This website uses cookies
Cookies help us and our partners provide statistics. By browsing this website, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our Cookies Policy.
Accept & Close
Football
Football Odds Premier League Championship FA Cup Champions League Europa League Transfer Odds Leagues & Cups
Football Tips
Football Tips Football Acca Tips
Sack Race
Sack Race Odds Next PL Manager To Leave Next Leeds Manager Next Tottenham Manager Teams Managers Casualties Appointments Job Centre
Specials
TV Specials Britain's Got Talent Love Island Strictly Come Dancing Politics
Sports
Sports Boxing Cricket Darts F1 Golf Racing Rugby L Rugby U Snooker Tennis French Open UFC
Betting Sites
Betting Sites New Betting Sites PayPal Betting Trustly Betting Paysafecard Betting Fast Withdrawal Free Bets Cash Out Sites Reviews
News
Betting News Betting Guides
Calculator
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • instagram
  • About Us
  • Authors
  • Contact Us
  • Betting Sites
  • New Bookmakers
  • Free Bets
  • Responsible Gambling
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Free Bets Disclaimer
  • USA Betting Odds
FootballFootball TipsSack RaceSpecialsSportsBetting SitesNewsCalculator
NEW
Free Bets
Betting News Betting Guides

Why hasn't it clicked for West Ham this season?

By Callum Pragnell
Updated: 14:20 Wednesday 29th April 2020
Football_v4

We’re now at the business end of the Premier League campaign and the table is firmly starting to take shape. Liverpool have more or less won their first title in 30 years, despite the best efforts of Coronavirus, while there are six teams still in realistic contention for relegation at the bottom. 

Norwich are currently six points adrift at the foot of the table and look as though they will be returning to the Championship come May, but only three points separate 19th-placed Aston Villa with 15th-placed Brighton, signifying just how tight things are at the wrong end of the table. 

Bournemouth (18th), Watford (17th) and West Ham (16th) are all at huge risk of relegation to the second-tier as things stand. For the latter, it is somewhat of a more bizarre prospect considering the amount of investment they have made this season. 

Many believed that West Ham would be pushing for a top-half finish this term - potentially even for a Europa League spot - and it’s easy to understand why. On paper, the Hammers have arguably the most talented squad out of the teams currently occupying the Premier League’s bottom-half.

The east London outfit spent over £70m on new signings last summer, with the arrivals of Sebastian Haller from Eintracht Frankfurt (£36m) and Pablo Fornals from Villarreal (£25m) bringing a new wave of optimism to E20. 

Last season yielded a fairly impressive 10th-place finish for the Irons under Manuel Pellegrini, and there was a feeling that with these reinforcements, this season the club would really push on and improve on last season’s achievements.

Indeed, the club find themselves in a precarious position 29 games into the 2019-20 campaign and sit 16th in the Premier League, above the relegation zone on goal difference alone.

So, with all of the investment made in recent times - including the £20m purchase of Jarod Bowen from Hull in January - what exactly is going wrong for West Ham?

Moyes’ return not going as planned

After dismissing Manuel Pellegrini back in December, the club turned to a familiar face when they hired David Moyes as the Chilean’s replacement. The Scot had previously taken charge of first-team duties back in 2017 with the club facing relegation and managed to steer them clear of the drop, but departed east London upon the expiry of his six-month deal in May 2018. 

Viewed as a steady pair of hands due to his exploits the first time around, there was a belief that Moyes would again steady the ship at the London Stadium and traject the Hammers to safety in the Premier League. 

After a promising start, which saw the 56-year-old win his opening two games, West Ham have since won just one match in all competitions - a 3-1 victory over Southampton at the end of February - and also found themselves dumped out of the FA Cup thanks to a 1-0 defeat to Championship side West Brom last month.

With one league win in nine, it’s no surprise that West Ham are where they are in the Premier League at the moment - at real risk of relegation. Moyes was shiny and new when he first took over three years ago, his tactics untried and untested. This time around, though, those tactics look stale and the players don’t appear to be buying into his philosophy. 

