West Ham United are finally seeing the table turning in their favour after a hellish start to the season that saw them scrapping around the relegation zone. And a huge factor to this change has been their transfer policy. Slaven Bilic was on cloud nine after the Hammers finished high last season and had set some pretty unrealistic targets last summer. After failing to land some of their targets, they went for players who failed to hit the ground running.
However, the Croat has got his cards right this time and the winter transfers have had an immediate impact on the team’s performances. This is how the Hammers are likely to line-up with the new faces.
DEFENCE
Darren Randolph will start under the bar. He has earned the manager’s trust despite starting the season as the second-choice goalie and has established himself as their most reliable man between the sticks.
Bilic has experimented with his defence quite a lot this season but it seems now that the manager will finally stick with the success formula of four at the back. Aaron Creswell has been a utility player, quite effective both as a wing-back and in an advanced role. The other flank should ideally be taken by Sam Byram. The young full-back has all the ingredients to become a great defender if Bilic uses him right.
The centre-half duo should be new recruit Jose Fonte with Winston Reid. The centre-back position has been in crisis for quite some time and West Ham’s back line was almost non-functional. The buy of Fonte from Southampton has really sorted it out. The Portugal international is a seasoned defender in the league and has had some impressive years with Southampton.
MIDFIELD
With Dimitri Payet gone, hardly had anyone expected any improvement for West Ham in the second half of the season, but Bilic seems to have surprisingly found a solid replacement in his team after the French star’s departure.
Payet’s body language certainly didn’t help and getting rid of the bad apple was imperative for the overall morale of the team. Replacing Payet was a mammoth task and bringing in Robert Snodgrass could be effective considering how he complements the team.
With Pedro Obiang and Mark Noble in the anchor position, Bilic has an experienced duo sitting in the deep midfield.
One could say that Bilic has been sort of lucky due to Sofiane Feghouli’s sudden comeback to form, although if the winger isn’t performing, the manager always has the reliable Michail Antonio to take the position, whom he turns to during big games.
ATTACK
Andy Carroll has been on fire for the Hammers of late and Bilic expects him to hold the mast until the end. Jonathan Calleri hasn’t been used much this season owing to his inexperience and the immense pressure on the coach for immediate results, but we think the Argentine will get the nod to start alongside Carroll in the second half of the season.
Calleri – Carroll
Snodgrass – Obiang – Noble – Antonio
Cresswell – Fonte – Reid – Byram
Randolph
