Ryan Fredericks, Declan Rice and Michail Antonio were axed from the West Ham squad for the defeat to Bournemouth for tactical reasons, according to a club insider.
The outstanding Ex-WHU Employee, who is an unparalleled source of Hammers news, explained in a Twitter exchange why the first-team trio failed to make the matchday 18 at the weekend after starting at Liverpool six days earlier.
Asked why Fredericks was dropped altogether from the squad by a West Ham fan, he revealed the right-back was omitted for “tactical” reasons, “along with Rice and Antonio”.
Tactical, along with rice and Antonio. https://t.co/Aspn3z61NQ
— ExWHUEmployee (@ExWHUEmployee) August 18, 2018
OPINION
There was some genuine confusion, as well as raised eyebrows, following the omission of Fredericks, Rice and Antonio from the squad against Bournemouth. All three had started the 4-0 hammering at Anfield but had clearly not impressed Manuel Pellegrini, as they were omitted for technical and tactical reasons, rather than injury concerns. Fredericks was replaced by Pablo Zabaleta at right-back, while Robert Snodgrass and Javier Hernandez came in for Rice and Antonio as the manager reshaped the midfield and attack for the home clash against Bournemouth. With Jack Wilshere dropping into a deeper role alongside Mark Noble and Marko Arnautovic deployed our wide, it created room for Snodgrass and Hernandez to be used on the flank and in the centre-forward role. Did the tweaks work? Not really. Should Pellegrini have been less ruthless? Certainly not, as to only give one game to new signing Fredericks seemed a bit harsh, while axing Rice altogether was an even more questionable decision. The academy product looks a better centre-back than summer signing Fabian Balbuena and must be restored at the weekend.