Rafa seems to prefer a lone striker with creative/pacey wingers playing off the forward. In this league, an out of shape Gayle up front on his own isn't going to work. We need someone to play balls into and bring others into play. Joselu looks like a potential godsend, because Gayle can't battle defenders and hold balls up, and neither can Mitrovic. Both Gayle and Mitrovic require balls played over the top or into the box to get onto. Joselu looks like the sort of player that can handle himself in a lone role up top. He changed the game vs Huddersfield and offered a way to maintain possession up top. I personally think Gayle should be rested for a little while because he's a mile off the pace, and maybe brought on as a sub. I also believe Joselu is the sort of player Perez always needed next to him. Perez needs a striker that can create space for him. Against WHU, I'd start this - --------------Joselu--------------- Atsu---------Perez------Ritchie ---------Hayden---Merino------ Mbemba---Clark--Lascelles--Yedlin/Manquillo -----------------Elliot---------------------- Thoughts?
To be fair to Mitro, his one great strength is his ability to battle defenders and hold the ball up. It's what he does in front of goal that lets him down. Agree it can't be Gayle though. The game on Sunday was crying out for Mitro to come on.
Gayle needs dropping until he sorts out his head / injury or whatever it is, because he clearly isn't 100% right now
I have my doubts about Joselu, £5m is peanuts for a striker these days, and Stoke hardly seemed gutted to let him go. But attack ain't the problem, even if it is pretty ****e. Our midfield was not existent vs Huddersfield, Hayden was pushed off constantly, lost the ball all the time and was just a complete liability, if we can't sort this out immediately we're always gonna lose. Merino may be effective, but we need someone strong who's gonna stick the boot in, Hayden's looking way out of his depth right now. And Shelvey ain't the answer either. As average as West Ham are, they'd still mangle that team.
Would rather have a proper AM to be fair, I think we can say Gayle looks off the boil etc. But how many opportunities has he actually been presented with.
Sorry but I disagree. Mitro's strength is being on the end of balls in the box. Countless times in the CC he couldn't win a long ball against CC defenders and couldn't hold up balls and was constantly getting cut out. He's only good while in the box.
I thought Joeselu looked pretty decent when he came on against Huddersfield. Definitely much more effective than Gayle. Personally I would like him to start Mitro though then Richie, Aarons and Murphy kind of buzzing round behind him with Atsu to come on then Hayden & Merino in the middle
Like to see Murphy get a start today too. We're at home against a poor W Ham team - we should be going for this...
