All wrong at West Ham: Czechs, long-term mainstays and coach not working

If anyone has been a disappointment this Premier League season, it’s definitely West Ham. The Conference participant is struggling on the league scene and is embroiled in a relegation battle. And it could be worse.

West Ham are 17th in the table after eighteen rounds, just a score above the relegation zone and three points off last-placed Southampton.

While the bottom of the Premier League is level, performance-wise there is no sign of the Hammers’ rise.

Moyes without a defence like a dog with a muzzle

They say a dog that barks doesn’t bite. The same is true of David Moyes’ teams, if an experienced coach doesn’t have a quality defence, he doesn’t get results. And this year the Hammers defence is certainly not quality.

Summer signing Thilo Kehler hasn’t caught on at all despite high expectations, Craig Dawson, Vladimir Coufal and Aaron Cresswell haven’t found the form of the last two seasons, age and the associated loss of pace has played its part.

The supports under the blanket

But besides the defence, the other two lines are not working either. Leaders Tomas Soucek, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio are not playing well and are not productive, especially Bowen in his prime was expected to perform much better.

Too many old players in the lineup negatively affects both Soucek and Bowen, with only Declan Rice maintaining a high standard. The Hammers game lacks dynamism and pace, which is probably the biggest problem. West Ham don’t even outplay the paper underdogs.

Will it sit?

Looking at the roster, a Premier League fan will say this team cannot be relegated. Namely, the Hammers have a really good squad, but it hasn’t sat at all in six months. And that’s almost a mystery.

And yet, perhaps, so little is missing. All positions well filled, the old defence probably playing its part. Maybe the fault lies with Moyes, who’s afraid of making a big change. He keeps relying on the same players while the talented Flynn Downes waits for his chance.

Source: Premier League