Julen Lopetegui made a handful of surprise changes in our 2-1 victory over Manchester United last weekend.
But while we ended up winning the game, it wasn’t his starting XI that made it happen. In fact, our showing in the first half was poor and we were lucky to go in level at the break.
United missed a handful of clear cut chances and if it wasn’t for their wastefulness in front of goal, they would’ve been out of sight by half-time.
Lopetegui made three changes at the break, bringing on Tomas Soucek, Jean-Clair Todibo and Crysencio Summerville for Carlos Soler, Lucas Paqueta and Dinos Mavropanos, and instantly we looked a lot more balanced in midfield and dangerous in attack.
While United still enjoyed more of the ball and had more attempts on goal in the second half, we made it a lot harder for them to break us down as their xG went from 1.48 in the first-half to just 0.64 in the second.
Meanwhile, our threat intensified after those changes. We didn’t have a single shot on target in the first-half but in the second, we had 11 attempts on goal, three of which were on target. Our xG in the first-half was 0.04 – it increased to 2.94 in the second.
So it was obvious the team in the second half was a lot more balanced and suited to Lopetegui’s system, which is why it would be absolutely crazy not to go with that XI when we travel to Nottingham Forest this weekend.
It means Lukasz Fabianski keeps his place in goal, Paqueta is dropped to the bench and Summerville gets the Premier League start he so desperately deserves.
A midfield of Edson Alvarez, Guido Rodriguez and Tomas Soucek looks incredibly physical and somewhat cumbersome but it just worked in that second half against Man United.
Alvarez was everywhere, Rodriguez’s positioning is improving with every game and Tomas Soucek’s improved passing means we have a really good link between midfield and attack, while his defensive traits means out of possession with have someone there who is able to keep up with the play and provide additional cover for the back four.
It’s not the most attractive starting XI on paper but it’s one that has proven to have the best balance of midfield solidity and attacking threat so far this season.
We then have the likes of Paqueta and Soler on the bench to call upon if West Ham are in need of some additional creativity in the second-half.
That’s why Lopetegui should go with this starting XI against Nottingham Forest on Saturday…