West Ham United manager David Moyes and first team coach Kevin Nolan. Reuters
West Ham United manager David Moyes and first team coach Kevin Nolan. Reuters
West Ham United manager David Moyes and first team coach Kevin Nolan. Reuters
West Ham United manager David Moyes and first team coach Kevin Nolan. Reuters

Football

Lack of potency and direction pushing West Ham closer to the edge

Upcoming games against Tottenham Chelsea threaten to leave them in bottom three

Richard Jolly
Richard Jolly
Greater Manchester, England

June 22, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

The witticism on Saturday was that, for once, West Ham were not booed off at the London Stadium. Their unloved ground looked still more cavernous and soulless as the Hammers subsided to an eighth home defeat of the season. Come Sunday and, for a few minutes before Chelsea launched a comeback against Aston Villa, they slipped into the drop zone.

West Ham’s seeming participation in ‘Project Sabotage’, the attempt to either end the season or call off relegation, felt self-serving. Now their interests would be served by producing the sort of form they have rarely demonstrated in a sorry season. They have taken a mere five points since New Year’s Day.

David Moyes executed a successful salvage job after a mid-season arrival two years ago. Now their position feels more precarious. “I always felt it would be tight but it wouldn't go down to the last game,” said the manager. “We have been here and done it before. We have winnable games.”

But perhaps not immediately. While West Ham have a habit of rousing themselves against better opponents, games against Tottenham on Tuesday and Chelsea next week threaten to leave them in the bottom three.

After two of the Premier League’s most avoidable relegations, in 2003 and 2011, they threaten to add another. A capacity to produce teams less than the sum of their talented or expensive parts feels West Ham-esque. As the Olympic Stadium shows, the gulf between ambition and reality is greater there than anywhere else. None of the stragglers are spending so much funding underachievement.

Their wage bill in 2018-19 amounted to £136 million (Dh620m) and while their annual rent at the London Stadium would halve to £1.25 million if they went down, they can ill-afford failure.

