Playing Noble at centre back is a suicide move. Worse than playing Antonio at right back. Imagine if a big centre forward picked on Noble. Or even a pacey striker would run rings round him. If we were to play our CM's at CB I'd choose any of the others over Noble (Obiang / Kouyate particularly).
Noble doesnt have the legs or discipline to play in a 2 and we dont have enough pace within the team to be effective enough on the counter to compensate by dropping deeper but nonetheless he is an important player and if we can accommodate him then we should do because he is a fine footballer. The best way IMO would be to play him in a 3 alongside Lanzini and Kouyate with wingbacks either side, 3 at the back and a genuine 2 up front through the middle.
Sort of agree, TWC, but I think the Brighton game was just the kind of game in which we could have played Nobes at the base of a diamond or as a deeplying playmaker in some other formation. Indeed, I would have brought him on at half time (or sooner) in this role, and told Lanzini to play much closer to Chicharito.
I think against better teams, he may be able to play this same role alongside a strong ballwinner, and agree that if Kouyate (or Obiang) were on form and told to play the ballwinner role, a 3-5-2 with Kouyate/Obiang, Nobes and Lanzini in front of them as the middle three would be what I'd like to see us try.
Getting slightly off topic, perhaps! But to get back to Bilic - he clearly needs to give Arnie the chance to justify his transfer, since he seems dear to Bilic's heart, which means the formations discussed above are unlikely. The more reasonable problem is how to shoe-horn in Antonio - maybe Bilic feels he can't even play him at RWB after the fallout over playing him at RB, even if these are two different positions. (Zaba's also hard to drop - unless he gives away another needless pen soon...)
Back to a back 3 where we've looked a lot more solid, Obiang sits in front, with Noble and Kouyate making up a midfield 3 that again should cope much better than a 2. Masuaku over Cresswell for me on what I've seen so far this season, and we should look to get Antonio's head back in the game; he's more than capable of a wing back role even if he'd prefer fewer defensive responsibilities. Wing back is very different to full back, and should suit him very well. Although I can see an argument for Lanzini a bit deeper, if we've got Noble there collecting the ball from the defence then I'd like to see Lanzini further forward linking with Hernandez.
I may get a lot of stick but I don’t see noble as a particularly great “leader”. Where’s the evidence? Certainly not through the struggles of last season. And as for Slavs 1st season, surely many of the better things that happened all revolved around Payet?
I would rate both Nolan and Lucas Neill as better West Ham captains, even though both, like Nobes, had their limitations in terms of footballing ability.
After Brighton debacle I wanted sb out But playing spuds team who are doing well, 3rd in league , even at deluded self’s we would not be in top 4 I don’t think it’s fair to include this game as one slav must win games
Comments
Our current problem is, apparently, a lack of leadership. Play the captain. We have enough quality (or should do) to carry him ability wise.
I think against better teams, he may be able to play this same role alongside a strong ballwinner, and agree that if Kouyate (or Obiang) were on form and told to play the ballwinner role, a 3-5-2 with Kouyate/Obiang, Nobes and Lanzini in front of them as the middle three would be what I'd like to see us try.
Getting slightly off topic, perhaps! But to get back to Bilic - he clearly needs to give Arnie the chance to justify his transfer, since he seems dear to Bilic's heart, which means the formations discussed above are unlikely. The more reasonable problem is how to shoe-horn in Antonio - maybe Bilic feels he can't even play him at RWB after the fallout over playing him at RB, even if these are two different positions. (Zaba's also hard to drop - unless he gives away another needless pen soon...)
Something like:
Hart
Fonte Reid Collins
Obiang
Antonio Noble Kouyate Masuaku
Lanzini
Hernandez
Back to a back 3 where we've looked a lot more solid, Obiang sits in front, with Noble and Kouyate making up a midfield 3 that again should cope much better than a 2. Masuaku over Cresswell for me on what I've seen so far this season, and we should look to get Antonio's head back in the game; he's more than capable of a wing back role even if he'd prefer fewer defensive responsibilities. Wing back is very different to full back, and should suit him very well. Although I can see an argument for Lanzini a bit deeper, if we've got Noble there collecting the ball from the defence then I'd like to see Lanzini further forward linking with Hernandez.
Thoughts?
I would rate both Nolan and Lucas Neill as better West Ham captains, even though both, like Nobes, had their limitations in terms of footballing ability.
But playing spuds team who are doing well, 3rd in league , even at deluded self’s
we would not be in top 4
I don’t think it’s fair to include this game as one slav must win games
can he do the job?
This should be a better team?
Right we will let spuds score 2 goals, to give them a chance, then we will go mad
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/26/bilic-abuse-fans-questioning-desire-football-manager-liam-rosenior