Converting players…

[threesixty]

I’ve always been impressed by a managers ability to convert players from 1 position to another and solve problems. Joe Linton from striker to midfield general etc..

Who would be a candidate for that in our team?

My shout would be AWB to Central Midfielder. Given that we have KWP who can play RB. 
I just think he has the skill, can time tackles very well (better than anyone on the team) and has pace.
Everything we lack in the midfield.

Who else?
 

[John Drake]

Mads can become Nuno's latest technical innovation. The False 1.

Isn’t he already a false #1?

Yeah, that was kinda the joke. Doh!

[southbankbornnbred]

Mads can become Nuno's latest technical innovation. The False 1.

Isn’t he already a false #1?

[GreenStreetPlayer]

Soucek as a CB.
Diouf as a box to box midfielder as he can’t defend.
AWB to a midfielder.
 

[John Drake]

Mads can become Nuno's latest technical innovation. The False 1.

[Sweep]

Turning Hermadsen into the next Eyal Berkovic is our best bet at the moment 

More likely than turning him into a PL goalkeeper.

[F 129 Row66]

I thought this thread was going to be about religion, which reminds me that I read somewhere that at Twickenham stadium, Billy Graham tried to convert 100 people he managed 90 but 10 bounced back off the posts.

[Gary Strodders shank]

Steve Potts could do a half decent job wherever he was played and despite his lack of inches was a very capable central defender.

Antonios strength pace and athleticism allowed him to be effective wherever he was played and turned out to be a very effective centre forward at his peak when converted by Moyes

George Parris would do a job wherever selected and give it his all.

Bonzo naturally became a centre half as the legs got older and continued to lead by example.

Tony Gale a midfielder at Fulham became a classy ball playing centre half who would much prefer to take a ball down on his chest rather than head it such was his class.

Hayden Mullins although primarily played in a defensive midfield role for us was signed as a utility player and could be called upon to fill in as a centre back even left back when required.

He was another very underrated player keeping Mascherano out the side.

All those mentioned above had something about them and would be prepared to give it a go.

Good lads one and all.
 

[zico]

Geoff Hurst was the obvious one, inspired decision by Ron. Not a major change of position but I think Alan Dev was a right winger originally but I remember he played most of his career on the left. Martin Peters seemed to do well anywhere as he wore every shirt from 1-11.  Outside West Ham Thierry Henri was probably one of the most sucessfull, as he joined Arsenal as a winger.  And was it Harry who moved Bale up from left back to a flying winger?

[Massive Attack]

Was it Moyes who moved Rice up to DM or Pellegrini? 

Bilic first played him there and Pellegrini developed him further. 

https://talksport.com/football/2988687/ ... idfielder/

 

 

https://www.sportbible.com/football/dec ... n-20220819

[Mad Ferret]

Antonio and Arnautovic to CF were both hella successful.

Thank you, Mr Moyes.

[dealcanvey]

Arnie and Antonio. Arguably two of our best forwards in recent years. Mainly because we have been so bad at signing them but still Moyes done well to spot the potential there especially in Arnie who has played as an ST ever since.

Was it Moyes who moved Rice up to DM or Pellegrini? 

[,]

I like the way that Arteta has converted Declan.

[WHUDeano]

Steve Potts from a right back to a centre back was successful. I’d play KWP & AWB ahead of Kilman & Todibo they’re so poor. In fact I’d play almost anyone who can tackle ahead of those two. In an ideal world I’d never have to see either player in a West Ham shirt ever again. 

[Keep dreaming]

Strength 
Pace
Agility
Ability
Smartness

How many of our players tick a majority of these boxes?
Our current midfield and defence ticks NONE
 

[Massive Attack]

If Nuno has anything to do with converting players after that last fiasco then it's a big fat no from me. That Full Back and Paqueta experiments will live long in the memory of how not to do it.

[southbankbornnbred]

I absolutely take the point about the horrible position we're in - and trying to find the right blend of players in midfield. We are hopeless in that key area at the moment and have been since Rice left.

But I just don't fancy the chances of most players in this squad being able to adapt to a brand new position, in a different part of the team, while we're in the middle of a huge dogfight for points. The fans will slaughter them. Especially if we try a full-back there ahead of Potts, for example.

Plus, AWB is our best right back. I know KWP has played pretty well there - and fair play to him: he's been better than I thought. But in terms of ability, AWB is the better player. He was class last season.

Play your best players in their best positions is surely the best starting point?

[Massive Attack]

Good ol' Joe.

[Niblets]

'Joe Linton'

FMOB

[southbankbornnbred]

Frank McAvennie was a midfielder when we signed him.

 

 

But Frank had already played a few games upfront in Scotland. Which is why Lyall, who knew what he was doing, pushed him up there after Goddard's injury.

[Massive Attack]

Bilic first played him there and Pellegrini developed him even further. Fuck all to do with Moyes and he admitted that himself upon his return stating to Rice "Fuck me you got good!".
 

[Mad Ferret]

Declan Rice from an alright Centre Half in to an outstanding Defensive Midfielder.

Thank you, Mr Moyes.

[Massive Attack]

Declan Rice from an alright Centre Half in to an outstanding Defensive Midfielder.

[Big head]

Ian Pearce springs to mind. 

 

[Jaan Kenbrovin]

Frank McAvennie was a midfielder when we signed him.

[Sir Alf]

Interesting discussion about Paqueta, converting players and shows our desperation.  

IMHO Paqueta is a number 8 lying a bit deeper with a little bit more space and time and not with his back to goal. He plays as no 8 for Brazil and was a standout player for Lyon when he played there as he can contribute defensively and is physically strong enough to win the ball and protect it. 

In terms of converting players, agree its probably AWB or, at a stretch, “Pot Head” Todibo to provide some speed, athleticism, strength in centre mid to plug that chasm Rice left.  Its the abject failure in replacing Rice that has cost us more than anything else IMO. Yes inadequate / disasterous transfer business in the striker and CB areas has also impacted but our drubbings and games like Monday night showed how non existent our central midfield is.  If Nuno leaves that area with less than 3 in there he is yet another who is gettingbpaud a lot of money but lacks the ability to “see the bleedin obvious”.  Compact, combative midfields win games as they get and keep the ball and its where most of the game is played. A strong midfield cuts out a lot of the dangers ( crosses, passes thru the lines etc) before they become a problem to the defence.  

Will Nuno convert someone to solve issues other than a false 9 ( which has never worked ) ?  I highly doubt it. He’s a bit too conservative usually although if last Monday is anything to go by… maybe not