Bilic’s Stubborn Nature Costs West Ham Another Two Points
West Ham have struggled to live up to expectations this season. They are not being helped by Slaven Bilic.
I was extremely happy when West Ham picked Slaven Bilic as manager. He seemed a man who knew about football, and importantly he knew about the club. He was to be in charge of a new era of exciting and progressive football.
However it has not panned out that way and it is getting frustrating now. There are multiple signs that the Croat is no longer a good fit to be manager of the side. Signs that have cost the team points in vital encounters, again and again and again.
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In His Nature
My big issue with Slaven Bilic is that he is stubborn. As a manager in the Premier League you need to be able to adapt to every new situation, bring in fresh ideas and face up to some of the best thinkers in the modern game. Bilic does not do that quickly enough to succeed.
Over the past few weeks Darren Randolph’s performances have been error ridden, uninspiring and all round average at best. Yet, like Bilic did with Arian beforehand, he doesn’t change up his options. Keeping a player in the side despite poor performances does nothing for the team’s cohesion or confidence, especially in defence.
The decision not to drop Randolph in recent games directly cost West Ham a win against Sunderland, due to both goals being conceded by a keeper flustering to no prevail around his box. That is three vital points that could have secured the East Londoners’ safety and enabled the Croatian to look ahead and start being proactive, but his stubbornness has restricted him again.
The biggest worry for Hammers’ fans is that he is quite simply acting the way he always has. At Besiktas Bilic received plenty of criticism for playing the same teams despite a poor strategy, and it’s obvious to most that it is happening again.
West Ham need to move on from this season, and I think that means moving on from Slaven Bilic. It’s a big call to make, but the board must be bold as they look ahead to next season. The club’s next few years is riding on the coming months and the choices that are made.