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CanningTownWA 8:10 Sat Sep 16
Hernandez

Fair assessment from the Guardian

How does Bilic get the best out of Hernández?
West Ham United rallied around their beleaguered manager and went back to basics against Huddersfield on a wet and windy night at the London Stadium, securing their first league win with the kind of ugly performance that would make the likes of Lionel Messi think twice about playing in the famously tough Premier League. Slaven Bilic covered up his defence’s ponderousness by playing a back three, Michail Antonio created problems by bulldozing down both flanks and Andy Carroll’s uncomplicated game unsettled their opponents

Yet while Bilic bought himself some time, the win was built on shaky foundations. West Bromwich Albion are unlikely to be overawed by Carroll’s aerial threat at the Hawthorns, while the inclusion of the big striker against Huddersfield saw Javier Hernández shunted out to the left flank, where he was unsurprisingly ineffective and eventually substituted. The return of Marko Arnautovic from suspension could see the Mexican dropped to the bench, with Carroll continuing to lead the line instead. It is enough to make one wonder if West Ham have thought this through properly. Hernández’s scoring record at Manchester United and Bayer Leverkusen was impressive but because he is not at his best linking play, United often used him as an impact substitute. For a top team chasing a goal, he is a major asset. For a lesser side needing to relieve pressure, £16m signing Hernández lacks stature. He would probably be more dangerous playing alongside Carroll in a classic front two, but then the dilemma for Bilic would be how to fit Antonio, Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini into his attack.

In theory West Ham’s lone striker should be Diafra Sakho, who is quick, strong and dangerous. However the Senegalese needs to regain Bilic’s trust after his deadline-day shenanigans, meaning that West Ham could once again find themselves relying on Carroll, without necessarily being set up to exploit his strengths properly. Carroll has much to offer when he is fit but his presence also make the team too direct, making it harder to stretch opponents, cramping space for creative players. It is up to Bilic to find the right balance. JS

Sven Roeder 8:38 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

JS is Jacob Steinberg who is a West Ham fan as well so he understands West Ham.
It IS hard to pick a balanced team that suits our players.

You could argue that both Carroll and Hernandez are suited best to be impact subs!

Sniper 8:47 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

At home if we had carvalho, we could go two up top, Lanzini in behind and a diamond midfield with Antonio and arnautovic

But the full/wing backs would really need to be on top of their game for that to work

HairyHammer 9:18 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

Without Lanzini or a creative outlet with some difficulty.
It will not be easy with Carroll either sometimes big and small do not go, but he is class and I am sure will find his way soon but as i and someone below have said he needs someone behind him to open things up.

PwoperNaughtyButNot 9:29 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

Lazy reactionary journalism to me.

Hernandez played well against Huddersfield and could well have had his goal. After playing for Mexico he looked tired and was subbed.

He is our leading scorer and without injury he will be come the end of the season. His link up play actually looks good and his ability to take the ball from deep and create space with creativity is good. He isn't just a poacher.

It's a squad game now and players will get rotated. It happens

Justin P 11:03 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

All these folk moaning he's wasted out on the left, he can play closer to Andy you know!

Cresswell is the out and out left winger in this formation

Stubbo 11:20 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

Even if he plays closer to Carroll the fact that we just go long ball with Andy means it doesn't help.

Teams dont push up and play offside, so flickons don't go beyond the last man for Chicha to run onto... They get mopped up by the defenders who've dropped off expecting the flick on.

Chicha needs clever through balls, low cut backs and one-two passing openings.

He's unlikely to get that with Andy in the side.

Sven Roeder 11:35 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

I think we need to concentrate on is Carroll pulling on to the left hand post and committing centre halves to him to make space for Antonio on the right.
If you can isolate Antonio one on one it makes a problem for defenders. If a centre half tries to mark him he will turn them and run them ragged. If it's a full back like Huddersfield tried he can bully them physically. And still outrun them.

Willtell 11:38 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

For me this article is correct really. I think that it shows some more doubts about our manager's decision making. He has only ever played one striker at WH iirc.

It's nice to have Chicharito and Andy Carroll but were they ever intended to play together?

When AC is fit he always seems to play. So should Chicharito on his wages and I don't suppose he came expecting to be an impact sub as he was at Man Utd.

How Bilic gets them playing together will be the deciding factor on whether he keeps his job I suspect.

Vexed 11:44 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

What he's basically saying is that Bilc is a total fucking spack . I don't think there's much to argue with.

Takashi Miike 11:46 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

for today I'd put the big lad on the bench and play arnautovic. that would give us two options from the bench + Ayew if we need to chase the game. Pulis will no doubt have planned all week for Carroll so I'd change it up. possibly even Sakho starting instead of Arnie to give us a bit more pace

Vexed 11:47 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

Would you play three CBs miike?

Private Dancer 11:49 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

Most of the summer all it was we are short of strikers, now it seems like we have too many. If playing one up top and players staying fit it does give Bilic a headache. I see it that either Arnie or Hernadez start, not both, assuming Carroll or Sakho start.

Sven Roeder 11:57 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

Without Lanzini I think we are almost forced to play this Wimbledon style with a back 3 and a tactic of HITTING THE BIG LAD as we can't keep the ball in midfield or make passes.

Another midfielder with quality who can control a game was on the preseason list of must haves along with more pace and energy. Which were the bits Bilic identified.
And didn't get.

Stubbo 11:57 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

PD. It is kind if amusing... There was a glamour for more striker signings and suddenly we have too many.

I think Bilic will have planned to play 4 5 1 with Lanzini providing the artistry and Antonio and Arnie pace and power... Trouble is that's not been possible so the Carroll plan B is suddenly plan A.

Private Dancer 12:01 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

It's unlikely that he will never even have to make a big call anyway since we always have someone injured, plus tactics can change for different games. Hernandez played on the left against Hudd, so if Arnie was available Hernandez would have been sub.

It's also tempting to pick Carroll as he is also very good defensively.

Justin P 12:02 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

Reply Takashi Miike 11:46 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez
for today I'd put the big lad on the bench and play arnautovic. that would give us two options from the bench + Ayew if we need to chase the game. Pulis will no doubt have planned all week for Carroll so I'd change it up. possibly even Sakho starting instead of Arnie to give us a bit more pace

I would say Arnie is quicker over the ground than Sakho

Takashi Miike 12:03 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

Justin, I'd be happy with either starting instead. nothing against Carroll but I think a less aerial attack will help us and he can come on second half

Takashi Miike 12:05 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

Vexed, yes I would but I'd possibly bring Ogbonna in for Fonte or Collins. they didn't do a lot wrong against Huddersfield so he may stay with the same three

theaxeman 12:09 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

I agree pretty much with all that, said before we signed Hernandez he wasnt what we needed. Our transfer policy is dim witted at best, whether thats down to put 'Director of Football' or the manager is open to debate.
Personally I'd play Sakho as suggested and being Carroll or Hernandez on to change things if necessary

Pagey 12:37 Sat Sep 16
Re: Hernandez

Yet everyone was raving, and rightly so, about Hernandez when he scored two Chicharito specials against Southampton?

One game later, in which he still hit the bar and should have scored, and there's suddenly a problem? We had Calleri leading the line last season. Now THAT'S a fucking problem!

Deciding who to play each week out of Carroll, Hernandez and Sakho doesn't seem to be a problem in comparison.

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