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Why Southampton’s Second Goal Highlights What Is Wrong At West Ham

By Scott Johnson

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Adrian of West Ham United looks dejected as James Ward-Prowse of Southampton (16) scores their third goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Southampton at London Stadium on September 25, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Adrian of West Ham United looks dejected as James Ward-Prowse of Southampton (16) scores their third goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Southampton at London Stadium on September 25, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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Act 2: The Unravelling

And this is where it all goes wrong. Now, thanks to a combination of poor choices and the desire to attack from every position, we have four ‘defensive’ players out of position. Noble, Kouyate, Nordtveit and Reid are all the wrong side of the ball. In one fell swoop. West Ham undone by one loose ball.

At this point there’s not much that the defence can do. There are only two players that can do anything in the defence at the current time. Ogbonna and Arbeloa.

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Ogbonna is my favourite centre back of all of West Ham’s current crop. He makes the right decision most of the time and covers well. However this one he gets wrong from the moment he makes the first move.

As the ball is played across, he follows it. This turns what was a sizeable gap through the middle into the biggest gap Tadic has ever seen. LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT GAP. There are no centrebacks in between the left back and right back. That is wrong, even though the top level I will ever reach is Sunday league, I know that is wrong.

Arbeloa can deal with whatever Austin can do out there. He knows that. Austin is not going to burn him for pace. Austin is not going to produce trickery the likes of which West Ham have never seen. But Ogbonna allows him to find a pass.

He might not be the master architect in this downfall, but this part was made easier by him. If he retreats the pass might be able to be stopped by Ogbonna, or he might put Austin off enough that he over hits it so the keeper can get there. By pressing off the pace the job is easy.

Now, for the kill.