Potter axes Guido Rodriguez, two changes – West Ham predicted XI v Aston Villa
Graham Potter could drop Guido Rodriguez for West Ham United this weekend as the Irons head to Aston Villa.
Potter’s side head to Villa Park this Sunday (26 January), aiming to return to a winning note at a ground on which they were beaten in the new head coach’s first game in the FA Cup only a fortnight ago.
Injuries and suspensions scupper the boss’ selection process, but he remains with a number of talented players from whom he is expecting largely more than they have delivered so far this season.
Rodriguez could be axed as Mavropanos banned for West Ham
One change to the West Ham side will be forced upon Potter on Sunday, thanks to Konstantinos Mavropanos after his red card in last weekend’s London Stadium defeat by Crystal Palace (18 January).
As a result, Vladimir Coufal is likely to come in on the right-hand side of a back three which should also include Max Kilman and Aaron Cresswell, who despite his injury struggles has this week celebrated 300 Premier League appearances. Lukasz Fabianski will again be selected in goal.
Potter has a soft spot for the 3-4-3 shape he has played in previous jobs, and is expected to field Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson as full-backs, dropping into a back five shape for large anticipated spells of Aston Villa possession.
The midfield and attack are more difficult to predict with several options available, and after Rodriguez was hooked at half-time against Palace, his replacement Carlos Soler should start alongside Edson Alvarez in the centre.
Tomas Soucek could consequently be pushed up into a more advanced role, though can fill back in for an extra commanding body in the centre when Villa break forward at pace.
Elsewhere, two of Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus and Danny Ings will start. Ings is in the reckoning as the only out-and-out available striker, though a ‘false nine’ system could again be in operation with Paqueta and Kudus flexible in the forward areas.
In other West Ham news, the rumoured price the Hammers would have to pay for an on-loan Rangers winger is revealed.
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