If Julen Lopetegui starts new signing against Chelsea, West Ham will get obliterated. West Ham United face a hugely important game against Chelsea in the Premier League at the weekend.
Julen Lopetegui enjoyed a magnificent summer transfer window at West Ham, with nine new players arriving at the London Stadium. The West Ham head coach also got rid of much of the deadwood, albeit with many of the fringe players only leaving on loan deals.
It has actually been claimed that the Spaniard is still in the market to bring in at least one more signing on a free transfer.
But for now, integrating the new players he’s already signed will surely be his main priority.
That will take patience and time, and one new signing in particular should not be rushed into action for the game against Chelsea on Saturday. Chelsea will obliterate West Ham if new-boy starts
A result against Chelsea this weekend is an absolute must as far as I’m concerned.
I would actually like to see a strong performance as well, but the result really is the be-all and end-all. And if Lopetegui is to guide his side to a much-needed victory, he must resist the temptation to start one of his shiny new toys.
Spanish midfielder Carlos Soler joined the Hammers last month from Paris Saint-Germain on a season-long loan deal. Carlos Soler travelled to East London on transfer deadline day before officially joining West Ham on loan right at the last minute.
He made his debut off the bench for the Hammers on Saturday away at Fulham, so could he get a start this weekend against Chelsea?
Listen, I love Soler as a player, and I think he’ll go on to become a tremendous player for us.
However, starting the Spaniard against Chelsea would be a kamikaze move from Lopetegui.
Starting Carlos Soler for West Ham vs Chelsea a no-go. The 27-year-old is still miles off the pace of Premier League football, and although I have no doubts that he will get up to speed with it soon, the Chelsea game will come way too early.
The midfield battle will be vital at the London Stadium on Saturday. Chelsea have one of the best central midfield partnerships in the league in the form of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo.
They have the perfect blend of power, intelligence, creativity, energy and guile.
If Soler is thrown in from the start, we could get overrun by the Blues.
I would play Lucas Paqueta just in front of Edson Alvarez and Guido Rodriguez against the Blues. That would enable Crysencio Summerville to play out wide on the left, with Mohammed Kudus on the right and Jarrod Bowen in the middle.
And more importantly, it would ensure that Tomas Soucek doesn’t start, as harsh as that may well sound. Carlos Soler needs to bide his time at West Ham and be patient – the Chelsea clash isn’t the game to throw him in at the deepend as far as I’m concerned.
