Hammers’ team selection sees a return to counter-attacking roots.
In the midst of injury gluts, wing-back formations, and international breaks, it’s been a little hard to find a running tactical theme in this remarkable Hammers season. Slaven Bilic – and this is a virtue – has been so tactically flexible; there were stretches where he didn’t alter his starting XI at all, week-to-week, and then periods when he debuted some fresh new approach, or a host of newly bought players. But here, with what represented as close to a fully fit squad as he has had in some time, Bilic returned to a set-up that harked back to the heady days of early-season.
Slaven was rightly proud of his players after today’s performance ➡️ https://t.co/ClhMDmZl45 ⚒ #WHUFC pic.twitter.com/GnFDvaD13e
— West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) 19 March 2016
The league wins over Arsenal and Manchester City, on match days one and six respectively, were earned by sitting deep and breaking with potency. It seems a while since Bilic has been able to start Payet, Lanzini, Valencia and Sakho in the same XI – a frightening combination of speed, vigour and invention – and Chelsea were fortunate to escape with a draw in this match. The Andy Carroll Roadshow is so much more effective when introduced after Sakho and Valencia have run themselves silly, as they did here. With Michail Antonio bombing forward from right-back, head smeared with touchline paint, the war cry from this breakneck West Ham team, when they get into top gear, is an intimidating one indeed.
