A combined best XI: West Ham United v Stoke City
By Jack Dudley
Each weekend in the Premier League brings new challenges. One thing is consistent though: your opposition always has one or two players you’d like.
For Stoke City’s clash at the London Stadium on Saturday, we take a look at who would be picked from either side to make the strongest XI in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Goalkeeper
1. Adrian
Current injuries have had an impact on this decision. Lee Grant has done a great job since arriving at Stoke – but he doesn’t have the presence of Hammers stopper Adrian. Had Jack Butland been fit, it may have been a closer call.
Defence
2. Winston Reid
West Ham have been playing with three at the back for much of this campaign. Reid usually finds himself on the right-side of that three.
5. Ryan Shawcross
Stoke City’s captain. It’s hard to find a reason not to pick the commanding centre-half. A turnaround in the defence warrants him a spot.
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6. Cheikhou Kouyate
I haven’t seen too much of Kouyate this season. Despite being used as a centre-half by Slaven Bilic so far in 2016/17, his ability in the holding role last campaign was impressive.
3. Aaron Cresswell
Cresswell has seen himself pushed higher up the pitch this season due to the shift at the back. In this formation though, he fits in nicely as a left-back.
Midfield
4. Geoff Cameron
The American may well have got a look in with the back-four. In recent weeks however, Cameron has been tasked with sitting in front of the defence in the holding role. It suits him.
8. Mark Noble
An absolute stalwart in the middle of the park, a hero at West Ham. Noble’s control of a midfield is admirable. A must-have. Would work well with Cameron shielding the defence.
7. Dimitri Payet
How could you not pick this man? Arguably one of the best players in the league on his day, let alone on the pitch tomorrow. Payet’s ability and technical craft should see him into any combined XI this season.
10. Joe Allen
His turn in form this season has earned him the spot in behind the attack for this combined XI. Allen’s (almost sudden) ability to pick a pass, split defences and score goals gets him the nod.
11. Marko Arnautovic
Michael Antonio is a solid option on this flank. Arnautovic gets selected due to consistency, and his slightly higher wealth of experience. Perhaps the more reliable of the two, the Austrian is capable of delivering when the Potters need it most.
Attack
9. Wilfried Bony
Luckily for Bony, most of the attacking options at West Ham have been falling short, too. If it wasn’t for the brace on Monday against Swansea, Bony would do well to get a spot on the bench.
Substitutes
12. Lee Grant
13. Angelo Ogbonna
14. Bruno Martins Indi
15. Glenn Whelan
16. Michael Antonio
17. Manuel Lanzini
18. Simone Zaza
So there you have it. A Stoke City and West Ham United combined XI.
West Ham seem to dominate the selections at the back, while Stoke City appear to be providing most of the attacking options…
A stalemate, I wonder.