Hitzlsperger hoping to get the nod at West Ham

Lyndon Lloyd , 19 December, 44comments | Jump to most recent

Thomas Hitzlsperger says that he won't be content with merely warming the Everton bench until his contract ends next month and he is hoping Marouane Fellaini's suspension could open the door for his return to the team at Upton Park on Saturday.

Though the Belgian, who starts a three-match ban this weekend, has been deployed mainly as a forward this season, it's possible that David Moyes could tinker with his line-up by moving Leon Osman forward behind Nikica Jelavic or wide right in place of Steven Naismith.

Hitzlsperger is no doubt hoping that that is an option the manager will consider allowing him to slot in alongside Darron Gibson.

"It's sort of difficult because I've come here to play but I know my role at this club and I'm prepared to be patient," the German says. [B]ut I'm not just happy to sit on the bench all season long. I can't wait for the next game I'll be playing and hopefully it's Saturday.

"I want to improve and be part of this team and start in more games. I'll be ready and waiting for my chance."

The 30 year-old is aware that he was brought in primarily as cover but is grateful for the chance to play in the Premier League again.

"I'm glad the manager gave me the opportunity at Everton and I've done a fairly good job but we've got a very good squad.

"Darron Gibson was brought in by the manager at the start of the year and has done very well since. That's why I have to be patient."

Quotes or other material sourced from Liverpool Daily Post

Reader Comments (44)

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Tony Cheek
1 Posted 20/12/2012 at 05:37:35

Hope not... he has not convinced so far, no replacement for Felli!

There must be better alternatives... a young lad called Barkley comes to mind!

Kevin Day
2 Posted 20/12/2012 at 08:08:07

It wouldn't be such a bad game for Ross to start in to be fair. West Ham are a little direct but, to be fair to them, they also do try and play football — certainly not a dirty team like the one we played last week

Steve Cotton
3 Posted 20/12/2012 at 08:48:52

Give Hitzlsperger the chance, I say; he will play out of his skin to show the Hammers what they let go. Get ready for Der Hammer.... 2 goals in a 3 - 0 rout.

Nick Entwistle
4 Posted 20/12/2012 at 08:58:00

West Ham away. I'd go with Hitzlsperger.

Andy Meighan
5 Posted 20/12/2012 at 09:14:06

Not good enough. Good players don't become free agents.

Not a prayer he'll play Barkley either. It'll be the usual Finch Farm mafia. And possibly Oviedo in for Fellaini. Expect another draw, folks.

Franny Porter
6 Posted 20/12/2012 at 09:30:30

I'm pretty sure Hitz will start with Ossie pushed up but would much prefer Barkley to come in behind the striker. I just cant see it happening.

Tony J Williams
7 Posted 20/12/2012 at 09:33:00

Moyes tends to go with experience first, so I'm afraid it looks like more bench time for young Ross, with a 15 minute appearance at the end.

Tommy Brown
8 Posted 20/12/2012 at 09:41:35

Osman should be placed in Fellaini's role which leaves Hitzlsperger the only option to play in that deep-lying midfield role.

Steve King
9 Posted 20/12/2012 at 09:40:43

I think your right Tony.
I know we all want to see Barkley come in and have a huge impact. But Moyes has made it clear he's going to take a slowly slowly approach with the lad, so I reckon it'll be a midfield of Gibson and Hitz behind Osman on Saturday, with a late run out for Barkley.

The other option would be to put Vellios alongside Jelavic from the start? Don't think he'll do it myself.

Sam Hoare
10 Posted 20/12/2012 at 09:57:05

West Ham are very physical and we are a pretty small team wthout Fellaini. At 6 ft 2 Barkley offers a physical presence as well as a little glimpse of the unpredictable. Think this could be the perfect game to give him his first start of the season. But like others I expect Moyes will go Hitz.

Phil Walling
11 Posted 20/12/2012 at 10:03:02

Hitz is a bloody good player who can stand toe-to-toe with the best of them.I hope he gets a start over this column`s lovechild,Barkley,who is still in his rompers from what I have seen of him!

Mike Rourke
12 Posted 20/12/2012 at 10:42:28

Barkley looked neat and tidy versus Stoke and let's face it West Ham are a bunch of pearly queens compared to that rugby outfit – he can handle it.

Gavin Ramejkis
13 Posted 20/12/2012 at 11:19:03

Mike don't forget that balloon head Allardyce sent his skunks team out to injure Everton in the past. Having seen that shower of shite at Stoke do the same, don't expect anything different. Allardyce has always played alehouse footie with yard dogs, it's the only way he knows.

