West Ham currently lie just one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League.
After their capitulation against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, West Ham United are in dire need of some good results after their first 12 games of the season have seen them plummet into 17th – just one point above the drop zone. It’s clear the Hammers need a change, so here are three things they can do to arrest their slide.
Get behind Bilic
Despite their form and start to the season, it’s quite clear what manager Slaven Bilic can do. After an outstanding season last year, he was given the task of overseeing the transition to a stadium which probably still isn’t ready. These are testing times but there are very few capable managers out there and sacking Bilic would be a bad move.
He’s an experienced manager and if this it to be a year in transition, then so be it. What’s important is that the Hammers have players coming back and there have been some encouraging signs of late despite the defeat to Spurs.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
Give Fletcher a chance
With Andy Carroll out for the foreseeable future, West Ham have been forced to try a few different options up front. The jury is still out on experiments such as playing Michail Antonio up top, while Diafra Sakho played at the weekend instead of the insipid Simone Zaza. But the Hammers could do a lot worse than to give new youngster Ashley Fletcher a role up front.
He has started just one game this season and has had a smattering of minutes over a few substitute appearances, however if the 21-year-old is given game time then he’d be an unknown quantity with youthful exuberance aplenty. Given the options at their disposal, it could be time to give the young forward a chance.
Sunderland’s Javi Manquillo in action with West Ham United’s Ashley Fletcher
Ditch the 3-4-3
It appears to be very in vogue to play with three at the back this season. However, after initial success against Chelsea, the effects of Bilic’s three-man defence appear to be wearing thin on his opponents. As such, it may be prudent to revert back to the 4-2-3-1 which worked so well for them last season.
It would allow the excellent Pedro Obiang to continue in the centre of midfield, while Manuel Lanzini could push forward into a mobile three with Dimitri Payet and Michail Antonio. This means that either Fletcher or Andre Ayew could take the centre-forward role. West Ham may need to gamble in order to lift themselves out of the mire; why not give their attacking players more freedom in the process?
West Ham United’s Manuel Lanzini celebrates scoring their second goal
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