It took fourteen years, but West Ham United ended their White Hart Lane hoodoo in their last Premier League fixture, in large part thanks to manager Sam Allardyce’s surprising yet affective 4-6-0 tactics.
With Manchester City on the horizon should the big man from Dudley stick to his plan B tactics? And let’s be frank you can’t argue it was a tactical masterstroke from the former Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle United manager.
It was a tactic that nullified Tottenham’s threat completely and allowed the Hammers to pick of their London counterparts off easily on the counter on what was the best West Ham away day for some time for the travelling claret and blue army.
It can be argued that it is impossible for Sam Allardyce to drop any of the players who performed so superbly Sunday week. And with Ricardo Vaz Te and Stewart Downing interlinking it is easy to switch tactics should the plan start to unravel.
The Hammers could push the wingers out wide and play Vaz Te through the middle reverting back to Big Sam’s tradition 4-2-3-1 formation that we have seen at home for so long. With Ravel Morrison excelling for both West Ham and England he has forced his way to the first name on the team sheet.
Just when the West Ham fans started to doubt Big Sam Allardyce, he came up with a master plan to make every Hammers fan smile for two solid weeks and provide a day that will live with us for a lifetime.
Now onto Saturday’s Sky live fixture against Manchester City. Who have struggled away from home all season long, with a defeat at Aston Villa and a goalless draw at Stoke City. Although under Manuel Pellegrini they have tried to play wider with the arrival of Jesus Navas, but with David Silva and Yaya Toure they play a similar brand of football to Spurs through the middle using their flair players.
In Yaya Toure, Manchester City have one of the best midfielders in the world, and if the Hammers were to play the same formation it would be because of the big Ivorian. The Irons will have to keep him quiet and crowd him out if they are to have similar success to what they had at White Hart Lane.
In an interview with West Ham TV Allardyce’s assistant Neil Macdonald refused to reveal any secrets ahead of the clash. He said, “We’ll keep our cards close to our chest, but that doesn’t mean to say it’ll be the same formation against Man City because we’ll be at home. If Man City play exactly the same as Spurs then we’ll take all that into account when we get all the information on them.”
Reading between the lines that could suggest we may look into playing the same formation but with Carlton Cole now a Hammer again and Mladen Petric finding his feet at last I wouldn’t be shocked to see a striker on Saturday leading the line.
But if the players play as well as they played against Spurs, it doesn’t matter what formation we play, we will run them close.
Come on you Irons!
Tweet me @Bowdenwhu if you were big Sam would you change it up? Or keep it the same.
Sam should stick with plan B, City will pour forward leaving space behind for us to exploit.
This is going to be very exciting,a while back i was nervous about this fixture,as city can really open up teams.But we will have a better idea on sams tactical prowess as a coach and i have faith in the boys in their ability to carry out sams plans.I do not think the spuds result was a one off fluke,and hope plan B is a viable way forward for us.It will not be 0-0 or 1-0 either way,i feel its a game with a lot of goals-3-1 to the irons.
The battle will be won or lost in midfield tomorrow, and if West Ham can get enough bodies throughout the centre and prevent City from utilising their skilful ball players to the max, and stop them feeding their clever through balls for Aguero and Co. then we have a chance. So much will depend upon our energy levels and team play, and dare I say it, a repeat performance of the Spurs match where we managed to win so much ball back, and also keep possession so much better than we have all season.
The plan has to be keep it tight, stop them playing, and nick a goal or two from our set plays. COYI !!
We’ve got a midfield to match anyone , but very light upfront ,got to rely on our best players, you can only use what you’ve got.unless someone else has got the balls to get up there and battle ,midfields our only option.
Perhaps getting a touch carried away? As good as the 3-0 mauling of the spuds was it was a bit of a freak result. I say stick with the 4-6-0 for now though, mainly because we need AC back before contemplating sticking a 1 up there!
Shame with all the chances created, no one in the middle to score, especially when we are playing at home. Can understand starting with the same successful tea as at Spurs, but for god sake change it sooner Sam when we lack any impact up front. Even put Carlton Cole on for last half an hour!