5 Possible Formations that West Ham Can Play Next Season

BURNLEY, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Slaven Bilic, Manager of West Ham United arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Burnley and West Ham United at Turf Moor on May 21, 2017 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images)
BURNLEY, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Slaven Bilic, Manager of West Ham United arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Burnley and West Ham United at Turf Moor on May 21, 2017 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images) /
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 16: Pablo Zabaleta of Manchester City shows appreciation to the fans after the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion at Etihad Stadium on May 16, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 16: Pablo Zabaleta of Manchester City shows appreciation to the fans after the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion at Etihad Stadium on May 16, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /

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Expect this in the big games, where Bilic is now cautious of conceding too many goals.

Three centre-backs and two wing backs offer a lot of cover and can be tricky to defend against. As the width isn’t coming from the wide players in attack, but from the wing-backs bombing forward, it can really unsettle usually competent defenders.

However if they don’t get forward then it can really hurt you offensively. One striker, two wingers/attacking midfielders and possibly a creative in the middle doesn’t unlock defences on its own, certainly not in the Premier League. As such it can really push you back if the opposition are on top.

But this has given Bilic some success and he certainly won’t abandon it. My only caution against using it regularly is that with the signing of Zabaleta you can not expect him to act as a wing back up and down the pitch. He doesn’t have the dynamism to do this as much.