Questions for Moyes to ponder during the break

Thanks to the decision to play the World Cup in winter in Qatar we're effectively playing two seasons in the 2022-23 campaign. With relatively few players at the World Cup and a break of six weeks David Moyes and his staff can work hard on the training ground and look at re-setting the team. There are a number of issues for Moyes to ponder:

CAN ANTONIO AND SCAMACCA PLAY TOGETHER?

It's surely time to consider playing Scamacca and Antonio together for longer than ten-minute cameos. Yes it would mean depleting the midfield but Antonio could easily play wide right and get forward in support of Macca when necessary.

HOW DO YOU BUILD A TEAM AROUND PAQUETA?

At £51 million we have to play Paqueta and build a team around him. How can Moyes get him on the ball and in positions where he can really affect games? Too often his fancy backheels and close control are done in areas where he doesn't hurt the opposition.

WHO IS WEST HAM'S BEST RIGHT-BACK?

The right-back position has been shared between Johnson, Kehrer and Coufal. Kehrer looks more at home as a centre back while Johnson's form has declined and he sometimes looks unsure going forward. My money would be on playing Coufal for his crossing prowess and helping him get back to the levels of two seasons ago.

WHY HAVE WEST HAM STOPPED SCORING AT SET-PIECES?

Despite a lot of height in the side the Irons have hardly scored from a set piece. Dawson used to cause mayhem, Ogbonna was a threat and Soucek scored his fair share of headers. The departed Stuart Pearce did a lot of work on set-pieces and it's something the management now need to work on.

HOW TO HANDLE BENRAHMA?

Said Benrahma has probably been the Hammers' best player so far. Moyes needs to be less harsh on him and give him confidence with the arm round the shoulder approach, rather than qualifying every statement with a criticism. 

SHOULD WHU PLAY FOUR OR FIVE AT THE BACK?

With Aguerd fit Moyes will be tempted to play Zouma, Aguerd and Kehrer or Dawson as three centre backs together. But that would mean an isolated striker and less support for Paqueta in midfield and a crucial role for the overlapping wingbacks.

HOW TO GET THE BEST OUT OF BOWEN?

Jarrod Bowen was on fire last season but playing for England at the end of the season did his his body no favours. He should benefit from a six-week rest and needs to have his confidence boosted by the management and be encouraged to get his shots away as of old.

HAVE OTHER TEAMS RUMBLED THE DEEP BLOCK?

Perhaps the biggest issue is have other teams rumbled how to play against West Ham. Sitting deep and breaking at speed used to work, but it hasn't been effective this season. While the policy of sitting back for the first half of away games usually leads to the team going a goal down. It's surely time to be more proactive away from home.