The biggest complaint of any manager in this festive period in England is the fact that they are unable to give their players enough rest to cope up with the busy schedule. Hence West Ham United were a lucky team this New Year having received a week-long break to get ready for their home match against West Bromwich Albion. The result was there for everyone to see as the Hammers faced a Baggies side who were drained out from their exhausting match against Arsenal on New Year’s eve and West Ham eventually prevailed to win 2-1 on the night after scoring late in stoppage time. They followed it up with another impressive 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
David Moyes at West Ham United will look to build on his good start to the new year as he attempts to wash over his previous success and consequent failure and rewrite his credentials.
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 and the same weekend’s 2-3 loss was disheartening but West Ham fans can pass it off as a festive failure and nothing more. Their 3-3 pulsating draw at Bournemouth was a rather opportunity missed occasion with Bournemouth getting lucky with plenty of refereeing decisions.
The match was a fighting display of both sides’ lack of defensive organization and refereeing had a had a huge role to play in the result. The gloomy atmosphere around the new London stadium is a little less tentative now as the Scot attempts to find a new formula to bring his side back to a fighting place in the league.
Here is how they might line up for their easy FA Cup match against Shrewsbury Town.
Formation: 3-4-2-1
Defence
Joe Hart is likely to start in goal. Aaron Creswell and Angelo Ogbonna are likely to be partnered by James Collins as the three centre-backs with Pablo Zabaleta at right wing back and Arthur Masuaku at left wing back.
Midfield
The two-man midfield base is likely to consist of Cheikhou Kouyate and Pedro Obiang.
Attack
Summer signing Marko Arnautovic is likely to start up front with Manuel Lanzini on the left and Andre Ayew to his right.
