West Ham United’s new striker is struggling to make any impact.
It is fair to say that Simone Zaza has not had the best start to life at West Ham United, failing to score in four appearances to date and looking anything but the solution to their goal-scoring woes.
The 25-year-old arrived at the London Stadium on loan from Juventus in the summer with a record in front of goal that was average at best, so Hammers fans were not expecting fireworks of the sort that could have followed Michy Batshuayi or Alexandre Lacazette to the club.
But whatever you think of Zaza’s contribution to date, his poor form could in part be down to manager Slaven Bilic’s continued perseverance with playing one up front.
It is clear Zaza does not excel in that position, and while his work rate has been decent he rarely looks like getting a chance in that formation.
West Ham’s midfielders should also take some of the blame, failing to create sufficient chances, but if Bilic played another forward it could help Zaza rid himself of the proverbial albatross and at least score a few goals between now and January.
Moving Michail Antonio up front alongside Zaza and playing Sofiane Feghouli on the right wing could make a difference, yet so far Bilic has opted to keep the former Nottingham Forest man further back despite his superb scoring form.
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