Simon Jordan has launched a scathing attack on West Ham’s performance against Newcastle United yesterday.
Unlike many, including myself, Jordan chose not to focus heavily on Nuno Espírito Santo’s role in the defeat, which has very likely cost the Hammers their Premier League status.
Instead, he turned his attention firmly towards several underperforming players.
And let’s be honest about it, the West Ham team were absolutely dreadful.
With the exception of Taty Castellanos and possibly one or two others, the side looked shell-shocked, unfit, unready and completely unprepared to face a Newcastle team who were probably there for the taking had the correct tactics, formation and personnel been used from the beginning.
Jordan Singles Out Bowen And Todibo
Jordan was particularly critical of three West Ham players when breaking down exactly what went wrong at St James’ Park.
“I was looking at West Ham United yesterday thinking Bowen did nothing.
“And Callum Wilson, brought in to make something happen, couldn’t even hold the ball up,” Jordan said.
“But defensively, in the first 20 minutes, if I’m Nuno Espírito Santo and I’m watching that goalkeeper pass the ball out to that clueless defender, Todibo, who’s half asleep, and they allow Newcastle United to just pass it into the back of the net, with nobody going out to challenge the ball, nobody pressing Harvey Barnes, and everyone simply standing there watching it roll into the net, I’d be absolutely furious.”
West Ham Were Beaten Before The Game Settled
Look, he’s not wrong with any of it.
Jarrod Bowen was indeed a shadow of his former self and both Hermansen and Jean-Clair Todibo were major culprits for West Ham conceding the opener.
But if we’re being brutally honest, the Hammers should probably have been 3-0 down within 20 minutes such was the ineptitude of the performance.
It’s natural to search for one single smoking gun after a result like that.
But the reality is the players, tactics and team selection were all nowhere near good enough.
And after going 2-0 behind so early in the game, West Ham were never realistically recovering from that sort of football suicide.
Like a lot of people I’ve been unsure with Nuno over the season some big game mistakes a horrendous run of games around Christmas but then things picked up. Team spirit raised and we were the form team in the league but Sundays game (and the Villa game ) were absolutely awful. He makes these ridiculous decisions like swapping Disasi from the left of defence to the right? We lost that game within 25 mental minutes totally because of him and I want him to go along with Sullivan and Kretinsky. Maybe give Paco a try our form did upturn after he arrived
Gonzo I have seen in other comments that Bowen hasn’t scored since January and I have to say the last 4 matches I’ve watched he has done nothing really and I have thought for gods sake get him off. This doesn’t solve two problems we have after this match. 1. Why change the set up from the Arsenal game if the first thing you need to do is quite the home fans. 2. Soucek has been an outstanding player for us over the years but he no longer has the pace for the Premiership. I’m not saying he is the worst player we have but I do feel it is part of the problem.
I don’t blame the manager, these are professional footballers who should be capable of changing their formation if things not working out. I have seen this many times in the prem this season with teams. The problem for West Ham is that they are not confident players in their ability and none of them ever seem to be able to find time on the ball like other players do, instead they just seem to want to get rid of it asap which usually leads to sideways or backward passes and this has been the case for a few seasons now. Players who do run with the ball often just run into trouble and seem unable to pick out a decent pass either due to lack of ability/awareness or there’s not a soul to pass too. There is no pace in the team and not one player who consistently plays at a consistent level through the season and that’s why if someone has more than 2 decent games we go overboard about how good they are when in reality they are at best bang average. Roll on Championship and all change.
What planet are you from Martyn Our players changing tactics !!! , never. I’ve watched WH since the 60’s when Sir Robert was in charge on the field and we had intelligent English / British players who were all close and spoke to each on the field. We are a bunch of mongrels now who, in my opinion, are not close.
Nutty numbskull Nuno has lost it with that selection. Don’t defend him.
Don’t disagree but can’t leave Nuno out of this criticism Tactics, Formation, Team Selection all his domain.
He caused confusion by not sticking with 4-4-2.
Chopping and changing players not first time he’s done this.
If it comes down to beating Leeds hopefully he will give team half a chance by being conventional.
I normally agree with a lot Jordan says, but on this occasion only 50%. The game was poor from West Ham”s perspective and I genuinely believe that the players finally lost confidence in Nuno who seems unable to put out a consistent team or formation with attacking intent. He reminds me of a headless chicken without the animation and if you look at his career while he had some success at Wolves and Nottm F he usually gets found out after a bright start.