West Ham should be heavily changed; Predicted XI for Spurs

West Ham’s formation and team quite simply did not work against Wolves. With bragging rights and derby pride on the line, expect big changes from the Hammers now.

The biggest miss for West Ham was Felipe Anderson, who failed to make any impact across the four positions he played against Wolves. He started as a left-mid, drifted centrally, and even showed up on the right side of the pitch before starting the second half as a striker.

With his removal all but confirmed, the next player switch has to come at centre-back, injuries willing. If Angelo Ogbonna is back, he’s playing against Spurs, but should Declan Rice move back to the midfield or bench Issa Diop who struggled against Wolves?

If not Rice alongside Tomas Soucek in the midfield is it Mark Noble‘s position to lose, or does someone like Jack Wilshere get a chance to start a match for the Hammers? Noble wasn’t terrible against Wolves, but he always ups his play when Spurs are the opponent.

And lastly, who is going to play striker for West Ham? Michail Antonio should never start two matches in a row just three days apart, but with Sebastien Haller still out, does David Moyes have any other reliable options up top?

Well, here it is, the predicted XI to face Spurs:

Fabianski

Ngakia – Rice – Ogbonna – Cresswell

Lanzini – Soucek – Noble – Fornals

Bowen – Antonio

Bench: Randolph, Fredericks, Diop, Balbuena, Masuaku, Wilshere, Anderson, Ajeti, Yarmolenko

Is this the best team that West Ham can assemble? Absolutely not, but it is what I believe David Moyes will deploy vs. Spurs. I still don’t believe Antonio should be starting this match, and if Haller was fit I doubt he would, but with no other reliable options, Bowen and him should be the two strikers.

Outside of that, I think Ogbonna should be okay (wishful thinking) and if not it’ll be Diop beside Rice at the back. Regardless, Rice should be at centre-back even if Ogbonna is fit because Diop looked not up for it against Wolves.

Midfield options are light, but carrying Diop and Balbuena on the bench would allow Rice to rotate up if need be. Wilshere should also see game time as a substitute. He has stated he is more of a deep-lying midfielder now, and with four attackers set ahead of him that could work to West Ham’s advantage.

Overall, I think the formation will stay the same but I am desperate for the result to change. It is nearly impossible for anyone to predict how this team will line up, but if the players actually want to show up, Spurs have a tough match ahead of them.