West Ham United have struggled for consistency this season, something that has been an issue ever since the Hammers moved from Upton Park to the London Stadium, and it’s left the East London side in a precarious position.
With eight points after eight matches, Slaven Bilic’s side find themselves just two points above the drop-zone and they’re yet to get the best out of summer recruits Javier Hernandez, Marko Arnautovic, Joe Hart and Pablo Zabaleta.
Each of the new signings should improve the squad’s fortune significantly when they find their feet but, for whatever reason, they’re being held back in the early months of their time at West Ham and the club may need a tactical rethink in the January transfer window.
For all the praise West Ham deserved for their summer business, there’s still a lot of issues in the squad that need to be ironed out and pieces of deadwood that need to be cast aside- so the Hammers should have their ears to the ground ahead of the mid-season transfer window.
One story doing the rounds over the course of the past month has suggested Everton are ready to splash £20m to bring Andy Carroll back to Merseyside, where the England international previously endured a torrid time with Liverpool.
Carroll has been a mainstay in West Ham’s side this season but is yet to find the net and will miss this week’s clash with Brighton due to suspension, having received his marching orders in the 1-1 draw with Burnley after picking up two points in as many minutes.
Bilic is clearly a fan of Carroll, as shown by his faith in the 28-year-old striker, but playing him alongside Javier Hernandez up front is not working- and neither did shifting the Mexican striker out-wide during Arnautovic’s absence due to suspension.
Carroll, if West Ham can truly get £20m for him, is an asset that the Hammers should cash-in on as they have alternative options in attack- including highly-rated 20-year-old striker Toni Martinez, who scored a hat-trick for the U23’s this weekend against Manchester United.
With Carroll in the side alongside Hernandez, Martinez’ chances of earning a first-team call-up are extremely slim and there’s an argument to suggest that Carroll, and the style of play that gets the best out of him, is holding West Ham back.
Carroll is a striker that thrives on aerial service but that’s the complete opposite to the strengths that Hernandez, Arnautovic, Manuel Lanzini and Michail Antonio boast- all of whom are best with the ball at their feet, driving into the box.
If Carroll remains with Bilic in charge, there doesn’t seem to be a way where the Croatian boss can get the best out of the striker and the remainder of the squad and a decision may have to be made. When it comes down to it, £20m for Carroll is something the Hammers cannot say no to.
