No West Ham striker has scored a goal this season despite ten league games and six European and domestic cup games played so far. None of the six recognised Hammers strikers have managed to find the target this season. Antonio currently leads the West Ham goal scorers this season with five, Payet and Lanzini have two each while Collins, Fernandes, Reid and Kouyate have one a piece.
Diafra Sakho has made no appearances this season after failing to join the team pre-season’s tour in the US. A move to West Bromwich Albion broke down over his fitness and he has struggled to re-gain his fitness since then and we still await his return.
Andy Carroll has made three appearances totalling 270 minutes this season but has failed to score before he got injured. The 27-year-old picked up the problem after making a substitute appearance in Europa League game against Astra Giurgiu but has failed to return to action despite being told it wasn’t a serious injury.
Andre Ayew has made three appearances totalling 95 minutes in total this season. He was injured in his debut against Chelsea on the first day of the season before making two substitute appearances against Chelsea and Everton in the last five days on his return from the serious injury.
Simone Zaza has made nine appearances totalling 527 minutes since joining on loan from Juventus but he has failed to find the back of the net so far.
Jonathan Calleri has made eight appearances so far totalling 184 minutes but the on loan South American has failed to score despite a number of chances in front of goal.
Ashley Fletcher has made 6 appearances totalling 151 minutes whilst failing to find the net.
I think if Fletcher started every game as Zaza has he would have scored, likewise Callieri. Zaza has a lot of ability but is struggling to express himself or provide any goal threat so far which is a shame. The best that can happen is for him to be used in cup matches and to try something different in league games. For sure the formation is not conducive to a lone striker which is how they have played it more 3421 than 343 at Stoke with Reid out perhaps we should try 442. We will struggle to win too many headers against them so should look at mobility to get through their defence.
It is no shock, we have not had a decent return on strikers since the 1980’s!
Cut the wage bill with the current bunch ( apart from Ayew and fletch) and get someone decent in, easier said than done these days I know. Then again if you look at the whole premer league stats this year by far most goals are coming from the midfeild!