Rice has looked every inch the DM in the last two games, but we need cover. I don't think Obiang or Noble have the defensive ability or mindset to play that role effectively, and Kouyate is likely to leave, so if Rice gets injured or had to play CB then we're light in that key area again.
Toure could yet fill that role, I reckon, though I can't decide if he'd be a good signing or not.
Definitely need a decent DM otherwise Pellegrini will end up like Bilic and Moyes when they started with a back 4 then quickly realised a back 3 and wingbacks was our best formation due to a lack of a quality DM.
I think if Pellegrini wants to play a back 4 he definitely has to push for that final signing to be a DM.
Frees up the No8 shirt for Anderson ;wahoo (he's worn No28 in pre-season, much like Arnie did with No27 last summer before moving to No7 when Feghouli left)
Struggle to see Sead in the 18, but he'd be first attacking mid reserve for Snodgrass or Antonio (who both may be off) imo
Also a wee bit surprised to see Fernandes omitted, deffo feels like cullen has jumped ahead of him. Still think he has a part to play, especially in a midfield 3 where his energy would be good
When one considers that a worse version of mignolet and karius cost £12.5m I’m struggling to see many other options outside of signing someone like Fabianski given that we were down to one keeper
Or would people have preferred us to sign Hart for another season?
I agree last season Kouyate was overall quite poor. However, he is a player who has proven he can score goals and play in a number of positions ie CB, RB, CM. He also hasn't thrown his toys out the pram when asked to fill in at the back.
The something not quite right last season could be true about a number of players as well as a number of other things at West Ham.
I've seen people saying a lot that Noble will improve because he was best in the 2015/16 season with attacking players like Payet around him. That was also Kouyaté's best season for us, IMO, but nobody has given the same argument for him. I trust in Pellegrini to get the best out of him if he stays.
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We were also linked with their DM Danilo last summer, so I wonder if that one's on the agenda too ;hmm
Toure could yet fill that role, I reckon, though I can't decide if he'd be a good signing or not.
Best get baking then! ;biggrin
I think if Pellegrini wants to play a back 4 he definitely has to push for that final signing to be a DM.
Kouyate always likely to be the one to go, IMO.
Frees up the No8 shirt for Anderson ;wahoo (he's worn No28 in pre-season, much like Arnie did with No27 last summer before moving to No7 when Feghouli left)
Has he even played during preseason?
Fredericks Balbeuna Ogbonna Masuaku
Noble Obiang Wilshere
Yarmo Arnie Anderson
Sub: Adrian, Zabaleta, Diop, Rice, Antonio, Snodgrass, Hernandez
Struggle to see Sead in the 18, but he'd be first attacking mid reserve for Snodgrass or Antonio (who both may be off) imo
Also a wee bit surprised to see Fernandes omitted, deffo feels like cullen has jumped ahead of him. Still think he has a part to play, especially in a midfield 3 where his energy would be good
Or would people have preferred us to sign Hart for another season?
;hmm
The something not quite right last season could be true about a number of players as well as a number of other things at West Ham.
£15m fee, rising to £20m with add-ons.