Green Street Hammers
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Bilic blinkered by Carroll presence – West Ham now have system issue

By Scott Johnson

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Andy Carroll of West Ham United and Slaven Bilic, Manager of West Ham United embrace during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on September 23, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Andy Carroll of West Ham United and Slaven Bilic, Manager of West Ham United embrace during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on September 23, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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Andy Carroll is a top target man, and an important squad member. But his presence is blinding West Ham manager Slaven Bilic to alternatives.

Every manager has favourites. And every manager has a certain style of football they want to play. Most of the time they align themselves and also with the fans expectations, but Bilic doesn’t seem to know what he wants to do with the setup of his side when it comes to Andy Carroll.

Whilst Carroll is a top target man, and I don’t really blame him for this issue, Bilic is confused about how he should be used. Whenever he has played this season, it’s been long balls up to him as a matter of course. With the squad available to him, this just won’t work in the long term.

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The issue with Bilic and Carroll is that as soon as Carroll comes in the system changes. I don’t think this the best way to proceed, because for all of Bilic’s flaws he has tried to push a good football side when possible, sometimes to the detriment of the defence. Carroll has scored goals in this set up, but Bilic seems to forget that.

Andy Carroll is most effective in the box. He drags players away and when he wins headers he’s devastating. In recent games with Carroll he’s spent a lot of time no closer than the edge of the box, often coming deeper to receive the high balls. The flick ons there just aren’t effective. He can be used as a solo striker, not every ball has to be in to his head.

This one dimensional approach makes West Ham easy to play against and it’s killing our chances. I fear that having Carroll in the side means Bilic doesn’t look at another way to play. Chicharito is a better striker, and player, than Carroll. He should be the main striker that the Hammers look to build around.

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However with Antonio injured I fear it will be a long ball game against Swansea again. As I said before, I don’t blame Carroll, all he is doing is playing the game he’s asked. It’s up to Bilic to see past one players need’s and get the best for the team. Otherwise this could be a short season for the Croat, and a long one for Hammers fans.