Hammers boss David Moyes has threatened to drop players in certain positions and it is clear he means a West Ham trio.
West Ham welcome Brentford to the London Stadium on Friday night for what is being billed a ‘must win’ match.
Defeat to Arsenal on Boxing Day saw speculation intensify over Moyes’ West Ham future.
There has been a lot of focus on Moyes’ team selection and tactics this season off the back of a miserable run of just 13 wins from West Ham’s last 43 Premier League matches.
Many fans want to see a more positive, front-foot approach, particularly given the current team and system has not worked efficiently for some time.
David Moyes threatens to axe a ‘few in certain positions’ and he clearly means West Ham trio
The seven-week World Cup break seemed to come at a good time for West Ham as it gave Moyes the chance to reassess and make changes.
But some supporters felt it was just the same old when the action resumed in familiar fashion against Arsenal on Boxing Day.
Now, though, it seems the penny may have finally dropped for the Hammers boss ahead of the Brentford clash.
Moyes has threatened to axe a ‘few in certain positions’ and he clearly means West Ham trio.
Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was actually named by Moyes as one player who could be dropped after his mistake which gifted Arsenal a 2-1 lead this week.
The Scot then said there are ‘a few people in certain positions’ who could be axed ‘if they are not up to it’.
“The thing about it is that Lukasz this season has been so, so good,” Moyes said in his pre-match presser (Football.London).
“He has very rarely… the one against Fulham he probably could have saved, and the one the other day (against Arsenal) and we think he should have saved that. But he will be aware he is under pressure as well, but that’s football.
“Whether it is the manager or the players you need to perform well or somebody will come in and take your position. We now have a few people in certain positions where we can make changes, try other things if they are not up to it.”
While very few are setting the world alight in a West Ham shirt this season, a couple stood out for their poor performances against Arsenal.
Tomas Soucek has been a shadow of the player who became a household name in this country off the back of his form during his first 18 months at West Ham.
And while the defensive side of Soucek’s game has remained consistently up there with the best, his attacking output and lack of confidence and ability on the ball has been hindering the Hammers.
His compatriot Vladimir Coufal is another surely in the firing line off the back of his hapless display at the Emirates and poor form for some time.
Whether Moyes is true to his word and makes changes remains to be seen.
Another player who could be dropped is Thilo Kehrer. The error-prone defender was far too easily beaten for Arsenal’s third goal and has been at fault for more goals than any other player in the Premier League this season – six.
The problem for Moyes is that until he has Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd back then Kehrer may well be undroppable.
Should Moyes wield the axe for Fabianski, Soucek and Coufal then Alphonse Areola, Pablo Fornals and Ben Johnson could come in.
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