West Ham United were beaten 3-2 by Leicester City last time out, here’s five things we learned about Slaven Bilic’s side.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
The Hammers tasted defeat for the third game in a row when the Foxes ran out winners at the London Stadium on Saturday.
Bilic’s side have gone five without a win and slipped to 12th in the Premier League table.
Here’s five things we learned about the Hammers from the game.
West Ham United’s Andre Ayew
1) Slaven Bilic cannot get a 90 minute performance out of his team
Bilic still has the support of the majority of West Ham fans, but what the Leicester game highlighted is that he is fast running out of ideas and options to get a 90 minute performance out of the Hammers.
Criticised by supporters for continuing to play under performing players and key stars out of position, Bilic only changed tact when his hand was forced by injury against the Foxes.
But the fact is the former Croatia boss has rarely been able to get a 90 minute performance out of his side all season.
Of late West Ham only seem to come to life in the second half of matches, and in the Premier League – with West Ham’s poor defending – that is often to late to salvage anything.
The second half performances are of such a high level that it leaves fans boggled as to why they can’t produce the same commitment and quality from the start.
A frustrated Robert Snodgrass
2) Robert Snodgrass just is not good enough
Snodgrass replaced Dimitri Payet in January and while nobody was expecting the Scotland international to be anywhere near the Frenchman’s level – even though he cost the same amount – fans are already growing impatient with his performances.
Snodgrass has been full of big talk since arriving at the club but has failed to back it up so far.
A distinct lack of pace and no sign of a goal or assist so far, Snodgrass has been hauled off or started sub in most of the games so far after failing to impress.
That was the case again last time out when he was introduced as a second half sub and yet again failed to impress.
Hammers legend Tony Gale tore into Snodgrass for ‘passing the buck’ when he came on against the Foxes and supporters were not shy in their criticism on social media and fans’ forums.
One of the main reasons Bilic signed Snodgrass was because he would not need time to settle into the Premier League.
But he has looked like a fish out of water for most of his time in East London so far and there are already serious question marks over his future.
Andy Carroll looks dejected
3) Andy Carroll is a hindrance if not 100% fit and flying
Some players, like Tottenham star Harry Kane or even West Ham’s own Michail Antonio, can get away with performing to a high standard when not 100% fit, but not Andy Carroll.
The big Geordie had been in fine form for Bilic’s side until yet another injury ruled him out for a month.
Since he has been back he has not been the same player and the brutal truth is that if Carroll is not 100% fit and flying, he is more of a hindrance to West Ham than a help.
While nobody could ever fault his effort, Carroll was so poor against Leicester and missed a number of golden chances to get back level. Bilic has little option than to have the big man up front, though, and that makes West Ham somewhat predictable and easy to defend against at times.
Missed: Angelo Ogbonna
4) Angelo Ogbonna missed
Italian international Angelo Ogbonna played through pain and risked serious injury when he continued to feature for West Ham with a knee problem this season.
He bravely soldiered on until January so West Ham could sign a defender to enable him to have a season-ending knee operation.
That man, 33-year-old Jose Fonte for £8 million, has had a mixed start with some superb performances and others not so impressive.
The Portuguese has been caught out on more than one occasion and has looked rusty at times. With Winston Reid now looking likely to miss most of the rest of the season after going off with a hamstring injury against Leicester, Ogbonna’s absence is felt more than ever.
West Ham look a more consistent and solid side with the former Juventus man in the heart of the defence.
Dimitri Payet says West Ham were regressing and it is hard to argue
5) Whisper it but Dimitri Payet was right about West Ham
West Ham fans are so over Dimitri Payet it is untrue and there was a widespread shrug of claret and blue shoulders when he revealed he was bored at the club and that the team was regressing.
But while many poured scorn on the brooding Frenchman’s withering attack, he does have a point.
Hammers fans are bored of watching their team make the same mistakes time and again this season and given the fact Bilic’s side finished just four points off the Champions League places last term there is no doubt they have regressed.
Losing Payet – no matter how loathsome he had become by his actions – hasn’t helped of course but it says a lot that the height of West Ham’s ambition this season is to finish 10th.
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