West Ham face Burnley this Saturday in what is now a must-win game. The club sit 3 points clear of the relegation zone as consecutive 4-1 defeats have detrimentally affected our goal difference and confidence will be low.
Reid and Byram are out for the season and we are running short of centre-halves, which makes the sale of Fonte even more baffling. The off the field issues are becoming more apparent day by day and it seems that bit by bit the club is crumbling before our eyes. I have said it more than once West Ham need an identity both on and off the pitch, something for people to get behind. West Ham’s turmoil is in stark contrast to Burnley, a club sensibly run and managed by a man with a clear vision of the sort of player needed to play his brand of football.
Burnley have made very shrewd signings that sees them sit 7th in the table despite having won one game in 13, last week beating a beleaguered Everton. The good news is we have in David Moyes a very experienced manager who has pulled the club together once and will now have to do it again, we always look a threat going forward but we look very flimsy at the back. Adrian has received some criticism in the past few weeks and I would be tempted to play Joe Hart, Hart has a big personality and is a big character and in a World Cup year has something to prove. West Ham need a reaction and need leaders on the pitch and for all his faults Hart is undoubtedly a leader.
Masuaku is serving the last of his 6-game ban so Evra will continue, maintaining the oldest pair of wing backs in the league. Further forward I would drop Hernandez and play Antonio through the middle with Arnautovic just behind him, last week Burnley looked susceptible to pace on the counter-attack and West Ham could have some joy going forward. The defence will come under pressure from set pieces and direct play centring around Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood, so it’s another big game for Declan Rice who I have no doubt will rise to the challenge. Given Burnley’s aerial threat I would drop Cresswell and play Collins and Ogbonna alongside Rice, assuming both recover from injury and illness respectively.
With games against both Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Arsenal to come games like this become must-win, the club desperately needs good news, fingers crossed for a good performance and most importantly a win.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
