Once again Slaven Bilic found himself lamenting his players’ inability to do the basics properly and, while all four of Bournemouth’s goals were down to individual errors, West Ham United’s second consecutive home defeat was the direct result of the kind of indiscipline and collective incompetence that was rarely seen under Sam Allardyce.
This is West Ham’s final season at Upton Park and losing to Bournemouth and Leicester City is no way to begin the long goodbye. They have gambled with their Premier League status by replacing Allardyce with Bilic and, although the punchline is almost too obvious, there would be something grimly amusing about them going down just in time for the big move to the Olympic Stadium.
That is a distinct possibility at the moment. West Ham were a bad joke against Bournemouth. Destroyed by Leicester’s wingers last week, their full-backs were again exposed by Bilic’s naive tactics against a team using a straightforward 4-4-2. West Ham could not have complained if Bournemouth had led by more than two goals at half-time.
There was confusion in midfield and West Ham, playing narrow and defending high, were shocking at the back. Bilic made an example of Angelo Ogbonna by hauling off the former Juventus centre-back after 35 minutes, Aaron Cresswell was responsible for Callum Wilson’s first two goals and Carl Jenkinson was tormented by Max Gradel.
Jenkinson, who was embarrassed when Marc Pugh made it 3-2 to Bournemouth, summed up the chaos when he earned the fifth red card of Bilic’s short reign by conceding the penalty that allowed Wilson to complete his hat-trick.
Bilic suggested that beating Arsenal two weeks ago made his players complacent, an excuse that does not wash. They were given a reality check by Leicester and surely it is the manager’s job to eradicate any signs of arrogance. “We were again second best today and I don’t like this situation,” Bilic said. “We have to change it. Playing like this we can’t expect to win many games.”
West Ham’s brief fightback from two goals down at the start of the second half papered over the cracks in their attack. With Enner Valencia, Andy Carroll and Mauro Zárate injured, Kevin Nolan started up front alongside Diafra Sakho.
Valencia’s knee injury last month was unfortunate and West Ham expect Carroll to return next month but they need to sign a new striker before the transfer window shuts.
Although West Ham will sign Alex Song if the Barcelona midfielder proves his fitness, there is also a dearth of creativity in midfield. Stewart Downing has not been replaced after he was sold to Middlesbrough last month and opponents know they can nullify West Ham if they stifle Dimitri Payet. West Ham have scored six goals in three matches but they are not creating chances with coherent play.
“It would be good for us to buy but only to add quality players in some of the positions,” Bilic said. “It is obvious but then that was the case from the moment that we knew the situation with Carroll, when we knew the situation with Downing and definitely when we found out that Valencia is injured for so long. Then, of course, the situation got worse with Zárate’s injury.
“I am under pressure. That comes with the territory and that is why I have to turn it around.”
West Ham visit Liverpool on Saturday. They have not won at Anfield since 1963.
Man of the match Callum Wilson (Bournemouth)
