ThewolfDebate has raged over the international break about West Ham’s best starting XI now the club have so many options.
In terms of selection headaches, the Hammers boss probably has a splitting migraine.
As far as many fans are concerned new striker Niclas Fullkrug or Jarrod Bowen are the only choices to lead the line for a fully fit West Ham squad this season.
Lopetegui says he is giving Fullkrug until today before making a decision on whether he is fit enough to face the Cottagers after an injury knock with Germany.
Lopetegui makes bold claim about West Ham new boy Soler
If Fullkrug is ruled out it narrows Lopetegui’s options. But it doesn’t necessarily make his job choosing West Ham’s starting XI easier.
With so many new players to integrate, the Hammers boss is searching for his ideal system and setup.
There have been some glimpses of improvement and West Ham did well in spells against Man City.
It is the middle of the park where West Ham’s new head coach has his biggest dilemma, though.
West Ham have the always reliable Tomas Soucek, enforcer Edson Alvarez, impressive new star Guido Rodriguez, Lucas Paqueta, PSG loanee Carlos Soler and perhaps even Mohammed Kudus competing for two or three positions.
And there may be bad news for two top West Ham stars as Lopetegui makes a bold claim about Soler.
Paqueta is making Lopetegui’s life particularly difficult, but for the wrong reasons.
The Brazilian has been bang out of form since the middle of last season.
With his very future in the game to be decided by a three-person panel at some point in the next year, Paqueta looks like a man distracted.
Lopetegui has moved him back to his central role but Paqueta is not doing it right now and his place, given West Ham’s options, has to be under threat.
Soucek was the player many expected to be the biggest casualty of the new manager coming in.
But he has been starting and influencing matches at both ends.
Soucek was dropped against Man City, though. And many believe that is the first sign of his transition to a bench role.
To most Alvarez would one of the first names on West Ham’s teamsheet. His form tailed off in the second half of last season and there is a niggling feeling he may have been angling for a move in the summer before his Copa America ending injury.
Alvarez was noticeably angered when he has been substituted as he works his way back to full fitness.
Then there’s Rodriguez. The Argentine has been superb so far and looks great business on a free.
He has done nothing to lose his place so it’s between Paqueta, Alvarez, Soucek and Soler for two positions in the medium to long-term.
Soler did not have a full or normal pre-season at PSG. Lopetegui has admitted he is behind the others at West Ham as a result.
But make no mistake, the manager is making it clear Soler will be a regular fixture in the team once he catches up.
Places of Soucek and Paqueta or Alvarez are on the line
And that looks bad news for Soucek and Paqueta or Alvarez.
Soler can play in both defensive and offensive midfield roles.
“It’s been good working with Carlos since he came in, and helping him understand the way we want to play,” Lopetegui said in his press conference ahead of Fulham.
“He’s a good player, at a good age, and he can help us in a different position.”
Lopetegui’s comments on Soler come after he waxed lyrical about his compatriot last week too.
“I think that Carlos Soler is a good player and he is going to help us, for sure,” Lopetegui said when reflecting on West Ham’s defeat to Man City last time out.
“He is maybe at his best age, as he’s 27, he has international experience and is a very good player.
“He has a good profile for us as he can play in different positions and I think he is going to help us to be better.”
The fact Lopetegui is building Soler up to be a key player in terms of helping his new-look team become better says it all.
It is now perfectly clear Soler will be a start in midfield as soon as he is deemed fit enough.
So the writing looks to be on the wall for Soucek and one of Alvarez or Paqueta.
They say competition is healthy.
And it will be if it raises the levels of the midfield as they fight for their places in what is the most competitive area of the squad.
On paper Paqueta and Soler should be an ideal midfield pairing alongside a defensive player.
But can West Ham really leave out Alvarez or Rodriguez?
This is why Lopetegui gets paid the big bucks to make the big calls.
It will be fascinating to see how it unfolds and which players step up to the plate and perform.
Thewolf
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