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There is something wrong at West Ham United.
They may have won at the weekend in pulsating fashion, as they came from 3-1 down to defeat Huddersfield Town 4-3 but there are problems plaguing the club.
For a start, they were terrible against the nearly-relegated Terriers, turning in a performance of such ineptitude in the first hour that it would not have been a surprise to see Huddersfield take a 5-1 lead.
That the catalyst for the turnaround was former fan favourite Marko Arnautovic leaving the pitch somewhat sums it all up; he flirted with China in January and was roundly booed when he jogged off to be replaced by Lucas Perez.
Football FanCast also understands that there will be a significant restructuring of the club’s strike-force this summer. Javier Hernandez, Perez and Andy Carroll are all likely to leave.
Add to that the club’s wild fluctuations in form – they have beaten Arsenal this season but also lost to Cardiff City – and you have a very puzzling picture indeed.
FFC has a look at three ways Manuel Pellegrini can sort the mess out.
Sell Arnautovic and reinvest
This one appears obvious but a source at the club has told FFC that Arnautovic could actually stay at the club this summer.
But the clause in his contract allowing him to leave if a £45million bid is tabled remains active. If the Hammers receive an offer north of £30m, they should take it and look to reinvest the money elsewhere.
There are gaps in the squad that need filling; Pablo Zabaleta needs replacing at right-back, there is a need for midfield reinforcements and as many as four strikers could be recruited if Perez, Hernandez and Carroll also go.
Arnautovic doesn’t appear to have much interest in staying at the club and the fans don’t seem to have much attachment to him.
Sending him on to pastures new makes sense for all concerned.
Build around Rice
Declan Rice is the most exciting player to come out of West Ham’s academy in years.
A genuinely brilliant defensive midfielder, he could be set to win his first England cap this week when the Three Lions take on the Czech Republic and has turned it on in some of the Irons’ biggest games this season.
He scored his first ever goal for the club against Arsenal and also turned in a heroic display against Liverpool.
Pellegrini, then, should make him the focal point of his team and accentuate his multitude of strengths.
Making Rice the key man has a two-pronged effect. For one, he is more likely to stay at the club despite the obvious reported interest from the likes of Manchester City, and secondly, it makes the Irons better.
They have all too often relied on players who are prone to mood swings or transfer sagas. Leave the likes of Arnautovic and Dimitri Payet in the past and build around the 20-year-old.
Bring the best out of Felipe Anderson
Felipe Anderson is something of an enigma. He is a streaky player at the best of times but when he is on song the tune is something quite beautiful.
So good have been his performances, he was included in the Brazil squad this month.
But he has not scored for West Ham since December, when he netted both goals in a 2-1 win over Southampton.
He is on an 11-game scoreless streak in the Premier League, the longest of his Hammers career, and he has laid on just two assists in that time.
That isn’t good enough.
If West Ham are to progress next season and climb the table, Pellegrini needs to find a way to bring the best out of Anderson on a consistent basis.
He has shown in sporadic bursts that he is worth the £36m the Irons paid for him, so it is about time he starts paying it back with more regularity.
