The Spurs match was an unmitigated disaster. A combination of tactical mistakes, selection issues and poor team application/player form directly contributed to a comprehensive defeat. Much as I hate to admit it, Spurs were far better on the day and, crucially, we did not handle their high, aggressive, pressing game at all well. Indeed, one of the things that I found slightly alarming is that this is the second consecutive match where we have been out-muscled by the physical approach/tactics of our opponents. Although we all want to see the present transition to the expansive, passing game under Bilic, I had hoped that we would still retain the physicality that we developed under Allardyce and the ability to meet ‘fire with fire’ in such situations.
With Mark Noble now suspended for the WBA game, there is the opportunity to fundamentally re-jig the midfield. In particular, there is the prospect that we can inject some extra steel in to the side by selecting a new partnership of Alex Song and Pedro Obiang in the dual defensive-anchor role. That would then allow Bilic to push Kouyate forward to play in the central role in the three forward positions supporting Sakho up top (with Carroll on the bench). Arguably that would facilitate Kouyate using his power, physical presence and eye for goal to the best possible effect. It would also have the added bonus of allowing Lanzini to continue working his magic on the right flank, with either Moses or Antonio on the left. With Payet missing we need a major adjustment in our approach, to find a new winning combination, and I would contend that the best solution is pushing Kouyate in to this more advanced attacking role.
In defence, one could argue that it is time to reconstitute the Ogbonna-Reid central defensive partnership. Whether Tomkins steps down to the bench or replaces the ‘out of sorts’ Jenkinson, at right-back, is a moot point. On balance, I would probably stick with Jenkinson. Mostly because of the assurance provided by Obiang and Song and the potentially decisive role the full-backs could play on the overlap, providing extra width and stretching WBA’s defence. The key question is: are Song and Obiang fit enough to start? Is it an excessive risk playing two players only recently back from injury lay-offs? I am not currently sure about Obiang’s fitness, but hopefully he is ready. And I really like the idea of playing this particular combination together in front of our defence.
The one thing I do not want to see is Tony Pulis’ WBA coming to Upton Park and winning the physical contests. Otherwise, a little bit of a negative pattern could establish itself, which other sides learning from and adopting it as part of their tactics at Upton Park. In retrospect, we are extremely lucky that Winston Reid did not receive a serious injury in the Spurs match. Walker’s ‘over the top’ tackle on Reid could easily have broke his leg. Luckily Reid emerged uninjured, but it could have been a very different outcome. In my view, Walker should not even have been on the pitch to score that fourth goal.
In conclusion, we need a positive response from the squad. We were bound to hit a difficult patch at some point and with one point from the last three matches, this is probably it. We need Bilic to make some decisive changes in selection and find a new winning combination. My view is that Song, Obiang and Kouyate could be key to finding it. We are still 6th in the table, but this poor run of three games have allowed some of the teams behind us to make up ground. There is no need to ‘wake up to reality’ or ‘down grade our ambitions’ as some would have us believe. What we need to do is rejig effectively to compensate for Payet’s absence and get firmly back on track. I am not sure Lanzini in a central attacking role is necessarily the answer, but perhaps Kouyate is?
SJ. Chandos.