Have the Irons started to Rust? What’s Gone Wrong for West Ham This Season?
Image Credit: Samuel Regen-Asante vie Unsplash
West Ham have fallen short of the mark this season, gaining only 11 points from a possible 30, contrary to 2 years ago where they sailed to Europa Conference League victory. But what has caused this sudden fall from grace?
West Ham have lacked managerial stability this season, with Graham Potter having recently departed from the club. He left them with only 6 wins from 25 games, a 24% win rate, and lost the backing of players, fans, and senior management. Ex-Nottingham Forest manager, Nuno Espírito-Santo, was then appointed on September 27th, and has been looking to improve the team’s results in the recent months. However, it is not just the manager that fans take issue with.
Board members have also come under fire from loyal West Ham supporters, who have started to boycott matches and protest after rising anger due to poor performances, and a loss in club culture. This began with organised demonstrations in September, and has led to a funeral march, starting in Stratford and ending at The London Stadium, with fans carrying a coffin painted with the famous claret and blue. This growing discontent, combined with back-to-back losses, will undoubtedly cause a loss of morale, showing just how deep-seated West Ham’s issues are, on and off the pitch.
Too, player performances have left much to be desired. Whilst West Ham have strong players, the loss of star-boys Declan Rice and Mohammed Kudus, has led to the club struggling to capitalise on opportunities to gain enough points to solidify their future in the Premier League. Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta remain arguably the only two standout stars at West Ham, but they alone cannot hold off Premier League giants like Arsenal and Manchester City. The rumoured imminent departure of Niclas Füllkrug during the January transfer window only further threatens West Ham’s squad depth, and will provide an unwanted blow to The Hammers’ attacking line.
West Ham’s defence has been far from perfect, as they currently have one of the worst GA records in the League, with 25 goals being put past the posts, second only to Wolverhampton Wanderers, who have a GA record of 27. Yet still, their defensive nightmare could be about to go from bad to worse with the AFCON tournament taking place between December 21st - January 18th. This means that both starting fullbacks, Wan-Bissaka and Diouf, will be out of action for The Hammers, a cause for concern for both the fans and managerial staff. Relying on players who are usually used as substitutes will cause Espirito-Santo major problems in his bid to return West Ham to former glory.
Having already faced a number of issues this season, West Ham’s struggles look set to continue. Despite efforts from fans, players, and supporters, morale across the whole club is clearly low. All involved in the club will be looking to new manager, Nuno Espirito-Santo, for inspiration, and if serious improvements are not made, West Ham may face their first relegation in 15 years.