The staggering stats which prove many West Ham fans were right to voice their concern – opinion
(FILE PHOTO - EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF TWO IMAGES - Image Numbers (left) 177990999 and 178918611) In this composite image a comparison has been made between David Moyes (L) , Manager of Manchester United and Manuel Pellegrini,Manager of Manchester City. Manchester City and Manchester United meet for the first Manchester Derby of the season on September 22, 2013 at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. ***LEFT IMAGE*** MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Manchester United Manager David Moyes looks on prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on August 26, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 31: Manuel Pellegrini the manager of Manchester City looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Hull City at the Etihad Stadium on August 31, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
West Ham United’s season has been heading on a steep downward trajectory since September and aside from some minor improvements, things are only heading in one direction at the London Stadium.
In the last 20 Premier League matches the Hammers have won just three, and no side in the division has collected fewer points in that period, as per Transfermarkt. Only Aston Villa have conceded more goals in that same period, 41, than West Ham’s 39 and it may ultimately cost them their top-flight status if the former Manchester United and Sunderland manager cannot turn things around.
Everything started well under Manuel Pellegrini, picking up 12 points after seven games to leave Hammers in fifth place, as per the Premier League, but when the points began to dry up the board reinstated former manager David Moyes and despite claiming “winning is what I do” he has achieved the feat just once. Fans were unhappy with the potential appointment and frequently voiced their concern, but it fell on deaf ears. Speaking after the spirited 3-2 loss to Liverpool, former Red Jamie Carragher revealed just how much worse things have gotten under Scot, and the statistics vindicate fans concerns.
Under Pellegrini West Ham ranked 11th in the Premier League for possession with 48 per cent, but under Moyes, it has dropped to 37 per cent, the second-lowest average in the division, as per Sky Sports. Furthermore, the style of play has become more simplistic, with the average number of passes per game under their new boss down to 271 from 339 under the Argentine, via Sky Sports. Additional evidence Moyes has employed more agricultural methods are that sequences of more than ten passes per match are down from 6.7 to 4.4, 16th in the Premier League, as per Sky Sports.
Even though West Ham’s primary concerns have been at the back, their shots per game are down under the Scot to an average of 9.3; the second-fewest in the top-flight this term. The end result of Moyes taking charge has been a regression in front of goal and becoming more open at the back. It is a recipe for relegation, and if things do not change quickly, then the Championship beacons and the club can’t say the fans did not warn them.