On this day - 23 August
Bilic - I want to apologise to the fans
West Ham United 3-4 Bournemouth
A QUESTION OF MENTALITY OR FORMATION ?
Blind Hammer examines Slaven Bilic's post match analysis of the Bournemouth defeat
Losing a game of football is not necessarily a disaster or a definer of a team's ability. Arsene Wenger often declares that how Arsenal are playing is more important than any single Premiership result. Leicester City is a good example of a team which, building upon confidence from promotion, retained belief in their manager, even whilst rock bottom, and eventually came good. All the time Leicester were losing reports appeared which pointed out how close matches were and that they were often unlucky.
Having said that, the worrying thing about the last two West Ham home games is that we were not unlucky in either game. In both games we were beaten by two teams who were better set up and played superior football. Yesterday at West Ham it appeared that there were some Bournemouth players no West Ham player matched. For example, Wilson, Francis and Ritchie. A similar list could have been produced after the Leicester game.
Whilst this should not be a cause for panic it is clearly a cause for concern. In two home games we have now conceded six goals and had two of our key defenders sent off with straight red cards. This follows a similar trend in our European games where our defence leaked goals against moderate opposition. In these games two more of our defenders, Collins and Tomkins also received straight red cards. Sackho of course joined this particular club at an early stage. It is still August but we have had five players sent off already this season, four of them in defence.
Against Bournemouth Creswell and Jenkinson had their worst games in a West Ham shirt. In Jenkinson's case this is the second poor game in a row.
By any sober analysis this is a defence in disarray. It clearly needs to be sorted. The most difficult thing to do in the Premier League is score goals. A team playing with the handicap of a leaky defence is a sure-fire way to court relegation.
In his post-match interview Bilic focussed on the attitude of his players and their lack of aggression. In particular he described them as needing a better mentality.
This is a worrying analysis as he has some clear responsibilities here. Given the player skill sets available to a manager in any game there are three inter-related areas in which a manager can influence play. The first is by team selection before and, via substitutions, during the game. The second is strategy and tactics including team formation, and finally by providing motivational/inspirational abilities to enable players to play, despite adversity, to the best of their ability.
Bilic's post-match comments places some doubt on his leadership abilities. The team on the pitch should mirror his personality, including aspects of discipline and concentration.
What can we make of Bilic in the other key areas of management? He has only some limited influence over the composition of his squad. Nevertheless it is a concern that one of his signings, Obonna, who was to be our key defensive lynch-pin this season, was tactically substituted before half time.
Where Bilic has complete responsibility is in team formation, tactics and for want of a better word morale. Can we really explain Cresswell's and Jenkinson's errors as being simply caused by "mentality"? Cresswell in particular had no such problems with mentality last season. My suspicion is whilst we obviously need a stronger squad the problems are also deeply rooted in team setup. We are no longer playing a long ball game. Instead we are playing a passing game with a back four supported by a holding midfielder, with three in a diamond supporting an up top and deep lying striker.
However the switch from the long ball, whilst pleasing on the eye, has also placed more pressures on the defensive sector of the team. We are becoming vulnerable on the flanks. Jenkinson and Cresswell are not only becoming exposed in defensive situations but are also under game pressure to provide the attacking width as well. Whilst this was spectacularly successful against Arsenal who failed to provide hardly any pressure on the flanks by playing a narrow midfield, it has not impressed in either of our own two home games or the European adventure.
West Ham is far too feeble defensively at the moment and too much is being expected of Jenkinson and Cresswell. This pressure lays, to my mind behind the fragilities these once dependable players are now exhibiting.
I believe Bilic needs to sort this out. My amateur advice is that if he wants Jenkinson and Cresswell to act as wing backs to provide support up and down the pitch, he needs to have a more cautious defensive setup. Specifically we need three defenders nominated to support rather than the current two. Reid Tomkins and Obonna should provide the insurance which could release Cresswell and Jenkinson into more familiar marauding roles with greater safety. The casualty in this setup would be either the second striker which would make life much tougher for players like Maiga, or potentially abandon the diamond to revert to a 5-3 -2. Of course 4-4-2 is also an option with wide players helping to cover the flanks with Jenkinson and Cresswell.
