A tweet by COYIrons has asked West Ham United fans what formation they think best suits the players.
A 3-5-2 seems to be the main formation suggested by fans, which is probably to assist the isolated Sebastien Haller, who on Saturday only had 45 touches of the ball across the whole 90 minutes.
However, the Frenchman did manage to have four shots, which was the second-highest of the match behind teammate Fabian Balbuena, who had five shots despite being a centre-back, as per data collected by WhoScored.
Which formation best suits the players at #WHU?
— COYIrons (@COYIrons_com) November 5, 2019
3-5-2
— Lucas Puskarich, The People’s Champion. (@EllYouSeeAyeEss) November 5, 2019
352 based on the centre halves we have and ready made wing backs. It would also allow Haller support up top. Personally I think Rice’s best position would be as sweeper in that back 3
— DAVID FORD (@DavidTFord10) November 5, 2019
Really liked us playing a 3-5-2. Suits our attacking full backs (Fredericks/Arthur), provides Haller with proper support, releases two CMs to attack with the extra man in defence.
Fabs
Balbuena, Diop, Og
Fredo, Lanzini, Rice, Noble, Arthur
Felipe (false 9)
Haller— Ben Hick (@MrBenHick) November 5, 2019
The manager won’t play it but 352
— It’s me Stu . (@stuseeds) November 5, 2019
If not a 3-5-2, many if not all of the suggested formations include two strikers. Which as mentioned, would give support to Haller.
Would love to see a 442 with Yarmolenko playing up front with Haller
— Tony Monk (@tonymonkwhu) November 5, 2019
4-4-2 Flat or Diamond
— GermanHammers(@germanhammers) November 5, 2019
4-2-2-2
— Dom Cena (@Dom_A_King) November 5, 2019
Anything apart from the 9-0-1 that we play now
— paul gatland (@paulgatland76) November 5, 2019
What Do We Think?
Surely Manuel Pellegrini can see that the 4-1-4-1 formation he’s played in the last two matches isn’t working, so it seems almost a no brainer to play a two-striker formation. Haller played in a strike partnership at Eintracht Frankfurt alongside Luka Jovic.
West Ham have two tough league games coming up, travelling to Burnley and then being visited by Tottenham Hotspur, so you would think changes would have to be made in at least one of these fixtures, otherwise fans might start asking serious questions about the manager’s capability to run the club, if they are not already.