It’s been a while since I’ve written an opinion piece for the site but after Saturday’s performance it’s probably the right time.
Yes, we had a bad day at the office and the team should undoubtedly bounce back from this but the lack of attacking threat without Diafra Sakho was a cause for concern. Andy Carroll’s presence in the side was not something that worked well for the Irons; his lack of running in behind seemed to nullify the influence of Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini.
It seems as if the Hammers simply cannot accommodate Carroll in a formation like this without changing their style of football. There is no doubt that the Geordie is an excellent player and can certainly chip in with a goal or two from now until the end of season. However, whether he should start is a different story. Bilic wants to play in a certain style and Saturday’s game almost went against that philosophy (a similar thing happened when Andy Carroll returned for West Ham last season).
The Hammers can’t lose their identity and Diafra Sakho is paramount to that. It seems as if the team were almost forced to play lofted balls into Carroll in a bid to get the best out of him. Although this may sound harsh, his cameo against Chelsea is probably the best role for him in the squad at the moment.
As well as the issues up top, West Ham only had themselves to blame for the two goals conceded, gifting Odion Ighalo (great player) a brace from two lapses in concentration. As soon as the team find a way of cutting out needless defensive errors, it will become a lot easier for the Hammers to pick up points, especially against the so called ‘weaker’ teams in the league.
Every team has bad days and I have no doubt that the side will produce a performance against an in-form Everton side this weekend. Recent history suggests that the Toffees usually get the better of us but we’re a completely different side this time around.
Pretty simple one, will West Ham bounce back and beat Everton this weekend?
— WHUFC (@Forever_WestHam) November 2, 2015
This is basically a repeat of what I have been writing since before Carroll even rejoined the team.
His value to the team is as an impact sub. With his different style of play he works perfectly against a tiring defence but only if we can keep him upfront as a poacher and not involved defensively.
Using him As a regular member of the starting line-up involves changing our new style back to the Sam style and that would be disastrous.
As for Everton, it will be tough but we have to find a way to get back to winning.
It is likely Slav’s biggest test to date because two losses back to back against teams we have to beat if we aspire to finish top six and the confidence will go as the pundits jump in with the “I told you so” cry.
For the team I agree with another poster who wants Tomkins back at right back, as long as Reid is fit.
For the rest, the team must go back to the line-up that beat Chelsea with, perhaps Zarate’s or Valencia, starting in place of Moses, with the other on the bench as our striker sub.
I think we should also rest Noble but with him now captain, Slav has got himself in a bind.
Carrol is a forward and call me old fashioned should be on the halfway line when we are defending, that is his position and that is the only way to move forward, he needs to learn that.
We have spent the whole season wasting balls by continuing to pass back from midfield to fullbacks then across from one side to the other and then back to Adrian and then a dodgy kick up the field or out, if that is the tactics, then cut out the middleman and just get the midfield to thump it out or up the park.
Other teams see this fault and from there pressure it is easy for them to score.