We’ve signed a lot of great players this summer. Yarmelenko will add pace, goals and creativity from the wing in the absence of Lanzini. Fredericks will provide another outlet going forward in the absence of Zaba’s speed. Wilshere will give us another ball playing midfielder with the pass to open up defences. Throw in Felipe Anderson, us and Andy Carroll will be having a party.
But what has gone under the radar is Pellegrini’s intention to move Declan Rice to a holding midfielder. Initially, I thought it was a cheap ploy by Sullivan, who wouldn’t give Manuel the money to give us a William Carvalho type player. But then I remembered Rice’s second game for the club in the Premier League. He came on for the last 20 minutes of the second half against Manchester United in the first game of last season. He wasn’t fazed by the roar of Old Trafford or the occasion and he continued to be composed in possession, keeping the ball to give the defenders a break from Martial and co. And then he was martialled back into central defence, never to be seen in that position again.
What Rice gives us that Noble and Obiang don’t is his energy. He’s got enough pace to stay busy in front of Ogbonna and Diop and he has the defensive attributes to drop into a back five if necessary. He might be the player to allow Wilshere and Noble to focus on their distribution and give our invigorated front line the opportunities to make chances and score goals.
It’s an exciting season for West Ham but it may be one of our youngsters, under the tutelage of Pellegrini, surrounded by top quality players like Wilshere, that could prove to be the difference to our fortunes.
