🔗 Share this article

West Ham cannot be considered a poor team, far from it. They possess skill in their squad, and determination. It is evident in every tackle, every gut-busting run and in the disappointed body language when a ball doesn’t quite come off. This intensity is mirrored on the touchline, with Rehanne Skinner animated during their 2-0 defeat to the visitors – “hold the line”, “come closer”, “talk to her” and “close the space” were part of the many instructions from the technical area, as spectators behind the bench hearing the views of the manager while the action is under way. Skinner is in it, she is focused, the players are engaged, so where is the issue?

Concerning Numbers Tell the Story

After five matches and they have no points, have conceded 16 goals and scored twice. They can score though, five individual scorers in a rout of Charlton in the cup competition on 24 September a brief respite from losses before Chelsea put three past them in 15 minutes last weekend to put them firmly back in their place. Facing Chelsea the Hammers weren’t bad for large parts, that quarter-hour disastrous period was an outlier and, while many feared a total after the break meltdown, they recovered, excelled with their backs against the wall, and let in just one additional goal to the champions.

Consistency over 90-plus has been a ongoing issue. The first five minutes and second half against Chelsea were spells to be proud of, as was the opening 45 against Arsenal and second period facing the Seagulls.

Familiar Pattern Against Villa

Against Villa the story was repeated, the away side controlling the ball in their home ground but the Hammers creating opportunities too, nine shots to Villa’s 11. They were in it in the first half, challenging, performing adequately to be able to earn a result from the match, the difference though was that the home side had only a single attempt on goal, as opposed to Villa’s four.

The team are not failing by their approach, determination or managerial decisions, they are being let down by players lacking composure when they find good positions. This is that decision making in the attacking zone that needs work, the five strikes scored against lower-league opponents their cup foes may indicate the problem: when they have space and time they make the right moves, when they are under pressure and harried by top-tier rivals it’s almost as if they struggle to make rapid decisions.

“In my view we were clinical enough in the attacking area and we just were missing that decisive quality where the final ball was at times a bit too strong, lacking the right quality and then just needing to take on shots a sooner,” stated the manager.

“Based on the players, when I’m watching them one by one, I just feel like they’re all a little bit hesitant compared to where we were previously. The willingness to run at people and be quite assertive was extremely high and we just must restore that fight back where we’re a little bit more clinical in and around the penalty area, where we are a bit braver to go 1v1 and where what will be will be but we’re committing players and we’re attempting to create opportunities. This is an area that we’ve just somewhat taken our foot off the gas a little bit on and we’re seeking assists as opposed to being a little bit more straightforward and being more self-assured in our own ability.”

Expensive Moments Lead to Defeat

On Sunday afternoon that was damaging again. Shortly after a forward directed a header off target, they were made to pay at the other end, Kirsty Hanson collecting her short corner back from a teammate before driving the shot into the far corner. Soon after and the visiting team had a bigger cushion, a player’s free-kick lobbed over the defensive line and in.

This proved a further tough day for the Hammers and their lack of results on the table will certainly prompt questions arising about the manager’s position. This is completely unfair though. There is work to be done for sure, self-belief and quickness in choices must improve, and the squad must take a share of the blame for that, but they are a team that is struggling from a lack of support and attention from the organization as a entirety, and the coach is a victim of that rather than the architect of the team’s struggles.

Broader Issues at Play

During the off-season, nine players left and only four came in. The standard of those coming in in this window was arguably better in general, but a tight budget has meant that season-on-season the club have seen depart their best players to better teams. Prior to doubts are asked about Skinner’s tenure, she merits a opportunity to demonstrate what she can do without constraints and that requires the team upping its game – and the identical could be said for several WSL clubs.