New formation for our host of attacking talent
I'm just back from some time abroad and during that period I
have seen a lot of Spain's Deportivo La Coruna, who got to the
quarter finals of the Champion's League. They play with a
formation that I believe would suit West Ham with our abundance of
attacking midfielders.
The coach Javier Irureta plays 4-2-3-1. The back four comprises two
full-backs (usually Pablo and Romero) who are not scared to come
forward, and two doughty centre-halves in Naybet and Donato
(pictured) who know their place is at the back covering. They are
assisted in this by two sitting midfielders (the Brazilians Emerson
and Mauro Silva) who cover their centre-halves but can pass well
and get forward to support the attack when necessary (like when
they were 0-3 down at home against PSG!).
Ahead of Emerson and Mauro are not one, not two, but THREE
inventive midfielders. In the centre orchestrating everything is
another Brazilian, the highly talented Djalminha. He is the
play-maker but is flanked by the Spaniards Tristan and Victor who
can also make things happen with their passing and runs from deep.
That leaves just the one man up front - usually the nippy Dutchman
Roy Makaay but occasionally the tall Uruguayan Pandiano who is
excellent in the air (as his second half hat-trick of headers that
rescued his team against PSG proves).
This is a formation that is not only superbly balanced - there is
width, solidity and flair - but also tremendously exciting. Their
keeper (international Francisco Molina) is a bit dodgy but that
just adds to the fun.
Taking our present squad, West Ham could line up in a similar shape
something like this:
Shaka
Song I Pearce Foxe Winterburn
Carrick Lomas
Sinclair Cole Di Canio
Kanoute
With Cole (or Lampard even) orchestrating things from the centre
and Trevor and Paolo attacking from the flanks we would not only
scare the hell out of most defences but also ensure that poor old
Freddie (or Defoe next season?) does not get as isolated as he has
been during this season.
I'm not happy with Lomas in our defensive midfield pairing to
be honest, since the man needs to be a good passer and Steve is
anything but that, despite his great defensive qualities. A top
notch defensive midfielder is a priority this summer, I feel,
unless Raggy Soma can do that job. Some may also think that Carrick
is wasted in what appears a 'holding' role but I assure you
that Emerson (the ex-Boro player) is sensational in this position
and often finds himself in good positions to have a punt. Carrick
with his effective long passing could excel there.
I think the back four also needs an overhaul. Schemmel has
impressed me and Winterburn has to be Hammer of the Year but I
think we can do better. A lot of people advocate Adam Newton but he
can't even get into the Notts County team! Maybe Minto will be
okay when he comes back but would you bet on it? Song has also
failed to impress but maybe his time will come.
Foxe we have seen little of so we can only hope that he will be the
man to organise our rear guard. Certainly early appearances have
been encouraging. How wonderful it would be if we still had Rio
there to dominate the back as Donato does so effortlessly for the
Galicians!
Harry has already said that he intends to go 4-4-2 next a season.
Let's hope he is flexible enough to realise that there are also
some other interesting ways of employing our talented players
in front of a flat back four!
Baz