West Ham Transfers – How Will This New Buy Fit In At The Olympic Stadium?

Slaven Bilic’s West Ham United managed to back up their victory over Crystal Palace last weekend with a comfortable triumph over Middlesbrough as they look to climb the points table in the second half of the domestic campaign. The squad has been constantly hit by injuries recently and the manager has been looking at a few additions in the transfer window and has already completed the signing of a top class defender in Jose Fonte from Southampton. The 33-year old signed a contract with the London club for a price believed to be around the £8m mark and though he was not a part of the game against Boro, he is expected to be in action next weekend against Manchester City.

So what is the combination that suits West Ham with Fonte in their side?

The manager at the club has not found a lot of success with a back-4 system early this season and Bilic has ever since stuck to a 3-man defense with a couple of wing-backs on the sides. In the game against Crystal Palace, James Collins, Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna were used in the back-3 with Michail Antonio and Aaron Creswell on either flank. The defensive trio has played enough together to form a decent partnership but they have not been able to provide the kind of solidity that West Ham needs in the Premier League.

In the previous game, Bilic decided to drop James Collins and went back to a 4-man defense with Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna at the heart of the back line. But in both system’s Jose Fonte is expected to walk into the side straight away. The 33-year old EURO16 winning defender is more experienced than any other defender at the club and is expected to add some mettle to the back line for West Ham. The likes of Carroll, Lanzini, Antonio and Feghouli have all been decent in the final third recently but the Hammers have failed to add the required strength at the back that is necessary to win games.

New Zealand defender, Winston Reid, has arguably been their best player at the back recently and he is expected to be the first choice center back for West Ham for the rest of the season. While, on the other hand, Ogbonna had a memorable season last time around but he has not been at his best this season which has not really helped West Ham’s cause. Collins has also been decent and this might pose the manager with a small problem.

The former Southampton man is at his best at the middle of a back-3 acting as a sweeper and Bilic should use him in that position more often than not. Ogbonna should stick to his place on the left leaving Bilic to take a decision on Reid and Collins. The latter has been decent on the right of a back-3 for West Ham this season but Reid is certainly a better option for the Hammers in crunch games.

The duo will be expected to be reduced to the bench if the manager decides to go with a 4-man defense but at the moment, Reid, Fonte and Ogbonna are expected to be the first choice center back pairing for West Ham this season. Fonte’s experience, not just in Europe but also in the Premier League, is surely going to make West Ham harder to beat.

What do you think West Ham’s best setup is including Jose Fonte?