‘West Ham fans will completely disagree with what I think needs to happen with Wan-Bissaka’
Nuno Santo needs to find a solution at West Ham, and Tony Cascarino thinks he may have one.
West Ham’s season went from bad to worse against Leeds on Friday night, with Mateus Fernandes scoring a consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat at Elland Road.
It leaves the Hammers second bottom of the Premier League, and with just one win from their first nine games of the season.
West Ham face the risk of relegation if things don’t improve, and Cascarino thinks he may have found a way that the Irons can improve their game going forward, though he immediately accepted it would be an unpopular opinion.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka mooted for new role under Nuno Santo
Jarrod Bowen has been the only real light for West Ham this season, with very few other players giving a good account of themselves.
However, not far behind Bowen is Wan-Bissaka, who has been consistent for West Ham this season, even if he has not been at his best.
The DR Congo defender was one of the Hammers’ best players last season, and more often than not, was one of only a few players who emerged from games regularly with extra credit in the bank.
However, when discussing West Ham’s plight on talkSPORT, Cascarino identified the 27-year-old as a potential solution to the biggest problem Nuno faces at the London Stadium.
With that said, he made it clear it would be an unpopular opinion.
“Now [Nuno’s] got to find solutions“, Cascarino said.
“One thing I would do immediately, and people might completely disagree with me on this, I would play Wan-Bissaka as a holding midfielder.
“I wouldn’t play him as a full-back, because he can get around on the pitch.. He’s a good athlete, and he’s a good defender in one-on-ones.
“Get him around players so he can win the ball. I’d take a risk and play him there.”
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West Ham have been spineless in midfield
Cascarino raises a fair point, whether you agree with his solution or not.
West Ham don’t have that midfield enforcer that is required to thrive in the Premier League, and on far too many occasions, it has led to them being overloaded centrally.
If Wan-Bissaka filled in there, it would leave a gap at full-back, though there would be an argument to be had that it would be far easier to strengthen there in January than it would be in the heart of midfield.
Tomas Soucek is past his best, and, let’s face it, Andy Irving should be nowhere near the starting 11.
It is definitely food for thought on Nuno’s behalf, who needs to find a remedy, and fast.
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