West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo needs to change a lot as his West Ham side travel to Southampton this evening.

The Hammers players need to change their mentality, but a lot of that would be down to the messaging from the manager, who also needs to make some changes to the team.

After that woeful display at the London Stadium against London rivals Charlton Athletic, a lot of players deserve to lose their spots in the team.

My West Ham team to face Southampton: Areola; Veltman, Mavropanos, Golambeckis, Walker-Peters; Magassa, Ward-Prowse; Bowen, Mukasa, Solomon; Piroe.

This is a brilliant opportunity to bring Areola in because you’re almost dropping Hermansen with an excuse. Mads was poor for the first goal on Saturday, but has been okay in between the sticks. If this were a League game, I would keep Hermansen in, but this is a good opportunity to see Areola.

Diouf is unlikely to play, and I think Scarles needs a game on the bench after a rough start to the season. Also, Veltman needs his first start. So I think it would make sense to move KWP to the left; this will work okay because of my change in formation, where the wingers should be wider than on Saturday.

It makes sense to give one of the youngsters a chance at centre-back tonight; Nuno is yet to sign another central defender, which suggests he’s keen on trusting the young players. Golambeckis looked the best in pre-season, so if he’s fit, he should start over Kilman for this one in my opinion, as his spot is up for grabs.

In midfield, I’d like to see Magassa play. On the Frenchman, ExWHUEmployee has said: “It does seem that he hasn’t got full fitness back and could feature in the game against Southampton”

Ex also said he is open to a move away, but he isn’t at the point where he’s refusing to play for the club like Todibo and Alvarez are. It might be controversial to want him to play, but no team has come in for him; he’s not close to a move away, so why not?

I think Ward-Prowse has to partner him. He hasn’t had a start yet this season; also, Orford must be fit for the Watford game at the weekend, so I wouldn’t risk him tonight. That sounds crazy to say considering he couldn’t get a game for League One Stevenage last season.

For the third midfielder, I’d go for Divine Mukasa in more of a number ten role. He looked good when he came on for the last twenty minutes against Charlton, and I really want to see Nuno try playing with a ten behind a lone striker; in this case I’d like it ot be Piroe over Taty.

However, I don’t expect him to do this. He’ll either play Kante in that sort of 4-3-3/4-4-2 hybrid, which I would be massively against. Or he’ll keep it the same with both Piroe and Taty up front (hopefully with Taty playing deeper), with Bowen and Solomon out wide, with a couple of changes in the rest of the team.

Predicted team to play Southampton: Areola; Veltman, Mavropanos, Kilman, Scarles; Bowen, Ward-Prowse, Kante, Solomon, Taty, Piroe.