Guest Post by IronFish
Don’t you just hate International weekends? How will we all get through the next 2 weeks? And to cap it all, we have 2 consecutive away fixtures, so between the Norwich game and the Chelski game on the 24th October, that’s a total of 4 weeks without seeing the Claret & Blue army parading the Boleyn Ground.
First of all, just want to say what a fantastic start to the season, well done Slav and well done SUGO for a. bringing Slaven Bilic to manage our team and b. for bolstering the team with some great new signings. It has never been a better time to be a Hammer, and I cannot wait to go to every home game. From January 2015 through to May 2015, I was starting to hate going to Upton Park every other week. It was dull, it was boring, it was predictable, and it was downright depressing. So, hats off to Slav and SUGO, for bringing back the excitement and the much maligned “West Ham Way” again.
But, is anyone else thinking: “What if?”……..“What if we had – drawn at home to Bournemouth, drawn at home to Leicester, beaten Norwich at home and beaten Sunderland away?” That would have given us 6 extra points……and we would be sitting on top of the Barclay’s Premier League with a massive 20 points after 8 games, and looking down on the rest. Let’s face it if we had beaten Leicester and Bournemouth, as well, we’d have 100% record and sitting on 24 points……well we can dream can’t we?
This brings me to my main question…….should we have 2 different formations? one for Home and one for Away games……and should we have 2 different starting elevens? Here’s my thinking…….so far, the 4231 format that Slaven has brought to us, seems to work really well for Away games. We look in control, look solid, and get players forward well on the break, which has worked so well so far……..3 massive away wins (Arsenil, Liverpoo & Citeh), and the 2-2 draw with Sunderland.
BUT, the main issue, seems to be when we play at Home……we don’t get forward quickly enough, we tend to look nervous and sit back, allowing counter-attacking away teams to come at us. So my suggestion, would be Away, we stick with the trusted 4231, below:
AWAY STATS: PLD 4 WON 3 DRAWN 1 LOST 0 SCORED 9 CONCEDED 3 DIFF +6 = 10pts
………………………….SAKHO…………………….
LANZINI……………..PAYET………….MOSES
………………NOBLE……….KOUYATE………….
CRESS……..OGBONNA……REID……TOMKS
…………………………..ADRIAN……………………..
But for Home games, let’s try 442 or even 352……..as below:
HOME STATS: PLD 4 WON 1 DRAWN 1 LOST 2 SCORED 8 CONCEDED 8 DIFF 0 = 4pts
………………….SAKHO……………CARROLL……………….
ANTONIO…………KAYOUTE…..OBIANG……..MOSES
CRESS………….OGBONNA……….REID…………TOMKS
…………………………….ADRIAN……………………………
OR something completely different (352):
………………………SAKHO……………CARROLL……………….
CRESS…………KAYOUTE…..PAYET……OBIANG……..MOSES
…………OGBONNA……….REID…………TOMKS…………………
………………………………….ADRIAN………………………………
And then, what do we do with: Song, Valencia, Zarate, Jelavic, Antonio, Oxford, Collins, Hendrie, Jenkinson etc??…….so many choices……..it really is the best Hammers squad we have had for years.
So, what are your thoughts? Do we need different teams & formations? What would be your BEST starting eleven, when all players are back? Could it work? As I said earlier, it’s never been a better time to be a Hammer…….and long may that continue……..BUT, what if………..????? IT’S GREAT TO BE A HAMMER AGAIN………COYI !!!!!!!!