The Hammers have failed to find any consistency this season but the injuries that the squad has had to go through this season makes it a tough one for Slaven Bilic. The Croatian manager does not have too much to play for in the rest of the season and is already planning for life next season.
He is looking to bring some of the best players to the club at the end of the campaign and one name that is constantly doing the rounds is Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge. The English international is one of the best strikers in the country but has had his problems with injuries, missing more games than he has played for Liverpool in the last couple of seasons.
Bilic is determined that he is a decent addition to the squad next season. So how will Bilic line his team up with the English star in his armoury in the upcoming campaign?
The manager is expected to stick with a 3-4-3 system next season when he will not have as many injury issues at the back. Winston Reid and Jose Fonte could yet retain their place in the first team while Angelo Ogbonna might complete the backline.
Aaron Cresswell, Sam Byram, Michail Antonio and Arthur Masuaku should compete for the places on the wing next season and might also get more competitions from the transfer market. Mark Noble might be replaced while Pedro Obiang, Chiekhou Kouyate and Havard Nordtveit could hold their place in the midfield.
Here is where it will get tricky for West Ham. In this system, Bilic can use three attackers and Manuel Lanzini, who has been superb this season, is surely one of them. Andy Carrol, Andre Ayew, Diafra Sakho, Robert Snodgrass, Sofiane Feghouli and Michail Antonio are all fighting for these three places and Sturridge will only add to this lineup.
In a 3-4-3, Bilic might stick with Lanzini and Antonio as the two attackers in behind Daniel Sturridge. This will add balance and creativity to the attack for West Ham. If the manager chooses to go with a 4-2-3-1 system, Michail Antonio and Andre Ayew should play as wingers while Lanzini could play as the creator in chief, in behind the main striker Daniel Sturridge.
If he wants a more attacking unit, Bilic can use Sturridge to feed off of Andy Carroll in attack while Lanzini and Antonio hold the wings. Sturridge is a genuine goal scorer and having him in his team will surely improve the productivity in the squad.
But he needs to remain injury free if he wants to have a successful season in the Premier League.
Here are the two options for Bilic with Sturridge in their lineup:
3-4-3:
4-2-3-1:
