Could West Ham switch to wingbacks to counter City threat?

West Ham’s next game is unlikely to be a happy one. However upsets have happened before, so can they push City all the way? And will wing-backs be a way forward for Pellegrini’s side?

If there’s been one constant so far this Premier League season, it’s been that Manchester City score goals and don’t let many in. As far as West Ham go there’s not too much constant at all. Infact, inconsistency has been the consistent part of the Hammers season. To beat City, everything will need to go right.

One of the biggest strengths of City’s attack is their midfield movement combining with incisive wingers. Whilst Rice will do his best to contain their central players, I don’t think we have the ability down the flanks. Maybe sacrificing an attacking player could help us shut down their wide play?

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For arguments sake, lets ignore which attacking player will be sacrificed. That’s fairly irrelevant when discussing shutting their attacking prowess down. But in place of that player comes Ryan Fredericks. Zaba takes the right hand spot of the central 3, with Balbuena and Diop making up the other two. I would suggest Diop on the outside, given his speed and recovery ability. Hopefully they can deal with Aguero and whoever supports him in the middle.

For Cresswell/Masuaku and Fredericks, whoever is on the wings is their job whenever City get the ball. Likely that means Sterling for Fredericks, and one of Bernardo Silva or Mahrez for our left back. No space, no free runs at our defence and no time to think. Sounds good right?

Obviously there is an issue about when we attack, because do we abandon them to roam free in order to add width into the depleted attack? Well I would make sure we have a buddy system. When switching between defence and attack Zabaleta takes over Sterling and Diop close to the right winger, this allows our wing backs to get forward. It might be defensive, but right now City are probably odds on to win by 3 or more goals. This could frustrate them for a while at least.

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However I have a feeling Pellegrini is not a fan of changing systems throughout the season. Whilst he may instruct his midfielders to hold back more, and maybe bring Noble back in for Snodgrass, I can’t see wingbacks, despite the fact it could help us get something from an almost impossible game. Will the Hammers upset the odds? I have my doubts.