For the moment I really hope that this is simply a question of Bilic getting to know the Premier League and adapting formations to suit the players he has rather than persisting with ideal formations for which he currently does not have the talent.
What is undeniably true is that if he does not sort this out then problems with mentality, attitude and confidence will not improve. He now needs to show the practical leadership which can re-inspire a team.
David Griffith
WEST HAM 3, BOURNEMOUTH 4. UN-DEFENSE-ABLE.
By David Hautzig 22 Aug 2015 at 17:52 492 comments
This past week has taken a lot of the excitement about the new season, new manager, a bright future, etc, and turned into anxiety and cynicism. Significant funds for strengthening the squad now looks to be in the neighborhood of 20 million net, Adrian's red card had many expecting Randolph to keep watching Bournemouth shots fly by him as if they were shot by a tennis ball machine, and Nolan started. The narrative was being set up on a tray. A team in desperate need of a goal let alone a result was coming to town, and the fear was they had come to the perfect place. Because I'm overtly emotional about West Ham and those feelings change every few minutes, this gloom and doom didn't surprise me. Nor do I expect it to leave me anytime soon.
Bournemouth started the game with the speed and aggression we expected from them, and wished from us. In the 4th minute, Francis and Gradel combined with some clever short passes to earn a corner, but the ensuing free kick was missed by Francis. West Ham answered minutes later with an attack of their own when Nolan, playing as a de-facto second striker, was on the receiving end of a Sakho back heel pass but Cook got their first to force a corner. The free kick came to Reid, who guided it into the back of the net right after he pushed Elphick to the ground, and the goal was disallowed.
In all of the years I've watched West Ham, I've seen plenty of shocking individual performances. Mostly by players whose uselessness was a foregone conclusion. But last year's Hammer Of The Year, Cresswell, decided to buck that trend and transform from a player I expect at least decency out of into a bad Sunday League sub. In the 11th minute, Cresswell gave the ball away to Francis on the touchline. Without hesitating, Francis sent a cross into Wilson who volleyed it past a helpless Randolph.
West Ham 0, Bournemouth 1.
West Ham tried to answer in the 14th minute when Payet sent a through ball that Kouyate couldn't run onto and Boruc got their first. Minutes later Noble sent a long pass to Sakho that he controlled and forced a corner. The initial set piece was cleared but Cresswell brought it back and crossed for Kouyate whose shot was high.
In your wildest nightmare, you couldn't have conjured up how badly our fullbacks played today. In the 22nd minute, Jenkinson lost the ball to Gradel deep in West Ham territory. He got back and eventually blocked the shot, but the tone for his awful display was set.
In the 28th minute, Cresswell did what I thought was impossible. Screw up even worse than he already had. With the ball pinging around the West Ham penalty area, Cresswell literally served the ball up for Wilson on a silver platter with the worst back pass imaginable. Italian defenders on the take a few years ago would be proud, and Wilson's mom will probably demand her son send Aaron a Thank You Card. Randolph had no chance whatsoever.
West Ham 0, Bournemouth 2.
The Cherries had more than a few chances to increase their lead before halftime but couldn't find the back of the net. In the 32nd minute Wilson and King worked a clever one-two before King tried to beat Randolph to the near post but hit the side netting instead. Bilic then made what looked like an odd substitution. Tomkins coming on wasn't that odd, but instead of Jenkinson taking a seat it was his seven million pound choice, Ogbanna.
Just before the whistle, Wilson ran at the West Ham defence, drawing three defenders to him. He passed to Gradel, who cut to his right before unleashing a rifle shot that Randolph was able to get his right hand to for a terrific save.
