West Ham team 'overbalanced' with attacking players for Hong Kong Soccer Sevens, says coach
Manager Mark Phillips believes he has too many forwards in tow for annual tournament that starts on Saturday
Mark Phillips believes his young West Ham side might have "too many" attacking players at the HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens, which marks the club's first appearance at Hong Kong Football Club since 2012.
The Hammers won the third-tier Plate under Ian Hendon three years ago, having reached the Cup semi-finals in 2010.
With West Ham recently qualifying for the Uefa Europa League, Phillips has brought out a teenaged squad for the competition which starts today, but one with plenty of attacking talent, including strikers Jordan Brown and Djair Parfitt-Williams.
We are virgins at this style ... Whether you're playing five-a-side, seven-a-side or 11-a-side, if you've got the football and the other team haven't, that's what the game's about
"If I'm honest, we're too attacking. We're overbalanced with attackers," Phillips laughed.
"I'll be interested to watch the Masters Tournament [tonight] to have a look at the way the other teams set up and the style.
"We are virgins at this style, but football's football. Whether you're playing five-a-side, seven-a-side or 11-a-side, if you've got the football and the other team haven't, that's what the game's about."
