Whilst West Ham have been flying in the Premier League 2 Division 2 this season, their cup displays have been mixed. Progression in the International Cup remains in the air, but they ended their EFL Trophy in a disappointing manner by exiting at the group stages.
Goals Galore
Goals haven’t been a problem for The Irons in the EFL trophy season. West Ham miraculously beat Newport County 5-4 at Rodney Parade after losing 4-1 to the Welsh side at half time. Their next game at Cheltenham gave the East London side a contrasting feeling as they surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 4-3, before losing 3-1 to Exeter City.
With eight goals coming from six different contributors, it shows that the team isn’t dependant on the goals from the forwards. They’ve scored more goals than every club who topped their respective groups, except Accrington Stanley.
Defensively Disappointing
The Hammers have conceded eleven goals in their three group stage games. This proved crucial going into their final game against Exeter City, who have advanced into the next round. Whilst they were missing important players in defence in Goncalo Cardozo and Joseph Anang, they fielded an unfamiliar back five, including the debut of Mich’el Parker as they conceded three goals and exited the group on goal difference.
Most of West Ham’s goals which they’ve conceded come from crossing predicaments which could represent a problem in their remaining league games and their final International Cup game against Brighton.
The Overpowering Professionals
Perhaps or a lack of experience, has shown that they may not be ready to challenge professional teams, as they haven’t progressed out of the group stages of the EFL Trophy since the 2017/18 season.
The step up, means that the young Hammers are facing professional players as opposed to the developmental players they’re used to playing against and Halajko has emphasised this. “We learn more in one game like that than we do sometimes in four league games”. He continued, “you’re playing against professional players, and it’s got more of an edge to it, so the experience you get from those games is so valuable for our development.”
Style Of Play
Dmitri Halajko has stated that he won’t change his style of play in the cup. “We’ve played exciting, attacking football in all of the games, and we’ve been really good going forward”, Halajko said.
Their attacking football is admirable, but with the step up in competition, it shows the frailties at the back, and this was exposed as they went toe-to-toe in their recent game against Exeter, with poor finishing from the League 2 side preventing the East London side from conceding more goals.
It’s not like West Ham this season to play for a draw but it’s something that should’ve been acknowledged, considering that Halajko knew that his young side needed a point to advance.
