It’s all us West Ham United supporters can talk about at the moment. I haven’t seen us play this bad in years, even when Avram was in charge! Slaven Bilics fall from grace in just a few months has been shocking.
He started so well, but this seasons form has just been a continuation of a bad end to last season. After the defeats to Swansea and Stoke at the back end of the season, the evidence that our defence needed strengthening was there. However, Bilic failed to act, deciding to splash his transfer budget on a load of attackers who have not started very well.
For me, the team ethic has gone. The likes of Antonio, Lanzini, Payet are not tracking back like they did last season. Noble and Kouyate have both had a dip in form at the same time, and don’t seem to be able to pass to anyone I a claret and blue shirt. And the defence look shot to bits. As for the strikers we have used so far this season, Valencia before his loan, Calleri and Zaza have been truly awful.
The team is disjointed and unbalanced…. and bang in trouble unless things change.
First of all, I would be dropping Lanzini; not because he is a bad player, but because he is a luxury we cannot afford at the moment. Swap him for Obiang or Nordtveidt to play as a holding midfielder, to protect the back line and fill the space between our defence and midfield, which is causing us problems.
Byram can come in at right back; he’s not playing badly, he’s just not being protected. This brings me on to Payet and Antonio. We know how good they are in an attacking sense, but last season, they were doing the dirty work. Watch Southamptons first goal on Sunday, and watch Antonio give up the chase when Redmond breaks behind Nordtveidt. This is exactly what I mean.
Finally, I would swap Adrian for Randolph. Adrian is a good shot stopper, but let’s be honest, all goalkeepers in the top division should be. It’s more his distribution and decision making that causes me concern. Let’s get him out the firing line and give Randolph a chance.
We have time to turn things around, and Bilic needs to start getting ruthless with those who are not performing. We have a lot of fearless youngsters waiting in the wings, let’s get them ready and let them play. Let’s face it, we are at rock bottom right now, so let’s try and change it!