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The Hammers are not a poor team, not by any means. There is skill in their squad, and determination. You can see it in every tackle, every gut-busting run and in the frustrated gestures when a ball fails to connect. That energy is matched on the sideline, with Rehanne Skinner vocal throughout their 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa – “maintain shape”, “tighten up”, “communicate” and “close the space” were part of the many instructions from the dugout, as spectators behind the dugout hearing the views of the manager while the action is under way. Skinner is fully involved, she is engaged, the squad are engaged, so what is not working?

Concerning Numbers Reveal the Story

After five matches and they have zero points, have let in 16 goals and scored only two. They can score though, five individual scorers in a rout of Charlton in the cup competition on last month a brief respite from defeat before the Blues scored three in 15 minutes last Sunday to put them firmly back in their place. Facing Chelsea the Hammers weren’t bad throughout, that quarter-hour disastrous period was an outlier and, while supporters worried about a complete after the break collapse, they recovered, thrived with their backs against the wall, and let in just one additional goal to the title holders.

Consistency across 90-plus has been a consistent issue. The opening stages and second half against Chelsea were periods to be pleased with, as was the opening 45 versus the Gunners and closing 45 facing the Seagulls.

Recurring Pattern Against Villa

Against Villa the narrative was familiar, the visiting team controlling the ball in their home ground but the Hammers creating opportunities too, nine shots to their opponents’ eleven. They were in it in the first half, challenging, performing adequately to be able to earn a result from the game, the distinction though was that West Ham had just one attempt on goal, as compared to Villa’s four.

West Ham are not being let down by their approach, grit or managerial decisions, they are failing by individuals lacking composure when they get in scoring opportunities. This is that decision making in the final third that needs work, the five strikes netted against WSL2 side Charlton perhaps points to the problem: when they have time on the ball they make the right moves, when they are being pressed and harried by top-tier opposition it’s almost as if they find it hard to make rapid decisions.

“In my view we were clinical enough in the final third and we just lacked that decisive quality where the last pass was at times a bit too strong, lacking the right quality and then just being prepared to attempt efforts a sooner,” said Skinner.

“Considering the individuals, when I observe them one by one, it seems like they’re somewhat reluctant relative to where we were before. The willingness to run at people and be quite assertive was extremely high and we just need to get that fight back where we’re a little bit more ruthless in and around the box, where we are more courageous to go 1v1 and where we accept the outcome but we’re sending attackers forward and we’re attempting to generate chances. This is an area that we’ve just sort of eased up a little bit on and we’re looking for passes as opposed to being a little bit more direct and being a bit more self-assured in our own skills.”

Expensive Moments Result in Loss

On Sunday afternoon that was damaging again. Moments after Viviane Asseyi glanced a header off target, they were made to pay at the opposite goal, Kirsty Hanson receiving her short corner back from Lynn Wilms before lashing the ball into the far corner. Soon after and the visiting team had a bigger cushion, Wilms’s free-kick lifted over the wall and in.

It was another difficult afternoon for the Hammers and their absence of results on the table will inevitably lead to doubts being asked about the manager’s future. This is wholly unfair though. Much improvement to be done for sure, confidence and speed in decision making must improve, and the players must bear a share of the blame for that, but they are a side that is struggling from a shortage of support and attention from the organization as a whole, and the coach is a victim of that rather than the architect of the team’s problems.

Broader Challenges at Work

During the off-season, nine players departed and only four arrived. The quality of those joining this time round was possibly better overall, but a limited funds has resulted in that season-on-season West Ham have lost their best players to more successful sides. Prior to doubts are asked about Skinner’s tenure, she deserves a opportunity to demonstrate what she can do unhindered and that means the club improving its support – and the identical could be said for several women’s top-flight clubs.