Nuno Espirito Santo has responded to widespread criticism of his team selection and tactics with three major changes for the survival decider with Leeds.
West Ham’s mission brief is clear for the final day of the Premier League season: beat Leeds and hope Spurs lose to Everton or they will be playing in the Championship.
The visit of Leeds represents West Ham’s biggest game for 15 years.
The Hammers must do their job and hope David Moyes can help keep them up for a third time by leading the Toffees to victory at Spurs.
Taty back in one of three major West Ham changes for Leeds
Taking care of their own business might be West Ham’s biggest problem, though, given their dismal efforts of late.
There has been a common theme in three consecutive defeats to Brentford, Arsenal and Newcastle – as well as a damaging 0-0 draw at a disinterested, distracted and under-strength Palace.
Pretend you’re Nuno – what changes are you making ahead of Leeds? 👀
If anyone says keep the back five, I'll be shocked 😂
Nuno Espirito Santo has got the team setup and approach wrong in those games and West Ham fans have let him know it too.
It may prove to be too little, too late, but Hammers News believes the penny has finally dropped as Nuno makes three major West Ham changes for the Leeds decider.
There was disbelief when Nuno started with a back five at Newcastle, playing woeful £35m flop Jean-Clair Todibo and dropping Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos.
Callum Wilson was rightly rewarded with a start at St James’ Park but by leaving out Taty, Nuno took the legs and running support away from the experienced England forward.
Nuno hauled Todibo off and sent Castellanos on just 25 minutes into that costly 3-1 defeat.
The Argentine was the best player on the pitch, scoring a wonder goal as he left Nuno red-faced.
Nuno reverts to back four and Wan-Bissaka dropped
Now the Portuguese has responded to his West Ham critics by making the only acceptable changes to the team for the must-win clash that will decide the club’s fate.
The first piece of good news is Todibo will be nowhere near the starting XI as Nuno reverts to four at the back.
It’s NOW or NEVER! 😬 How will West Ham fare in their HUGE game vs Leeds…
Vote now & comment your score predictions! ⚽
The second big change will be that Castellanos comes in from the start to replace Todibo.
And that means he will take his place up front alongside Wilson as Nuno goes for it.
Thankfully that also means £20m striker flop Pablo won’t be in the team either.
There are justifiable arguments for the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Mads Hermansen to be dropped after terrible performances at Newcastle.
Wan-Bissaka’s attitude and application has been questioned since he arrived late back from the Congo’s celebrations after making the World Cup rather than return on time to be available for the FA Cup defeat to Leeds.
He has been in and out of the side since and we believe he will find himself back on the bench for the Leeds game with Kyle Walker-Peters coming in.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Leeds:
Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf, Soucek, Fernandes, Summerville, Bowen, Taty Castellanos, Wilson.
There are 10 possible outcomes from West Ham’s game against Leeds and Tottenham’s clash with Everton.
Only two of those keep the Hammers in the Premier League.
Those being a West Ham win and Spurs defeat and a Hammers win by 13 goals coupled with a Tottenham draw.
Therefore Nuno has no excuse not to go for it. The real West Ham way is going out on your sword not your shield.
Official teams will be announced at 2.45pm ahead of the Premier League’s synchronised 4pm kick-offs.
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