Former West Ham United star Dean Ashton has raised serious question marks over goings-on behind the scenes at his old club.
Fans’ favourite Ashton is now a pundit and he keeps a keen eye on the Hammers.
The East Londoners have enjoyed a comfortable if underwhelming first season under Manuel Pellegrini.
More was expected given the £100 million outlay on 10 new players lasts summer.
A season wasted?
But the Hammers wasted good opportunities in both cups this season. And are out of the running for the ‘best of the rest’ seventh spot which could yet yield a Europa League spot.
In Pellegrini’s defence, West Ham have been nursing the Premier League’s worst injury list all season.
Staggeringly the Hammers have missed, on average, seven first team players each game week.
Question marks have been raised over the team’s attitude.
Spikes in performance against the top six contrast wildly with dips against so-called lesser sides.
Is the ‘charming man’ too soft?
Pellegrini has been accused by some fans of being two nice. That was compounded by reports he gives his squad two days off after every Saturday game.
Now Ashton has told talkSPORT he worries who is setting standards and driving the team forward behind the scenes.
“It’s just been a bang average season,” Ashton told talkSPORT.
“I think that’s almost more disturbing for the fans, that is has been bang average, because they have spent money.
“Now again the injuries have reared their head at West Ham, which they have done for many years, (Andriy) Yarmolenko was playing well when he got injured for the season. Obviously (Manuel) Lanzini has been out for most of the season, Jack Wilshere has hardly kicked a ball, Andy Carroll similar.
‘Who is making sure standards are at their utmost?’
“If they had their full squad available I would expect them to be a lot higher than 11th (but) I’m afraid at the moment the best they’re hoping for is seventh, (which is) their ceiling with the players that they are recruiting.
“The problem with the players is they’ve either been a three, or a nine out of 10. They’ve either looked superb, against some of the top teams as well. But they’ll put in a performance where (they don’t turn up) and that’s about consistency. They’ve been floating in midtable for most of the season.
“Who in that squad is driving training everyday? Who in that squad is making sure standards are at their utmost?
“Is Pellegrini doing that? Or is it quite easy-oasy at the club. Obviously I don’t know that, but looking at the performances, it looks as if there’s not those real people that are driving it everyday to excel.”
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