West Ham’s in-form 5-a-side team

Lots of us like to play 5-a-side football in our spare time, but have you ever considered how the team you support would line-up if they were limited to five players?

Based on current form, and with a formation of one goalkeeper, one defender, two midfielders and one striker, we at Shoot thought it would be interesting to see who would make the grade for each Premier League outfit.

Here’s what we came up with for West Ham…

Goalkeeper:

Adrián

You always want a strong keeper between the sticks, and West Ham’s first choice number 1 has certainly proved that over the past few years.

The Spanish stopper has good distribution, agility and quick reflexes – ideal for the smaller-sized goals.

Defender:

Tomkins has impressed at the heart of the Hammers’ defence this term.

James Tomkins

In most 5-a-side teams you want a big presence in defence that attackers can’t get past, and if you’re picking one from the Hammers in the current moment, it would be their centre-back, Tomkins.

The Englishman is strong, but also comfortable on the ball, useful for finding space and his team-mates on the smaller pitch.

Midfielders:

Manuel Lanzini

The Argentine winger has shown his value to Slaven Bilic’s side with his assists and finishing this term, and was an instant pick for our team with Dimitri Payet sidelined.

Blessed with pace, and trickery that could get him out of the tightest of situations, he would be the creative force going forward.

Cheikhou Kouyate

Kouyate celebrates his equaliser against Norwich.

While Lanzini would be the creator in the middle of the field, you need that player alongside him that will break-up the play too, and on current form we would have Kouyate in our starting line-up.

The defensive midfielder has the ability to intercept and win the ball back, and has also proved he can score a goal or two this term as well.

Striker:

Mauro Zarate

Had this been compiled a few weeks ago, this would probably have been Diafra Sakho, but with the African sidelined with injury, Zarate has stepped up to the plate up front in recent times.

The Argentine forward is quick, full of tricks and has an eye for goal. His ability to put the ball in the net would be key to this team’s success.