Bilic might be asked about this.
During the summer transfer window, it was clear that West Ham were desperately trying to sign a marque striker.
Giroud, Sturridge, Iheanacho and Batshuayi were just some of the names that were linked with a move to the club and with good reason. During the 2016/17 campaign, the Irons only managed to score 47 league goals throughout the season.
In order to cure their goal drought, Bilic turned to a striker that’s well known by English football fans, Javier Hernández.
During his time at Old Trafford, Chicharito became a firm fan favourite and managed to find the back of the net 59 times in 158 appearances. When Louis Van Gaal took over, it was clear that the Dutch manager didn’t fancy Chicharito’s style of play and turfed him out to Bayer Leverkusen.
Like all good strikers, the Mexican continued to score goals as he notched 39 goals in 76 matches for the Bundesliga outfit.
Since moving to West Ham, Hernandez has scored twice in the league – both coming in the 3-2 defeat to Southampton – but with Bilic’s side in desperate need of their first win of the season, the Croatian’s tactics against Huddersfield aren’t exactly playing to Chicharito’s best qualities as a striker.
West Ham lined up against the Premier League new boys with the Mexican starting out wide as a left-winger.
Plenty of people were left perplexed by this tactical swap.
Trying to work out why Slaven Bilic started Javier Hernandez on the left-wing. pic.twitter.com/G0e7942TMd
— Not Match of the Day (@NOT_MOTD) September 11, 2017
Only West Ham could sign goal machine Javier Hernandez and then play him on the wing
— George Williamson (@Willlliamson) September 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/_antxnio_/status/907300048517652481
Chicharito currently playing on the left wing for West Ham. #WHUHUD #ElTriEng
— Cesar Hernandez (@cesarhfutbol) September 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/HammersHS/status/903229101326172160
We hoof it up to Carroll and Hernandez is 20 yards away from him on the wing 😂😂
— West Ham News (@WHUFC_News) September 11, 2017
Javier Hernandez is genuinely out on the wing you know, Bilic is a joker
— Daniel Webster (@danwhu94) September 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/sukh_h/status/907325113548275717
https://twitter.com/SeanSweeney09/status/907303945906921472
The decision to play Pablo Zabaleta as a wing-back has also raised eyebrows.
Mmm…
The teams at the London Stadium. Zabaleta at wing-back? pic.twitter.com/ItP67qwpYW
— John Brewin (@JohnBrewin_) September 11, 2017
Hernandez off the left & Zabaleta as a wing back?
— Kieran Jennings (@KieranJ_1979) September 11, 2017
