Green Street Hammers
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5 Things Slaven Needs to Get Sorted Before Watford

By Scott Johnson

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Players shake hands ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham at Etihad Stadium on August 28, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Players shake hands ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham at Etihad Stadium on August 28, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 28: Mark Noble of West Ham United wears the captain’s armband during the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United at Etihad Stadium on August 28, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 28: Mark Noble of West Ham United wears the captain’s armband during the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United at Etihad Stadium on August 28, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /

Tempo

One of my biggest criticisms of West Ham over the past couple of seasons has been the tempo. When we start a match or just after the half time break we look so very slow, and it costs us. We might not be conceding goals, but we concede the momentum.

When a match starts it is the best opportunity to put your stamp on the game. But you have to make a big choice. If you start slow you may try and play the way you want, but it is very hard to recover the pace. If you start fast, the game might be frantic, but if you get control of the ball you can take pace off if you want.

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Bilic has been very clear that he wants to start playing a more patient build up game with the club, but he needs to understand that the Premier League does not like to just give up possession if they feel the initiative is there. Even supposedly weaker teams like Bournemouth or Watford will not allow other teams the ball too readily.

Bilic needs to get his team moving forward quicker to start off with, especially at home. Our main game plan relies on other teams sitting in their own half, especially for Payet to be effective. There’s little point isolating him or Lanzini when interplay is their best asset.

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Anything else you Hammers think I have missed? What do you think Bilic needs to change? Or do you think he has it right on all points?