Julen Lopetegui rang the changes once again for our defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend and it backfired massively.
We need consistency in the starting XI if we’re going to start getting consistency with our performances and results.
The hope and expectation was that he would stick with the XI that played in the second half against Man United a week earlier. We looked a lot better then, and were much better than United in that 45 minutes. But he switched to a back five and dropped Michail Antonio for the Forest clash, which left everyone scratching their heads.
West Ham host struggling Everton this weekend and quite frankly, it’s a must-win game for Lopetegui. With an international break next week and then games against Newcastle and Arsenal to follow immediately after, picking up nothing less than three points is incredibly vital for the club.
With that in mind, Lopetegui really needs to revert to a team and formation that he knows has the ability to play well and execute his tactical philosophy.
That would normally include Edson Alvarez but his suspension means there has to be some tweaks to that XI, but we should have Tomas Soucek available again after he missed last week through illness.
Soucek has been in great form this season and should be one of the first names on the team sheet at the moment. We look far better and more balanced when he’s in the side, so he should start against the Toffees this weekend.
Antonio should return to lead the line up front, and we hope Crysencio Summerville gets more than 45 minutes this time around – he certainly deserves it.
So, here’s a look at what we think Lopetegui’s starting XI will be against Everton on Saturday afternoon…
What do you think?
