West Ham - Four Goals in Seven Games
West Ham have scored just four goals in the last seven games and desperately need to become more prolific in front of goal if they are to have any hope of achieving European qualification this season.
Alan Curbishley unwittingly highlighted West Ham's problem after yesterday's game.
"To go three down in five minutes against a top-four team is massively difficult," the West Ham manager claimed. "When you give yourself a start like that, there is no way you can come back."
In effect Curbishley is admitting that West Ham are completely reliant on their defence but when that fails they have no response. Essentially Curbishley is sending out teams to try and grind out results. The coaching staff at West Ham claim they have no other option because of injuries to key players. It also has to be admitted that it has worked in a lot of games.
After yesterday's result and with Zamora returning to fitness it must be time to try a different approach. However with an away game against Liverpool up next I seriously doubt we will see a different approach any time soon.
posted by Keir Clarke @ 11:06 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Although the Chelsea result shows that the 4-5-1 has real limitations,an away game, especially against Liverpool ,is not the ideal place to be changing the system. At a minimum ,if Curbishley persists in playing 5 across the midfield, I hope that Solano starts. I hope the manager considers a 4-4-2 ,with either Boa Morte or Ljungberg up front partnering Cole,with perhaps Zamora coming on in the second half. The 4-5-1 has its uses,and indeed has gotten us some results this season, but the low goal production recently should prompt Curbishley to consider other options.
one thing i hope does change,or that curbishley has learned from, is the mistake in commenting to the media about upcoming opposition in a manner that serves to anger or fire up the opposition. obviously it wasn t intentional ,but Curbishley s comments didn t do him, his players or west ham supporters any favors. there is something to be said for ,particularly in sensitive situations ,when a local rival has just been beaten by another local rival, just keeping one s head down ,and not stirring it up. i really feel that s curbishley s comments ,and to a lesser extent rob green s comments,served as added motivation for chelsea. and we paid the price for that .
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