Yesterday's performance really sums up West Ham's season so far. The Hammers have not played particularly well, but, with determination, organization and, lately, more than a little luck, they find themselves, at least temporarily, on top of the table. There have been some big wins: away to Watford and Forest are notable, but even in those games - particularly the Watford match, West Ham didn't look stellar.
There has been a truism this season that at home, West Ham have flattered to deceive, and that other clubs don't particularly fear the club, particularly at the Boleyn. Often, prior to the match, opposition managers big the Hammers up, flattering the club with epithets like "favourites", "Big Club" and describe the team as "Premier League quality" and "powerful". However, more often than not, come the post match interview, the opposition manager feels "robbed" or aggrieved at chances missed, lucky calls for the Hammers, and, occasionally, point the finger at the "negative" play. And they do have a point. West Ham haven't really looked the part of runaway champions yet, despite the record. The football, while industrial at times, would perhaps be more tolerable to a larger majority of West Ham fans if the team were running away with league.
But West Ham aren't. A quick look at the table shows that there are now at least four clubs battling for two positions. Of course that may change, but a huge indicator of the potential to grab an automatic promotion spot is Goal Difference.
Clubs with the potential to grab one of the two automatic promotion spots are perhaps best identified by GD. As we saw yesterday, Middlesbrough's biggest handicap to automatic promotion is themselves; with a disastrous loss away to bottom club Coventry: inconsistency, is their Achilles. Of course, West Ham's win at home recently over Coventry City was hardly flattering, but it was a one goal clean sheet. The job was done: a factory win. Hull City, like Middlesbrough have looked inconsistent, showing moments of potential, but then being unexpectedly nobbled. And both teams have mediocre goal differences. To write them off is premature, but there are more pressing predators to worry about for the Hammers right now.
Obviously, Southampton, though, of all the teams, perhaps have to be favourites to grab one of those top two spots. They, like West Ham, are also well organized, confident and, at times, lucky. But the key difference is they are scoring goals and playing with more creativity.
On Goal Difference at least, Birmingham and Cardiff look like definite threats. While Brum are ten points behind, they have a game in hand. Cardiff though are right there, snapping at West Ham's heels. And, unlike West Ham, Cardiff look the part.
Cardiff dominate their matches with attacking play, centred around their creative players: Peter Whittingham and Craig Conway among others. Check out their first goal yesterday. Who created it? Whittingham. Who created their second? Conway. Who scored their winner in injury time? Conway.
West Ham's strikers have taken a lot of stick for not scoring goals, particularly when compared with Southampon's, or, in fact, a whole host of other Championship clubs. And I'd have to admit, I've been a bit narrow-minded in my observations of the club's goal scoring deficiencies lately. Looking at yesterday's match again, Baldock ran his heart out and did open up opportunities, including a penalty call. For the first twenty minutes he seemed to follow the game plan and stay fairly static and wait for service, but when it didn't come he decided to look for the ball himself. And that is when the Hammers started to get a toe-hold in the game. For Carlton Cole, while he looks clumsy at times, and has issues with close-control, there are occasions when he can hit a sweet pass or slot a ball home with aplomb. But, it seems when he gets a long spell of fitness, and appears in the team regularly, he starts to run cold. As a sub or impact player his record shows he is effective.
Perhaps, as many readers have suggested, the solution is not a new striker but another winger or two; after all, we lost loanee Bentley, and the club haven't quite looked the same. The defence has looked rock solid this season, with West Ham's total Goals Against of 24 being the best in the league. Yesterday, apart from a very skillful shot in the dying minutes, the Hammers would have yet had another clean sheet. And, if the full backs weren't expected to bomb up the wings to deliver crosses, then those three real chances Boro got in the first twenty minutes wouldn't have happened. But with no width or midfield players to bomb down the wings and send balls into the box, it's up to Faubert (RB yesterday) and McCartney to do so.
And it's not happening enough. Faubert and McCartney have another job to do: defend. And to rely on them to get balls into the box all the time is being far too optimistic at best? Delusional is perhaps the word?
In order not only to be successful candidates for promotion, but to survive next season in the PL (if the club are so lucky), Allardyce needs to be planning now. With a rumoured £10M to spend in this window and a reported £30M to spend in the summer, Sam needs to purchase players that will see the club through its potential first season back in the PL. West Ham are unlikely to survive Premier League season playing the way they currently are: the team just don't have enough offensive threat. And it's not just down to the strikers. The midfield players who are not providing enough service.
West Ham are lacking creative midfield players. The club need wingers in the Matty Taylor, Matty Etherington style. They need playmakers of the type that will cross a ball like Brooking and score from a free kick, like, well, Taylor. And the club needs them now. So, Ranger's wantaway striker Jelavic? Perhaps, but for £8-9M, absolutely not; having £1-2M left in the budget is not going to buy that creative midfielder that the club so desperately need: Whittigham, Conway? Absolutely.
There are further problems too. Reportedly both Faubert and Rob Green are intending to leave on Free's at the end of the season. Both are refusing to sign a new contract. It's a shame, and while Faubert has upped his game this season (without too many assists or goals it might be noted), it is Rob Green that will be a huge loss to the club. Green has been nothing short of Stellar for West Ham, particularly this season. Without him, the club would not be topping the league; and with West Ham's present reserve GK's, he is irreplaceable. But allowing a prize player and asset to walk is financial suicide for cash strapped club like West Ham. Green either needs to be re-signed now (for better wages - there are few who disagree he, above all, deserves them), or sold within 9 days. There are clubs looking for stop-gap GK's, Manchester United come to mind, as do Arsenal. And Green is good enough to play Champions League (albeit next season), and he deserves a crack at it. Fans will not like to see him go, but if it's going to happen the it must be during this window for West Ham's sake. Almunia did a good job for club on loan, perhaps a swap deal, at least for the short term would be feasible.
Yes, West Ham top the table, but there's a lot to do if the owners want this season to be a "success". Certainly, if they want to attain automatic promotion and transform that into Premier League survival, then planning for the future and filling those needs must start now. Any assembled players need to start to gel now, if the club want promotion and survival.
Evolution and survival of the fittest.
Darwin had it right: will West Ham's bid for automatic promotion and Premier League survival evolve or die? It's in the lap of the God's, the foresight of the manager, and to certain degree, the pockets of the owners.
Paul
I agree that the real need is a ceative midfielder, but to say it came down to losing Bentley isnt correct because for the few games he was with us, Sam chose to start with him on the bench. If he were the creative force we needed, wouldnt he have started?
ReplyDeleteI also disagree about Green. You cannot say we must sell him if he doesnt sign a new deal AND say without him we wouldnt where we are in the table. If his presence is that important to our promotion run than him staying is worth far more than a transfer fee now.
Agreed, Dave, that Bentley didn't play much, but when he Taylor and Lansbury were in the same midfield for a few games we looked devastating. Obviously Sam's original plan was creative midfield players with Nolan; however, injuries precluded that, and we've ended up with a more physical midfield, with some exception of course. And while that has squeaked us through most matches, it is not the future... Regarding Green: again, I disagree: Almunia looked very good for us - our goals against average didn't deviate during his time with us, so I do think, bearing in mind West Ham's finances, selling him now is the best option, particularly if it enables us to secure a better goalkeeper than we will acquire in the Summer, given Green walks and we get 0 funds.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you again.
Paul