Bobby Moore will be no joy for the fans in the lower stand, with their only game against Arsenal close to them.
A fight broke out with disgruntled home fans after a small group of visiting supporters failed to hide their loyalty during Kai Havertz’s goal celebration and were then escorted out of the London Stadium by stewards. As for the playground? It was another great performance; A weak defense with a porous defense and a 5-2 defeat increased the pressure on coach Julen Lopetegui.
West Ham conceded 4 goals in 36 minutes, with Gabriel, Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Havertz on the goals. Lopetegui’s men have conceded three or more goals for the sixth time this season. After the third goal, many fans came to the stadium. A slight revival sparked the comeback when Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmieri scored within two minutes, but the damage was done before half-time when Bukayo Saka converted his own penalty.
This is a West Ham team that will achieve like no other. In September they conceded three goals against Chelsea, beat Liverpool 5-1 in the League Cup, four against Tottenham and three against Nottingham Forest. This season, West Ham have only kept a clean sheet in 13 league games.
Lopetegui’s ban lasted until it was lifted after the win over Newcastle United on 25 November. When this team turns the corner, defeat awaits them. There is no consistency, there are no signs of a steady upward trend and there is no evidence that the team is stopping enthusiasm in home games.
After the match, Lopetegui said that West Ham had prepared for the Arsenal match. But defending Gabriel’s first goal proved otherwise. It was a direct transfer from training camp.
Odegaard, Gabriel and Jurrien Timber are unmarked, while Havertz, William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori should get rid of Emerson, Jean-Clair Todibo and Wan-Bissaka.
Michael was asked to mark Antonio Gabriel, but Calafiori will protect the Jamaican defender. Antonio then failed to run Gabriel and the Brazilian header after a precise shot from Saka. Assistant manager Pablo Sanz has been appointed to oversee West Ham’s ownership. But when he saw the team’s inability to execute the game plan, his shoulders were heaving.
Lopetegui scored his third of the season in the 2-0 win at St James’ Park and the Spaniard served his touch ban by sitting in the manager’s box and communicating with the staff his back room through headphones. After taking the lead, he thought Timber blocked Lucas Paquetá’s first goal.
“The first one was a ball that we prepared, but I think it’s a very clear fake,” said Lopetegui. “If it’s not a violation, we need to review the rules. But obviously we have to do better with the second and third goals.
“Every attack block has a limit. All coaches prepare set pieces with studs. I think he (Paqueta) had a situation with no intention of playing the ball (and Timber pushed him). We talk a lot with the referees (in meetings) about these moves. “Sometimes we get a little lost in our interpretation of the rules.”
At half-time, Saka and Odegaard had 60 touches and both took advantage of West Ham’s disorganized defence. But that lack of concentration led to Trossard’s goal.
West Ham have a good defensive line when Saka picks up here…
But Odegaard notices Saka’s career and passes…
Todibo and Maximilian Kilman were slow to respond, while Van-Bissaka missed Trossard before the Belgian converted from close range.
Paquetá returned to his best against Newcastle, but has been in blistering form since August. The Brazilian tends to lock up and is used to letting the ball go.
With West Ham already 2-0 up, they missed a penalty for a foul on Saka, which Odegaard converted.
Paquetá was also guilty in the fourth goal, passing the ball in the middle of the field.
Jorginho took his leave of Carlos Soler…
And Trossard quickly passed a long ball to Havertz, leaving Kilman as the last man…
The defender, signed from Wolverhampton for £40 million ($51.2 million) in the summer, lost the ball and Havertz missed a goal.
Lukasz Fabianski fought back from replacing Alphonse Areola, but an errant Gabriel was fouled in Arsenal’s corner and referee Anthony Taylor awarded another penalty before the break, before Saka scored.
West Ham restricted Arsenal to just one shot in the second half, but many fans left when Danny Ings’ shot went very close. He stopped hitting the ground out of frustration, a feeling shared by the others.
“The fifth goal finished the game before half-time,” said Lopetegui. “We scored two goals and finished the half with good energy. It was not a punishment. Compare the communication of the first goal in Lucas Paqueta and then it happened with Lukasz (Fabianski) and Gabriel. We were unfortunate with that decision, but that is no excuse because we can and should do better.
Tuesday’s trip to struggling Leicester City is a chance to put things right. There have been passionate requests from the head coach this season; some had the desired effect, while others fell on deaf ears. Which of the following will affect Lopetegui’s future against Leicester for the first time under Ruud van Nistelrooy?
2024-12-02 05:43:00
#West #Hams #defense #porous #Julen #Lopetegui #find #solution #quickly #Natura #Hoy
## West Ham’s Defensive Woes Continue: Has Lopetegui Lost the Plot?
**Expert Interview with former premier League Defender, Gary Neville**
**Interviewer:** Gary, we’ve just witnessed another defensive horror show from West Ham, conceding five goals to Arsenal. You were a famed defender in your time, so what did you make of their performance today?
**Gary Neville:** Absolutely woeful. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen West Ham leak goals this season, and frankly, it’s becoming a worrying pattern. They’re all over the place defensively. There’s no organization, no interaction, and individuals making basic errors.
**Interviewer:** Lopetegui claimed they had prepared for Arsenal’s set pieces, but Gabriel’s opening goal came from a routine training ground move. Where did it go wrong?
**Gary Neville:** You can’t blame a lack of readiness entirely. It’s clear West Ham’s players simply aren’t executing the plan. Look at the marking for Gabriel’s goal – Odegaard, Timber, and Havertz left unmarked.It’s schoolboy defending.
**Interviewer:** Is there a lack of leadership in the West Ham defense, or is this a more systemic problem?
**Gary neville:** Both, I think.There’s a lack of experience and leadership at the back, but more importantly, there seems to be a complete lack of confidence in the system lopetegui is trying to implement.
**Interviewer:** Do you see any signs of advancement from west Ham, or is this a recipe for relegation?
**Gary Neville:** There are glimpses, but not enough. the comeback in the second half was encouraging, but conceding five goals at home is simply unacceptable. They need to tighten up defensively, and fast, or they’re going to be in a real dogfight at the bottom.
**Interviewer:** Some fans are calling for Lopetegui to go. Is that fair?
**Gary Neville:** He’s only been in charge a short time, and it’s not a speedy fix. Remember, he inherited a lot of problems. But if he can’t turn things around quickly, the pressure will only grow.
**Interviewer:** What needs to change for West Ham to turn things around?
**Gary Neville:** First and foremost, they need to address their defensive frailties. Whether that means changing the personnel or the system remains to be seen. But they need to find a way to stop conceding goals. Otherwise, their attacking prowess will count for nothing. This team has the potential, but their Achilles heel is going to cost them dearly if they don’t sort it out.
