The four worst culprits behind West Ham’s “very bad” start to the season

West Ham United’s loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers condemned them to their fourth straight Premier League defeat of the season.

The last time the Hammers started a season that badly, and it has only happened once, ended with relegation in 2010/11 as Avram Grant lost his first four games in charge.

West Ham were not expecting an easy start, having to travel to Anfield for your opening game of the season is tough even before the summer business Liverpool completed, but two defeats at home and the nature of performances is worrying.

When asked if it was a bad start by BBC reporters after the Wolves defeat, manager Manuel Pellegrini replied: “I don’t think it is a bad start, it is a very bad start.

“We can’t lose six points here at home like we have. Playing away against Liverpool and Arsenal and you don’t play so well is understandable.

“Here at home to lose we must be very worried.”

It was a summer which looked to have heralded a new era for the club. Pellegrini was brought in to add new life, a new verve, to the Hammers after a poor campaign in 2017/18 and £100m was spent on players including the likes of Issa Diop and Felipe Andersson while also bringing in Jack Wilshere on a free transfer.

Yet four games in, they sit rock bottom of the Premier League without a point having already conceded nine goals.

With that in mind, here are four players who haven’t covered themselves in glory so far this season.

1. Jack Wilshere

Jack Wilshere has looked seriously off the pace in the opening four games for the Hammers. It may be that he just needs more time to find his sharpness after such a long time without regular football.

Injuries certainly have taken their toll on a player once thought to be the future of the English game and so far, at West ham, he has failed to live up to those once-lofty expectations.

In the 1-0 defeat to Wolves, the midfielder was substituted after 64 minutes having been bypassed by a more energetic and more skilful opponent in Ruben Neves. Wilshere was playing in a deeper role that appeared not to suit his game and, if No.10 is the only position he feels comfortable playing in, he could struggle to get into the West Ham starting XI.

He may still find his form and become a great signing for Pellegrini and West Ham but significant improvement is needed.

2. Fabian Balbuena

One thing West Ham need is a solid defence and so far Paraguayan international Fabian Balbuena has looked plodding at best – in fact, botanists have been turning up to study the moss that grows on his north side, such is his lack of pace.

He was ripped to shreds against Liverpool, which in itself is not unusual, but he was also poor against Bournemouth, Arsenal and Wolves. His lack of pace was particularly exposed by the Cherries’ attackers which is an ominous sign going forward.

Alongside Ryan Fredericks, no West Ham defender has won fewer tackles per 90 minutes (2) than Balbuena.

He has also failed to command his area and does not fill the fans with confidence that he is going to grow into the role.

3. Michail Antonio

Michail Antonio was one of the Hammers’ most unexpected talents two seasons ago when he netted nine times in 29 Premier League games but 2017/18 was not as fruitful for the winger and this campaign appears not to have got any better.

Often guilty of giving the ball away, his pass completion rate of just 61.9% is the second worst among any outfield player in the Hammers team.

Antonio’s lack of tracking back also puts teammates under pressure and apart from a second-half header against Wolves, he has offered very little going forward.

West Ham need to get a better supply into Marko Arnautovic if they are to start scoring but, at the moment, only a bit of magic from the Austrian striker will likely yield a goal.

Antonio showed glimpses of his former self against Arsenal but now need to return to the kind of consistent form that earned the 28-year-old a call up to Sam Allardyce’s first England squad.

4. Robert Snodgrass

Robert Snodgrass is another winger who has failed to impress thus far. So poor was his first-half performance against Wolves that he didn’t get to come out for the second. Instead Ukrainian international Andriy Yarmolenko got the nod and in fairness managed to improve things.

Snodgrass has averaged just 0.74 successful crosses per 90 so far in the Premier League which is atrocious for a winger. The Scottish international has also been wasteful with opportunities in and around the box, more often than not making the wrong decision and giving the ball away.

He has also made the fewest tackles per 90 (0.37) of any West Ham outfield player so far this season which may be understandable for a winger but the way the Hammers are set up they need their midfielders to track back.

His effort, however, cannot be questioned and if he continues to work as hard as he is at the moment then he will get his rewards and keep the fans onside.

Four games in, it is by no means panic stations for the Hammers but with some tough games ahead – Everton, Chelsea and Manchester United in the next three Premier League games – there is a growing concern from the fans that things may get worse before they get better.

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