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Haller and Anderson Battling Knocks, West Ham Squad Depth to be Tested

By Jeff Catlin

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 27: Manuel Pellegrini, Manager of West Ham United embraces Felipe Anderson of West Ham United at the end of the match as a camera films them during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and West Ham United at St Mary's Stadium on December 27, 2018 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 27: Manuel Pellegrini, Manager of West Ham United embraces Felipe Anderson of West Ham United at the end of the match as a camera films them during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and West Ham United at St Mary's Stadium on December 27, 2018 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /
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With the news coming from Manuel Pellegrini that both Sebastien Haller and Felipe Anderson are battling knocks and are serious doubts for the Brighton match, the new-found squad depth that West Ham has is apparently going to come into play very early on this season.

For Haller, Pellegrini can choose to start Antonio upfront to keep his pace and power in the lineup or go with Chicharito as the lone striker. A role he has not really thrived in during his time at West Ham United.

As for covering Anderson, there are even more options. To start scratching out our starting XI, let’s say Chicharito is the lone Forward, then Antonio can slot in for Anderson.  Lanzini and Fornals fill out the attacking midfield roles.

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If it’s Antonio to lead the line, then options behind him are even more plentiful for Pellegrini. He could simply start Pablo Fornals. Or he could choose to use Andriy Yarmolenko or Robert Snodgrass. Snodgrass and Fornals were both used as subs vs City, while Yarmolenko did not even make the bench for the opener.

Maybe the Gaffer was already contemplating line up changes prior to knowing the extent of these knocks he now has to deal with.  I personally doubt this, but maybe Lanzini wasn’t going to get the start this week regardless of the injury concerns? That would make room for some twosome of Fornals, Snodgrass, Yarmolenko or even Antonio playing behind Hernandez.

And a final option: perhaps the side dodges a bullet here and one or both of Haller or Anderson is fit enough to start or make the bench.

One thing most supporters and pundits agreed on coming out of summer and the closing of the transfer window was that West Ham had some sort of cover at every position. Some better than others of course.  In the Premier League, teams have to deal with injuries both big and small. And if you’re West Ham, it seems they get more than their fair share of both!

Next. Brighton has double the striker issues for West Ham. dark

But no injury excuses for the Hammers in this one, they need a result, preferably the full three points vs the Seagulls after last week’s dismantling at the hands of Man City.  They have plenty of options to choose from to put in place of Haller or Anderson for this week.