Green Street Hammers
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West Ham’s late substitutions show Pellegrini knows whats up

ByAdam Smith|
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 20: Lucas Perez of West Ham United scores a goal which was disallowed during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Leicester City at London Stadium on April 20, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 20: Lucas Perez of West Ham United scores a goal which was disallowed during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Leicester City at London Stadium on April 20, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

I was screaming at the TV for substitutions in West Ham’s draw with Leicester City. I wanted an injection of creativity and pace to take the Hammers over the top and past the Foxes. I guess I should have just kept the faith in Pellegrini in the end.

“Bring on Wilshere now, we need the creativity!”

“Move Antonio to striker and get Diangana on!”

“Why are you waiting so long to make substitutions, Pellegrini?!”

“Really? Obiang for Snodgrass and Perez for Arnautovic? I guess we’re playing for a draw…”

This was followed by…

I was extremely critical of Pellegrini’s decision to make late and unwanted substitutions in a game we were clearly slipping in. The Hammers took their foot off the gas and Leicester began dictating the pace of the game.

The substitution of Harvey Barnes, who would go on to score his first Premier League goal in this match to tie the game, had been playing with great pace and skill in Albrighton’s absence. It was an inspired move by Rodgers and one we needed to match.

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Robert Snodgrass, who was victim of countless fouls against him, was removed (attacker) for Obiang who is a defensive player. Perez was brought on instead of a creative winger/attacker for Arnautovic to poach goals off of… I’m not quite sure who. But it worked.

There is no explanation for these moved, but they worked, so credit where credit is due. Pellegrini may go outside the box sometimes but his pedigree should quell too much of a fan uprising as was shown against Leicester.

Oh, and stop moaning about Wilshere coming on for 10 minutes. He wasn’t to blame for the goal (Ogbonna was) and he wasn’t playing a defensive midfield role.

It appears Pellegrini is actually doing something really smart – maximizing returns on players who will certainly be off this summer. Look for a lot more Arnautovic, Perez, Ogbonna, and Obiang as Pellegrini must sell these players on in order to bolster his war chest.

A lot of fans would prefer to see youth get a chance in the first team, and the time for that will come. However, right now Pellegrini is trying to show off the skillset of his soon-to-be moved out players, recouping as much money as possible. Mission success with Obiang and Perez so far.