Lacklustre Hammers run out of steam and ideas
West Ham 0-1 Everton
David Moyes‘ message following West Ham’s Europa League loss to Olympiacos couldn’t have been clearer. The Hammers manager unashamedly explained that he opted for a less potent team against the Greek side with the intention of fielding his strongest squad in the Premier League match against Everton. Unfortunately, this strategy backfired, placing Moyes under scrutiny for his squad management and rotation decisions.
What’s more, not only did the midweek rest fail to yield the desired results, but West Ham also appeared even more fatigued against Everton than they did against Olympiacos. Hopefully someone can explain that to me.
Fatigue wasn’t the sole issue either. The players seemed mentally sluggish, lacking creative ideas to overturn the 1-0 deficit, even on our own manor. To compound matters, the team appeared visibly frustrated and disheartened, creating a weird atmosphere inside the London Stadium.
A lacklustre Hammers performance gave the crowd little to cheer.
Notable mentions should go to Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, and Alphonse Areola, as they at least displayed alertness and effort. However, David Moyes’ team has now endured three consecutive lacklustre performances. With an upcoming match against Arsenal in the cup, the situation could deteriorate further.
Regarding the 1-0 loss to Everton, it was a subpar performance in every aspect. The tactics, fitness, motivation, and skill levels all fell short against an Everton side that, at best, can be considered mediocre.