West Ham’s two clean sheets in eleven games is not the stuff of automatic promotion.
Neither is it the hallmark of a Nuno-inspired, defensively organised side, traditionally hard to beat. The Hammers have been gifting sides head starts for as long (if not longer) than Nuno has been at the helm, back to the start of Potter’s Premeir League campaign when the defence shipped eleven goals in four games.
Which suggests it runs deeper than ‘just’ a poor centre back or goalkeeping performance.
That’s the verdict of the4thofficial.net who claim there’s a wholesale team issue with defending which is letting the down West Ham’s attempts to dominate teams. No better time than a three week break to try and address the issue, with the report claiming:
11 competitive matches and only two clean sheets show that the problem extends beyond one bad half. The midfield must shield the centre-backs, while full-backs need sharper tracking.
Too many goals conceded could cost West Ham dear – just as it did last season
“Nuno needs more than individual heroics. His side must defend second balls, track runners and organise set pieces properly. The midfield must screen the back four against aerial deliveries and physical forwards.”
Basic stuff? Definitely.Fixable? Apparently:”the evidence from The Den points to a team problem. West Ham need collective answers after conceding twice.
For now, the coaching staff have to use the resources at hand – Airidas Golambeckis anyone? Rather than waiting until the January window and buying their way out of their defensive frailties.
Because there’s another sixteen games to come between the restart and the transfer window opening, with 48 points up for grabs.
And without the clean sheets ratio improving, the Irons will be hard pushed to keep their automatic promotion hopes alive.
The only problem West Ham is Nuno is clueless. To send out the same team that played against Wrexham at home at Millwall away.
It was always going to be a different type of game requiring a much stronger physical midfield and a more cautious approach. If Nuno couldn’t see that he is in the wrong job
I believe its simply down to Nuno`s tactics.We never start games on the front foot,we don`t go for it from the start,it`s always slow build up play giving the opposition the initiative.Look at the stats,only 2 goals scored before the half-hour mark this season.
I view NES’ regular starting setup as 4-2-4, not 4-4-2 as journalists refer to it, because there are only 2 midfielders in the team and also to highlight the fact they can be easily outnumbered when the 4 forwards are up field. Piroe, Taty might press a bit, Bowen will come back when he can & if not too high up the field, same for Solomon maybe less so. Therefore Engels & Mukasa are the only 2 back shielding the back 4.
When Pablo plays there is more a defensive aspect to midfield as he chases and closes down high up the pitch, preventing many attacks starting. It is more a 4-2-1-3 when he plays. Which is probably why team concede less when he is in the team.
All of this to say perhaps some defensive weaknesses come about because team are defensively exposed having 2 midfielders who can quickly be outnumbered or overloaded, either centrally or on the wings depending on opponent.
So I am just wondering whether this formation of 4-2-4 which is very attacking and I admire as very brave, will tend to leave defences exposed if the other team know how to exploit it.
Also, if team are on the back foot, Bowen will be back defending, Engels & Mukasa pinned back under pressure and the team finds it hard to get out, or to attack.
Just my theory. Maybe against certain teams you switch to 4-3-3. Against Wrexham it worked perfectly, so stick to 4-2-4 and keep the pressure on. Sounds easy on paper, but a lot of practice to perfect 2 systems I’m sure, especially at this kind of level. Also, maybe can keep same players and change shape, but beyond my ken and my head is aching.
As for Airidas Golambeckis, just like Kante, he might be able to take the step up to 1st team and grow in influence. He has looked very calm & capable when he has played. Surprised he is not already getting minutes to gain experience because he has looked so good. Same with Ajala, would like to see him getting minutes with the right setup around him, but presume manager has his reasons and the team are doing better up front.
Might be interesting to interview NES and find out what he sees as the strengths and the gambles inherent to a 4-2-4.
Funny never see Mayers at LB, especially as he is quite quick.
Be interesting to see what defensive recruitment happen in January.
Who’d have guessed how much we missed Pablo until he came on?
…and he nearly scored. Him and Kante were brilliant.
If, as the report suggests, the issue is not screening the back four then perhaps some of the criticism of them is unjust. I have said before that 4-4-2 will not always work for Nuno and there will be many an occasion this season, that 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 will give us the extra central midfielder we need. Time to play Magassa alongside Engles and bench a striker?
Disagree. Going on the defensive resulted in relegation. Leeds and Forest escaped relegation because they went on the offensive. I’m sure if you asked Nuno with regard to the Wrexham game, what you were more happy with ,scoring 6 goals or keeping a clean sheet it would have been the latter.
Going on the offensive , clean sheets will come( as did the Wrexham game).
Nuno needs to change his ways and stop lining up 4-4-2
Absolutely, Darkhorse. Forget the defensive set up with players dropping back to help.
Keeping a clean sheet is just a by product and not an aim. We played the first half against Millwall attempting to play the ball out of defence without any idea or success in further progression. We gave the ball away when we were still in our half. Our players were all expecting to move forward only to be exposed as unready to face a wave on our goal.
We must put collective defence where it belongs in the list of priorities. That is somewhere below attacking dominance and keeping the ball in the opponents half, pinning them back with frequent attempts on goal and turning their play to constant fire-fighting.
Bubbles will be blown. We have no wish to turn into a ‘one nil to the Arsenal’ team.
COYI
For me it’s simple. Whilst Max & Mavro are good at dealing with ground level action, they are both weak at high balls across goal. Their timing is way off for some reason. And it’s not as if they can’t head a ball as proven at the other end on attacking corners or heading out long clearances from keepers or defenders.
They just get out muscled or don’t seem to jump as high as their markers.
So true, you think someone would notice something so simple?!
Our goalie or back line don’t inspire any confidence that the likes of Fab, Ogbonna, Soufal, Cresswell did (for the most part).