‘It is important for him and the team. After five defeats from six Premier League games, confidence is low. “Most of it is about confidence because these are the same players and the same manager that were doing things previous year – 80 per cent of the team is like that”.
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Southampton, while not wallowing in a bog as deep and rank as the Hammers’, have also started the season firmly in ho-hum form.
Here are some of the reactions from a number of pundits after West Ham’s miserable 3-0 defeat to Southampton.
Good fortune certainly hasn’t been smiling on West Ham so far this season. Indeed, chances certainly came at a premium during a scruffy opening period.
Not happening at the new stadium so far for West Ham. Only way is up. They fall apart after one goal.
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West Ham’s attempts to solve the crowd control problems that have ruined the club’s move to the London Stadium will be closely scrutinised when Southampton visit on Sunday. We need their support more than ever and they will play a big part in this game. The confidence crisis came after then, clearly.
The Claude Puel-era got off to a low-key start – a pair of disappointing home draws against Watford and Sunderland, sandwiched by away defeats to Manchester United and Arsenal.
After a hard start to his Saints career, Austin duly repaid Puel for the vote of confidence by notching his fifth of the season with a deadly finish. One goal, and everything falls to pieces.
The team had a lot of experience about it, and really shouldn’t have struggled against Accrington.
“Of course, when it’s not going so well then you can’t expect the atmosphere to be smashing and booming, but have I noticed any problems in the dressing room or training? No”. You can not let this continue and drag on.
Austin turned provider for the second goal, flicking the ball into the path of Tadic, who made up for wasting two earlier chances by skipping past the onrushing Adrian to wrap up the points. The defense needs more protection than this 4-2-3-1 formation is offering.
Dimitri Payet was off the pace he set last term 2. Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate are not the most defensively sound midfield pairing, either.
At least they were saved the humiliation of playing extra time against (albeit creditable) League Two opponents in the EFL Cup. But who do you drop out of Payet, Lanzini or Antonio? Sure the team up.
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Bilic will point to the injuries which have severely disrupted his team’s season, but West Ham must must look beyond excuses. Before it’s too late.
