Football is a game of opinions, and it just so happens that many West Ham United supporters appear to be siding with Bobby Zamora rather than Nuno Espirito Santo.
Scorer of 40 goals for the East London outfit between 2004 and 2008, Zamora knows a thing or two about leading the line in claret and blue.
And he feels that Nuno would benefit from starting Callum Wilson alongside Taty Castellanos, rather than introducing the former off the bench in a desperate pursuit of a game-winning goal. Zamora’s argument is fuelled by the fact that, only moments after coming on in the second half of Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Bournemouth, Wilson very nearly broke the deadlock.
What to do with Wilson? ⚒️
Start him? Or keep him as an impact sub?
An instinctive flicked effort at the front post kept out by a flying Djordje Petrovic. It was only last month, meanwhile, when Wilson’s stoppage-time heroics stunned Tottenham Hotspur. He possesses the best goals-per-minutes ratio of any player in Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad.
West Ham United fans want Callum Wilson to start against Liverpool
But therein lies the dilemma. At the age of 33, is Wilson better suited to life as an impact sub; protecting his ageing limbs and unleashing him in short bursts?
Or, because Pablo Felipe faces another few weeks out with a calf injury, should Nuno instead be looking to play Wilson for the first hour rather than the last half-hour, starting with Liverpool at Anfield next time out?
“[Nuno] should have started Wilson as he’s the natural goal poacher. Taty is a good ball chaser but not as good as Wilson as a striker. When he came, on he had two shots straight away,” one Hammers News reader writes on our Facebook page./
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
“Callum knows the score playing Liverpool,” another says, Wilson having scored a staggering 11 goals in 16 matches against the Premier League champions. “He must start with Taty.”
“Should have played two up top from the start. Nuno is too negative.”
“We have been better and more threatening when we have had two up front. Either Taty and Pablo or Taty and Wilson. Need that for the remainder of the run in!”
“Should have started both [Wilson and Castellanos]. Would have been the difference.”
“Well-battled point. Need to start with two up front.”
Wilson role divides fans as Hammers fail to break Bournemouth resolve
The Hammers won three out of four Premier League matches – against Tottenham, Sunderland and Burnley – when Nuno played two strikers from the first whistle. With only Taty starting against Man United and Bournemouth, they have picked up just two points while scoring only two goals.
On the other hand, Wilson’s dramatic winner in the dying embers at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium shows the benefits of introducing such a proven goal-poacher late in proceedings. Though it should be pointed out that was also a game in which Pablo featured alongside Castellanos.
“Callum Wilson definitely shouldn’t have started,” another fan argues. “He is an impact sub. He can’t play from the start, no matter how many people suggest it.
“He is leggy, offers no press and takes three or four chances to score. Should have done better with the chances he had [against Bournemouth].”
So close yet so far… 😮💨
What did you make of the stalemate with Bournemouth?
West Ham under pressure to pick up results against Liverpool and Manchester City
The aforementioned Bobby Zamora thinks the survival battle will drag on until the final day at this rate. Before Forest kicked off against Liverpool and Tottenham faced Arsenal in the North London derby, there were only four points separating 16th to 17th.
Though a daunting fixture schedule – Liverpool, Man City and Aston Villa to come in the next four weeks – does dent that confidence a little.
“Going to be very tight,” one Talking Point user believes. “Glad for the point.”
“We need to get a couple against some of the teams in top ten and then pick up some wins from bottom ten.”
“Leeds and Wolves are absolutely must wins.”
“Clean sheet, lots of chances created and looking more solid and robust than a few weeks ago. Bournemouth aren’t a bad side so I’m pleased with the draw.”
“In my opinion, it puts us in a position where we have to win two and draw one from Liverpool, Fulham, Man City and Aston Villa. Tall order. Very tall.”
“We looked solid and dangerous; a fair result. I feel the team now believe they won’t lose.”
“By far the better side against a side who are also on a great run. Loads of positives. We’ll be fine.”
“Just need to finish! We need to feed Taty in more as well, we rely too much on [Jarrod] Bowen and [Crysencio] Summerville. But we played well and, let’s be honest, our recent performances are night and day from what came before the improvements.
“I do think we are going to have to rely on others now.”