Halftime. West Ham 0, Bournemouth 2.
West Ham came out for the second half with another substitution, Matt Jarvis replacing Kevin Nolan. The other replacement was in the form of defensive foul ups, with Bournemouth replacing West Ham. In the 47th minute, Payet sent a free kick into the box that Boruc failed to handle with authority. His weak punch ended up at the feet of Noble, who cut to his right and invited a challenge in the box. King accepted the invitation and brought Noble down for a penalty. Noble slotted it home and West Ham were back in the game.
West Ham 1, Bournemouth 2.
Four minutes later, as the adrenaline rush from Noble's PK was just starting to subside, Cook let a West Ham throw get past him and onto the chest of Sakho. He turned and shot from a tight angle that Boruc couldn't handle and Kouyate stepped in to drill the rebound into the top of the net.
West Ham 2, Bournemouth 2.
Conventional wisdom would have said the more experienced Premier League team would continue their surge against the newcomers. Instead, Bournemouth asked most of the questions. In the 57th minute, Gradel collected the ball 35 yards from goal and let fly but his shot went wide. A minute later, not to get lost in the horror show that was our defending, an awful pass by Reid invited pressure that Noble eventually cleared. In the 63rd minute, Surman found Pugh at the top of the penalty area and drove a low shot on goal that forced a great save from Randolph. The pressure finally paid off in the 66th minute when Gradel won the ball in midfield before finding Pugh on the left with space abandoned by Jenkinson to work with. Pugh cut into the area, let Jenkinson slide by him as if he was in some kind of Ice Capades show sans a sequined dress, and curled a shot into the net at the far post.
West Ham 2, Bournemouth 3.
Five minutes later, Bilic used his final substitution and again it was a head scratcher. Maiga coming on was enough to groan about. Sakho coming off when we needed a goal just made it worse.
In the 78th minute, the worst day Carl Jenkinson has had to live through as a professional footballer came to an end in a way befitting such a description. Following a West Ham corner, Bournemouth broke on the counter. The ball came to Gradel on the left of the West Ham area. He ran past Jenkinson, who then pulled him down inside the box. Red card, penalty, hat trick for Wilson.
West Ham 2, Bournemouth 4.
Maiga…..odd to be typing that in anything other than a pseudo obituary about a footballer seemingly cut down in his prime… cut the lead in half when he collected the ball near the top of the area, ran past Francis and rolled it past Boruc. The final kick of the game came from a West Ham corner and the ball sat tantalizingly close to the goal before being kicked out.
Final Score. West Ham 3, Bournemouth 4.
Losing our first two home games of the season puts us in a position to have only three points from our first five matches. That would be the same start as we had under Grant. While I firmly believe today wasn't about a manager or money, that it was about a stunningly horrible display by our fullbacks, the end result is very worrying. These are the same defenders as last year. And I don't have enough faith in the board to bring in the kind of reinforcements needed to truly guarantee a safe season. Yes, I said safe season. My notion of a top half finish is, at least currently, out the window. Maybe that's an extreme over-reaction.
Maybe it isn't.
West Ham transfers: Wissam Ben Yedder approach line up in attempt to solve striker crisis
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Hammer time? Ben Yedder is seen as a like-for-like replacement for Enner Valencia
West Ham have turned to France to solve their goalscoring problems and are lining up a move for Toulouse forward Wissam Ben Yedder, writes Neil Moxley in the Sunday People.
The striker will cost the Hammers around £6m and is seen as a like-for-like replacement for Enner Valencia who has been sidelined with ligament trouble.
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has been scouring the European leagues for a replacement who can make a difference for Slaven Bilic during Valencia's absence and is mulling over a move for the speedy finisher.
In pictures - West Ham 3-4 Bournemouth:
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Meanwhile, Joey Barton hasn't given up hope that a move to West Ham could resurface, writes Tom Hopkinson in the Sunday People.
