West Ham could go into the Liverpool game with a defence of Byram, Ogbonna, Rice and Masuaku. Slaven Biiic faces a defensive crisis: Winston Reid picked up a calf injury before the game at Palace, while Fonte injured his foot at Selhurst Park and James Collins is also out. Aaron Cresswell also went off injured at Palace and on top of that Zabaleta will be suspended for the Liverpool match.
Looking at the glass-half full option Ogbonna probably deserves a run after his winner at Spurs, even if he did concede a penalty at Palace. We know from the Payet season that at his best he's a fine left-sided defender and it has to be remembered he's still coming back from a long spell out. Declan Rice looks a real prospect too, even if he does lack experience. I'd stick Byram in at right back after his Carabao Cup performances and also because he is a specialist right-back. The worry is that tinkerman Bilic might play Kouyate as an emergency right-back. Another more reasonable option might be to move Kouyate to centre-back in to a back five, which would suit Byram and Masuaku more.
The glass half-empty option is that Liverpool have brilliant forward options through the likes of Salah, Sturridge and Firmino, even if Sane is injured and Coutinho doubtful. While Antonio is now out for WHU. Mind you, Liverpool''s back-line still looks dodgy. So with two suspect defences you get the feeling there might be plenty of goals on Saturday night.
5 comments:
Hi Pete, as 'Arry' used to say we are down to the bare bones, confidence is really low, and there is no discern-able method of play coming from Bilic, it doesnt look good! A tonking from the scousers would be even more damaging so I would try and park the bus with 5 across the back, and catch them on the break.
Very negative I know, but I am suffering WHU endurance fatigue again!
The eternal injury crisis. A couple of weeks back were told Collins was the only senior player injured, and he was just days away from returning. He's still out, despite having been days away for months; Cresswell, Antonio, Reid, Fonte, with Zabaleta suspended. I said at the start of the season our squad looked good, but was low in numbers as you have to factor in at least half a dozen absences. And there's more games in the Championship so we'll need a bigger squad next season.
Update, Reid is fit, but Byram's been crocked in training (along with Michail). They don't seem to realise that the point of training is to get players fit and prepared for games, as against ensuring they're unfit for games. Two left-backs, no right-backs. He'll go five at the back, with someone out of position, and we'll lose. Heavily. Again.
Byram too!! Nurse, the screens. Maybe Adrian will get a game at right-back.
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