Sourced from ESPN FC article
West Ham turn in another shambolic display at new home in Saints loss
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West Ham conceded another three goals in a shambolic display that left fans frustrated, angry and puzzled.
New stadium or not, there can be no excuse for the awful exhibition against Southampton. Saints made the most of what they faced and the 3-0 victory at the London Stadium could have been easily doubled, but there’s no doubt most Premier League sides would have made hay against the Hammers’ inept defending.
The confidence has leaked from the team at an alarming rate and has even started to affect Dimitri Payet. There was little to encourage fans at either end of the pitch and, at this rate, the club face a torrid winter.
The first 40 minutes when, despite creating little, the Hammers briefly looked as if they might compete at some level. It’s not much but there’s little else to hang on to.
Where to start? Bereft of confidence, West Ham managed to make an fairly ordinary Southampton side look like 1970 Brazil. It’s difficult to see how this is going to turn around without an emergency injection of personnel.
3 – As Slaven Bilic said post-match that he’d already taken the team back to basics, it raises the question where else he can take them. It is his failure to sort out the creaking defence during the transfer window that is at the heart of the problem.
Player ratings (1-10; 10=best; players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating):
GK Adrian, 6 – A series of decent saves kept the score to merely embarrassing. It’s always a bad day when a keeper concedes three but was probably the only bright spot.
DF Havard Nordtveit, 4 – Injuries mean Nordtveit isn’t able to play in his natural position; a shame as the team desperately need a defensive midfielder.
DF Winston Reid, 5 – Reid’s confidence has plummeted with the team’s form, but the New Zealander is the lynchpin that the defence needs to be built around.
DF Angelo Ogbonna, 5 – The Italian is one of those players who needs to impose himself more, but is he capable or willing?
DF Alvaro Arbeloa, 4 – Struggled with Southampton’s bursts of pace and must be left wondering what he’s let himself in for.
MF Mark Noble, 5 – Noble’s post-match interview revealed a man confused, upset and unsure of what to do. His demeanour spoke volumes.
MF Cheikhou Kouyate, 5 – Early on, the Senegalese international looked as if he may have found his usual driving style, but Kouyate was one of those at fault for the second goal and faded with the rest.
MF Manuel Lanzini, 4 – Wasn’t able to get into the match and was substituted at half-time.
MF Michail Antonio, 5 – Antonio was at sea for Southampton’s third goal, but as he seems to be the player used to fill every position, it’s hardly surprising that he doesn’t know where he should be.
MF Dimitri Payet, 6 – Southampton did a good job on Payet and gave him little room. The depressing thing was the Frenchman wasn’t able to counter.
FW Simone Zaza, 3 – To think that David Gold thought that Charlie Austin wasn’t worth the money yet sanctioned a loan deal for Zaza.
MF Ashley Fletcher, NR – Replaced Nordtveit on 71 minutes but little more than a gesture at that stage.
MF Sofiane Feghouli, 5 – On for Lanzini at half-time but things are so bad up front, his wing play contributes little.
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