As far as I can see, Graham Potter has a decision to make regarding his goalkeeper and striker, and it’s not one that can wait until the end of the season.
Over the last few games, there has been a tendency for the defenders and midfielder James Ward-Prowse to repeatedly pass the ball back to goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
Whilst the tactic has most [West Ham](https://www.claretandhugh.info/category/news/) fans biting their fingernails with worry, it’s also not helping the team. That is largely because Areola isn’t really the type of keeper who is comfortable with the ball at his feet.
Graham Potter’s answer to this conundrum appears to be to ask the Hammers stopper to hoof the ball long up-field and as far away from goal as possible. Quite why Max Kilman or Aaron Cresswell can’t deliver the long ball instead is a mystery to me, but for some reason, they pass it to Areola, and he boots it up the pitch.
Predictably, the diminutive [Bowen](https://www.claretandhugh.info/jarrod-bowen-bio/) and Kudus can’t win the ball in the air, and possession is surrendered. It’s an easy turnover for opposition teams, who tend not to give the ball back quite as quickly and clumsily as the Hammers.
However, it is clear the tactic is here to stay, so we’ll have to like it or lump it for the rest of the season at least. Therefore, would it not be more prudent to put a target man up front if the manager is insistent on playing hoofball?
After all, West Ham spent the best part of a month chasing the giant Evan Ferguson, who is a match in stature for most central defenders.
Hopefully, Potter will either ditch the long ball or select players who complement the panicked hoof-clearance tactic. Because at the moment, we appear to be relying on miracles if Jarrod Bowen is expected to outjump the likes of Dan Burn.