West Ham’s welcome victory against bottom club Southampton illustrates again one facet of the Hammers’ head coaches’ strategy which is baffling: Lopetegui’s continuing reluctance to play the strongest squad – in their strongest places- from the start- is a source of continual head scratching.
It is as if the Spaniard has made his mind up and just doubles down on bad decisions, hoping week after week that one day his selection will pay off and the Hammers will rocket into a two or three goal lead in the first half.
It just never happens.
Starting Kudus on the left always looks a bad decision, whilst there is Crysencio Summerville sitting watching on. OK, by all means start Kudus OR Bowen on the right, with the other in the central role. But Still Lopetegui persists with ‘star boy’ out of position and ‘Cry’ on the bench.
Is it the principle I wonder, of the ‘Lopetegui way’? A stubborn nature, and desire to show ‘who is the boss’ over riding what is in the team’s best interest – or just a harmless but determined interpretation of how he wants to deploy his resources.
Either way, West Ham look far stronger when Kudus moves away from the left. From the comments yesterday clearly not everyone agrees that Summerville is a shoe-in for the left side. But struggling for so much of the game against the bottom team in the league – with creative fast young players on the bench – can’t pass without comment.
Perhaps the answer is just to take the move up to thirteenth spot ahead of Manchester United and be happy for the dodgy three points, however they come. And look forward to the Liverpool game as a ‘nothing to lose’ fixture. Maybe next time Kudus will get his move away from the left. Bet you he scores.
