West Ham UNITED away to Boro - Sat 21st Jan - 3pm Kick off
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Comments
Logically there's no reason why dropping Noble to play Kouyate with Obiang isn't a good idea and I'm a huge fan of logic but until we win one without him I'm advocating he starts whenever he's available.
It get my stats of the interwebby thing, a bit of digging and its amazing the rubbish you can find.
I kick off by saying I love Kouyate, his tenacity, energy, tackling/hassling, drive, etcetc are fantastic and I want him at my club - top player.
However, for me, on the presumption we play a 2 man centre mid (either for a 4;2;3;1 or 3;4;2;1 or 4;4;2) then the best available are Obiang and Noble. For me although Kouyate offers so much his greatest let down is what I want my CM's to be top at: passing. Yes both Ob and Nobes make erroneous passes a few times per game but K usually makes just as many and on top just doesn't spread the play anywhere near as well, or have the ability to play a 'technical' quick short passing game that many of us like to see.
As I didn't see the Fonte transfer coming, in my head I was seeing him as Reids partner on return from Africa (had felt Ogbonna was poor) and deputising as third choice CM when Ob or Nobes were unavailable. Now however I believe Fonte should rightfully take the other CB slot, so that leaves Cheik on the bench for me, coming on when we need his drive or when the other two are out/ not in form.
(Please don't hate me ;lol , ;puzzled )
I do think Kouyate and Obiang are the way forward but for yesterday, at least, hats off to Nobes.
Yes we've yet to win one without him (we've only played 2) but it's worth noting that in his 20 games this year in the EPL we've lost 8, some of them by quite a lot of goals where
It's a good problem to have and maybe depends on the opposition, but I'd take Kouyate running from midfield and defensive contribution over Nobles passing, especially as we have Obiang, Lanzini and Feghouli in the midfield who can all pass
Perhaps Noble for when we are favourites and Kouyate for when we aren't
It's going to be a big call from Bilic regardless if he wants to persist with 4 at the back....which why shouldn't we we've won the last 2 games 6-1 overall.... then one of Noble (Mr West Ham), Obiang (Current hammer of the year?), Lanzini (the guy who makes us tick), Feghouli (our onpy winger) or Kouyate (one of our best players since he's joined) will miss out
But I do wonder if he'll return to Germany in the summer. Next season I think he'll be fifth choice CM behind Noble, Obiang, Kouyate and Fernandes, and maybe even sixth if Cullen isn't loaned again, and assuming we get a right back he won't be needed as back-up there.
He came with a good reputation and I think there's a good player in there, but he won't get a kick all the time the rest of the team are fit.
Also for the second goal if AC hadn't got it Feghouli was racing in at the far post, think we're going to see a few more goals from him.
On the other hand, I'm not so sure about Lanzini on the left of midfield in a 4-4-2. He does track back, but we don't get the best out of him, I don't think. He needs to be freer and more central. Of course it can work and has worked against certain opposition. But I think it could also be good, with the current squad that lacks a top-class left-footed wide man, to mix up Antonio and Lanzini from time to time: one on the "wing" and the other supporting Carroll in their own way, with Lanzini of course playing behind Carroll like a classic no. 10.
Who should drop out of CM when we do play a 4-4-2? I'd never drop Cheik unless he was really out of form. He isn't captain of Senegal for nothing. Obiang also, in spite of an overall good game, turned into danger yesterday and nearly conceded a goal, and has done this in other games, though less than Nobes this season. Nobes has hit far too many poor passes, but has the match-winning pass in his locker much more than Pedro. It's just got to be on form and opposition. As I say, I'd avoid the issue by dropping Feghouli and playing a diamond most the time. Anyone else favour this option?
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38705111
http://kumb.com/story.php?id=130705
Read more at http://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2017/january/22-january/sam-stakes-his-claim#6LJgLJM2y3wcDGqH.99
;lol
I bet it would have been headline news if it was at the London Stadium
Nobes hobbling about