ExWHUemployee makes Said Benrahma prediction but David Moyes should be brave

Add as preferred source on Google

West Ham welcome Manchester City to the London Stadium on Saturday. And ExWHUemployee has predicted that Said Benrahma will be on the bench for the game.

Read also: Arthur Masuaku posts brilliant five-word response to Tottenham fan on Twitter

But should Hammers boss David Moyes go for City’s jugular and start the Algerian?

We think so. And there is a way that we can get Benrahma AND Pablo Fornals in the same team.

West Ham signed the 25-year-old from Brentford on transfer deadline day on loan for a fee worth around £4 million. And the east London outfit are obliged to make the transfer a permanent one next summer for a further £21 million plus £5 million in add-ons (Guardian).

Benrahma was ineligible to play against Tottenham on Sunday. But he is in line to be selected against Manchester City on Saturday.

ExWHUemployee thinks the winger will have to make do with a place on the bench, however:

It is certainly understandable why David Moyes would want to be pragmatic against City.

Premier League giants there for the taking?

But Pep Guardiola’s side seem vulnerable this season. And there is an argument to be made for us to go for the jugular at the weekend.

Pablo Fornals has worked incredibly hard this season. And a lot of the fine work the Spaniard does often goes unnoticed.

So it would be incredibly hard to drop him for Benrahma.

But Moyes could decide to move the 24-year-old into central midfield alongside Tomas Soucek. The Scot could then move Declan Rice back into his three man defence in place of Fabian Balbuena.

The England international has much more pace than the Paraguayan and will be able to cope with the likes of Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez better.

West Ham really have nothing to lose against City. We have amassed seven points from our first five Premier League games. So Saturday’s clash is somewhat of a free hit for us.

And with Benrahma flying down the wing and Fornals offering more creativity and guile in the middle of the park, the Hammers could cause City all sorts of problems at the London Stadium.

It would be a brave call from Moyes, however. And judging by the Scot’s history of easing players in, Ex is probably right. The Algerian will most likely begin the game from the bench.