Joey Barton has criticised West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic.
Joey Barton has told BBC Radio Five Live’s Football Daily that he worries for West Ham after Slaven Bilic criticised the intensity of his players.
The Hammers have endured a miserable start to the Premier League season, with Saturday’s 5-1 home defeat to Arsenal a particular low point for Bilic’s men.
After that 5-1 defeat, Bilic made some shock comments to BBC Sport, saying that his West Ham side have not only lost their intensity in games, but also on training pitch too.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
Bilic believes that the lack of intensity is a major reason why West Ham – who finished in seventh place last season – are currently hovering so precariously above the relegation zone.
Ahead of this weekend’s trip to face Liverpool, the Hammers are just one point and one place above the relegation zone as well as only three points clear of bottom club Swansea City.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
Bilic is unsurprisingly under huge pressure after such a poor start to the season, and former West Ham transfer target Joey Barton has had his say on the situation at the London Stadium.
Barton told BBC Radio Five Live’s Football Daily that he worries about the noise coming out of the club, both in terms of Bilic’s comments on the lack of intensity and the rumours that Rio Ferdinand could return to the club as a defensive coach.
Barton, who saw a 2015 move to West Ham fall through, admitted that he has worried about Bilic’s decision making since choosing not to sign him, and thinks that any manager would be telling underperforming players to improve their displays in training rather than airing the situation in public.
Joey Barton applauds fans as he is substituted
“I worry about that kind of noise,” said Barton. “I saw that Rio Ferdinand was linked with getting the defensive job, that always makes you think that it doesn’t feel right. I almost signed for them last year, and Bilic changed his mind at the 23rd hour, and I kind of worked out the decision making process of why he did that, and you think if somebody is making those decisions because of those things, you would worry about them – then they have a phenomenal year and do really well.”
“Getting a new stadium comes into the mix, you’ve got players who need time to gel. Just hearing those words makes you think that…is he trying to shift the blame somewhere? Ultimately, as the leader of the group, as the manager, you set the tone. Every manager I’ve known who has been a strong character, if you’re not training properly, you know about it. It takes four or five sessions that are under par and you’re locked in a room with him and he tells you in no uncertain terms that it’s not acceptable. I find it strange that he’s aired that publicly, I think it’s something that should have been kept in house,” he added.
What did you think of Bilic’s comments about West Ham’s intensity?
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