More bad news. Winston Reid is going to miss the Newcastle game with the calf strain he picked up during the warm-up at Southampton. So now is surely the time to bring in Ginger Pele James Collins to partner Angelo Ogbonna. Collins is invariably the man for a crisis and had a great game in the must-win game against Swansea back in April. He also brings some inspirational leadership qualities to the back-line.
Jose Fonte had a poor game at St Mary's, being at fault for the first goal and the first penalty. He's proving a real enigma during his West Ham career. Fonte was captain of the Southampton side that finished sixth two seasons ago and won the European Championship with Portugal. Most Southampton fans would have him back. Yet he's looked poor during his spell at WHU. Is it a matter of age (he's 33) or settling in to a new club? Perhaps significantly he had his best spell when West Ham played a back five towards the end of last season when he wasn't taking on strikers running behind the defence. I wouldn't give up on him, but he needs to improve fast.
Whatever the line-up, the Hammers need to sort out their central defensive problems and long term, after the ageing Ginge and Fonte have moved on, we also have to decide whether to give Declan Rice (his favoured position is centre back) or the on-loan Reece Burke and Reece Oxford the chance to cement a place in the back four.
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