David Moyes has had just a few days to assess his squad ahead of the home match against Bournemouth. Expect some large scale changes as Moyes looks to learn his best XI.
Should West Ham fans expect wholesale changes to the starting XI? A full Brexit team selection? A new formation? Some youth players brought into the first team? Who knows! What we do know is that Moyes likes to bail out his attack by stacking defenders behind the ball. This should help in predicting the team he fields against Bournemouth.
Firstly, a new formation should be incoming. Looking to his time with West Ham prior, there should be three center-backs flanked by committed wingbacks out wide. This limits the attacking players, but Moyes would do well to keep his strikers, who seem to be finding chemistry together, paired up top.
Predicted XI and bench:
Fabianski
Diop – Balbuena – Ogbonna
Fredericks – Noble – Rice – Masuaku
Anderson
Antonio – Haller
Bench: Martin, Reid, Cresswell, Snodgrass, Lanzini, Fornals, Ajeti
First things first, three center-backs are being used and Winston Reid (and Aaron Cresswell) supports them on the bench. This is true to Moyes’ style of play and should, in theory, stabilize the defense who has struggled this season on set pieces and counter-attacks.
There is also a notable lack of youth in this team, but this should be expected. Nathan Holland and Conor Coventry are the two most talked-about prospects but both may be shipped out on loan this month to develop into future first-team stars. Moyes should look into this option for his future at the club.
This team is strong and the emphasis on wide play with fullbacks could be a revelation for the striker dup or Michail Antonio and Sebastien Haller. As well, Felipe Anderson in a roaming attacking role should better suit him and allow him to be deployed as needed around the pitch.
With Bournemouth struggling for form right now, Moyes can produce a positive start to his second run at West Ham by attacking the Cherries and pushing them back from the opening whistle. This team has lacked structure, and while that still needs time to build, there is no reason a ‘new manager’ bump can’t be on its way!