This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Manuel Pellegrini has subtly suggested that West Ham United’s issues run deeper than his tactics, as reported by the club’s official website.
In the process, he revealed what he’s hoping will turn around their current misfortune.
What did he say?
The Hammers have been in shocking form in recent times, winning just one game in their last 11 across all competitions.
This has seen the Chilean come under pressure regarding his job security, with it now being suggested that he only has the Southampton game to avoid the sack.
However, when speaking ahead of that match, he has indicated that he feels the club’s issues run deeper than his tactics:
“I always think as a manager that the results of the team depends on the individual performance of a player. After that you can work on tactical, physical and technical work but the performance of the players decide the games.
“We must find why they are in that moment and we must try to work with them and give them confidence, and I hope that most of them will return as soon as possible to their normal performances.”
Watch West Ham United Videos With StreamFootball.tv BelowRuns deeper than tacticsHe is correct in that suggestion, as there has been a mental fragility on show from the men in claret and blue, as was highlighted in the most obvious way against Arsenal.For West Ham to go from 1-0 up to 3-1 down in a ten-minute capitulation is simply not good enough, offering an indication that there is a weakness in the minds of West Ham players that can be easily revealed.Pellegrini is very set in his ways, as he highlighted when speaking about climbing the table, saying: “We know a couple of wins can raise our team up the table. We are always talking in the way we must try to do it and not to change all that we are doing.”Did he really play for us?! No West Ham fan has managed to name all of these obscure Irons signings….However, there is a chance that he could get the team out of the rut without altering his formation and philosophy, but he does need to address the other side of the game.Focusing on the individual performances is certainly a starting point, however, as there’s no point changing the formation if the players won’t respond to it with positive displays. They must find a way to reach a higher level.In other news, the potential sale of a West Ham flop indicates how shambolic the club have been so far this campaign.
