There are times in life when obnoxious individuals will shift the blame onto someone else or pawn off a problem, but in the case of West Ham, the fans have every right to take a step back from what has happened and dissect what has been a disaster-class.
Here’s how it unfolded.
Whilst the Hammers have had ongoing issues that have spanned over a decade, in the more specific picture, Graham Potter was a significant factor in how West Ham United ended up in the Championship.
Whilst he himself didn’t take charge of many games in the season, it was his summer transfer window that proved to be costly for the Hammers. The removal of leaders and characters costs us in the long run.
Names such as Coufal, Emerson, Antonio and Cresswell all could’ve played a big part within the dressing room. Whilst they might not have gotten good minutes, the lack of leadership certainly proved to be costly in the opening stages, snatching away those handful of points we could’ve had to stay up.
Nuno’s Decision
Whilst relegation seemed inevitable, a quiet round of applause should be given to Nuno for even getting this Hammers side to the final day with a fighting chance, but with that said, looking back at some of the decisions that were made, they seriously were nothing but schoolboy.
Incidents such as playing wingbacks on the wrong side, not playing two strikers, which, admittedly, couldn’t be achieved until January. Not being able to get up to speed with specific players, such as Wilson and Fernandes, to begin with, as well as playing Max Kilman for so long before inevitably dropping him.
Tactically? Nothing but a seesaw. It’s frustrating as the Hammers seemed to have found their way with the 4-4-2 formation, but Nuno refused to stick with it in certain games, and when all hope was lost, he reverted to it, which usually would end in a positive outcome - the consistency and faith within systems were non-existent.
The Mistakes and Mishaps
As well as an overall poor array of quality available to us, West Ham certainly didn’t save themselves.
Player mistakes were made across numerous different games, managerial errors of going defensive too early or poor substitutions, as well as a handful of poor VAR decisions, all played a part in our fate - it really isn’t surprising to see why the Hammers went down.
Player mistakes? West Ham 0-1 Fulham. Managerial Errors? West Ham 0-2 Brentford. VAR decision? Brighton 1-1 West Ham. - Numerous other games could also fulfil these requirements, and given that the list is that long, it does beg the question of how the relegation possibility was even taken to the final day.
Ex-managers, players, VAR, as well as the current manager, all have their share as to why the Hammers have now been relegated.
Did I forget the owners? No. I just couldn’t exceed the word count, you’d need a book, not an article to discuss that!
Comments
Difficult to know where to
Difficult to know where to start really Louis. My view, for what it's worth. Moyes had us playing fairly uninspiring football. Which ultimately lead to him leaving, co in siding with rejecting a new contract and clashing regularly with Brady. The trophy was his legacy and his parting gift.
Be careful what you wish for and all that bollocks. Enter Loputegui, completely the wrong appointment. But cheap, couldn't run a bath or speak bloody English. Enter Potter who on reflection, is a clueless clint!!
So we flirted with relegation the last couple of seasons and we all knew the writing was on the wall. But here we are.
Thing is there's some obvious goings now. Areola, AWB, Diouf, Mavrapanos, Fernandes, Taty, Pablo, Summerville, Todibo, Soucek, Wilson. Then there's a few bang average players with egos who will struggle to get suiters. Kilman for one.
Of course theres Nuno. He will go, as he will no longer want to associate himself with the dwarf. Who is the root cause of this as we all know.
So step up the youngsters Mayers, Scarles, Golembekis, Casey. Orford, Potts, Earthy, Kante, Cummings, Marshall, Fearon. There is where the future in the Championship lies. So it's not all doom and gloom.
Theres a handful who would probably stay. Mad Herman, KWP, Magassa, Kilman (who will find his lane).
I've left Bowen till last. I think he could stay. He's a club legend in the making. If he stays one more season and rips the Championship apart, leading by example. Not having to leave London with his family. Then at 29, not featuring for England anymore. No World Cup or anything. Could he stay? Or could he go and warm the bench at Liverpool? In and out like a fiddlers elbow. That is the question...?
I feel proper sick to the
I feel proper sick to the guts with it,well put Louis and Boogers,we really have to start building a team now,another manager who knows,what about Sullivan,i would like to know whats in his head,Brady knew and promptly fucked off,what will happen now with the great big BOM,will it get filled,will the season ticket holders fall away,will part of the ground get moth balled as cant fill it what a big joke this club has turned out to be.
STOP PRESS Nuno is today
STOP PRESS Nuno is today (Monday) in talks with the hierarchy regarding his future!!
If he goes,who next,you need
If he goes,who next,you need a Big Sam,who went and got Nolan as a leader on the pitch,theres only Bowen who could lead the charge,but hes been so lack lustre lately.
We, the fans
Need to take a good look in the mirror as it's my part belief that West Ham fans have contributed as much as the owners to the downfall of this club. I go back to the vitriol hurled at Allardyce which eventually led to his departure, a manager who arguably took over a team far, far worse than this one, stripped and rebuilt it and left a reasonable platform to continue on. Yes, it's conjecture as to whether we would have gone on to better things but that platform was eroded by a subsequent appointment, a fans favourite bizarrely nicknamed Super Slav. A reasonable first season under the remnants of an Allardyce team, but which slowly disintegrated and only kept in employment by the sparkling form of Dimitri Payet. The departure of Payet cost the handwringing dejected figure on the touchline his job and the incoming Pellegrini sandwiched either side of Moyes did nothing to silence the fans grumblings and certainly not Lopetegui and Potter, which to be fair, weren't popular choices in the first place.
I'm not a fan of Nuno ,but neither am I against him. His Wolves side weren't too dismal and he didn't look to have a bad Forest side either so on that basis I'm saying it's about time West Ham fans took off their "We're massive" rose tinted glasses and stopped expecting instant success and put a stop to this managerial merry go round. At the time of writing, I don't see any alternatives and if the rumblings of a Scott Parker appointment have any grains of truth then all I can say is Wow. We really have sunk to the lowest depths.
I don't know anymore than the
I don't know anymore than the next man. But reading between the lines. Watching Nuno in press conferences and subsequent pre and post match interviews. I don't think he can get out of the club and away from the dwarf quick enough. Especially as we are now relegated.
So this one goes far deeper than calls for him to go. Personally, if he stayed, I'd have no issue with it. But I think he will have a break and maybe manage abroad..?
Parker
Is a cert to take over. Cheap, gets teams up on budget. Former player. Done deal.
Would I choose him? Not too sure
Im not sure what to think,i
Im not sure what to think,i would rather him though than some twat who dosent know us as a club like lopetuigo.