As fans speculate as to what formation Slaven Bilic is going to prefer when the Premier League season starts, I would like to offer an idea that revolves around our full-backs.
At the beginning of last season the club brought in Aaron Cresswell from Ipswich Town and Carl Jenkinson on-loan from Arsenal and both were a vital cog in our superb start to the season. It had been quite some time since any of us had such confidence in both our full-backs as there always seemed to be a weak link with at least one of them.
In previous years we have had to endure inconsistent displays from the likes of Julien Faubert, John Spector, Pablo Armero, Emmanuel Pogatetz, and Herita Ilunga (after he signed his contract) but we have also had reliable performers such as Guy Demel, Joey O’Brien who is still at the club and George McCartney.
Suddenly though we had managed to find two full-backs that were much more than reliable and had England class written all over them. Jenkinson already has one cap to his name and will surely add to that tally in the future, while Cresswell must be extremely close the full squad at this moment in time.
The midfield diamond system that was used by Allardyce for large chunks of last season meant that our full-backs were often the only players giving the team width but it really suited them to be our main outlets. Both have exceptional engines, especially Jenkinson and they are both extremely comfortable on the ball, always providing an excellent option. Cresswell as we know has a wonderful left foot that conjures out chances for the strikers out of nothing on occasions.
They are both perfectly capable of playing in Bilic’s preferred 4-2-3-1 or the 4-4-2 diamond as mentioned but with the current squad of players and the way our full-backs are capable of getting up and down the pitch, I would love to see us try out a 3-5-2 or 5-3-2, whichever way you would like to look at it.
I definitely think that we should have a pairing up front instead of one isolated striker, like we have been playing with recently in the Europa League and the friendlies. Sakho and Valencia up top with Payet in behind and Kouyate and Obiang sharing a box to box central midfield role.
The key to this system is our recent signing of Italian International Angelo Ogbonna from Juventus. He is left-footed and would fit very comfortably into the left side of a back three, contributing a lovely balance with Reid and Tomkins/Collins.
This system would provide even more work for Cresswell and Jenkinson who would now be wing-backs but I think they would thrive under it. Cresswell especially loves to get forward, which he is best at and as I’ve said before Jenkinson has an incredible engine, so I can’t see it being a problem at all. It should add to the team.
The 3-5-2 system with all those players mentioned looks very solid indeed on paper but the next question to be asked is ‘would the players feel comfortable playing it? Reid, Tomkins and Collins are so used to playing in a back four and they would have to adapt and I think they could and should do.
We won’t know unless we try it but it is definitely something for Bilic to think about, especially against a side like Arsenal away on the opening day. The Gunners like to try and thread the ball through an eye of a needle and I’ve always thought that three centre-backs against them to add more solidity in the middle would be a good idea.
One thing for certain is that whatever system’s Bilic decides to play throughout the season, Jenkinson and Cresswell will again have vital parts to play and both will be looking to be on that plane to France with England for The European Championships next summer.
If they are it will very probably mean that West Ham are doing well too.
With the new signings we are forming a squad that looks as if it will be adaptable to several formations. Both full backs will certainly be key to much of the way we play but with Jenkinson unavailable for the Arsenal game I think it highly unlikely Slav will consider playing 3 at the back on this occassion.
Looks good on paper but with such little time left to the new season,a different formation now would be a risk.if either wing bk got injured we have no reasonable replacements and the bk three u mentioned would be exposed with no prior experience in a bk three set up.it will be at least 2 to 3 seasons of buying new players before we could even think of playing 3 5 2.
Very happy with the new signings. Believe jenks would sign for us on a permanent basis if given the chance,unlike Wenger we at WESTHAM rate him highly. It’s nice seeing the youngsters getting the chance Samuelson looks useful from man city : Borg another talent who can gate crash the party Reece Oxford will be a regular central defender for us and England in time. Big Sam ruined the academy as his ethos was about experience rather than raw talent. That will change under bilic. Believe we’re solid all departments except we need a striker who will bag us 20+ goals a season ! COYI so far struggled in friendlies and Europa league scoring goals although at this moment in time it’s about gaining fitness levels but it does concern me ” but as always will keep the faith after 40+ yes following the lads that will never change
I will tell you now WH wont be spending 15 mil on any strikers – we need 2 for a start, Maiga is woeful, Zarate too selfish and wasteful in possession – that leaves Sakho who will hopefully continue his early form of last season but cant do it all on his own, Valencia who is still yet to prove himself in the PL as any form of prolific goalscorer and Caroll who would be a great asset if he get fit and stay fit for any length of time in the season – we are still looking to another attacking midfield option, we have Nolan, Maiga, Jarvis and Obrien who need offloading, and imo Zarate should be added to that list aswell, way too overhyped for me – cant see us getting much for them but it will at least make room in wages and open up opportunity to give our highly talented youth a chance – WH will be looking for at least one loan deal on a front option, searching for another bargain Sakho around Europe is the other – WH’s interest in Austin is real but they want to deal with players and cash which wont happen – QPR want to offload him and will probably get the cash with so many intereted parties – our lack of depth up front has been highlighted in Europe, since Sakhos sending off we have struggled massively, and the real issue is we cant afford to take Europe seriously if we dont create a squad good enough to cope – we are developing a great squad imo, but the PL has to be our priority and we still need proven quality up front to compliment at the very minimum any injury to sakho, let alone decent depth to challenge for a spot – our youth position is very strong in terms of not having to spend to replace some of our ageing first team squad and also provide quality in depth in so many positions – but imo all efforts have to be made and directed towards our front line right now, and if we fail to bring in the quality required then go as far as we can in Europe using a second string team and concentrate on PL and a higher end top half finish – i hope these players get to grips with Bilic tactics and we get off to a good start in the PL, we dont need to create any more pressure on ourselves having to cope with Europe on top aswell – but as always will keep the faith after 50+ years following the lads and that will never change – COYI