David Moyes at West Ham United is a perfect example of a circumstance where a manager tries to wash over his previous success and consequent failure and rewrite his credentials.
Managerial merry go round is a process that has become so clichéd that most of the managers, who have to go through a rough patch, have a story developing around them. However, on some occasions these stories turn out to be true as was the case with Slaven Bilic.
West Ham United fans have seen their team get off to a shaky start this season to say the least. The fans know that despite a change in manager, it is unlikely that things will change fast. Bilic getting the axe does not automatically solve the problems and in all fairness to Moyes, he needs more time.
West Ham United, after being winless in nine matches turned things around in grand style. A shocking 1-0 win over defending champions Chelsea followed by a gritty draw against another heavyweight side Arsenal and then a 3-0 hammering of Stoke City has made the Hammers hopeful again in the festive period. A blimp of a result came in the 1-0 loss to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals but Moyes looks like he is finally getting his message through in the dressing room. The weekend’s 2-3 loss was disheartening but West Ham fans can pass it off as a festive failure and nothing more.
The match was a fighting display of both sides’ resilience and fatigue had a huge role to play in deciding the winner. Moreover, had Ayew not missed the penalty, the scoreline could have been very different.
The gloomy atmosphere around the new London stadium has lifted. The Scot has found a new formula to bring his side back to a fighting place in the league.
Here is how they might line up for their important match against Bournemouth under him.
Formation: 4-3-3
Defence
Joe Hart is likely to start in goal. Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna are likely to be the two centre-backs with Pablo Zabaleta at right-back and Aaron Creswell at left back.
Midfield
The three-man midfield is likely to consist of Mark Noble in the middle with Cheikhou Kouyate to his right and Pedro Obiang to his left.
Attack
Summer signing Marko Arnautovic is likely to start on the right with Manuel Lanzini on the left and Javier Hernandez playing as the centre-forward.
