🔗 Share this article

West Ham are not a poor team, far from it. They possess talent in their roster, and desire. You can see it in each challenge, every gut-busting run and in the disappointed body language when a pass doesn’t quite come off. That energy is matched on the sideline, with Rehanne Skinner vocal throughout their 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa – “maintain shape”, “tighten up”, “talk to her” and “Fion can’t get out” were part of the numerous commands from the technical area, with those behind the bench hearing the thoughts of the manager while the action is in progress. The coach is in it, she is focused, the players are engaged, so where is the issue?

Concerning Statistics Tell the Story

After five matches and they have no points, have conceded 16 goals and netted twice. They are capable of scoring though, five individual scorers in a rout of their opponents in the cup competition on 24 September a momentary relief from losses before Chelsea scored three in a quarter-hour last Sunday to return them in their place. Against the Blues West Ham performed decently for large parts, that 15 minute calamitous spell was an exception and, while many feared a total second half meltdown, they regrouped, thrived with their backs against the wall, and only conceded one more to the title holders.

Steadiness over 90-plus has been a consistent problem. The opening stages and second half versus the Blues were spells to be pleased with, as was the first half against Arsenal and second period against Brighton.

Familiar Pattern Against Villa

In the match with Villa the narrative was repeated, the away side dominating possession in their home ground but West Ham creating opportunities too, nine shots to their opponents’ eleven. They competed in the first half, competing, performing adequately to be able to earn a result from the match, the difference though was that West Ham had only a single attempt on goal, as opposed to Villa’s four.

The team are not failing by their style, determination or coaching choices, they are failing by individuals not being clinical when they find scoring opportunities. This is that choice-making in the attacking zone that needs work, the five strikes netted versus WSL2 side their cup foes perhaps points to the problem: when they have time on the ball they make the right moves, when they are being pressed and harried by top-tier rivals it’s almost as if they struggle to make rapid decisions.

“I don’t think we were sharp enough in the attacking area and we just were missing that cutting edge where the final ball was sometimes a bit too strong, not quite the right quality and then just being prepared to attempt efforts a little bit earlier,” said Skinner.

“Based on the players, when I observe them one by one, it seems like they’re all a little bit hesitant relative to where we were before. The desire to take on defenders and be quite assertive was extremely high and we just must restore that aggression back where we’re a more clinical in and around the box, where we are a bit braver to go 1v1 and where we accept the outcome but we’re committing players and we’re trying to generate chances. This is an area that we’ve just somewhat eased up a bit on and we’re seeking assists as instead of being a little bit more straightforward and being a bit more confident in our own skills.”

Expensive Moments Lead to Loss

During the match that was costly again. Shortly after Viviane Asseyi directed a header off target, they were punished at the opposite goal, Kirsty Hanson receiving her set-piece back from a teammate before lashing the ball into the far corner. Soon after and Natalia Arroyo’s side had a larger lead, Wilms’s free-kick lobbed over the wall and in.

This proved another difficult afternoon for West Ham and their lack of results on the board will inevitably prompt doubts being asked about the manager’s future. This is wholly unfair though. There is work to be done for sure, self-belief and speed in decision making needs to get better, and the squad must bear some responsibility for that, but this is a side that is struggling from a lack of support and attention from the organization as a whole, and Skinner is a victim of that rather than the cause of the squad’s problems.

Broader Issues at Play

This summer, nine players left and only four came in. The quality of those coming in this time round was arguably better in general, but a tight budget has resulted in that year after year the club have lost 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 unhindered and that requires the club improving its support – and the identical could be said for several WSL clubs.