One West Ham player who hasn’t been able to get a look-in since joining the club deserves to start at Nottingham Forest.
West Ham head to the City Ground knowing a win could transform the narrative around their season.
The word ‘unconvinced’ has been widely used by fans, pundits and journalists when discussing Julen Lopetegui’s Hammers tenure thus far.
Beat Forest, though, and West Ham would go within two points of the Premier League’s surprise package.
Follow that up with victory at home against Everton next week and Europe will be back in West Ham’s sights.
West Ham have two major problems this season.
Their midfield does not function effectively. It offers little protection to the defence and not enough guile in attack.
Lopetegui’s switch to use Edson Alvarez more as an auxiliary centre-back against Man United made a big difference to that.
West Ham were much improved as they got a welcome win.
Misfit who’s played just 108 minutes deserving of surprise start
But when the Hammers switch to that setup then chances become a premium at the other end.
And that’s where West Ham’s other big problem is found – the striker department.
The Hammers need to be ruthless and clinical when they switch to Alvarez in a truly defensive role.
With Niclas Fullkrug missing an eighth game in a row through injury and no sign of a return date, Lopetegui’s options are seriously limited.
The Spaniard is reportedly unhappy at his striker options and doesn’t believe soon-to-be 35-year-old Michail Antonio is the answer.
It’s easy to see why.
Michail Antonio has one goal in nine appearances this season. And he put up a similar ratio across last season too.
It’s not Antonio’s fault West Ham keep finding themselves relying on him.
He doesn’t keep renewing his own contract and selecting himself in the starting XI.
But the former non-league star has started to look increasingly like a busted flush in the Premier League.
That doesn’t mean he hasn’t got a big role to play at West Ham in what’s expected to be his final season.
However, a misfit who’s played just 108 minutes is deserving of a West Ham start at Nottingham Forest.
Why Ings deserves shock West Ham start in place of Antonio
Danny Ings has had an awful time since joining the Hammers for £15m in January 2023.
He has barely played let alone scored.
Ings has made one start for Lopetegui, in the League Cup, and four sub appearances in the Premier League.
He does have a goal and an assist to his name, though. And if assists were given for penalties he’d have two of those after winning the spot kick vs Man United.
Ings had accidentally assisted Crysencio Summerville for the goal which put West Ham 1-0 up on their way to an important 2-1 win.
The former Liverpool star scored a lovely goal to secure a last gasp draw at Fulham.
There were calls for him to get a start after that game.
But they fell on deaf ears.
Ings is a better and more clinical striker than Antonio
Every time he has come on, Ings has run his socks off for the team and harried defenders.
Lopetegui wants his side to play a pressing style and that starts with the striker.
The forward, especially if playing with one up top, is the player who sets the tone for the entire press.
Antonio may have more power and pace but he stopped being consistently effective with it some time ago now.
Ings’ record is actually much better than Antonio’s with a fraction of the minutes.
He is a better, more intelligent football player with the ball at his feet.
Antonio has been made into a forward whereas Ings has been a striker all his life.
So when West Ham need to be clinical with their chances, he should be the man leading the line to tuck them away.
Ings is deserving of a start at Forest.
Whether he gets it or not is another thing.
But don’t bet against him getting more minutes than usual and making an impact.
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