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The Hammers cannot be considered a bad team, far from it. There is skill in their roster, and desire. It is evident in each challenge, each exhausting sprint and in the frustrated gestures when a pass doesn’t quite come off. That energy is mirrored on the touchline, with Rehanne Skinner vocal during their 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa – “hold the line”, “come closer”, “communicate” and “close the space” were part of the numerous commands from the technical area, as spectators behind the dugout treated to the thoughts of the manager while the match is under way. The coach is fully involved, she is focused, the squad are committed, so what is not working?

Worrying Numbers Tell the Story

Five games in and they have zero points, have let in sixteen goals and scored twice. They are capable of scoring though, five different goal scorers in a rout of their opponents in the League Cup on 24 September a momentary relief from losses before the Blues scored three in a quarter-hour last weekend to return them in their place. Against the Blues West Ham weren’t bad for large parts, that quarter-hour disastrous period was an outlier and, while supporters worried about a complete second half meltdown, they regrouped, thrived with their under pressure, and only conceded one more to the champions.

Consistency across 90-plus has been a ongoing issue. The opening stages and after halftime versus the Blues were spells to be pleased with, as was the first half versus the Gunners and second period facing the Seagulls.

Recurring Pattern Versus the Opponents

In the match with Villa the story was repeated, the away side dominating possession in their home ground but the Hammers having chances too, nine attempts to their opponents’ eleven. They were in it in the opening period, competing, playing well enough to be able to earn a result from the game, the distinction though was that the home side had just one shot on target, as compared to the visitors’ four.

The team are not being let down by their approach, determination or coaching choices, they are failing by individuals lacking composure when they find scoring opportunities. It is that choice-making in the attacking zone that requires improvement, the five goals scored versus lower-league opponents their cup foes may indicate the problem: when they have space and time they make the right moves, when they are being pressed and harried by top-tier opposition it’s as though they struggle to make rapid decisions.

“In my view we were sharp enough in the final third and we just lacked that cutting edge where the last pass was sometimes a bit too strong, lacking the right quality and then just needing to take on shots a sooner,” stated Skinner.

“Considering the players, when I’m watching them individually, I just feel like they’re somewhat reluctant relative to where we were before. The willingness to run at people and be quite assertive was really, really strong and we just need to get that fight back where we’re a little bit more clinical in and around the box, where we are more courageous to go 1v1 and where we accept the outcome but we’re sending attackers forward and we’re trying to generate chances. That’s something that we’ve just sort of taken our foot off the gas a little bit on and we’re seeking assists as opposed to being a more direct and being more self-assured in our own ability.”

Costly Moments Lead to Defeat

On Sunday afternoon that was damaging again. Shortly after Viviane Asseyi directed a header wide, they were made to pay at the other end, an opponent receiving her short corner back from a teammate before lashing the ball into the opposite side. Soon after and Natalia Arroyo’s side had a larger lead, a player’s free-kick lobbed over the defensive line and in.

It was another difficult afternoon for West Ham and their absence of points on the table will certainly prompt doubts being asked about the manager’s future. This is completely unjust though. Much work to be made for sure, confidence and speed in choices must improve, and the players must bear a share of the blame for that, but they are a side that is having difficulties from a lack of support and attention from the organization as a entirety, and the coach is a casualty of that rather than the cause of the team’s problems.

Wider Challenges at Play

This summer, nine players left and just a handful arrived. The quality of those coming in in this window was possibly higher in general, but a tight budget has meant that season-on-season West Ham have lost their top talents to more successful sides. Prior to doubts are asked about Skinner’s tenure, she deserves a opportunity to demonstrate what she can do without constraints and that requires the team improving its support – and the identical applies for a number of WSL clubs.