West Ham fans watched on in astonishment at a David Moyes experiment which completely backfired against Burnley.
West Ham had to come from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Premier League basement boys Burnley.
Indeed Burnley are – at this stage – one of the worst teams in Prem history.
But West Ham were yet again miles off the pace in a lethargic first half. And that’s been an all too common theme in 2024.
After wins over Brentford and Everton – the latter of which was more than a touch fortunate – some thought West Ham had turned a corner.
A frustrating and passive defeat in the Europa League against Freiburg has been followed by a dismal first 45 minutes against the Clarets.
The miserable performance mirrored the weather and atmosphere at the London Stadium.
In fact the only time the volume was raised was to jeer the team off the pitch.
One particular tactical disaster-class from the manager left supporters baffled, though.
A ridiculous David Moyes experiment to switch a Hammers duo may have cost West Ham a European spot.
Moyes thought it would be clever to stick James Ward-Prowse out on the left wing with Lucas Paqueta playing centrally.
It was clear within minutes it was not going to work. Ward-Prowse looked like a fish out of water out wide, continually giving the ball away.
Paqueta meanwhile had zero influence on the match with the Hammers sat off the opposition.
In fairness to Ward-Prowse he’s probably never played there in his life nor been asked to. And while it’s not ideal playing Paqueta out left he is at least used to it.
To Moyes’ credit he ditched his ridiculous experiment at half-time, hauling Ward-Prowse off.
The impact was instant with Paqueta scoring almost instantly at the start of the second half.
West Ham huffed and puffed during an improved second half performance. Although it would have been impossible to play any worse.
But the damage was done. And the draw was the best West Ham could do despite their best efforts until the 98th minute.
It’s not all on Moyes of course. The manager wasn’t the reason Nayef Aguerd once again put in a woeful display of meek defending.
Or that some of West Ham’s players simply did not turn up for the first 45 minutes.
It was that tactical switch which killed West Ham in the costly first half, though.
In the context of the match and being 2-0 down, drawing 2-2 is a good result.
But given the opposition, the fact West Ham were at home and how tight the race for the European places are there’s no hiding the fact it’s a huge two points dropped.
Brighton beat Forest and Newcastle could leapfrog West Ham into seventh on Monday.
Although Chelsea will not be easy for the Magpies.
With a very tough run to come, though, this was a must win for West Ham in the race for Europe. But that awful first half display may well prove decisive for the Hammers’ hopes. If West Ham miss out on a European spot but a point or two they will look back to this game at home.
Moyes’ side did at least rally and show some intent in the second half. West Ham could have won or lost the game at the death with chances at both ends.
That kind of performance – and the improved atmosphere it mustered in the ground – will need to be carried into Thursday if West Ham are to have any chance to overcoming a German side with a lead to defend.
West Ham’s media team will try and spin the line that no Premier League game is easy. But everyone else has made beating Burnley look pretty easy.
The only way this is a good result is if West Ham now go and pick up an unexpected win on this difficult forthcoming run.
It all just begs the question, though, WHY on earth do the team not start off with that approach.
That’s what the supporters want and demand to see. It’s not difficult and West Ham ending up playing like that due to desperation anyway. And guess what? It worked.
Football is not rocket science sometimes.
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