West Ham’s form has been a trifle on the iffy side of dodgy of late. As a look at their recent results:
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Oct 2022 | Manchester United v West Ham United | L | 1-0 | Premier League |
| 03 Nov 2022 | Steaua Bucuresti v West Ham United | W | 0-3 | Europa Conference |
| 06 Nov 2022 | West Ham United v Crystal Palace | L | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 09 Nov 2022 | West Ham United v Blackburn Rovers | L | 2-2 (9-10) | League Cup |
| 12 Nov 2022 | West Ham United v Leicester City | L | 0-2 | Premier League |
The Europa Conference might be a nice distraction at times but in reality, the Premier League form is a mess. West Ham United won just one of their last five games and that was in the conference. In the league it was three defeats in the last three games (scored one conceding five), and the only win was against fellow strugglers AFC Bournemouth.
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Oct 2022 | Southampton v West Ham United | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| 19 Oct 2022 | Liverpool v West Ham United | L | 1-0 | Premier League |
| 24 Oct 2022 | West Ham United v AFC Bournemouth | W | 2-0 | Premier League |
| 30 Oct 2022 | Manchester United v West Ham United | L | 1-0 | Premier League |
| 06 Nov 2022 | West Ham United v Crystal Palace | L | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 12 Nov 2022 | West Ham United v Leicester City | L | 0-2 | Premier League |
Although the stats can’t tell us everything – we’ll try and get to the referee later – they do give us a good clue as to what might happen and that table of the last six games published in the earlier article paints a picture of West Ham having relegation form.
Looked at through the lens of the last ten league games, Arsenal as you will know have played four at home and won all four scoring 13 and conceding four. West Ham have played five away, and won none of them. They have scored two and conceded six.
So on all measures – last six games, last ten games, all season, and home games for Arsenal v away games for West Ham, West Ham are in a mess.
But what did the pundits think would happen, when they did their preseason predictions? Sports Mole said “In a bid to challenge for at least a top-six finish, David Moyes has bolstered his squad with four new signings, with the much-needed additions of a centre-back and striker arriving…
“Since his appointment as West Ham boss, for a second time, in December 2019, David Moyes has transformed the club from fighting relegation to challenging for European silverware, a remarkable feat that the Scotsman should be commended for….
“Moyes has been astute in the transfer market … [and] with West Ham’s squad looking in better shape than the previous year, Moyes will be optimistic about his side’s chances of competing on all fronts this term, with success in the Europa Conference League and qualification for the Champions League via their top-flight position high on the agenda.”
And yet they are 16th in the league and declining.
The Guardian, in its pre-season review said, “The aim is to challenge for a place in the top four again,” but did express concerns saying, “West Ham have made rapid progress in the last two years. But have opponents started to work them out? Moyes, who tore into his players after defeat to Brighton on the final day forced West Ham to settle for a place in the Europa Conference League, has sounded a little impatient recently. It could be a testing campaign.” And so it has proved. More than “testing” in fact.
442 said, “There are some murmurings that David Moyes is overcautious, but not from those who can remember as far back as 2020. Successive top-seven finishes and that Europa League run mark the Scot as the Hammers’ best modern manager, and the first to have a long-term vision.”
And generally, we can see the pattern, Arsenal were talked down, and West Ham were talked up. When people say “it’s a funny old game” in reality they are not talking about football but about football journalism.
Paul Merson – “without being horrible” – what is he talking about?
From the BBC – “Eddie Nketiah has 10 goals in his last 10 starts at home in all competitions”.
seismic
Oh my word, Nketiah looks pretty good. Who’d have thought.
It’s all very odd. Since Jesus got injured I’ve been saying, and showing with stats, just how impressive Nketiah has been, and didn’t get a single word of support. Now all of a sudden various media sources are reproducing the same stats I’ve been posting. Similarly Tony and other posters.
I wish you’d of been there when I was getting grief from posters who should of known better.
Nketiah is a star in the making.