Slav needs to find a Plan B and Dimi must catch fire

CandH blogger Rich Sprent is a worried man and doesn’t expect this piece to be popular or meet with universal approval but finds he has quite a lot he needs to get off his chest! We are happy to give him the opportunity of doing just that.

This week the focus has been on Adrian’s gaffe that effectively cost the Irons two points against Stoke.

That once again West Ham provided the least amount of shots on target of any Premier League side other than Hull City was overlooked. It’s a stat that is directly linked to winning games. It’s one that West Ham are far from being adequate in.

The ‘striker’ failed to score again. Fresh from injury, Andre Ayew looked a little lost up there to be honest. And it’s no wonder why really. Effective forward play requires chances created in the box. That in the whole first half the whole Hammers team touched the ball ONCE in Stoke’s box is no mean feat.

It was such an achievement that it is beggar’s belief that the end result should be looked at by so many as two points lost rather than a point gained. Blame Adrian as much as you like. The real issue is both further upfield and across the field standing in front of the dugout.

A week ago, Stan Collymore was lambasted for his claims that Payet must be doing more. That a ‘few free kicks’ were not enough for a player so revered after the Euros.

He has more than a point.

Who in the current set up takes a grip of the game?

The hardworking duo of Mark Noble and the impressive Pedro Obiang immediately spring to mind. They win the ball and recycle it. They’re protecting the back three and doing a shift each. It’s essential work. They’re not match winners however. They’re not scoring. They’re not playing defence splitting passes. They’re not creating goal scoring opportunities.

In the current set up of 3-4-2-1 it is for the wingbacks to provide ammunition and create forward space. It is for the sublime skills of Payet and Lanzini to unlock the doors and create chances. The lone forward needs to help create his own space and be able to be on the same wavelength as these four players.

Sadly, the crossing has been poor. Couple this with that Ayew is knee high to a bar stool then it’s no wonder that this avenue has been a dead end.

And that brings us nicely onto our Ballon D’or candidate and the Argentine whizzkid. Both are fantastic players. Both can provide more entertainment in a 15 minute cameo of skill than we’ve been used to seeing over the whole length of a season.

The stark reality is that neither player is gripping the game. Neither player is winning the game for West Ham. These brief glimpses of utopian football aside, neither player is doing the business in the current set up.

Lanzini scored at Palace at the end of a wonderful 17 pass move. How many times have these moves come off this season? 11 games, 11 goals scored, 11 points gained. -9 goal difference is the stark reality.

It was little surprise that Lanzini made way in the second against Stoke. Antonio was then released to play inside forward. In the first attack he achieved something that Payet and Lanzini have both consistently failed to do this season: He got in front of the lone forward. Antonio then scored from the next passage of play due to this achievement, (Never an own goal).

Antonio hassles and hassles and creates space that way. I hope that a match sharp Andre Ayew will be able to do something similar. That we are pining hopes on a £20m  winger come lately striker is a concern. Its early days and he needs games. The next month will more than show whether he’s up to the task.

Still, AC and Sakho will be back soon won’t they?

Until they are then for West Ham to win games a few things need to happen:

A quicker thinking attacking centre midfield need to start creating chances. Possession is all well and good but it doesn’t necessarily hurt teams. A personnel or role change is required.

The forward(s) need to create space to allow other players to do their stuff. They also need to create their own chances. If not, then they need to convert the scraps they’re being thrown. This is harsh on whoever is given the nod up top.

That’s a  poison chalice for anyone offered that role. They are not getting help from the two attacking midfielders. That Zaza has so far died a death is no surprise. He’s an Italian international. He has been set up to fail and starved of all opportunity.

The manager needs to find a system for the ALL the players available to him. Palace adapted to the current one after 45 minutes. Sunderland around the 30 minute mark. Everton took 20 minutes. It never got going v Stoke.

Why didn’t we didn’t change or adapt before the 70^th minute? The change when it came was less than perfect but showed that with willing runners in Fletcher and Antonio the game could be won.

This is wholly concerning. It shows that the manager either doesn’t have a plan B up his sleeve or doesn’t trust the other players at his disposal. It could even be that he is so idealistic  he believesit will work in the end aka ‘The Roberto Martinez Way’.

Some notes to ponder on: Noble’s missing for Sp*rs; Collins has a knock; Reid’s out; Oxford’s out; Arbeloa has seemingly been forgotten about.

Changes are afoot.

If there ever was a time for Payet to start getting a grip of the game and running it then it’s over the next month. If not, then the manager’s ideals better start to pay dividends or he’d better  get the team play a different way. A point and a goal a game for and two goals against is a relegation battle in any season.

The views expressed are those of the blogger and are not necessarily shared by ClaretandHugh