This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
West Ham have offered little threat in attack in recent games but providing Sebastien Haller with a striker partner could be the solution they need.
On the chalkboard
The Hammers’ lack of form in front of goal is no secret. Only Haller and Andriy Yarmolenko have found the target with any kind of consistency this campaign and that has resulted in just 12 goals from ten league games throughout the whole side.
Despite that, Manuel Pellegrini has refused to tweak his tactics, resorting instead to a frequent change of personnel, as well as criticising the striker he brought in for £45m.
Find out why it’s not the football that has Newcastle fans dreading Saturday’s trip to the London Stadium in the video below…
Manuel Lanzini, Pablo Fornals and Robert Snodgrass have found themselves in and out of the team in recent games, and although the latter found a breakthrough against Sheffield United, the team looked lacklustre for large spells.
They had only four shots on target and were often nullified by the Blades’ effective five-at-the-back system, and with Newcastle likely to operate in the same fashion when they visit on Saturday, a change is needed.
Support for Haller
Some West Ham fans have been crying out for Haller to get more support, pointing out that the attacking midfielders are too frequently distanced from him, preventing any attacks developing or any service to him in the box.
That issue is even more likely to crop up against the Magpies who will sit deep, and therefore Pellegrini has to partner him up front with another striker.
The Chilean has often operated with a 4-2-3-1 in East London, though he did occasional pair Javier Hernandez with Marko Arnautovic last season.
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It is a formation that has only been seen four times in 2019, however, but given they have won only 12 times in 32 matches this year it could be a time for a change, especially since they’re without a win in five.
Furthermore, Haller flourished last year when partnered with Luka Jovic at Eintracht Frankfurt, helping himself to 20 goals and 12 assists in all competitions.
He has also averaged 7.1 aerial duels won in the league this term and therefore a poacher would be well-suited to playing off him, someone like Albian Ajeti who so far hasn’t been given a chance with just 20 minutes of league football played.
Newcastle have been relatively strong at the back this season with three clean sheets and only 15 goals conceded in 10 games – not bad considering they have just two wins – and therefore the Hammers will need more than just one striker trying to cause problems in the box.
