Make no mistake David Moyes will be currently wracking his brain to find a way to make it work for West Ham United with Sebastien Haller up front.
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There is a poisonous divide between fans over Haller.
Rarely has a West Ham player polarised the opinion of supporters so much over the years than the Frenchman.
One section of West Ham’s support feel the £45million striker is lazy, sulky and not up to it.
Others point out he played in a completely different system at his previous clubs which got the best out of his abilities. And that section of fans believe Haller should not have to adapt his game to suit the Hammers.
Division among West Ham fans over Haller and Fornals
Moyes has publicly laid the gauntlet down to Haller, telling him he must start producing (Football London).
With Michail Antonio injured, Haller looks set to get another chance to shine against Fulham on Saturday.
The pro Haller camp argue Moyes must find a way to get more support up top for the forward.
Many West Ham fans want to see the creative Said Benrahma unleashed alongside Haller with Jarrod Bowen the other side.
But in the current formation – which has served West Ham so well this season – that would mean dropping Pablo Fornals.
Switch back to 442, do we dare?
The Spaniard has been one of West Ham’s most influential and hardest-working players under Moyes, particularly of late.
Dropping him would be harsh.
But some West Ham fans believe they may have found a formation which can get Benrahma, Fornals AND Bowen all in the same side behind Haller.
It would mean switching back to a 442. And as West Ham fans know only too well neither Arthur Masuaku or Aaron Cresswell are good enough to play the out-and-out left-back role.
So the formation tweak would be harsh on one, or perhaps both, of them as well as Fabian Balbuena who would also make way to bring Issa Diop’s pace back into the back four.
Moyes formation tweak would see Benrahma, Bowen and Fornals with Haller
As part of the formation tweak posted by a Hammers fan on Twitter, Ben Johnson could come in on the left if Moyes is not confident in Masuaku or Cresswell.
A midfield three of Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek and Fornals sees the Spaniard back in his natural, central midfield position as the creative fulcrum.
Ahead of them a dynamic front three of Benrahma and Bowen either side of Haller would leave the Frenchman with nowhere to hide in the great debate.
Some fans will be wary of switching from the formation that has been working well.
But against weaker opposition like Fulham West Ham may be able to get away with it.
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