West Ham United tinkered with their defence against Manchester City and it almost worked a treat.
In the final few months of Slaven Bilic’s West Ham United tenure, it seemed to be a straight choice between this player or that, with the same positions constantly debated and no fresh thinking at a time when the Hammers needed it the most.
Nowhere was this clearer than in he on-going debate as to who should be play left-back – Aaron Cresswell or Arthur Masuaku?
But new West Ham boss David Moyes had a different approach, in essence playing neither man in that position against Manchester City, instead opting for Cresswell as a left-sided centre-back and Masuaku as a wing-back.
In so doing, Moyes allowed both players to excel in their own ways, giving the latter his legs to attack and the former a chance to reinvent himself after a tough campaign, potentially just in time for a late surge towards that sought after World Cup call-up.
West Ham are now doing things a little differently and, while they ultimately fell short against City, the performance spoke of far better things to come.
Bilic was clearly exhausted, undone by the constant pressure at the London Stadium and out of ideas. That is why, despite his divisive appointment, Moyes’ arrival may have come just in time to save a West Ham side in need of some new suggestions.
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