Having watched Leeds United and Nottingham Forest in recent games, it’s hard not to conclude that West Ham’s cutting edge is just not up to scratch compared to two teams who were previously our relegation rivals. I use the word ‘previously’ somewhat cautiously because at the start of this weekend’s proceedings, Nottingham Forest were still very much part of the relegation picture and they still might be.
However, after the Hammers’ 3-0 loss against Brentford yesterday, it’s become evident that if Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen aren’t firing on all cylinders, then West Ham do not have a forward threat.
West Ham Attack Leaves Growing Survival Concern
West Ham striker Pablo is struggling to find a cutting edge
Pablo Felipe and particularly Castellanos have brought industry, work rate, and an improvement to Nuno Espirito Santo’s ability to defend from the front. Their arrivals in January have coincided with a big improvement in form, which impressively overturned a seven-point deficit to a situation where West Ham entered this game week two points above the relegation zone.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t tell the whole picture, because Taty Castellanos, whilst he may have been unlucky yesterday, does look like a striker who’ll score a goal every three or four games. Pavlo is quite a different subject, because he appears to have neither the technical ability nor pace to play as an attacking threat in the Premier League.
West Ham Need Bowen And Summerville Firing
Sure, he is physical and determined, but to describe him as a striker would be something of a stretch. If anything, the £20 million January signing is a defensive forward, which puts huge pressure on the likes of Summerville and Bowen to score and create. And it increasingly seems when they’re not on it, neither are West Ham.
Contrast this with the likes of Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Chris Wood, and Okafor, it’s clear that West Ham have not had the necessary firepower to blast our way to safety. All we can really hope now is that Tottenham also lack that cutting edge.
It is obvious that Pablo is not premier league quality, having no pace and very little guile. He often looks lost on the pitch, checking his position against Teammates and finding himself not where he should be, a bad signing.
Yesterday both Bowen and Summerville seemed under the weather, no spark , no urgency and of course this feeds itself into the psychology of the other nine players, all except perhaps, big Dino, who in the last few games has developed into a real tour de force, playing his best football since he was signed.
We must try and keep hold of him !
Spot on Gonzo. Whilst Taty and Pablo have been at the heart of our improved form through the change in tactics to now defend from the front, the reality is we are dependent on Bowen and Jimmy. The former is off form, the latter trying to recover form after his injury.
I can’t say I’m optimistic about next season if we stay up as this is a bottom half team at best and a relegation fighting squad.
Let’s hope we have the opportunity to improve the squad for the Premiet League next season, for if we get relegated I reckon there will be over 20 players going out and coming in which won’t bode well for an immediate return.
When was the last season we had a prolific attacking quartet?
The name of the game is, find a way to win with what we’ve got.
Get behind our boys and cheer them on.
It’s the West Ham way!
Up the Hammers.
COYI
3-0 defeat to Brentford was harsh . On another day Westham win . Four unlucky outcomes by inches including the Mavro attempted clearance ( 2 inches more up and good ) , the Mavro disallowed goal ( 3 inches offside ) , the Tatty header ( 2 inches in and goal ) and the Summerville effort ( 2 inches down and goal ) . Spurs now need to fail to win a game until seasons end and then Westham definitely stay up . Westham can perhaps scramble 3 or 4 more points . Wouldn’t it be beautiful for Westham to stop Arsenal from winning the title and send Spurs down .
Unfortunately near misses don’t count as goals.
In fact they are meaning less.
Spurs are two goals up and Villa look like they are chasing shadows.
Spurs deserve their lead and Emery just stands there almost mesmerised.
For a manager who is normally so motivated he looks stunned.
Needs to be big turn around in second half otherwise whu are on the way out.
Sullivan has stifled any possibility of getting out and out striker.
The signings have transformed our game and made us competitive in most matches. But if we were to survive the lack of goals is a big issue. Taty seems to hit the woodwork a lot so there maybe some chance his luck will change but he’s doing that with chances he should be scoring. Pablo doesn’t even get that close to getting the goal in the net. If Fernandes, Summerville, Soucek, Mavropanos and Bowen aren’t scoring we don’t.