Manuel Pellegrini has told Sebastien Haller he has to improve despite him scoring four goals this season.
Haller has scored against Watford, Norwich and Crystal Palace despite often looking isolated and being forced to concentrate on hold up play rather than being offered the chance to get on the end of things in the box.
Despite the vast majority of fans believing he has been one of the manager’s best buys and worthy of his price tag Pellegrini wants to see more from the Frenchman.
Asked for his thoughts on his start to the season at today’s presser ahead of the Sheffield United game he said: “I think that he is not doing bad but I think he can do better also.”
“It is always difficult for different players to come from another league and start here.
“He has started better maybe than we expected, now he must make more movements in the box for the way we play because we need to score more goals.”
ClaretandHugh says: Sorry, can’t make much sense of that as it asks a huge – perhaps an impossible amount – of a player who has often received next to no service from a misfiring midfield over the last couple of games whilst not enjoying the presence of a close-up No 10. There almost seems to be a resistance from the manager to accept that the area of the pitch on which he has spent so much time and money is currently not working. In the circumstances it’s difficult to understand how Haller could offer much more than we have already seen and maybe the remarks should have been equally spread between him and those who are supposed to be assisting his strike rate.
Crackers from MP. I agree with the C&H comment above. I think maybe the pressure is getting to MP. Time for some of the ‘true grit’ some reckoned we were displaying against Villa and Bournemouth. I wasn’t convinced then and certainly didn’t see much against Palace and Everton. Forget playing Noble in an advanced position as Rice can’t do it all himself. Give Holland a go and put Anderson in behind Haller. With Lanzini misfiring, I’d give him a rest. Didn’t see enough from Fornals or Wilshere to merit a place on the bench. But COYI!!!
It should be. We want more from Pellegrini. Haller can’t deliver the goods, if he is isolated up front.
Not sure if some of Pellegrinis comments lose something in translation or he is just losing the plot.Considering this is Hallers first few games at a new club and a new league to boot he has been our stand out player along with Yarmolenko.Sorry Pelle but you need to lay into the rest of the team not the poor guy you have ploughing a lone furrow up top with precious little help from anybody.
Some of Pelligrini’s pre & post match statements are extremely frustrating for me. With regards expecting Haller to improve more ….. really? The young man tireless has to work hard every week to may things happen for himself. Unlike other teams whose midfielders and wingers feed their centre-forward with grand assists, WH tolerate inefficiency in this regard…. and expect more from the centre forward. Please Pelligini … please rather sort out your team selection and favourite lazy and overpaid players.
Agree Haller too isolated as lone target man! Also that Noble plays too far upfield without the pace to recover against today’s PL opponents. Noble slows Hammers’ tempo too & cannot sustain a full 90 mins!
We have for too long most needed a CDM brought in during the Transfer Window(s) who can play alongside RIce & make penetrative passes forwards (like Alex Song did) to improve the penetrative speed & accuracy of our play.
Our results early season flattered to deceive because in most games Fabianski saved us from defeats before we enjoyed a lead! The defence is poor. Masuku is at fault most games he plays for an opposition goal or two. He gave Benard time for a pirouette in our box before Jimemez was negligently beaten at his near post. We need to dispense with proven poor defender Masuku.
Lanzini & Anderson were good in earlier matches, but lack consistency. Wiltshire cannot play at CDM anymore, but his passing ability might be better deployed in the 10 role & utilise Lanzini’s energies in a deeper role.
Hammers start every match this season slowly why not warm them up vigourously) & are generally outfought in effort because our players are too lightweight against high energy, pressing, robust teams like Sheffield United!! The players are often lethargic until we go behind (this / past 2 seasons) & when we concede one goal we often concede 2 which demonstrates a lack of concentration especially b4 & after HT & towards the final whistle. Pellegrini needs an expert defensive coach ASAP & to get the right combination in midfield because when we lead 1- 0; we rarely finish opponents off with a second soon after, which leaves us defensively vulnerable to comebacks like Palace achieved.
For matches against high energy pressing teams Hammers need to significantly up our pressing energy levels & speed of play instead of playing it across every member of the back 4 to get the ball up the wings sooner to our players in space instead of when they are closed down!
We must battle Sheffied United to achieve our share of possession & then use our superior players to score the goals with higher tempo football which has been proven but only appeared in glimpses to secure our wins this season.