No big changes are needed to the West Ham team for Olympiacos amid calls for David Moyes to drop duo if the Scot really wants to send a message.
After West Ham’s dismal defeat to Aston Villa at the weekend David Moyes sent a clear warning to his players.
The Scot picks his moments when it comes to sending messages to his team publicly. And it was very much a timely reminder of the standards required.
He said: “I see the players every day and I know the levels (required) and for us to challenge Aston Villa’s and the teams at the top you’re talking about, we’ve going to have to play really well and keep it up. Because I get a chance to see the players, they’re good players but as you can see today, if this is the levels we’re having to play at we’re going to have to improve greatly on what we done today.”
No big changes needed to West Ham team for Olympiacos amid calls for David Moyes to drop duo if Scot really wants to send a message
The performance has seen the likes of Michail Antonio and Nayef Aguerd have their Hammers starting places questioned. And the game also came at a cost for left-back Emerson who now misses the Everton match after being booked.
Moyes usually makes several changes between Premier League and European group games.
Not only does it give key players the chance to rest and recover. It also keeps the rest of the squad interested and on their toes with so many games coming thick and fast.
But no big changes are needed to the West Ham team for Olympiacos amid calls for Moyes to drop duo if the Scot really wants to send a message.
Aguerd, Antonio and Emerson would normally be among the players rested for the European match.
But all three must start in the Europa League clash in Greece because they can’t be selected on Sunday for the Premier League game against Everton.
As mentioned Emerson is suspended so Moyes may as well start him against Olympiacos given he will have six days or more to recover before the next time he is needed.
Antonio and Aguerd were particularly bad against Villa and were both already under pressure to keep their places in the starting XI.
Moyes is in danger of sending the wrong message to his squad if he continues to select under performing players. You should have to play well to keep the shirt. Particularly given that Mohammed Kudus and Konstantinos Mavropanos are waiting in the wings.
Starting Aguerd, Antonio and Emerson not only makes West Ham strong for an important game, it also sends a message that the Moroccan defender and the striker will be dropped for Everton.
Kudus and Mavropanos need to start against Everton in place of Aguerd and Antonio. So they should be protected at Olympiacos.
Here’s how Moyes should line-up if he really wants to send a message to his squad about ‘the levels’.
Fabianski, Kehrer, Aguerd, Ogbonna, Emerson, Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Paqueta, Benrahma, Bowen, Antonio.
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