His manager insisted the attitude in the camp remains positive.
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The tide has turned this season though and West Ham lost 3-0 at home to Southampton today to sit 18th in the league table with just three points from six games, a run which includes five defeats. “It is my responsibility”, he said.
“We are talking behind closed doors”.
Southampton have three played ruled out for this one, with Florin Gardos, Jeremy Pied and Sofiane Boufal.
In my mind, from the way they set up, they should have been saying this was the game where they made a real statement at their new home, because they have not managed it yet. It is a team mistake, all of us. Eighty percent of the team is like that. Everything that was average last season is now way below par. “We are good until someone punches us in the face and then we have a problem”. It is not working.
“I want the fans to be behind us on Sunday and we need their support more than ever”. The credit was there. “But now that credit is gone”. Same with me. If you ask me if I am low tonight, of course I am low. In the first half, we controlled the game and had a couple of chances, but wasted a couple of opportunities to go one-against-one with the goalkeeper.
Goals from Charlie Austin, Dusan Tadic and James Ward-Prowse inflicted the damage – and a fifth loss in six Premier League games.
“It’s simply not good enough”.
“I’m not looking for excuses”.
“Adrian pulled off some good saves and, on the bright side, I don’t think it can get any worse”.
Bilic has not ducked any blame for the poor start. “Are they together?” he said. They are maybe too good with each other. Injuries aren’t helping, to be sure, but they’ve had the look of a team struggling to play up to a certain image and ambition, while failing to quite grab onto the level of quality that they need to get there. Everything that was good past year for the majority of the season is bad this season. When you are losing it is (a flat atmosphere).
West Ham’s players are no longer surprised when Dimitri Payet produces free-kick magic, Michail Antonio says.
Southampton coasted to victory in what is their fourth successive win in all competitions. A clean sheet against Accrington Stanley doesn’t quite cut it, after giving up four goals to the attacks of West Brom and Watford.
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West Ham’s move to the former Olympic Stadium was supposed to herald the start of a successful new era. “It was important to correct that”, said Puel. “We are a team expecting something to happen by default”. He is a striker playing with confidence and it is very interesting for us.
