Outside observers often don’t ‘get’ West Ham. Many didn’t get the reason we were yearning – most of us – for the end of Moyesball. Many now don’t get the panic as Lopetegui‘s chaos-ball drags the good, the bad, and the mediocre players all downhill together towards the relegation zone in some kind of kamikaze role-play.
His only recognisable ‘brand’ after five months seems to be based on playing the worst possible combination of players irrespective of the opposition tactics – and the worst brand of football each week, and stubbornly repeating. Even though the predictable lack of improvement week on week is evident to all.
Even the players appear to have given up on Lope-style.
In a little noticed article from Thursday, Skysports.com journalist Ron Walker absolutely nails it. “West Ham are playing within themselves, and could not even find a way past Everton – who had conceded 17 times in their opening 10 games – in a frustrating 0-0 before the international break.”
“West Ham are playing fewer passes in the opposition half than at any stage under Moyes.”
“Of the 19 players to have a Premier League shot for the club this season, all-but Jarrod Bowen and Crysensio Summerville are underperforming against the xG they have racked up.”
Of Lucas Paquetá:” It took Moyes time to get the best out of the Brazilian but by last season, he had found home almost exclusively on the left flank. This season he has drifted inside more, but ironically has affected the game far less. Understandably he is beating his man barely half as much as he was, but in a role where he should be creating more, instead his chance creation has fallen by about 20 per cent, his expected assists even further.”
And woeful goalkeeping further degrades West Ham’s performance: “Things are little better at the other end where Alphonso Areola’s form is the worst in the Premier League. His ‘goals prevented’ figure stands at just over -4.5. He must take responsibility for that, but even on-form the Frenchman is not a natural fit to Lopetegui’s build-from-the-back intentions.”
And on our ‘cardboard cutout” midfield: It does not help that in the most physically demanding league in world football both [Rodriguez] and Soucek, who have started seven of 11 league games together, rank in the 20 slowest midfielders in the Premier League this season. Pace alone doesn’t guarantee a functioning midfield, but if West Ham are going to control games further up the pitch, a more dynamic engine is a must, especially with extra vulnerability on the counter-attack.”
There’s lots more, I feel like e mailing the report to David Sullivan: The decline of Michail Antonio, failure to fill the hole left by Declan Rice, chaotic tactical switches mid-game, and ends:“[Lopetegui] is working from such a low ebb that something substantial will need to change for West Ham to upset the odds against resurgent Newcastle, or Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, in the two games which have been rumoured to decide his future.
If that is the case, his fate may have already been decided.”
Sullivan is rumoured to be hoping for an ‘improvement’ at the Leicester game. Why waste another three points? Far better to admit the error, send Lopetegui on his way and start the renaissance on Tuesday morning. Everyone else can see it.
We could all buy into that.