Danny Lizars
14 Posted 20/12/2012 at 11:41:44

I think I will start ahead of Ross because we all know Moyes will play it safe. Think I could predict the team already and put a tenner on it (odds will be shit):–

Howard
Baines, Distin, Jagielka, Coleman
Pienaar, Gibson, Hitzlsperger, Naismith
Osman
Jelavic

Tony J Williams
15 Posted 20/12/2012 at 11:57:18

When did we sign you Danny and what position do you play?........

Nick Entwistle
16 Posted 20/12/2012 at 12:11:03

Radical move that, Bainaar on the right.

Ian Allaker
17 Posted 20/12/2012 at 12:19:40

Danny I think it will be safer if we don't start you ahead of Ross. I do think it's worth a try playing Baines and Pienaar on the right though. I would certainly fool the opposition.

Steve King
18 Posted 20/12/2012 at 12:37:41

Danny were you a part of the "Kev Johnson Project" in the summer? How come neither of you have played yet?

Ian Allaker
19 Posted 20/12/2012 at 12:38:39

Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
Pienaar Gibson Hitzlsperger Oveido
Naismith or Barkley

Jelavic

John Keating
20 Posted 20/12/2012 at 13:08:34

Ian
I think you might be right with your selection.
Pity we don't have a half decent back up goalie to take Howards place.
Tim. You are the weakest link !

Brent Stephens
21 Posted 20/12/2012 at 13:25:05

Howard
Coleman Jaggs Distin Baines
Kev Johnson Gibbo Hitz Oveido

Ian Allaker

Jelly

Ian Allaker
22 Posted 20/12/2012 at 13:50:04

Haha! — good team, Brent, but I think I would be better in goal while Howard is lacking some confidence.

That's the team I would like to see, John, but I don't think my team will be right, I think Osman will get the nod as usual, and I don't think Oveido will start either.

Jim Knightley
23 Posted 20/12/2012 at 13:50:16

I'd like to see Hitz come in for Fellaini in this game, with Osman pushed forward into the AMC position. Like Stoke, I think a draw would be a good result away at West Ham, although I obviously will be hoping for a win. I also think West Ham are performing far beyond themselves currently. They are also lacking one of their most impressive players this season in Diame, so we won't be the only team missing a hugely influential midfielder.

Against Wigan though, I'd like to see Barkley given a chance. If we brought him back from loan... than he should get game time...and we need to rest players given the amount of matches we have in a short period of time.

West Ham however is a very different match... And I think experience, in the first 11 at least, will be preferable. I just really wish we had Mirallas playing, as I think he would destroy Joey O'Brien.

Brian Waring
24 Posted 20/12/2012 at 14:44:20

I hope those naughty boys at West Ham don't pull, push us etc...

I don't think I could handle another thread like the Stoke one.

Paul Ferry
25 Posted 20/12/2012 at 18:47:24

What fresh bollocks is this (#053)?

'Not good enough. Good players don't become free agents' — Eh? Er?

I must also wear different glasses to some on here. I thought that Hitz had a thoroughly decent game last time out and I was sitting in my chair thinking yet more nice wheeling and dealing Mr Moyes. Hitz is a good player and will do a good job against the chirpy cheery Hammers.

Gotta love the profound comprehensive assessments here on Hitz's shitness based on what exactly? How many games?

Jeff Beaumont
26 Posted 20/12/2012 at 18:51:16

I say play him instead of our weakest link at the moment - thats right in goal.

Brent Stephens
27 Posted 20/12/2012 at 19:16:42

Ian, don't get a head of yourself, mate. We'll see how you go behind Jelli first and then think about a game in goal for you.

Ian Bennett
29 Posted 20/12/2012 at 19:56:27

My prediction of Moyes's selection for West Ham is:-

Howard
Coleman Jags Distin Baines
Osman Gibson Hitzlsperger
Naismith Pienaar
Jelavic

Some involvement for Barkley, Vellios and Oviedo.

Ciarán McGlone
30 Posted 20/12/2012 at 20:31:47

Ian, I think you're probably spot on with Moyes choice. It wouldn't be mine.

Tony Twist
31 Posted 20/12/2012 at 20:48:31

I would love to see vellios and jelly up front for this game but what they really need to do beforehand is take a look at old recordings of Graham Sharp. He was a class act, quality hold the ball up man and got his fair share of free kicks, central, just outside the penalty area. If our front guys can do that then we have players like baines, gibson, the hammer, jelly, pienaar and even barkley who can fire shots on goal from distance. Sheedy was the master of hitting free kicks from that sort of distance.

