West Ham United is experiencing a historically poor start to the Premier League season. The team, including the injured Niclas Füllkrug, is presenting a shocking performance.
The injured Niclas Füllkrug hid in the back row of the substitute bench. In civilian clothes, the national player was condemned to watch on Monday evening.
And for anyone who supports West Ham United, it currently seems like a genuine punishment to have to follow the Hammers’ displays at the London Stadium.
1-5 against Chelsea, 0-3 against Tottenham Hotspur, 1-2 against Crystal Palace, and now 0-2 against Brentford – for the first time ever, West Ham lost the first four league games of a season.
West Ham on the Floor – Fans Flee
When Mathias Jensen scored the final goal in stoppage time on Monday evening, many fans had already seen enough. In the vast expanse of the former Olympic stadium, more and white seat shells became visible in the final phase.
After the opening goal by Igor Tiago (43′), the hosts actually only needed one goal to get back into the game. But belief in a turnaround was lacking both in the stands and on the pitch. Throughout the entire match, the Hammers recorded only a single shot on goal – none in the second half.
That the match wasn’t decided earlier was more due to the visitors’ wastefulness in front of goal, where Kevin Schade, recently called up to the national team again, only hit the crossbar in the second half.
The former Freiburg player also played a key role in the opening goal. A long ball was enough to unsettle the entire Hammers’ defense. Despite not having optimal ball control in the penalty area, Schade was able to pass the ball unpressured to Tiago, and goalkeeper Alphonse Areola couldn’t do much about it.
“From West Ham’s Perspective Absolutely Appearing”
“The first goal feels like a relapse into the time 40 to 50 years ago,” said TV expert Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports . “It seemed as if everyone had all the time in the world and there was a lot of space. From West Ham’s perspective, that is absolutely appalling.”
His devastating verdict: “I can’t remember seeing a less athletic team in the Premier League over a very, very long period of time.”
In general, West Ham’s performances have been “shocking, and that for quite some time,” judged the Liverpool icon. “It feels like an eternity since they won the European Cup under David Moyes.”
Two years ago, the Hammers triumphed in the Conference League. The following year, Moyes’ contract was not renewed. His successors Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter are already history. Now Nuno Espírito Santo is supposed to fix things.
Disillusionment After Coach Change – “Silence Turns to Fear”
After his departure from Nottingham Forest, the Portuguese took over at the end of September – and after just three games, there is a certain disillusionment.
“I think we are all worried. You can feel it with our own fans too. You see that they are worried. And this worry turns into silence. This silence turns into fear. And we have a problem,” said Nuno after the defeat on Monday evening.
Among the fans who stayed until the final whistle at the London Stadium, the silence during the game gave way to loud whistles.
The new coach can understand the discontent of the supporters. “That is understandable. Since my arrival, it’s clear to me that it’s up to us to change this. Our fans need to see something they like, something that delights them, so they can support us and give us energy – like we felt at the start of the game.”
West Ham with Historic Negative Series
The supporters have been waiting for illuminating performances in London’s East End for some time. Including the previous season, the Hammers have even lost five home games in a row – that has only happened once before in the club’s history: in 1931! The last home win in England’s elite class was on February 27th of this year.
On Friday, West Ham is challenged again in the Premier League basement duel at promoted Leeds United. Away from home, a 3-0 win in Nottingham provided the only three points of the season so far.
But expert Carragher sees few signs of a trend reversal: “At the start of the season, I was afraid for them because I thought the promoted teams would be more competitive. West Ham, with this squad, no matter who the coach is, would always have problems because I think they can’t keep up physically.”