No doubt, Edson Alvarez will take much of the blame for West Ham’s loss to Nottingham Forest today, and his ongoing disciplinary issues are undoubtedly a hindrance for the Hammers. The Mexican had a questionable red card record before arriving in East London, so, in many respects, we knew what we were getting.
However, focusing solely on Alvarez would distract from a wider discipline issue seemingly infecting the club. During this game, Guido Rodriguez was fortunate to avoid a red card for a nasty tackle on Gibbs-White, and it wouldn’t have been surprising if Summerville had also been sent off.
Summerville’s accidental/on purpose head-kick on his opponent was clearly born out of frustration, as he was deployed out of position in an attack that failed to muster a single shot on target until the 46th minute.
Factoring in Mohammed Kudus’s ongoing suspension from his own red card, it becomes clear that the Hammers have a massive discipline problem, likely due to more than just individual lapses.
The constant cards are surely a result of tactical tinkering, with players struggling to regain unfamiliar positions. The ever-changing strategies, shifting from week to week and even within each half, leave the players lost.
This lack of temperament discipline mirrors the lack of positional discipline within the tactics. If Lopetegui is to remain in charge long-term, he must simplify the system, or players will continue to rack up cards in frustration.
