This Saturday's Barclays Premier League fixture between West Ham and Man Utd will be the first to actually feature fans, albeit a microscopic 2,000 instead of the 60,000 the London Stadium is capable of holding. The visitors are on a fine run of form, as are their hosts, so it virtually inconceivable that the match will finish as a 0-0 draw.
David Moyes has a few decisions to make ahead of facing the club that unceremoniously dumped him before even being given a full season to try and emulate the achievements of Sir Alex Ferguson, a feat that was never achieved by any of the other managers brought in to try and replicate old 'red nose's successes, in fact only Jose Mourinho achieved a better percentage ratio, and he was there for two seasons or there abouts.
Ahead of the fixture Moyes will have to assess whether to stick with his favoured 3-5-1 formation or alter it to 'cope' with Manchester United's fire power and fluidity, he did so against Aston Ballet during the last match, will he do so against the visitors, and what fire power of his own team's does he unleash?
For The 'Ballet School' game, Michail Antonio was clearly unfit and ineffectual, Moyes clearly thought so as he replaced Big Mich with Sebastien Haller at the start of the second half. Haller splits opinions among fans, but his recent performances have shown more commitment and more effort both on and off the ball, which many fans feel is as it should be for the club's record signing!
In addition to selecting Antonio instead of Haller, or playing both of them, Moyes needs to look at the service provided for his strike force, a situation that is kindred to the Elephant in the room, when considering how to deploy Said Benrahma. The twinkle toed ex-Brentford maestro is definitely a class act, one that looks entirely at home in the top tier of English football and a player who could help propel the club upwards. The problem for Moyes is who can make way for the 'Algerian Messi'?
The Hammers manager is in a unique situation, one that few of his predecessors were able to experience, he has a fully motivated and skilful squad that although lacking strength in depth, is more than capable of holding it's own against supposedly superior opponents but crucially those teams that are well below them in the League Table.
Things can change very quickly at the higher end of the Barclays Premier League table, a win at the weekend could see a spot in the Champions League rankings, but realistically a Europa League slot is the best that can be achieved this season, and of course with European qualification comes the added need to strengthen the squad further.
For now Moyes will be the one with the headache, after all it is what he is paid handsomely for, while fans can just enjoy being able to look up instead of behind!-Ed
Comments
Start with Benrahma instead
Start with Benrahma instead of Fornals for this match I think - get him running into Uniteds box and feeding Antonio or Haller. Cavani will need to be watched carefully
Agree with that
Try benny instead of forkhandles,haller has put in more effort in last couple of games & Ants didnt look match fit on Monday....never thought I'd say maybe start Haller,but if Ants is not ready then hes the only option
Don't change the formation
The players are comfortable with it so who cares who we play it suits us so stick with it,Definitely start Haller because Antonio is clearly not fit Soucek has not had the best two matches in a hammers shirt but stick with him and Rice because what is the alternative a leggy Noble?Lanzini not suited as for Benrahma mmm looks a little lightweight for me i think give him more game time from the bench for now but thats just this girls opinion.so to summaries lets stick with what we have been doing and shove it right up Manures bum COYI
Yeah I agree to a point
Yeah I agree to a point ,Benny has got to get lots of game time ,coming from the chimps it take time to adjust,I have to agree with andy & 65 ,rest fornals ,hes got loads of energy and would run all day but I'm afraid his closse control and finishing are not the best ,however I cant see Moyes dropping him ,he appears to be the blue eyed boy
Keep the winning formation...
I think DM knows his best starting side, apart from injuries and I think he has a thing for Fornals...for me I'd bench him and start Benny instead...MA is injured so Haller has to start which pisses me off if I'm honest. Geezer has not one bit of fight in him.......he needs to watch videos of goal hungry forwards and try to emulate...aint gonna happen is it...
My gripe for the last 5-6 years is the amount of left footed players who would fall over if they tried to pass with their right foot. We are so flipping transparent when going forward and checking back, cos they have no right peg ffs...one day they will come up with a training plan to get them using both feet...dont hold yer breath though. A confident 3-1 home win for the Cockney boys...4.30am KO....
Bed early or bed late???
The problem with a 3-5-1
The problem with a 3-5-1 formation means that you need some very versatile midfielders that can create but critically also have the ability to defend effectively. Benrahma is a very creative midfielder when moving forward, however there were lots of loopholes on the left flank when withdrawing Masuaku. To me yes, it will be okay to replace Fornals with Benrahma and if it does not work too well then substitute him for Fornals. What I found strange was to substitute Bowens with Noble. Bowens always carried that threat on the counter attack with his pace. That all but killed the offensive moves when bringing Noble on, and made Villa look like a Euro Champions League side for those last ten or so minutes of the match. I agree that there should be someone to keep an eye on Cavani. He can be a handful and a game changer. I would start Haller and bring Antonio on for the last half hour. I agree that Haller is putting more of a shift and should have been in the starting lineup, with Antonio coming on for the last 10 minutes. He does not look fully fit and seem to labour quite a bit for the 45 minutes that we was on the pitch.
its a real Conundrum as
its a real Conundrum as neither system is perfect. The Beast is clearly not ready and Haller cant play the single striker role effectively and this amplifies the need in the window for a classic No9. The move to four at the back just exposes Cresswell pace weakness. Moyes I suspect will go safe with 5 at the back and Haller up front. Personally I wouldnt change Fornals, I think this lad just gets better and better.
Fornals may not be the
Fornals may not be the finished article yet, but he runs his heart out for the team!
So did Carlton Cole
So did Carlton Cole
As much as I am excited by
As much as I am excited by Benrahma. I realise that sounds a bit wrong, but you know what I mean. I don't think he edges his way in just yet. I can see he can become the assist king. Grab a few goals and take a penalty only second to Noble. But I would not kick Fornals out he is the original duracell bunny. I think Haller could be well suited to leading the line in this one!!
O/T RIP the Toecutter
Mad max villain past away,top top film back in the day
Yeah 65 - he was an awesome
Yeah 65 - he was an awesome villain. My favourite of the films was Mad Max 2 though - with the warrior woman and the big action scene at the end. Don't make them like they used to
Great films eh Andy
Wasnt over struck on the thunderdome,first 2 were the best...there was another one made not that long ago which was okish!
you do realise this is all greek
To HG....so be prepared to explain yourself 65 lol
back to football
conundrum is over... The Beast is injured again :o(
No surprise about Ants
He just didnt look ready last week & hes going to have to be nursed,Stuck with Haller but there is a slight improvement in his play
I duno where everyones
I duno where everyones getting this improvement from ,i cant see it ,sure, he ventures back as far as th half way line now and again but hardly Maradona reincarnated
'Slight' improvement
He couldnt have got any worse mate
Apparently, the injury is not
Apparently, the injury is not too serious and he maybe available the following weekend or during the Christmas Week matches.
My gut feeling is that Moyes will stick to the same team and bring back Haller into the starting lineup. His principal is why fix what is not broken. True that Fornals does put in a shift. But definitely Masuaku needs to start as well in order to counter all the dangers on the left side. All the "experts" on DAZN are forecasting ManU to win either by 0-2 or 1-3. Just one said that West Ham are good for a 1-1 draw.
Gits
Gits
Benrahma needs to start
Benrahma needs to start playing from the off,why hes held back i dont know,i know we have this centre forward issue,and haller is the only choice,but i just dont have any faith in him,all this improvement talk about him gets me.
Yep essex,benny and bowen
Yep essex,benny and bowen would get my vote mate.