________________

Everton v Liverpool ratings

Jordan Pickford – 6, Everton’s England goalkeeper was only really stretched in injury time at the end of the game, when he tipped over Fabinio’s free kick. PA
Jordan Pickford – 6, Everton’s England goalkeeper was only really stretched in injury time at the end of the game, when he tipped over Fabinio’s free kick. PA
Seamus Coleman - 8, Fine tackle to thwart Joe Gomez at the start of the second half, and coped admirably with the threat of Sadio Mane. AFP
Seamus Coleman - 8, Fine tackle to thwart Joe Gomez at the start of the second half, and coped admirably with the threat of Sadio Mane. AFP
Mason Holgate - 7, At the heart of the Everton rearguard, and he snubbed out the threat of Liverpool’s forward line well. AP
Mason Holgate - 7, At the heart of the Everton rearguard, and he snubbed out the threat of Liverpool’s forward line well. AP
Michael Keane - 6, Only really noticeable when he was booked for upending Mane when the Reds forward was on the charge in the first half. AFP
Michael Keane - 6, Only really noticeable when he was booked for upending Mane when the Reds forward was on the charge in the first half. AFP
Lucas Digne - 7, Unlucky to be cautioned for what seemed a neat slide tackle on Mane after the break. EPA
Lucas Digne - 7, Unlucky to be cautioned for what seemed a neat slide tackle on Mane after the break. EPA
Anthony Gordon – 6, Not exactly the dream first Premier League start for the 19 year old Liverpudlian, but he did little wrong before being subbed on the hour. PA
Anthony Gordon – 6, Not exactly the dream first Premier League start for the 19 year old Liverpudlian, but he did little wrong before being subbed on the hour. PA
Andre Gomes – 7, It was his excellence that created the chance that eventually led to chances for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Tom Davies. AP
Andre Gomes – 7, It was his excellence that created the chance that eventually led to chances for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Tom Davies. AP
Tom Davies - 7, Had the chance to steal it for the home side, but saw his shot deflect off Gomes onto the post. EPA
Tom Davies - 7, Had the chance to steal it for the home side, but saw his shot deflect off Gomes onto the post. EPA
Alex Iwobi – 5, Little chance to express himself going forward. Could do with introducing himself to Richarlison, who ignored him when he was well placed in favour of shooting himself. AFP
Alex Iwobi – 5, Little chance to express himself going forward. Could do with introducing himself to Richarlison, who ignored him when he was well placed in favour of shooting himself. AFP
Richarlison – 6, A threat up front, but his reckless late foul on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain might have cost his side. EPA
Richarlison – 6, A threat up front, but his reckless late foul on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain might have cost his side. EPA
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 8, Clever flick brought a fine save from Alisson, and he was industrious throughout. He would have received a rousing ovation had there been a crowd present when he was subbed right before the end. AP
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 8, Clever flick brought a fine save from Alisson, and he was industrious throughout. He would have received a rousing ovation had there been a crowd present when he was subbed right before the end. AP
Gylfi Sigurdsson (sub) - 6, Given 30 minutes, but it didn’t prove enough time for him to make a difference. AFP
Gylfi Sigurdsson (sub) - 6, Given 30 minutes, but it didn’t prove enough time for him to make a difference. AFP
Moise Kean – (sub) NA, just managed to sneak an appearance fee before the final whistle blew. Getty
Moise Kean – (sub) NA, just managed to sneak an appearance fee before the final whistle blew. Getty
Alisson Becker – 7, A mere spectator for 80 minutes, then did everything asked of him to keep out Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison in quick succession – while the post also helped him out. AP
Alisson Becker – 7, A mere spectator for 80 minutes, then did everything asked of him to keep out Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison in quick succession – while the post also helped him out. AP
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6, Did his best to forge openings, but his imprecision on some crosses and through balls suggested rustiness. EPA
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6, Did his best to forge openings, but his imprecision on some crosses and through balls suggested rustiness. EPA
Joel Matip - 7, Totally unflustered as he works his way back from injury – only to succumb to a new one in the second half. AP
Joel Matip - 7, Totally unflustered as he works his way back from injury – only to succumb to a new one in the second half. AP
Virgil van Dijk – 7, Might have been bored by what he was watching for much of it, so little did he have to do, until a late surge by the hosts. PA
Virgil van Dijk – 7, Might have been bored by what he was watching for much of it, so little did he have to do, until a late surge by the hosts. PA
James Milner - 5, Filling in for Andy Robertson at left back, he was booked in the 20th minute for a foul on Richarlison, and exited injured before half time. PA
James Milner - 5, Filling in for Andy Robertson at left back, he was booked in the 20th minute for a foul on Richarlison, and exited injured before half time. PA
Jordan Henderson – 7, Liverpool had 70 per cent of the possession, and it felt like Henderson had most of that, but he struggled to pick a way through the organised ranks of Everton defences. EPA
Jordan Henderson – 7, Liverpool had 70 per cent of the possession, and it felt like Henderson had most of that, but he struggled to pick a way through the organised ranks of Everton defences. EPA
Fabinho - 7, Made a loose start, but could have been the hero at the end as his injury-time free-kick brought a fingertip save from Pickford. AFP
Fabinho - 7, Made a loose start, but could have been the hero at the end as his injury-time free-kick brought a fingertip save from Pickford. AFP
Naby Keita - 7, At the time he was replaced in the second half, the midfielder had arguably been Liverpool’s brightest spark. Fashioned a chance for himself early in the second phase. PA
Naby Keita - 7, At the time he was replaced in the second half, the midfielder had arguably been Liverpool’s brightest spark. Fashioned a chance for himself early in the second phase. PA
Takumi Minamino - 4, Big boots to fill standing in for Mohamed Salah, and the Japanese forward looked overawed by it. Subbed at half time by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. AP
Takumi Minamino - 4, Big boots to fill standing in for Mohamed Salah, and the Japanese forward looked overawed by it. Subbed at half time by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. AP
Roberto Firmino – 5, The Brazilian forward was anonymous, which is perhaps forgivable given the surreal circumstances. EPA
Roberto Firmino – 5, The Brazilian forward was anonymous, which is perhaps forgivable given the surreal circumstances. EPA
Sadio Mane – 7, Well shackled by Coleman, and someway short of his best, but it always felt as though he was a threat. AP
Sadio Mane – 7, Well shackled by Coleman, and someway short of his best, but it always felt as though he was a threat. AP
Joe Gomez - (sub) 8, Only the understudy to the understudy, but he played a key role after replacing Milner before half time. First as an attacking weapon down the left flank, and then with an important touch to knock Davies’ shot onto the post. PA
Joe Gomez - (sub) 8, Only the understudy to the understudy, but he played a key role after replacing Milner before half time. First as an attacking weapon down the left flank, and then with an important touch to knock Davies’ shot onto the post. PA
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - (sub) 7, Introduced at half time, and left it late for his major impact – a run that was unceremoniously ended by Richarlison in a dangerous position. EPA
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - (sub) 7, Introduced at half time, and left it late for his major impact – a run that was unceremoniously ended by Richarlison in a dangerous position. EPA
Georginio Wijnaldum - (sub) 6, On for Naby Keita, without quite enough time to make an impression
Georginio Wijnaldum - (sub) 6, On for Naby Keita, without quite enough time to make an impression
Divock Origi - (sub) 5, He became the fourth substitute used by Jurgen Klopp, when he came on for Firmino. Only moment of note was when he was booked
Divock Origi - (sub) 5, He became the fourth substitute used by Jurgen Klopp, when he came on for Firmino. Only moment of note was when he was booked
Dejan Lovren, - (sub) 4, Had the unusual honour of becoming Liverpool’s fifth sub. In a competitive game. Which was weird. Had just enough time to give Reds’ fans jitters. AP
Dejan Lovren, - (sub) 4, Had the unusual honour of becoming Liverpool’s fifth sub. In a competitive game. Which was weird. Had just enough time to give Reds’ fans jitters. AP

