Hammers boss David Moyes has made a brutally honest admission over his West Ham tactics and team selection.
Having spent £170m on eight signings in the summer, there is perhaps more focus on Moyes’s team selections and tactics than ever before.
That is of course part and parcel of football. And we are all guilty, whether pundits or fans, or believing we have all the answers at times.
Debate has raged among West Ham fans this season over formations and the starting XI.
Moyes often switches to a back five in European matches. Nobody can argue with West Ham’s results in the Europa Conference league given the Hammers have a perfect four wins from four and are all set to sail into the last 16.
But given the inferior level of opposition West Ham are facing in the Conference League, many have argued playing a back five is unnecessary.
West Ham may have won all their matches so far but some of the games have been tighter than they perhaps should have been.
In the Premier League, unless injuries dictate, West Ham tend to go with a back four.
The thinking behind the change in tactics has been a topic of discussion among fans and pundits.
Joe Cole and Martin Keown recently praised Moyes and his staff for their tactical proficiency with the way West Ham can “seamlessly” adapt between the two formations and setups.
But it seems there may not be much thinking behind it at all beyond keeping players happy according to the Hammers boss himself.
Because Moyes has made a brutally honest admission over his West Ham tactics and team selection.
The Scot has revealed he only plays a back five in Europe to give more players game time and it has very little to do with tactics or a specific game plan for that particular opponent.
“We have played the majority of games in Europe with a back three,” Moyes said in his pre-Liverpool press conference when discussing his defensive options.
“Partly because it gets players games, not always tactically.
“But what we have with Nayef (Aguerd when he returns) and Thilo (Kehrer), we have the ability to change to a back three (for Premier League games).
“I have had to find a makeshift defence, and I didn’t think I had two central defenders against Southampton who could have played as a back two.”
Whatever you think of the fact Moyes is putting very little tactical thought into the European group games, at least he is honest.
And who is to say that getting players minutes over specific tactical shape and setup is not the right call anyway?
After all West Ham’s resurgence under Moyes has been built on a great team spirit. And spreading out game time, keeping all the players feeling involved is a key aspect of that.
MORE WEST HAM NEWS
Insider says West Ham money man is paying the price for aggressive approach.
Moyes boost as Klopp confirms seven Liverpool stars will miss West Ham.
West Ham could play in USA as part of Premier League expansion.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
