Former West Ham United player James Collins visited the club’s training ground ahead of the scheduled fixture against Manchester City, which was postponed on Saturday due to storm Ciara. He spoke on the BBC’s Football Daily on BBC Radio Five Live about how the current crop of players at the London Stadium are really struggling mentally, after having talked with club captain Mark Noble. The former West Ham defender said: “He was like he’s living under a cloud, just mentally, not even the football.”
With an incredibly challenging fixture schedule on the horizon, there is the possibility that West Ham may have to play another rescheduled midweek game due to the winter break this weekend, after the fixture postponement against the Premier League champions. Pep Guardiola’s side have won eight of their 12 home games this season, losing just twice at the Etihad Stadium and it is not a trip David Moyes’ side will want to congest their fixture list even more. The Hammers have already been unfortunate with postponements this season after their encounter with Liverpool was moved due to the Premier League leaders competing in and subsequently winning the FIFA Club World Cup.
Additionally, things have not worked out quite as some may have hoped since Moyes was appointed as the West Ham boss for the second time. The east London club are winless in their last five matches, losing three and drawing two, while they have won just once since the Scot took charge, his first match against A.F.C Bournemouth. Their upcoming games mean that winless run could be extended as they face the challenging prospect of matches against Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
If captain Noble’s comments are accurate, then it is difficult to see how the Hammers will escape the relegation zone, as they are currently in 18th spot on 24 points. While they do have a game in hand on Aston Villa above them, they will have to significantly improve their recent form to overcome Manchester City. Their mental tiredness should concern Moyes, and the prospect of their rescheduled fixture with the Premier League champions clogging an otherwise regular gameweek will not help to increase squad morale.
