West Ham blogger Kwame Boakye gives a damning verdict on Saturday’s defeat against Chelsea
A shambolic massacre; that’s how I would describe West Ham’s ‘performance’ against Chelsea on Saturday night.
From start to finish the Hammers offered nothing and Chelsea were in complete control. They’re a great side (it’s hard not to be when a rich Russian plunders the best part of a billion into your football club) but more effort and fight was rightfully expected from Sam’s boys.
The international break was supposed to give the Cockney boys the advantage going into this fixture as whilst Chelsea’s incredibly expensive squad were globetrotting, the core of West Ham’s squad were supposed to be at Chadwell Heath for the past two weeks working solely on this fixture and yet somehow contrived to find themselves 2-0 down after only 34 minutes.
Individual errors are costing the team at the moment. Last time out at Norwich, it was Jaaskelainen dropping what looked an easy catch and conceding a penalty as he attempted to make amends, on Saturday it was Guy Demel’s turn to make a shocking mistake and gift the opposition the chance to go 1-0 up.
What’s really worrying is that on both occasions after these gifts West Ham have offered nothing in terms of a response, heads are going down, players are hiding and confidence is at an all time low.
Losing is one thing, but the manner in which West Ham have gone down without so much as whimper in the last two fixtures is plain and simply unacceptable.
I’ll even go as far as to say that for the first time since he was appointed manager Sam Allardyce’s position is under threat.
The next two fixtures are every inch relegation six-pointers (Fulham home, Crystal Palace away). Lose both of those and Big Sam may well be on borrowed time.
The fact that Sam made two changes within the first half yesterday, sacrificing Joe Cole and Jack Collison for Mo Diame and Modibo Maiga was an admission that he went into the game with the wrong game plan. The truth is the 4-6-0 which worked so well against Spurs simply hasn’t worked since because the Hammers haven’t won since. Striking options are limited, but Sam simply has to put someone up there if only to hold the ball up and allow others the chance to get into the game and make an impact.
Against Fulham in what is a game the Irons simply must win, Sam must ditch the 4-6-0 and play a striker. The fact the striking talent at the club is so poor is down to Sam, Gold and Sullivan; they’re all to blame. Sam never should have signed Stewart Downing when the squad was crying out for another striker and the owners failed on deadline day to bring someone in.
A plethora of mistakes have been made this season hence West Ham are sitting precariously in 17th place.
On Saturday at Upton Park these issues must be put to one side and for the first time since that glorious afternoon at White Hart Lane...West Ham have simply got to win.
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