situation! That hurts.
Agree with what you say Paul, Noble will be useful up north and I've seen him have great games in tough away matches at Cardiff and Spurs in recent seasons. Nolan is 33 and must surely be leaving while Maiga is as you say a confidence player and I thought he looked ok against Birkirkara in the first leg, just needs a goal. Though if we get Austin imagine he will be sold. Yep, saw Lletget scored for LA Galaxy in the Gerard debut match the other week...
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