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West Ham: Three quickfire changes before the Liverpool match

By Jeremiah Carson

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 29: Mark Noble of West Ham United confronts match referee Jonathan Moss during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool FC at London Stadium on January 29, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 29: Mark Noble of West Ham United confronts match referee Jonathan Moss during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool FC at London Stadium on January 29, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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Before West Ham takes on Liverpool on Monday night, there are a few quick and easy changes that the Hammers could make to help turn things around.

Now, am I saying that West Ham can actually beat Liverpool? Probably not but they can make a few changes towards fixing the team and turning the season around so that relegation becomes a far-off destiny and not modern reality.

If one thing is for certain, David Moyes has not been afraid to change things up for the Hammers but in doing so, sometimes has messed up the side. In the last match against Liverpool, West Ham lined up in a 5-4-1 and besides the young Ngakia and Declan Rice, the rest of the team struggled.

Breaking away from a formation can be self-destruction if the team isn’t ready for it but when looking at the recent matches and forms, what bad can it really do? So we put on our armchair manager cap and have selected a few fast and simple changes that the Hammers should do.

West Ham United’s Scottish manager David Moyes gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on February 19, 2020. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)
West Ham United’s Scottish manager David Moyes gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on February 19, 2020. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images) /

Change Number 1

West Ham needs to get back to a 4 in the back-formation. It’s been something that was a staple for the club at the beginning of the season and at times, the defense did look better. Who should be there is another question for a later prediction but 4 at the back is needed.

It almost sounds weird to say that after everyone was excited about the changes that Moyes would bring in, but it hasn’t worked. Getting back to the basics in the back could help the boys out immensely. Because honestly, have things looked any better with more defenders romping around?

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Change Number 2

Easy peasy, bring back Pablo Fornals. The Spaniard was reeling and primed for a solid second half until Moyes decided to move him around and essentially not play him in his best role. Fornals has seemingly gone missing since the reappointment or Moyes and the Hammers need him now.

With the addition of Pablo to the out of form midfield with the likes of Rice and/or Tomas Soucek (depending on the formation) could be the needed fix to the Hammers woes. Fornals can be the piece that takes the ball from the defense and feeds it on to the attackers all while helping them as well.

Change Number 3

If getting back to the basics on defense wasn’t enough or bringing back the emerging Hammer to the midfield wasn’t feasible, then playing the newly acquired Jarrod Bowen or Michail Antonio upfront with Seb Haller needs to be happening.

Neither Bowen or Antonio are born strikers, but both can play the position well and could be the needed piece to help Sebastien Haller out of his 5-month slump. The jury is still out on whether or not Haller is a bust but not giving him the needed help is just idiotic and if he doesn’t have the heart, then but Bowen and Michail up there together.

Next. West Ham need to simplify their tactics. dark

Am I saying that these changes will help the Hammers knock off Liverpool and give them their first loss of the EPL season? No… well, maybe but the best-case scenario, the team get used to these needed changes and grows from here. Not a need to win the match but it’s a need to grow time for sure.