West Ham have been under scrutiny from the entire industry alongside their fanbase due to their back line leaking goals like a sieve. Naturally, this is not great news for the team or their new coach, Nuno Espirito Santo, who has a huge spotlight on him currently. Sitting in 19th place, the team is in a sour mood (Santo even more so), fans are giving up hope, and it’s clear a new plan is needed.
Fan Angst & The Cold, Hard Proof of the Bookies
With fans specifically, there is much frustration regarding the team’s decisions, with their patience wearing thin. Not only is there a perceived lack of strategy, but a display of muddled thinking from the board, deepening the holes they are currently digging for themselves. It has become so bad, it extends beyond social media rants and into the financial realm, costing fans money used to display their faith in their team. Tangible evidence of this decline in trust can be seen with major sportsbooks through shortening and drifting odds.
Even for the fans who bet on international websites, West Ham’s market value is seemingly dropping; a brutal sign of the team’s poor performance. Even though these platforms open up a world of possibilities, including fewer restrictions, higher odds, and crypto payouts, it is not enough to make up for the team’s rapid dip. Morale is down, the team’s odds have been cut on the Premier League relegation market, and still nothing has been done to fix the issue.
The Target: Scout Report on Charlie Cresswell
As it stands, there has been talk about the team eyeing Charlie Cresswell, a Toulouse defender who has demonstrated some qualities the team is severely lacking in. The 23-year-old English defender is considered a powerful centre back, has impressive attacking returns, and often clears the ball out of defence. With how drastic West Ham’s goal difference is, it only makes sense for them to want someone who can provide stability and build a strong defence. Due to Cresswell’s threatening on-field presence, West Ham is not the only team eyeing the defender.
Everton has also shown interest, with rumours going around that the team is plotting to sign Cresswell as soon as the January transfer window allows. It should come as no surprise that multiple teams are vying for him, as he has a strong backline presence and the ability to stay calm under pressure. Of course, this also throws a spanner in West Ham’s plans, as the defender will be signed to the team with the better offer. Can the Hammers step up to the plate with this one?
Defensive Woes: The Numbers That Don’t Lie
West Ham’s most recent game at London Stadium this week saw a brutal reaction from fans who were not happy with the 2-0 defeat. Some fans booed the team off the field, while others stayed away in protest of them still running despite the circumstances. After three consecutive losses, Santo admitted that something needs to change for fans to be brought back together.
Jamie Carragher, a Sky Sports pundit, offered further insight into why the team was not doing so well, pointing out how they did not “look together”. This follows his comments on how the team was unable to cope physically, saying Brentford bullied them on the field. Fans protesting by not attending games echo this sentiment, with many believing the team lost its essence when it moved from Upton Park. With the Hammers’ only win this season being against Nottingham Forest, the team remains in the relegation zone, only two points above the Wolves.
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