The free agent is wanted by several Championship clubs, including Nottingham Forest and Charlton, but still has his heart set on joining a Premier League side following his release from QPR.
He trained at West Ham, his most likely option, a couple of weeks ago and underwent a medical, but the club decided not to sign him after serious opposition from fans.
Joe's a no-go: Barton may be heading to Nottingham Forest unless West Ham do a U-turn on him
That prompted the midfielder, 32, to release a video in which praised the Hammers' 'knowledgeable' fans and told those who didn't want him at their club there were no hard feelings.
He has since met with Forest owner Fawaz Al-Hawasi and even though there are misgivings about signing him a move to the City Ground could materialise.
However, Barton still thinks he can do a job in the Premier League and hopes West Ham's mixed start to the season will see them re-approach him as Slaven Bilic looks to strengthen his squad.
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Irons end interest in former star
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 22, 2015 in News, Whispers
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Exclusive
West Ham are set to settle on a new striker by the middle of this week.
David Sullivan is working day and night on the issue and senior sources revealed to ClaretandHugh this afternoon that they were expecting a breakthrough by Tuesday or Wednesday.
That coincides with Jack Sullivan's tweet from last night (Fri) and this afternoon we were told: "We will know where we are by midweek on two or three fronts.
"We have simultaneous moves going on as is usually the case and we'll do a deal one way or the other regardless."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Big summer signing Angelo Ogbonna has made it clear he was unhappy at being subbed in the first half against Bournemouth this afternoon.
Slaven Bilic chose to take the Italian off fter 35 minutes, replacing him with James Tomkins at the heart of the defence.
Ogbonna tweeted this evening that he didn't believe he was having a poor game but is refusing to give up on things.
He said: "Haunted and unhappy match! I have to accept the coach's decisions but I was disappointed when i had to go back to the bench after 35′ #WHUFC
"I was not playing badly. However I don't give up, we don't give up!"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Irons 3 Bournemouth 4
It was summed up pretty accurately by Tony Gale in commentary: "I can't remember when two full backs played so badly in the same game!"
That may not be the precise top and bottom of it because Bournemouth at times played a brand of football we have been only able to dream about in recent years.
It's clearly the only way they can play with the ball going to feet 99 per cent of the time.
And apart from a 20 minute spell after the break when we came back from two down and looked as if we could go on to win, we really couldn't cope with it.
However, but for two shocking howlers by Aaron Creswell and an awful display which included a red card for Carl Jenkinson, after giving away a penalty, we may have got a result.
The Arsenal loanee twice lost possession in dangerous positions before his red card during by far his worst performance since arriving from the Emirates last season.
Cressie will have nightmares over his part in this defeat and so he should do, losing out on the right before the ball was crossed for Wilson to power home and then presenting the striker with a second from an awful attempted back pass.
The Hammers turned on the power at the start of the secon half and immediately got one back from the spot via Mark Noble after he had been brought down before Kouyate scored after Sakho's shot had come back off the keeper from Payet's corner.
There looked only one result after that as the irons poured forward but the Cherries slowly got their grip back ad with Max Gradel particularly dangerous they broke and Pugh was found in space to curl a shot beyond Randolph.
They were further ahead three quarters of the way through the match when Jenkinson failed to clear his lines quickly and was left trailing in Gradel's wake before pulling him down and receiving his marching orders.
Wilson cracked home the fourth and to notch the first hat-trick of his career but the game had yet another twist when Mr Modibo Maiga arrived as a sub and turned well to fire home the third and his first for two years.
Sadly it was too little too late and the visitors got a hold of things playing some good possession football and hang on although it could have turned with the last kick of the match.
Dimitri Payet delivered a near perfect corner which dipped low at the near post and was somehow scrambled away.
Yes, there are indeed reasons to be nervous but make no mistake, Bournemouth, like Leicester City last week, are a very good team who look set to get better.
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