We are only a month into this Premier League season and already West Ham have established some stellar landmarks. To open their campaign with a raucous victory over Arsenal at the Emirates was resplendent enough, but to break a 52-year losing record at Anfield, well, that was even more unexpected.
These away wins, historic as they are, have rather drowned out the dizzied and sluggish home losses to Leicester City and Bournemouth. Still, the issues Slaven Bilic’s team have encountered playing at home do not seem serious enough to warrant grave concern just yet. West Ham also emerged as one of a handful of clubs to thrive in the hectic maelstrom that is the transfer period, securing a number of new and returning players. Their work in the market was garnished with a stunning final flourish, as four players were secured on the final day.
First Four Games
Erratic is the word that first comes to mind. The stolid defending that provided the platform for the opening day victory over Arsenal evaporated completely in West Ham’s second match, a loss to Leicester. Things deteriorated even further against the Cherries in week three, where ghastly errors and criminal lapses in concentration resulted in a slapstick 4-3 home loss. Then, with the fans brought firmly back down to earth, a 3-0 victory at Anfield arrived, a shimmering paragon of counter-attacking football brimming with zest and focus. All in all, it has been the footballing equivalent of expertly spun yo-yo.
After this admittedly small sample size, a conclusion has – at least partially – emerged – West Ham have trouble playing with fluency and care when allowed to dictate the terms of a contest. With a counter-attacking mindset, the defence appears to know exactly what to do and how to do it. The midfielders are cautious and responsible, and the attackers are taking the chances when they come. When teams arrive at Upton Park looking themselves to play on the counter, then the collective mindset becomes a little scrambled. The solution to the problem might be tactical in nature, or it might be solved simply by the team gelling over time. Bilic is a new manager in a new league, after all.
Transfer Window Performance
This transfer period has been West Ham’s most impressive for some time. Last season’s memories of resigning Carlton Cole a month or so after releasing him are now fully faded. Pedro Obiang and Dimitri Payet have swanned into the team immediately, and look very much at home, the Frenchman in particular. Manuel Lanzini impressed in the win over Liverpool, and looks a player capable of providing sudden and telling incision.
Last season’s star performer Carl Jenkinson has also returned on loan from Arsenal. The lingering worries about a lack of depth at the striker’s position were eased by the deadline day arrival of Nikica Jelavic, and the attack was further bolstered on the final day by signings of Michail Antonio and Victor Moses. Alex Song was also re-signed on loan, adding comforting depth in central-midfield. Gabriel Ogbonna, who arrived earlier in the window, also appears well-equipped to thrive in the Premier League.
In terms of outgoing players, Stewart Downing and Matt Jarvis left the club, permanently to Middlesbrough and on loan to Norwich, respectively. The rest of the names who departed had become largely outcast with the team setup, including and especially the released club captain, Kevin Nolan. A total of 10 important first team players were recruited, at a cost of around £35 million.
If nothing else, West Ham’s business, funded and fueled by owners David Gold, David Sullivan and vice-chairwoman Karren Brady, have virtually ensured that they will be in the Premier League when they move into the Olympic Stadium next season.
Key Player – Dimitri Payet
As much as Payet’s numbers in the French league last season were phenomenal, his instant impact in the Premier League has still been astonishing. An assist and a goal from the first four matches, and with the eighth most key passes so far in the league, the 28-year-old is finding the supposed step-up to the English top flight much ado about nothing.
His ability to negotiate impossibly tight spaces means he is perfectly suited to flourish in these new physical, high-tempo surrounds, and his passing abilities have meshed perfectly with the tireless work of Diafra Sakho, and to a lesser extent, the overlapping fullback Aaron Cresswell. Already his £10.7 million fee seems low, and with multiple clubs searching for a creative No. 10 who can impact games in England, West Ham’s newest gem is now the envy of many. Payet has only missed four games in the last two seasons, so there a few concerns over his ability to remain fit.
What Has Gone Right?
Firstly and most clearly, the team’s away form has been brilliant. They have scored five goals on the road and conceded none. Bilic’s tactics have been spot on against the two so-called superior opponents he has faced away from home, and he appears to have already formed a strong connection with his players (Bilic is known as an excellent and impassioned man-manager).
Secondly, the recruitment has been first rate, with barely any areas of squad weakness. Even the current injury glut, with Enner Valencia, Mauro Zarate and Andy Carroll all out, the club still has two senior strikers to call upon. Lastly, and perhaps most encouragingly, Bilic has also shown his confidence in the club’s academy prospects, with 16-year-old Reece Oxford hugely impressive against Arsenal, and 19-year-old Josh Cullen making his senior debut against Liverpool.
What Can Be Improved?
Obviously, the home form could be considerably better. The defending against Bournemouth was calamitous, and Bilic’s resulting substitutions were also highly questionable. Tactically, an overload of duties, both offensively and defensively, appeared to be affecting the full backs Cresswell and Jenkinson, who were both awful in the Bournemouth loss.
Another ongoing problem concerns the health of Andy Carroll, still the club’s record signing. Recent reports have stated that he is returning to full fitness, but his ability to remain so is still completely unreliable. He is a very useful asset at his rampaging best, and can dominate a physically meek defence. However, if yet another long-term injury strikes, the club simply must look at the medical policies that have thus far failed them because – not unlike the situation occurring at Liverpool with their own troubled striker, Daniel Sturridge – the longer the problems persist, the more painful it is for everyone involved.
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The Next Four Games
Newcastle at home and a trip to Manchester City await next in the league, before a League Cup tie with Leicester City. Then, promoted Norwich City visit the Boleyn Ground, in what should be an eminently winnable fixture. Most important for this next run of matches is the home form – points are expected against Newcastle and Norwich.
Additionally, an improvement on the last performance against Leicester will also be something to hope for. At this stage, with the surprise wins over Arsenal and Liverpool enough to satiate the fans for a while, anything gained from the trip to the Etihad will be something of a bonus.
Grade – B+
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