West Ham: Big formation decisions up top vs. Newcastle

With three crucial and unlikely points earned against Chelsea midweek, West Ham have some tough decisions to make for their pending starting XI against Newcastle.

The big question comes up top. Sebastien Haller is fit and ready to play, but can David Moyes justify changing a winning team to fit him in? And, if he chooses to change the team who loses out, who is dropped, and who plays where?

The team Moyes picked against Chelsea was as follows: Fabianski, Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Bowen, Fornals, Lanzini, Antonio, deployed in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Antonio’s job was to race on every long ball lobbed over the top to which he did very well for the entirety of the match.

It appears that the optimism of Haller being fit to play against Newcastle is being called into question in the eleventh hour now. ExWHUemployee has shared the news that Haller is a game-time decision that could go either way, leaving this prediction hanging in the balance.

Opposed to the Chelsea match, the difference now is that Haller is in contention to play and Newcastle are not a possession-heavy team like Chelsea are. So, the old adage may be ‘never change a winning team’ but necessity may dictate a much-needed personnel change to fit the opponent.

Here is the predicted West Ham XI to face Newcastle:

Fabianski

Fredericks – Diop – Ogbonna – Cresswell

Bowen – Rice – Soucek – Fornals

Haller – Antonio

Bench: Randolph, Balbuena, Masuaku, Noble, Wilshere, Lanzini, Yarmolenko, Anderson, Ajeti

I was torn on the formation but felt the overwhelming urge to include Haller in the XI making it a de facto 4-4-2 with the fluidity and mobility to change into a 4-2-3-1 with Fornals rotating inside to the 10 position and Antonio shifting to the wing.

This would be the ideal lineup of players and formation, albeit a little concerning with Haller isolated up top. The need for striker support for Haller is noted and should be tackled by both Bowen and Antonio operating higher up the pitch to run the channels for his link-up play.

Whether the team sets up 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, Haller should be in the starting team if he is fit to play. If not, Moyes has the decision made for himself already and the same team will be ushered out that fought off Chelsea mid-week. Either way, I fancy some Hammers momentum and a strong performance!