West Ham United owners David Sullivan and David Gold were given a massive wake-up call at Fulham yesterday.
West Ham star vows to improve after being dropped by David Moyes
Everything has been going so well for West Ham this season.
David Moyes has done a remarkable job, elevating West Ham to the dizzy heights of the top six.
Hammers fans are delighted with what they have seen and are even daring to dream about qualifying for the Champions League in this wide open of seasons.
Fears of West Ham fans rear their ugly head
But concerns supporters have had all season – and even beyond that – reared their ugly head on Saturday.
Speak to any West Ham fan and they will tell you the team has desperately needed a new striker and defensive midfielder since the summer.
Beyond Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice West Ham only have the ageing Mark Noble as back-up.
When Noble plays he doesn’t let anyone down. But West Ham just aren’t the same team with Fulham’s second half dominance further evidence of that yesterday.
West Ham fans were furious with Sullivan and Gold for failing to reward Moyes by going all out to sign one of HIS striker targets in the January window.
Instead the club is left relying on injury prone converted winger Michail Antonio after their best season start to a season for 35 years.
Hammers season hanging in the balance over potential Antonio and Soucek absences but owners were warned
West Ham have been uncharacteristically fortunate with injuries this season.
And they are lucky their severe lack of depth up front and in central midfield has not come back to haunt them.
But fears supporters have had for some time came home to roost at Fulham and threaten to derail their brilliant campaign.
Not only did Antonio go off with a potential injury which would leave West Ham with no recognised senior striker.
But Soucek also faces missing the next three games after Mike Dean and Lee Mason combined to preside over one of the worst VAR decisions to date.
Just when West Ham had got themselves in a great position in the league and ahead of a big FA Cup fifth round tie against Manchester United on Tuesday, Moyes’s team will suddenly look so much weaker.
It is highly unlikely Antonio will be risked at Old Trafford.
That means Andriy Yarmolenko will likely play up front despite showing he clearly is not cut out for it at the top level.
Failure to address striker and central midfield issue could come home to roost and fans will blame owners
He may have looked ok there against League One Doncaster. But Premier League level is another ball game.
Moyes put Antonio’s withdrawal at Fulham down to fatigue. If that is the case then he should be fit to face a much improved Sheffield United next Monday if he doesn’t play in the cup. If the forward is not available for that game then he is clearly injured again. And West Ham are going to struggle without him.
Noble may also now step into the side if Soucek’s ban is upheld.
There are fears that, despite the outcry over Soucek’s red card, the FA will stand by Dean after two high profile mistakes in less than a week.
Word is that Dean will argue Soucek was guilty of dangerous play regardless of intent.
The difference missing just two players will make to the team West Ham can put out is clear.
Supporters will be hugely frustrated and angry because they could see it coming.
If West Ham’s season unravels now off the back of that, the club’s owners will come under huge pressure once more.
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