Football News: West Ham United Premier League season so far

Image from: playmusicgh.com

Results so far:

A v Chelsea 1-2
H v Bournemouth 1-0
A v Manchester City 1-3
H v Watford 2-4
A v West Bromwich Albion 2-4
H v Southampton 0-3
H v Middlesbrough 1-1
A v Crystal Palace 1-0

This has been an extremely difficult start to the season for West Ham United and Slaven Bilic, which has strained the love-in between cult hero Bilic and the fans to its absolute limits. Home games have been made more difficult by playing in the new stadium, which has yet to feel like the Hammers home in these early games. Added to that, Bilic has become obsessed with playing the club's top scorer, Michail Antonio, at right back, which really does not suit him. Five defeats in the first eight games tells its own story.

It is not just results that have been disappointing, performances have been terrible to go with it. Comparatively so anyway, compared to last season. The team are just not the same, the fire and fight of last season seems to have gone missing, as well as the quality. At least until last weekend when Dmitri Payet scored a wonder goal against Palace. The summer was marked by a disastrous transfer window, which is clearly hampering the team now.

Bilic and the owners are at loggerheads over recruitment, with totally different ideas of the players that are needed. That led to a real problem, just when the team was riding the crest of a wave it shuddered to a halt. When it should have been moving forward, new stadium, great season, just needing a couple of gaps filling in the side, and it all went wrong. Badly wrong.

Not just in terms of not adding the players needed, but a long term injury to Aaron Cresswell and the sale of James Tomkins created more gaps in the squad. James Collins legs have finally gone and the new signings have yet to look like good signings. There is still plenty of time left though, and the return to full form of fitness of Payet, plus the quality of Manuel Lanzini should see the Hammers climb the table, despite the poor start.

Written by Tris Burke October 21 2016 09:29:14