________________

It feels a familiar pattern. There was something quintessentially West Ham about the way they managed to sustain injuries to a pivotal trio – Sebastien Haller, Angelo Ogbonna and Robert Snodgrass – in the week before the restart.

Only the defender could return on Tuesday and if he does not, Declan Rice will have to continue at the back. “He could be our best centre half and best midfielder,” said Moyes. “He gives us something in midfield but we know he is defensively sound. He has improved so much.”

It makes Rice a rarity at a club where too many have declined. Yet aspiration was apparent in the way West Ham accumulated expensive flair players. The need for pragmatism is evident in the way Moyes often prefers more workmanlike individuals.

Manuel Lanzini and Andriy Yarmolenko, who had been out for six months, were only substitutes for Saturday’s defeat to Wolves. Felipe Anderson started but was abject. The £40 million man, a former club record signing, has a solitary goal all season. He symbolises the laxness and lack of direction that became ingrained at the end of Manuel Pellegrini’s reign.

Moyes’ downbeat pragmatism may have been necessitated – seven of his last 10 games have been against top-half teams, as are the next two – and the signing of Tomas Soucek added ballast but West Ham have been trapped between two worlds: neither quite solid enough nor sufficiently potent. They seemed to play for a 0-0 draw against Wolves and then had no answer to Adama Traore.

They only mustered two shots on target. “That was one of the problems,” Moyes said. “Wolves made it really difficult to get through.”

But toughness is a theme. As Moyes noted, Tottenham have key players fit who would have missed this match were it played in March whereas West Ham have lost Haller. Now their status is endangered. “We have every intention of staying in the Premier League,” Moyes said, but they need more than good intentions.

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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

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Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

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