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West Ham are not a bad team, not by any means. There is skill in their squad, and desire. It is evident in every tackle, each exhausting sprint and in the disappointed gestures when a ball fails to connect. This intensity is mirrored on the sideline, with Rehanne Skinner animated throughout their 2-0 defeat to the visitors – “maintain shape”, “come closer”, “communicate” and “close the space” were part of the numerous instructions from the technical area, as spectators behind the dugout treated to the thoughts of the coach while the match is under way. The coach is fully involved, she is focused, the players are engaged, so where is the issue?

Concerning Statistics Reveal the Tale

After five matches and they have zero points, have conceded 16 goals and scored twice. They can score though, five different goal scorers in a 5-1 defeat of Charlton in the League Cup on last month a momentary relief from defeat before the Blues put three past them in 15 minutes last weekend to put them firmly back in their place. Against the Blues West Ham performed decently for large parts, that 15 minute calamitous spell was an outlier and, while many feared a complete after the break collapse, they regrouped, thrived with their backs against the wall, and let in just one additional goal to the champions.

Steadiness over a full match has been a consistent issue. The first five minutes and second half against Chelsea were periods to be proud of, as was the opening 45 against Arsenal and second period against Brighton.

Familiar Pattern Against Villa

In the match with Villa the story was repeated, the visiting team controlling the ball in Dagenham but the Hammers creating opportunities too, nine attempts to Villa’s 11. They competed in the first half, challenging, performing adequately to be able to earn a result from the game, the difference though was that West Ham had just one attempt on goal, as opposed to Villa’s four.

West Ham are not failing by their style, grit or managerial decisions, they are failing by players lacking composure when they get in scoring opportunities. This is that choice-making in the attacking zone that requires improvement, the five strikes netted versus lower-league opponents Charlton perhaps points to the issue: when they have space and time they make the right moves, when they are being pressed and harried by WSL-level opposition it’s almost as if they find it hard to make rapid decisions.

“I don’t think we were clinical enough in the final third and we just lacked that decisive quality where the final ball was at times a bit over hit, lacking the right quality and then just being prepared to take on shots a sooner,” stated the manager.

“Based on the individuals, when I’m watching them one by one, it seems like they’re somewhat reluctant compared to where we were before. The willingness to take on defenders and be very direct was really, really strong and we just need to get that fight back where we’re a little bit more ruthless in and around the penalty area, where we are more courageous to go one-on-one and where what will be will be but we’re committing players and we’re trying to create opportunities. That’s something that we’ve just somewhat eased up 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.”

Expensive Moments Lead to Defeat

During the match that was costly again. Moments after Viviane Asseyi directed a header wide, they were punished at the opposite goal, an opponent collecting her set-piece back from Lynn Wilms before driving the ball into the far corner. Soon after and Natalia Arroyo’s side had a larger lead, Wilms’s free-kick lifted over the defensive line and in.

This proved a further difficult day for the Hammers and their absence of results on the board will inevitably prompt doubts arising about Skinner’s future. That would be wholly unjust though. There is improvement to be done for sure, confidence and quickness in choices needs to get better, and the players must take some responsibility for that, but this is a team that is having difficulties from a shortage of support and attention from the club as a whole, and Skinner is a casualty of that rather than the architect of the team’s problems.

Broader Issues at Work

During the off-season, nine players left and just a handful arrived. The quality of those joining in this window was arguably better in general, but a tight budget has resulted in that year after year the club have seen depart their best players to more successful sides. Prior to doubts are asked about the manager’s reign, she merits a chance to show what she can do unhindered and that means the team improving its support – and the identical could be said for several WSL clubs.