West Ham are getting worse but our regression can be traced back to just after our triumphant Europa Conference League victory in Prague.
Whilst the team started the 2023/24 season in decent form, cracks in David Moyes’ ageing side soon began to emerge. A lack of reinvestment over the summer, largely due to the club stockpiling funds for a new regime under a director of football, had come at a heavy cost.
As the season progressed, West Ham’s performances deteriorated, culminating in the team conceding a record number of goals in our Premier League history. A top source told Claret & Hugh last night, “We started letting in too many goals during Moyes’ last six months,” and the statistics back up that claim.
West Ham suffered numerous heavy defeats last season, a fact often overlooked when mainstream media evaluate Moyes’ tenure at the London Stadium. Time and again, the Hammers shipped goals while Moyes stood on the touchline, arms folded, seemingly unwilling to act. The 5-2 drubbing by Crystal Palace was particularly galling, but it wasn’t the only low point as Fulham, Arsenal & Liverpool boosted their goal difference against us.
This season, despite significant investment in the defence—£40m on Max Kilman, £35m on Jean-Clair Todibo, and £18m on Aaron Wan-Bissaka—the problems persist. Fans might have expected improvement after spending £93m, but the reality is far bleaker.
Last season, West Ham conceded a record 74 Premier League goals. Yet, after just 20 games this campaign, we have already let in 39. If this trend continues, the Hammers are on course to concede 78 goals by season’s end—an even worse tally than the previous record.
The most concerning aspect? There’s no evidence to suggest that anything is improving. The defensive frailties remain, and time is running out for the team to reverse their fortunes
