West Ham have registered one point from their opening two matches in the 2019/20 Premier League campaign – and there are fears that constantly changing the starting XI and captaincy is going to prevent the Hammers from succeeding this season.
Manuel Pellegrini made five changes from the 5-0 defeat to Manchester City for their most recent 1-1 draw against Brighton and the rotation did not improve the performance. The Irons were fortunate to come away with a point from the Amex Stadium and if the Chilean manager fails to establish a regular starting XI, any ambitions of a top-seven finish will be halted.
Granted it is early in the season, but a lack of knowledge over who makes up Pellegrini’s best XI is worrying.
Aaron Cresswell captained the Hammers for their opening-day clash against City and the following week he wasn’t even in the squad. Yes he produced a disappointing display but the fact that Pellegrini removed a player entirely from the matchday squad who was captain seven days prior is alarming.
Pellegrini choosing the West Ham captain when Mark Noble is out: pic.twitter.com/JqDqrjvt3Q
— VINNYWHUFC (@vinnywhufc) August 18, 2019
A couple of the changes on the south coast were enforced, though, with Sebastien Haller and Felipe Anderson absent through injuries sustained the week before.
Angelo Ogbonna was handed his first start of the season against Brighton and the captain’s armband came with that. The lack of understanding for who is a leader among the squad is extremely worrying. Being a West Ham captain should be something earned on merit; at the moment, it is being passed around like a bag of chips.
There is no doubt that the Hammers obtain the quality required to push towards mounting a top-seven challenge but it is imperative they find a level of consistency among the ranks and discover their best starting XI.
This is now Pellegrini’s second season in east London and if results do not start to turn alongside performances, the claret and blue faithful will start to ask questions.
