OK, time to buckle down and avoid the temptation to panic. We’re all gutted that Andy Carroll is going to be out for a considerable period of time, but there’s no alternative but to think how we can get over this. Bear in mind too that Joe Cole and Stewart Downing are out for between three and six weeks. There’s no question we need to add at least one striker to our squad – now probably two. Carlton Cole needs to get himself fit as soon as he possibly can and we need to move heaven and earth to persuade Ciprian Marica to sign as soon as possible. Lee Clayton reports that Mladen Petric, who scored 5 in 23 for Fulham last season is also on our radar.
It seems to me that when the circumstances change, a manager has to adapt to them. I don’t know how we can continue to play Allardyce’s preferred formation. Surely now is the time to revert to 4-4-2. We don’t have the players now to play 4-3-3 or 4-5-1, but if he does stick to this formation he must surely drop Maiga in favour of Ricardo Vaz Te. Vaz Te has played as a centre forward for much of his career. The fact that Allardyce hasn’t played him there for the last season and a bit was ostensibly the reason for his untimely transfer request. That saga needs to be put behind them and Allardyce needs to put his arm around Vax Te’s neck and administer some inspirational TLC. And then he needs to play Elliot Lee alongside him. That would then mean a midfield four of Noble, Diame, Nolan and Morrison. We don’t need wingers for this formation. Alternatively Jarvis could play alongside Vaz Te as a second striker.
It’s a depressing evening, but let’s not all head to Beachy Head. We’ve been in worse scrapes than this.
UPDATE 22.39: The club website has just posted this statement…
West Ham United can confirm Andy Carroll suffered an injury to his right foot during his return to full training today. Although it is in the same part of his foot as his previous injury, it is a new injury and therefore there will be no prognosis until he has seen a specialist. whufc.com will provide a further update when the relevant information is available.