A sub-par season for the Irons
What went badly…
This was a drastically sub-par league season; no arguments there. West Ham took significantly fewer points, scored significantly fewer goals and conceded more.
The goal scoring issues in particular were worrying, given that the Irons spent over £100m on an attacking midfielder (Lucas Paqueta), a winger (Maxwel Cornet) and two strikers (Gianluca Scamacca and Danny Ings). Paqueta is clearly a fine player and may well realise his undoubted potential next season.
The other three? Hmmm.
Scamacca’s woes – three league goals – epitomised the season-long problem. David Moyes endorses a workman- like way of playing that has been discussed at length on CandH before. The sprinkling of continental flair should have persuaded Moyes to compromise on his tactical principles, but instead West Ham were too lethargic offensively which effectively halted the momentum of the new arrivals.
West Ham won just five of their first 23 league games, beating two promoted clubs, Wolves and Everton at home and taking six points from their first 12 away games. The midseason World Cup break was viewed as a period for either rapid improvement or changing the manager – West Ham stuck with Moyes and then took one point (at Leeds) from four games.
And the defence wasn’t much better. West Ham actually kept more clean sheets this season than last, but more than half of those came against teams in the bottom six. They conceded six times to Crystal Palace, four against Brentford and six against Brighton; these are clubs that, before the season began, they would have expected to finish above.
Hopefully this season will be looked back at a minor blip in our continuing development.
Interesting perspective.
IMHO – It seems West Ham fans have become a little … expectant?
In the 3 seasons (2017 – 20) prior to the last 3, West Hams average position was 13th and averaged 44 points (Not too far away from were they were this season?) Four points higher than now, which is exactly the number of points VAR incorrectly cost West Ham according to recent study, but that a discussion for another day), so perhaps 2021 & 22 may be the anomalies, not the norm?
The other factor to consider, the rise of Newcastle, Brighton and the general level of Premiership play, the record amount of money spent, almost 3 times previous season!