Much of this is largely down to Moyes’ questionable decision making, however. For instance, during the 3-3 draw against Brighton in February, his team led the Seagulls 3-1 heading into the final 15 minutes of the game, but ultimately ended up losing out on two points thanks to some shambolic defending and the fact that he replaced a high-pressing striker (Michail Antonio) with a defender (Arthur Masuaku). 

Of course this is largely down to the players not doing their job properly and you can argue that a lot of it was out of the manager’s hands, but it has been the story of the Scotman’s second reign at the London Stadium - defensively, they are completely at sea.

David Moyes' Second Coming isn't going as planned
David Moyes' Second Coming isn't going as planned

Defensively poor and significantly unprepared

The Hammers have conceded 18 league goals in 2020, keeping just one clean sheet in the process. Only three top-flight sides have conceded more goals than the east Londoners this term - Southampton (52 goals), Norwich (52 goals) and Aston Villa (56 goals). 

Much of this has been down to the goalkeeping crisis, which saw first choice shot-stopper Lucasz Fabianski miss 14 games with a hip injury between 28 September and 1 January. While injuries of this nature cannot be helped, the fact that the club did not have an ample replacement for the Pole is another thing which left supporters frustrated. 

Reserve goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez, 34, endured a nightmare spell between the sticks in Fabianski’s absence, conceding 21 goals in just ten appearances (all competitions), while third choice keeper David Martin (also 34 and unproven at Premier League level) let in six goals in his five appearances. 

It is unfair to lay blame on just the goalkeepers in this situation, though it must be said that had West Ham had a more accomplished back-up in reserve, they would have been much better prepared to cope with Fabianski’s absence.     

There’s no place like home 

One of the main issues surrounding West Ham at the moment is the fact that their home ground still does not feel like, well, home, despite the club being almost four years into their tenure at the London Stadium. The romanticised move in summer 2016 was promised to elevate the club to the next level, with the increased capacity supposed to encourage a greater attendance at home games. 

However, the problem is that the stadium was purpose-built for the Olympics and that is exactly what it is - an Olympic arena which is a million miles away from possessing the same allure as a traditional football stadium; like Upton Park, for example. 

Fans claim that the stadium feels soulless and that each home tie feels like an away one, with the distance between the pitch and the stands considerably far away - perfectly summing up the disconnection between supporters and players.

The stadium is of course not to blame for the West Ham’s shortfallings, but it is a huge aspect which has contributed to the fans’ understandable aggrievement towards what is going on at their beloved club. Alongside everything else, the whole situation in east London is one of grave concern, with few knowing exactly when things are going to change.

Can they turn it around?

The obvious worst case scenario is that West Ham get relegated to the Championship for only the second time in their history. At the minute it looks a distinct possibility, though there have been signs of promise in recent weeks. Against Arsenal last weekend they played genuinely well and looked as if they may have nicked something, undone by a late goal from Alexandre Lacazette. 

The weekend before, David Moyes’ side obtained their first league victory since New Year’s Day, playing Southampton off the pitch in a 3-1 victory on home soil. Prior to that, they narrowly missed out on getting something away at Liverpool, taking the lead in the second-half at Anfield before a late Sadio Mane goal swung the tie in the hosts’ favour. 

It’s clear that things are improving at the London Stadium, albeit at an extremely slow pace. And, with a fairly favourable run-in of fixtures left until the season is complete - including games against Newcastle, Burnley, Norwich, Watford and Aston Villa - there is every chance that West Ham will pull themselves clear of the drop and secure top-flight football for at least another season. 

That will only be achievable if they continue to show the same spirit as they have done in the previous three weeks, though.

