Here’s how West Ham could line-up with William Carvalho marshalling the midfield.
There was a lot of optimism around the Hammers before the start of the new season. Slaven Bilic’s signings over the transfer window looked shrewd and excellent, leading Jose Mourinho (quoted in the Metro) to brand the London side as Premier League challengers.
William Carvalho of Portugal controls the ball
What a difference two games make. West Ham sit at the bottom of the table, having conceded 7 goals in their last two games. Undoubtedly, there were positives from those two games, like Chicharito’s brace or Michail Antonio’s impressive return from injury, but the squad (and perhaps the fans too) looks like it needs a boost before the close of the window.
William Carvalho could be that much-needed boost. The Sporting Lisbon man is a regular in the heart of midfield for the Portuguese international team, who quite impressively lifted the European Championships last summer.
A holding midfielder who is equally adept at breaking up play and starting moves, he could be integral if West Ham are to shore up their defence and be incisive on the counter-attack. According to the Sun, the Hammers are looking to tie up a £34 million deal before the Newcastle game at the weekend.
Slaven Bilic can play the 25-year-old at the base of a 4-1-2-2-1/4-3-3 formation, which would see Carvalho sit between two other midfielders, a role he plays for the national team. His ability on the ball would see the duo of Antonio and Marko Arnautović receive balls faster, allowing them more one-on-ones with opposition fullbacks.
If Bilic decides to play with Andy Caroll alongside Chicharito, Carvalho’s passing range would indeed be an asset as both strikers like the ball to be hit early, with captain Mark Noble alongside him playing a similar role.
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