West Ham won a very important fixture last weekend as they beat Swansea City 1-0 at the London Stadium, and now this week they head to a Sunderland side that can’t buy a win right now!
And now, it’ll be vital that the Irons and Bilic get their team selection right in order to get a victory over Sunderland.
The Black Cats find themselves bottom of the league and without a goal in weeks as they suffered the latest of their defeats in a 3-0 drubbing from Manchester United and so they won’t be looking forward to this game by any means!
West Ham can give themselves some real leverage over the relegation zone if they pick up a victory this weekend, then, and can start looking up in the last six games of the season towards the top half of the table.
So with that, if Bilic picks this West Ham XI, Sunderland will have no chance this weekend at the Stadium of Light…
GK: DARREN RANDOLPH
Although he’s been a stand out star since breaking into the starting eleven, he has had his moments of shakiness in between the sticks.
Nothing new for a goalkeeper nowadays, even the very best make the odd mistake and sometimes it can go unnoticed but most times for a keeper a mistake leads to a goal. With Adrian waiting on the bench, another step up is needed from the Irish shot stopper!
RB: SAM BYRAM
Finally! Slaven Bilic is playing a right-back at right-back.
For whatever reason Bilic has favoured playing players out of position in this role rather than going with the out and out defender.
Not only that but the former Leeds United man showed the gaffer just what he was made of with a standout display in his side’s 1-0 victory over Swansea.
CB: JAMES COLLINS
The veteran centre-back was absolutely superb at the back against Swansea City last weekend and was in fact a vital player in his side’s 1-0 victory, without him it could have been a different story.
The Welsh international has come into the mix with injuries to Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna but even at his age he is showing the gaffer why he should be involved more often.
CB: JOSE FONTE
Fonte kept his first clean sheet as a West Ham player against Swansea and many of the Hammers punters here at the bar will be hoping it is the first of many more to come from the European Championships winner.
Fonte joined to add some stability to a shaky West Ham defence and until the game against the Swans he appeared to be struggling! Hopefully the clean sheet can help boost his confidence from here on out.
LB: ARTHUR MASUAKU
A mixed set emotions surround this lad from the West Ham punters here at the Transfer Tavern and that is in the best part due to Masuaku taking Cresswell’s spot who has been a fan favourite since his arrival from Ipswich Town.
But the England international has been under performing this season and a change was needed and when you have a Champions League experienced left-back on the bench, it was only going to be a matter of time before the change was made.
CDM: CHEIKHOU KOUYATE
The hero of the last fixture, with a great finish to seal the 1-0 victory for the Hammers.
In the absence of Mark Noble, he will need to step up as the last line of midfield. He is a player who loves to cover the entire pitch and is a true work horse, another great display is very much needed from the Senegalese midfielder.
RAM: SOFIANE FEGHOULI
Feghouli has shown moments of magic for West Ham, but equally at the same time has looked below par at times.
It’s never easy to come to the Premier League and make an instant impact but some players can do that and others can’t.
He has by no means had a poor first season in the league but if he is to remain at the club then he must improve next season. But for now he’ll keep his place with it being likely that Michail Antonio will be out of action through injury.
CAM: ANDRE AYEW
Ayew still is yet to really show his value for the record fee the club paid for him, but he is slowly coming good and is improving game on game since coming back from injuries and the AFCON.
He needs to get in amongst the goals and sit just behind the main striker, if we see the Ayew from his Swansea City days then it could spark something special in the West Ham team.
CAM: MANUEL LANZINI
The Argentine maestro has been superb for West Ham this season since the departure of Dimitri Payet and was even when he was at the club. But now the limelight isn’t just on the Frenchman and it appears that Lanzini’s finally able to show his true talents.
The 24-year-old needs to maintain his level into the end of the season to ensure that he helps his side in this tough period of fixtures.
LAM: ROBERT SNODGRASS
The Scot needs to get his first goal for the club as it’ll get the ball rolling, that is for sure! He’s been superb for Hull and looks close to reaching that for the Irons.
The Scottish international needs to get back to his best to help his side out at this vital stage of the season.
ST: ANDY CARROLL
Carroll didn’t start the last game, but it’s likely that the big Geordie will be called back into the starting eleven in this one.
The former Newcastle man would love nothing more than to get one over on his former rivals on the pitch. Carroll can be a vital player in the remainder of the season for West Ham and it is important that he continues to score as many goals as he possibly can to help his side climb the table.