Related Articles

2nd June 2023

Premier League Relegation Odds 2023/2024: Luton Town 4/11 favourites for the drop

By Anthony Eadson • Yesterday
2nd June 2023

Man City vs. Man United Betting Tips: Best bets for the FA Cup Final at Wembley

By Tipster Wizard • Yesterday
2nd June 2023

Man City vs. Man Utd Price Boosts: Best of the boosts for the FA Cup Final at Wembley

By Anthony Eadson • Yesterday
2nd June 2023

Next Leeds United Manager Odds: Steven Gerrard, Carlos Corberan and Berndan Rodgers all linked

By Steven McQuillan • Yesterday
2nd June 2023

FA Cup Final 2023 Betting Offers: Best bookmaker promotions for Man City vs Man Utd

By Anthony Eadson • Yesterday
1st June 2023

Man City vs. Man Utd Bet Builder Tips: 25/1 Boosted Fouls Treble for The FA Cup Final

By Anthony Eadson • 2 days ago
1st June 2023

Championship Winner Odds 2023/2024: Leicester 11/2 favourites for second tier glory

By Anthony Eadson • 2 days ago
1st June 2023

James Maddison Next Club Odds: Newcastle lead the race to sign relegated star

By Steven McQuillan • 2 days ago
31st May 2023

Declan Rice Next Club Odds: Arsenal leading the race to sign West Ham captain

By Steven McQuillan • 2 days ago
30th May 2023

Harry Kane Next Club Odds: Man Utd odds-on to sign England captain

By Steven McQuillan • 2 days ago
Advert Disclaimer
Bettingodds.com is a free online resource which endeavour to provide helpful and useful content and odds comparison to its visitors. Please be advised that Bettingodds.com accepts affiliate commission from the companies appearing on the site, and agreed commission levels impact the location and order in which the companies (and/or their products) are presented on the website. Any ratings that appear on this site is determined by our subjective opinion of the brand but also based on market share and reputation, each brand's conversion rates, commission paid to us and general consumer interest. Company listings on this page don't imply our endorsement. We do not feature all providers on the market. Except as expressly set forth in our terms and conditions, all statements and warranties regarding the information presented on this page are disclaimed. The information, including odds, which appear on this site is subject to change at any time.
Bet £10 Get £20 + £10 Casino Bonus
#AD New UK customers (Excluding NI) mobile only. £30 in FREE Bets (FB) as £20 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7 day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. T&Cs apply
Money Back As A Bonus Up To £40 If Your First Bet Loses + £10 casino
#AD 18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first sports bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. Visit Unibet.co.uk for full T&C's.
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
#AD 18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus, credited as 3x £10 bets. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further terms apply.
Bet £5 Get £30 In Free Bets
#AD 18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £5 at odds 1/1 or greater within 7 days of registering, no cashout. Get 3x £10 Free Bets, set events at odds 1/1+. 7 day bonus expiry. Card payments only. T&Cs apply, begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly
Bet £20 & Get it Back As CASH If It Loses
#AD New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any market at odds of min 2.0 (EVS) and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using cards will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply.. Please Gamble Responsibly.
Welcome Offer
#AD Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bet Builders
#AD New Customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £10 in Free Bet Builders. Rewards valid for 30 days. Repeat up to 3 times (max £30 in free bets). Only deposits via cards will qualify. Please Gamble Responsibly. T&Cs apply.
Bet £10 get £20 in Free Bets
#AD 18+ New members only. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from crediting (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. T&Cs apply, BeGambleAware.org
Bet £10 Get £20 In Free Bets
#AD. *New members. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of each-way bets only. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex. each-way & multiple bets), stakes not returned. **Max Free Bet £10. Bet must be placed within 48hrs of 1st race each day - 1st cash bet on the 1st race each day of Cheltenham Festival (main market, ex antepost & specials). Win part e/w bet. Selection must lose. Free Bet: non-withdrawable, use in 7 days on sportsbook only. Stake not returned. Full T&C's apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. 18+
Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses
New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. Full T&Cs apply.
Double the odds, any sport, any bet, any odds!
