Still just think we look more solid with Byram at RB
Nice exchanges between feghouli and Tore while it's very early it's nice to see 2 attacking players who can ease the creative burden off of Payet and having them in the team can help payet get space as he won't be ganged up on so much
Happy for Carroll he looked a lot stronger and sharper and feared the worst when he got the injury
Love the look of Fletcher, he isnt flashy but he an honest professional at such a young age and honestly feel he can do a job as 4th choice this season Could turn out to be a real gem like Samuelson
Have felt like we've been a bit too over-reliant on Cresswell's fitness for a while. Always said we were one bad tackle away from being short at left back and here we are.
Not sure Ogbonna will give us the se attacking option as Cresswell does, but I suppose he can tuck in to make more of a three at the back and let Antonio play further forward ;hmm
Got 4 specialist CBs, Right backs in Antonio & Byram with Kouyate and Nordveit already shown they can cover a the back
4 CMs in Nordveit Noble Kouyate and Obiang
Attacking options in Payet, Lanzini, Feghouli and Tore
Just light up top and a back up LB
Would rather we use youth as our 5th 6th options because let's be honest Moses etc just wasted spots in the team. Would rather see the likes of Fletcher, Martinez Oxford, Cullen, Page, Browne, Rice etc used if we really struggle for injuries
The thing is, Cresswell is so good that if we sign a good 2nd choice left back, whenever Cresswell is fit he will largely play the majority of games which means the investment in the replacement could be counter-productive as one would assume he'll cost decent money ,be on a reasonable contract and cresswell has a pretty much flawless injury record; So IMO we can either adjust the system to compensate any period of absence (3 at the back) , promote from within (Page), or try to kill 2 birds with one stone and sign a player who can play LB but also in another area we need anyway-for example RB, such as Matteo Darmian from MUFC who can play on both sides and when cresswell is back Darmian would most likely be 1st choice RB.
I hope Cresswell isnt too bad and my initial reaction was that, although a stupid challenge (because its a friendly), it didnt look like cresswells knee gave way under him or any abnormal elements; more like a dead leg from the strong impact and possible sprain of the knee ligaments which would only be weeks out, but alas, I'm not a physio so we'll have to wait and see for official confirmation.
Decent performance and decent goals, watched from just before half time on premier sports (I think), fitness is all that matters for most of pre season but it was nice to turn in a bit of a performance before the first competitive game.
Shame about Cresswell trouble is he seemed to go in with his leg opened up and side on and they both got there at the same time the guy was a bit over the top but I think it looked worse than it was.
Claret & Noclue covering all the bases I see, usual stuff.
Hopefully it's just strained ligaments rather than torn or ruptured but it was certainly his knee he was feeling, Ogbonna to fill in or three at the back for me.
I have no sympathy for our left back or full back issues to only have cresswell and Byram as natural full backs is very poor Sort it out West Ham playing players out of position makes us weaker
Think Slav is trying to build some varying options and line ups with flat back fours and possibly three at the back, it isn't going to be dull that's for sure
So IMO we can either adjust the system to compensate any period of absence (3 at the back) , promote from within (Page), or try to kill 2 birds with one stone and sign a player who can play LB but also in another area we need anyway-for example RB, such as Matteo Darmian from MUFC who can play on both sides and when cresswell is back Darmian would most likely be 1st choice RB.
twc - The answer can be found in Danilo D'Ambrosio. ;ok
No we can't play half the season with someone who is more naturally accustomed to being a c/b (Ogbonna). A few games, fair enough, but not half a season. Not least because if Nordveldt needs to fill in at C/b then once again we have no proper d/m (which IMO was one of the main reasons for us shipping so many last season). So if we are not going to buy, it HAS to be Lewis page for me. He needs to play as often as possible, incl the Europa games to see how he gets on. If he doesn't seem up to it, the Dave's can always go scouring around on deadline day.
Probably be a day or two for the scan and results + meeting with the specialist for a prognosis. Hope it's not too bad but at least we find out while the window is open and before the season starts.
Comments
Nice exchanges between feghouli and Tore while it's very early it's nice to see 2 attacking players who can ease the creative burden off of Payet and having them in the team can help payet get space as he won't be ganged up on so much
Happy for Carroll he looked a lot stronger and sharper and feared the worst when he got the injury
Love the look of Fletcher, he isnt flashy but he an honest professional at such a young age and honestly feel he can do a job as 4th choice this season
Could turn out to be a real gem like Samuelson
Thinks he's our back up LB atm could be a good opportunity for him to impress as Ogbonna hasn't returned for pre season has he
Not sure Ogbonna will give us the se attacking option as Cresswell does, but I suppose he can tuck in to make more of a three at the back and let Antonio play further forward ;hmm
Got 4 specialist CBs, Right backs in Antonio & Byram with Kouyate and Nordveit already shown they can cover a the back
4 CMs in Nordveit Noble Kouyate and Obiang
Attacking options in Payet, Lanzini, Feghouli and Tore
Just light up top and a back up LB
Would rather we use youth as our 5th 6th options because let's be honest Moses etc just wasted spots in the team. Would rather see the likes of Fletcher, Martinez Oxford, Cullen, Page, Browne, Rice etc used if we really struggle for injuries
Are you winding me up?
Is that a Claret&NoClue quote?
I hope Cresswell isnt too bad and my initial reaction was that, although a stupid challenge (because its a friendly), it didnt look like cresswells knee gave way under him or any abnormal elements; more like a dead leg from the strong impact and possible sprain of the knee ligaments which would only be weeks out, but alas, I'm not a physio so we'll have to wait and see for official confirmation.
Shame about Cresswell trouble is he seemed to go in with his leg opened up and side on and they both got there at the same time the guy was a bit over the top but I think it looked worse than it was.
Claret & Noclue covering all the bases I see, usual stuff.
Hopefully it's just strained ligaments rather than torn or ruptured but it was certainly his knee he was feeling, Ogbonna to fill in or three at the back for me.
Sort it out West Ham playing players out of position makes us weaker
But still need two in each position to give yourself a chance
He may not be flashy but he seems a solid player and would love a chance to impress
He's 20 now so should be given a europa league run out, he impressed at Cambridge on loan so let the lad have a chance
We have 2 in each position.
We have Hendrie on loan at Blackburn as LB. We have Ogbonna who can play LB.
Slav clearly sees Antonio as a RB, so we have him and Brian. Pretty sure Norty boy can also play there.
twc - The answer can be found in Danilo D'Ambrosio. ;ok
I think you need two naturals
Even if cressy is out for 6 months bet Hendrie doesn't get recalled
That will say it all
;pray
Of course, if it is really half a season that will be different.
Does anyone know the rules about recalling Hendrie. Do we even have the option?
Promote from within and that