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Excitement and hope ahead of Pellegrini’s first home game for West Ham

By Scott Johnson

IPSWICH, ENGLAND - JULY 28: West Ham United Manager Manuel Pellegrini during the pre-season friendly match between Ipswich Town and West Ham United at Portman Road on July 28, 2018 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
IPSWICH, ENGLAND - JULY 28: West Ham United Manager Manuel Pellegrini during the pre-season friendly match between Ipswich Town and West Ham United at Portman Road on July 28, 2018 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images) /
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After a big loss on opening weekend, Pellegrini has his first home game at West Ham. Could this be the start of the Pellegrini project?

Ever since Pellegrini was announced as our new manager I’ve been excited. A Premier League winning manager taking over the side? How could that not be good for West Ham? Then a big transfer window followed and the excitement only grew. And despite a big opening day defeat there is still excitement in the air for the home match.

Most fans, there are obviously some over reactors, accept Liverpool was always going to be tough. New manager, new system and new players were always going to make a match against the Champions League runners up very hard indeed. This match at home against Bournemouth will give Pellegrini and his new players more of a chance to show what’s happening at the club.

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Attack Minded

Whilst Pellegrini is an attacking manager, the match against Liverpool would have been looking to try building from the back and work defensively. However the game against Bournemouth we will be looking to take the fight to them, looking to attack when we can and dominate possession. This is where the system Pellegrini wants will come into play.

A high defensive line, aggressive inside forwards and midfielders looking to control the game are all things that we have been missing in recent seasons, but things that Pellegrini will be trying to implement at the London Stadium. Felipe Anderson and Yarmolenko on the wings could represent a real change. Rather than the wingers looking to get wide and ping balls into the box they will attack the 18 yard box and really pressure the defence.

The high defensive line that was exposed at Liverpool will also help the Hammers here. With the defence supporting the midfield and crushing the space for attackers between the two defensive lines we should really be able to stop the Cherries creating. If Fredericks and Cresswell/Masuaku can balance themselves between attack and defence we could see a great display of what Pellegrini can bring.

Next. West Ham v Bournemouth Predictions. dark

After the shift of tactics of Bilic, and the defensive nature of Moyes, this could be the first time at the London stadium, since the first season, that Hammers fans have really had an exciting team to push ahead. If the Hammers can chase a big win at the London Stadium, we could see a wave of optimistic support behind the Hammers for the rest of the season.