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West Ham cannot be considered a poor team, not by any means. There is talent in their roster, and desire. You can see it in each challenge, each exhausting sprint and in the disappointed body language when a pass doesn’t quite come off. That energy is mirrored on the sideline, with the manager vocal during their loss to Aston Villa – “maintain shape”, “tighten up”, “talk to her” and “Fion can’t get out” are among the numerous instructions from the technical area, as spectators behind the bench treated to the thoughts of the manager while the action is in progress. Skinner is fully involved, she is focused, the players are engaged, so what is not working?

Worrying Statistics Tell the Story

Five games in and they have no points, have conceded 16 goals and netted only two. They can score though, five individual scorers in a 5-1 defeat of their opponents in the cup competition on 24 September a momentary relief from losses before Chelsea put three past them in 15 minutes last weekend to put them firmly back in their position. Facing Chelsea the Hammers performed decently throughout, that quarter-hour calamitous spell was an outlier and, while many feared a total second half collapse, they recovered, thrived with their backs against the wall, and only conceded one more to the champions.

Consistency over 90-plus has been a ongoing problem. The opening stages and second half against Chelsea were spells to be pleased with, as was the first half against Arsenal and closing 45 facing the Seagulls.

Recurring Pattern Against Villa

In the match with Villa the story was repeated, the visiting team controlling the ball in their home ground but West Ham creating opportunities too, nine shots to Villa’s 11. They were in it in the opening period, competing, performing adequately to be able to earn a result from the game, the distinction though was that the home side had just one shot on target, as opposed to Villa’s four.

West Ham are not being let down by their approach, determination or coaching choices, they are failing by players lacking composure when they get in good positions. It is that choice-making in the attacking zone that requires improvement, the five goals netted against WSL2 side their cup foes perhaps points to the problem: when they have space and time they make the right moves, when they are under pressure and challenged by WSL-level 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 sometimes a bit too strong, lacking the right quality and then just being prepared to attempt efforts a sooner,” said the manager.

“Considering the individuals, when I’m watching them one by one, I just feel like they’re somewhat reluctant relative to where we were before. The desire to take on defenders 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 a bit braver to go 1v1 and where what will be will be but we’re sending attackers forward and we’re trying to create opportunities. That’s something that we’ve just sort of taken our foot off the gas a bit on and we’re looking for passes as instead of being a little bit more straightforward and being more confident in our own ability.”

Costly Instances Result in Loss

On Sunday afternoon that was costly again. Shortly after Viviane Asseyi glanced a header wide, they were made to pay at the opposite goal, an opponent receiving her set-piece back from Lynn Wilms before driving the ball into the opposite side. Seven minutes later and Natalia Arroyo’s side had a bigger cushion, Wilms’s set-piece lobbed over the wall and in.

This proved another difficult day for the Hammers and their absence of results on the table will certainly lead to doubts arising about Skinner’s position. That would be completely unjust though. Much work to be made for sure, confidence and quickness in decision making needs to get better, and the squad must take a share of the blame for that, but they are a side that is having difficulties from a lack of love and care from the club as a whole, and Skinner is a casualty of that rather than the architect of the squad’s problems.

Wider Issues at Play

This summer, nine players left and just a handful came in. The standard of those coming in this time round was possibly higher overall, but a limited funds has meant that season-on-season West Ham have seen depart their best players to more successful sides. Prior to doubts are asked about Skinner’s tenure, she deserves a chance to demonstrate what she can do unhindered and that requires the club improving its support – and the identical applies for several WSL clubs.