Mike Oates
32 Posted 20/12/2012 at 21:04:47

Replacing Fellaini won't be easy. As Jags has stated a number of times recently, Fellaini is the out-ball when we are under the cosh, particularly away from home against a team who will push up against you. Osman cannot fill that role away from home but could if we are at home and likely to be dominating.

He'll either reluctantly go with Barkley or Vellios, not sure which one.

Gavin Ramejkis
33 Posted 20/12/2012 at 21:05:25

Tony, just for you and anyone unfortunate never to have seen one in real life, Sheedy's free kick against the RS and two fingered salute to the Kop - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlR3Cjc984s

James Stewart
34 Posted 20/12/2012 at 21:12:19

__________________Howard (as sadly we have no-one else)
Coleman____Jagielka____Distin_____Baines
__________________Gibson________________
_____________Osman____Barkley__________
Pienaar____________________________Oviedo
________________ Jelavic____________________

Got a horrible feeling Neville will be back in midfield though....

Ian Bennett
35 Posted 20/12/2012 at 21:16:38

I am pretty sure he'll go with the Christmas tree.

John Crawley
36 Posted 20/12/2012 at 21:13:32

He's got a few options but lets hope he doesn't make his normal mistake in these situations which is to shift about 5 players out of position. The solution I would go for is to play Naismith in his favoured position off Jelavic and bring Barkley in to the right side of midfield. Keep everything else the same.

Ciarán McGlone
37 Posted 20/12/2012 at 21:41:46

Please god... don't tell me that Neville's back..

James Morgan
38 Posted 20/12/2012 at 21:45:01

Off topic lads, but,

Take a look at this video on YouTube:

http://youtu.be/X0DeIqJm4vM

I think it's class!

Ian Bennett
39 Posted 20/12/2012 at 21:48:46

Neville to right back, Coleman in front? I don't like Coleman at right midfield but at least he has some pace on Naismith. Naismith with Jelly?

Will Schoefmann
40 Posted 20/12/2012 at 21:53:49

_____________Howard_____________
Coleman___ Jagielka___ Distin___ Baines
Oviedo___ Gibson___ Hitzlsperger___ Pienaar
_________Naismith__________________
_____________Jelavic_________________

This set-up will require us to play more footie but I am confident we can do that if Jags and Distin don't get instructions for the hoof to nowhere by Moyesie.

I also see Oviedo and Pienaar interchanging sides as they are both capable on either stretch. Also, I would entertain Barkley instead of Naismith.

I would like to be able to see what Hitzlsperger has to offer prior to his contract being up. Between him and Naismith, I think they need to be given a chance considering they are both coming back from serious injury.

Tony Cheek
41 Posted 21/12/2012 at 06:18:22

James #137....Yes we DO have another keeper. His name is Jan Mucha. He has played for his nation Slovakia and I think he should get a chance now.
To tell the truth I don't care if he comes in and stinks the house out. I just want to see Moyes show everyone that he has balls enough to do it, and stick Howards overrated American arse on the bench for a couple of games......and before you say "BUT HES CRAP!"...well, so is Howard and I remember quite a few saying that about Duffy too.

Ciarán McGlone
42 Posted 21/12/2012 at 08:23:26

Will,

Oviedo has been lost on the right when played there.. switch him with Pienaar, and put Naismith on the bench and you'd be getting somewhere.

Gavin Ramejkis
43 Posted 21/12/2012 at 09:42:32

Oviedo is a left footer only so never going to work on the right hand side, switching him with Pienaar makes sense as he can play either side, Oviedo didn't look too shabby with Baines behind him either, constantly looking up and for a pass.

James #141 thats the follow up to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IA_aHsER6c

Ciarán McGlone
44 Posted 21/12/2012 at 10:56:51

Agreed Gavin,

Oviedo appears to have a very acute footballing brain... From what I've seen of him and Baines so far, I think their partnership could be as good, nay better, than the one he has with Pienaar...

Kieran Fitzgerald
45 Posted 21/12/2012 at 11:01:25

Ciaran and Gavin, I think I would be just as happy to see Oviedo get a run of games as seeing us bring another player in. He's been used so sparingly this season I think that he is an unknown quantity to the opposition. He would freshen things up just as much as a new signing. Also, it would allow Moyes to move Pienaar around and shake things up even more tactics wise.

I would say the same of Barkley. From what I have read on here, he did okay against Stoke. He may have improved from his loan spell enough to be a different player to what the opposition are used to.

At this stage of the season, the opposition have gotten used to the sudden change in how we have played the game this season. Utilising different players at this stage would give us a little but more of an edge.

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