🔗 Share this article

West Ham are not a poor side, far from it. There is talent in their roster, and determination. It is evident in every tackle, every gut-busting run and in the frustrated body language when a pass doesn’t quite come off. That energy is mirrored on the sideline, with Rehanne Skinner animated during their 2-0 defeat to the visitors – “hold the line”, “come closer”, “communicate” and “Fion can’t get out” were part of the many instructions from the technical area, with those behind the bench treated to the thoughts of the coach while the match is in progress. Skinner is fully involved, she is engaged, the squad are engaged, so what is not working?

Concerning Statistics Reveal the Tale

Five games in and they have zero points, have conceded 16 goals and scored twice. They are capable of scoring though, five individual scorers in a rout of Charlton in the League Cup on 24 September a momentary relief from losses before Chelsea scored three in 15 minutes last Sunday to put them firmly back in their place. Against the Blues West Ham performed decently for large parts, that 15 minute disastrous period was an outlier and, while supporters worried about a complete after the break meltdown, they recovered, excelled with their backs against the wall, and only conceded one more to the champions.

Steadiness over a full match has been a consistent problem. The first five minutes and after halftime versus the Blues were spells to be proud of, as was the first half versus the Gunners and closing 45 against Brighton.

Familiar Pattern Versus the Opponents

Against Villa the narrative was familiar, the visiting team controlling the ball in Dagenham but West Ham creating opportunities too, nine attempts to Villa’s 11. They competed in the first half, competing, performing adequately to be able to earn a result from the game, the distinction though was that the home side had only a single shot on target, as opposed to Villa’s four.

The team are not being let down by their style, grit or managerial decisions, they are being let down by players lacking composure when they find scoring opportunities. It is that choice-making in the final third that requires improvement, the five strikes netted against WSL2 side their cup foes may indicate the issue: when they have time on the ball they make the right moves, when they are under pressure and harried by WSL-level opposition it’s as though they struggle to make rapid decisions.

“In my view we were clinical enough in the attacking area and we just lacked that decisive quality where the last pass was sometimes a bit too strong, not quite the necessary precision and then just being prepared to attempt efforts a sooner,” said Skinner.

“Based on the individuals, when I’m watching them individually, it seems like they’re somewhat reluctant relative to where we were previously. The willingness to take on defenders and be quite assertive was really, really strong and we just must restore that fight back where we’re a more ruthless in and around the box, where we are a bit braver to go 1v1 and where what will be will be but we’re committing players and we’re trying to generate chances. That’s something that we’ve just sort of eased up a bit on and we’re seeking assists as opposed to being a more direct and being a bit more confident in our own skills.”

Expensive Moments Result in Defeat

During the match that was costly again. Moments after a forward glanced a header off target, they were punished at the other end, an opponent receiving her short corner back from a teammate before lashing the ball into the opposite side. Seven minutes later and Natalia Arroyo’s side had a larger lead, Wilms’s free-kick lobbed over the wall and in.

It was a further difficult afternoon for West Ham and their absence of points on the table will inevitably lead to doubts being asked about the manager’s future. That would be wholly unjust though. Much work to be made for sure, confidence and speed in decision making needs to get better, and the squad must take a share of the blame for that, but this is a team that is struggling from a shortage of love and care from the club as a entirety, and Skinner is a casualty of that rather than the cause of the team’s problems.

Broader Challenges at Play

During the off-season, nine players departed and only four came in. The quality of those joining this time round was possibly better overall, but a limited funds has meant that year after year the club have lost their best players to more successful sides. Before questions are raised about the manager’s reign, she merits a opportunity to demonstrate what she can do without constraints and that requires the club improving its support – and the identical applies for a number of WSL clubs.