LIVE
...

Follow us on

Soccer News

Defensive revelation proves Slaven Bilic must make crucial change to turn things around at West Ham

Slaven Bilic, Manager of West Ham United gives his team instructions during a Pre Season Friendly between Manchester City and West Ham United at th...
Follow us on Google Discover

West Ham United have got the new season off to a dreadful start and Slaven Bilic already finds himself under pressure.

The Hammers recorded the biggest opening day defeat in Premier League history when they lost 4-0 to Manchester United last weekend.

And they followed that up with a 3-2 defeat to Southampton on Saturday.

Even if defeat was harsh on the resolute East Londoners at St Marys, much of it was their own doing, giving away two penalties and having a man sent off.

Slaven Bilic, Manager of West Ham United looks on prior to the Premier League match between Southampton and West Ham United at St Mary's Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Southampton, England.

But for West Ham fans, it is simply a continuation of what they witnessed last term, one of the worst defenses in the top flight leaking goals.

In West Ham’s last 50 league games under Slaven Bilic they have shipped 92 goals.

Thirteen of those have been penalties but the key statistic which makes damning reading for the former Croatia boss is his failure to switch formation to make the team more solid.

Setting up with a back four from last season through to now the Hammers have played 24 games in that formation winning just five, drawing five and losing 12 with a total of 20 points.

But in just 16 matches with the side adopting a back three the Hammers won nearly half with seven victories, four draws and just five defeats – a total of 25 points, five more than with a back four and from eight less games.

So the message is clear for Bilic. Revert to a 3-5-2 formation, be harder to beat and play to the team’s strengths and he can turn West Ham’s season around.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realise the Hammers lack pace among their centre backs. James Collins and the hapless Jose Fonte both turn 34 this season while Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna are both injury prone.

Manolo Gabbiadini of Southampton and Jose Fonte of West Ham United battle for possession  during the Premier League match between Southampton and West Ham United at St Mary's Stadium on...

They are all arguably more suited to play as part of a back three and West Ham clearly feel the benefit when they do picking up more wins and more points.

The only person that can’t see it seems to be the most important person of them all, the manager.

Perhaps the cup game against Cheltenham on Wednesday night could be the perfect place to test it out ahead of the crucial weekend trip to Newcastle.