#AD 18+ begambleaware.org Only valid for new registrations to Grosvenor Existing members do not qualify, Bet must be placed using real money in combination with the Odds Boost Token, Offer applies to Sport bets only. Max stake is £10. Each way bets are a maximum of £5 each way (£10 total). Customers have 60 days after registration to use the Odds Boost token. T&Cs apply.
Bet £10, Get £20 in Free Bets
#AD 18+, New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any sports (odds 2.00+) in 7 days. No cash out. Get 4x£5 sports free bets for set markets (odds 2.00+), which expire in 7 days. Offer is valid from 10:00 UK time on 16/01/2023. Card payments only. T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org | Please Gamble Responsibly
£30 Matched Free Bet if Your First Acca Loses + 50 Bonus Spins
#AD 18+ New UK customers only. Min Deposit: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football or Horse Racing multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. This is offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. 50 Bonus Spins credited on placement of qualifying Acca bet.50x bonus wagering applies as do weighting requirements, bonus Spins only available on selected games and expires 7 days after being awarded. Debit card deposits only (exclusions apply). 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. Full terms apply
Bet £25 get £50 In Bonuses
#AD Place a qualifying £25 fixed odds bet at odds of 1/2 or greater and get £50 in bonuses 5 x £5 free fixed odds bets, 4 x free £5 spread bets + 50 free spins on Starburst. Qualifying bet cannot be placed in-play or cashed out early. T&Cs Apply. 18+ begambleaware.org
Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets (APP Only)
#AD New UK, IE & Malta customers only. Min £10/€10 first deposit using a Debit Card. Place a bet of £10 at min odds of 1.5 and get £10. A further £10 credited after 7 days and a further £10 credited after 14 days. 18+. BeGambleAware.org, T&Cs apply.
£35 Free Bet + 10 Free Spins
#AD If your account has Sportsbook losses at the end of your first day's betting, QuinnBet will refund 50% of your losses as a Free Bet up to £35 (min 3 bets) Plus 10 Free Spins. Even if your account is up, you're guaranteed a £5 Free Bet Plus 10 Free Spins provided you place at least 1 bet of £10 or greater at the minimum odds. T&Cs apply | 18+ New UK Customers Only | BeGambleAware.org
100% Profit Boost up to £100 (Mobile Only)
#AD New UK customers only. Claim by placing a min deposit £10 via "My Offers" page within 30 days. Skrill/Neteller deposits excluded. 7 days to stake max £10 in-play. Max. extra winnings £100.T&C's apply, 18+ begambleaware.org
Bet £10 get £15
#AD New customers only. 18+ begambleaware.org 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £15 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at a min. odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement.T&C's apply.
Bet £10 get £10
#AD 18+ begambleaware.org, Welcome Bonus: This offer is for new customers only and is available once per household. Max. FreeBet amount: £10 Minimum Deposit and wagering on sport to activate the Free Bet is: £10 void/cancelled or cashed out bets do not count towards wagering to activate the free bet. Offer valid only to customers making a first deposit of £10 or more. T&Cs apply.
Bet £10 get £20
#AD New customers only, welcome bonus: 1st deposit, min deposit: £10, max £20 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. system bets are not eligible. Neteller, Skrill, and PayPal are not eligible. , 18+ begambleaware.org
50% Up To £50 Welcome Bonus
#AD 18+ begambleaware.org; New bettors get 50% of deposit up to £50; Once per household; Min deposit £15 (no Skrill/Neteller); Wager a total of 8 times deposit + bonus, with max qualifying bet stake equal to your initial bonus amount; Bonus expires after 60 days; Min odds of 4/5 on singles, or 2/5 per leg for acca; Some bet types excluded; See full terms.
gamcare logo 18 plus icon be gamble aware logo gambling therapy logo raig logo

BettingOdds.com is committed to supporting Reponsible Gambling Initiatives - For additional information visit : GamCare | BeGambleAware | Gamblers Anonymous

Content on BettingOdds.com is not intended for anybody under 18 years of age.

  • About Us
  • Authors
  • Contact Us
  • Betting Sites
  • New Bookmakers
  • Free Bets
  • Responsible Gambling
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Free Bets Disclaimer
  • USA Betting Odds
twitter youtube instagram

* Odds are updated regularly using our bookmaker partners feeds but all are subject to change. Please click through to the bookmaker to view the very latest odds.

All original material is Copyright © 2023 by BettingOdds.com. Other material is copyright their respective owners.

Bet £10 Get £20 + £10 Casino Bonus
#AD New UK customers (Excluding NI) mobile only. £30 in FREE Bets (FB) as £20 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7 day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. T&Cs apply
get offer