West Ham were far from their best in the 2017/18 season, finishing 13th in the Premier League under the guidance of former Manchester United manager David Moyes. The absence of Dmitri Payet was sorely felt, but with the resurgence of Marko Arnautovic, the Hammers were able to hold on for another season.
Manuel Pellegrini has now taken the reigns and he must guide the squad back into the top-half of the league table. The Chilean manager does not lack experience when it comes to the English league, having guided Manchester City to their first ever Premier League title win.
West Ham were leaking goals from all sides last season, conceding a whopping 68 goals in the league. Hence, ahead of the next term, Pellegrini should revive the defence.
In his quest to do so, the manager has signed Ryan Fredericks on a free transfer from Fulham. The 25-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-year contract at London Stadium and he will arrive next month.
Fredericks missed just four of Fulham’s 52 matches in all competitions last season, as he helped them win promotion to the Premier League.
Here, we take a look at how the new player can fit into the Hammers’ defence.
The 4-4-2 formation
Manuel Pellegrini is a beloved fan of this system. He deployed the same formation in his title-winning match against QPR, which saw Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero score two stoppage-time goals. The Chilean prefers old-school orthodox wing-backs and could give Fredericks a run for his money.
Joe Hart (GK)
Pellegrini won the Premier League with Joe Hart between the sticks. Hence, there’s no way he’ll play any other keeper in that spot.
Ryan Fredericks (RB)
Zabaleta has served the Hammers respectfully but it’s now time for Fredericks to step in and make a name for himself. The age factor is likely to restrict the Argentinian veteran to the bench.
Angelo Ogbonna (CB)
Agile and tall, Ogbonna was one of West Ham’s most consistent performers in the league. Despite being 30 years of age, the centre-back boasts a considerable amount of speed. The Italian could commandeer the defence next season and take his game to the next level.
Declan Rice (CB)
At the age of just 19, the Irish centre-half has shown glimpses of solidity at the back. If he maintains consistency, he could just be the best partner to Ogbonna.
Arthur Masuaku (LB)
The French defender is known for having tons of tricks up his sleeve. He dazzled the Hammers’ faithful for a good majority of the previous campaign and the player must secure the left-back role for himself.
The 3-4-2-1 formation
The manager could also utilize this formation with the current West Ham squad. In this situation, Declan Rice, Angelo Ogbonna and Aaron Creswell would be part of a three-man backline, while Fredericks and Masuaku will occupy the wing-back roles.
