A risk that backfired for Big Sam

Managers in the recent times have developed a taste for tinkering too much with their teams.

Injuries, suspensions, and lack of form are legitimate reasons for rotating a starting XI. Often it seems though, to the frustration of fans, line-ups have been tweaked for no other reason than to give everyone some game time.

Having a full squad of well-paid professionals must put pressure on managers to mix it up, even if doing so to a successful formula can prove perilous.

This option however, has not often been afforded to Sam Allardyce during his time at West Ham…until now.

Much was made ahead of the Stoke City game about West Ham having a fully fit squad for the first time this season, and the temptation to switch things around proved too much for the Allardyce.

Despite only conceding two goals in the previous six games, he decided to replace James Collins with Winston Reid. This also came on the back of a two-week break, negating the excuse of burn-out.

There is little doubt Reid is our best centre half, but as a unit, the back four featuring Collins had proved to be amongst the most frugal in the league.

The New Zealander has struggled to get back into the team since his injury, mainly due to the form of others, and his game time, even as a sub, had been limited.

Therefore, throwing him back into the team for the ever boisterous encounter against Stoke at the Britannia Stadiumwas always going to be a risk.

And for the first time in weeks, the back line looked shaky and unsure, and the team paid the price.

Allardyce has already come out and admitted some of the changes may have been unnecessary.

The danger now is changing it up again. Reid is undoubtedly a class act, and he now has a full 90 minutes under his belt he will be better prepared for the next match.

The team has already proved what a difference a settled defence can do, so Allardyce needs to back his own decision and chose this time to stick with what he’s got.