West Ham United’s encounter with Burnley left fans in astonishment as the Hammers had to stage a comeback from being two goals down, ultimately drawing 2-2 with the Premier League’s bottom team.
Despite Burnley’s current struggles, West Ham found themselves trailing in a lethargic first half, continuing a concerning trend in their performances throughout 2024.
After recent wins against Brentford and Everton, with the latter arguably being fortunate, there was a sense that West Ham might have turned a corner. However, a passive defeat in the Europa League against Freiburg was followed by a dismal first 45 minutes against Burnley, mirroring the gloomy weather and atmosphere at the London Stadium.
One particular tactical experiment by manager David Moyes raised eyebrows and left supporters baffled. Moyes decided to switch James Ward-Prowse to the left wing and place Lucas Paqueta centrally, a decision that proved disastrous.
Ward-Prowse struggled out wide, constantly giving the ball away, while Paqueta had minimal influence on the match. Moyes, to his credit, rectified this experiment at halftime by bringing Ward-Prowse off, and the impact was immediate, with Paqueta scoring early in the second half.
Despite an improved second-half performance, West Ham could only salvage a draw, and the damage done in the first half proved costly. The tactical switch was a contributing factor to the Hammers’ struggles, highlighting the importance of getting the lineup right from the start.
In the context of being 2-0 down, a 2-2 draw could be considered a reasonable result. However, considering the opposition, West Ham’s home advantage, and the tight race for European places, it represents a significant two points dropped. With Brighton securing a win and the possibility of Newcastle leapfrogging West Ham into seventh place, the missed opportunity becomes more glaring.
The tough run of fixtures ahead makes this result even more disappointing for West Ham. The first-half display may prove decisive in their European aspirations, and Moyes will hope that the improved second-half performance can be carried into upcoming matches, including a crucial Europa League clash against a German side.
The frustration among fans is evident, questioning why the team does not adopt a proactive approach from the start. The supporters demand a display of intent and determination, something that proved effective when desperation led the team to play in such a manner during the second half against Burnley.
In the aftermath of this match, the narrative that no Premier League game is easy will be spun by West Ham’s media team. However, the ease with which other teams have dispatched Burnley raises questions about the Hammers’ approach. To salvage this result’s credibility, West Ham must now aim for an unexpected win in their challenging upcoming fixtures.
Football, at times, is not rocket science, and the simplicity of adopting an assertive approach from the beginning could potentially yield better results for West Ham.
The fans yearn for a team that starts with the right mindset, rather than relying on desperation to drive improved performances. The Burnley match serves as a reminder that sometimes, adopting a straightforward and proactive strategy can be the key to success in football.