Slaven Bilic is a man under pressure and he has to try and get it right to arrest the slide against bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
The Hammers are sat 17th in the Premier League table, just one point above the bottom three after a torrid start to Slaven Bilic‘s second season in charge.
The East Londoners have won just four of their opening 11 games and were unceremoniously dumped out of the Europa League qualifying by Romanian minnows Astra for the second season running.
Things don’t look like getting better any time soon going by the form book with a hellish fixture list on the horizon for the next month.
Bilic’s out of form Hammers go to White Hart Lane to play Mauricio Pochettino‘s unbeaten side followed by a double header against Manchester United at Old Trafford, a home game against Arsenal and a trip to Anfield to face title hopefuls Liverpool.
Mauricio Pochettino’s unbeaten Spurs await Bilic
The trip to North London looks a daunting one for West Ham.
Tottenham are the only unbeaten side in the English top five and one of a select few across Europe.
Sitting fifth in the table, the North Londoners are just five points off leaders Liverpool and will expect to challenge for the Champions League places at the very least.
The gap between the two teams has widened this season and there can be little debate that Spurs are the far superior outfit.
After a draw with Stoke and defeat to Everton in their last two games and with players missing through injury and suspension Bilic must shuffle his pack again.
West Ham’s Winston Reid and James Collins
Reid in for Collins
Assuming Winston Reid is fit he should come in for James Collins, who is also battling to be back in time for Spurs after picking up a knock on his return to the side against Stoke.
That is also assuming Bilic wants to continue with midfield powerhouse Cheikhou Kouyate as part of a back three.
Many supporters feel Kouyate is wasted in defence and given the last two disappointing results Bilic could push him back up the pitch.
West Ham United’s Mark Noble looks dejected
Fernandes in for Noble
Hammers captain Mark Noble has been panned for his below par performances this season.
Those supporters who feel he is holding the team back and should not be in the side will see how their team gets on without him after he picked up a fifth booking of the season against Stoke ruling him out of the game at White Hart Lane.
Edimilson Fernandes has been a breath of fresh air in the last month and if Kouyate stays in defence he could take Noble’s place in midfield.
If Kouyate moves back into midfield expect to see Fernandes at right wing back or on the bench.
West Ham’s Michail Antonio
Antonio to right wing back
The player has publicly he does not like playing at right back but with Noble out it is likely Michail Antonio will be deployed as a right wing back to make room for Manuel Lanzini.
Diafra Sakho is finally back fit
Off the bench
It looks like Bilic could welcome back long term absentee Diafra Sakho to his squad for the first time since last season.
The player has recovered from a longstanding back injury and will hope to rediscover the freescoring form which made him one of the most feared strikers in the Premier League.
Finally a decent option off the bench for Bilic with Andre Ayew likely to start alone up front.
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