Pundit: Gianluca Scamacca will improve in new West Ham United system as club battle relegation
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Frank McAvennie is expecting Gianluca Scamacca’s performance to improve in the second half of the season in the new West Ham formation.
The Hammers have adopted a three-at-the-back system in recent games and are unbeaten in their last three, beating Everton before draws with Newcastle and Chelsea.
The new system has seen the team look stronger defensively and they’ve looked far more of a threat going forward, something McAvennie believes will suit the Italian international once he returns from injury as he won’t be so isolated.
“They’ve got some decent players coming in, so I don’t understand why they’re not playing better than they are,” he told West Ham Zone.
“It’s a weird one. David, take the brakes off and just let them go and play. That’s what I’d like to see.
“I’m a fan of attacking players. It used to be one up front, now they’ve got players all over the place. I can’t wait for Scamacca to come back because he’ll love that.
“He’s been playing up front on his own whereas now they’ve got three up front. It’s been working.
“I think Scamacca will do better. They can put Antonio outside because he was a left winger anyway.
“Once everyone is fit again and back, I think it’ll work. I like it.
“Three at the back, you’ve got a sweeper and you’ve got someone with pace. I don’t mind that.
“But he’ll need to change it for certain games. You can’t just have that and I think David knows that. He’s got to change it for certain teams, because teams will get in behind you if they’ve got people who can run and then you’ll be in trouble.
“It’s horses for courses. I like it, as long as it’s played the right way. You have your three at the back, two in midfield, and then everyone else can go and play. That’s what I like in football.
“Rice can sit in the middle with whoever and let the rest just go and play football. That’s what you want to see.
“They’ve not played that kind of football for such a long time, but it’s all forgotten about if you’re getting results. Last year they got results, but this year unfortunately they’re not.”