West Ham’s Players Graded after Defeat Away at Bournemouth 2-0

The man who has scored 3 of West Ham’s last 5 goals since the turn of the new year was MIA today vs Bournemouth and the Club need to get that distraction sorted quickly. Both on the pitch where the Hammer’s didn’t manage their first shot on target until the 70th minute; and off of it for the mentality of the side. Not to mention to bring in reinforcements that are sorely needed based on this match.

Manuel Pellegrini got it wrong this time out from the starting XI to the subs he brought on. You can’t win if you don’t score and despite some gaudy possession stats for the Club, especially in the second half, they couldn’t find much in the final third. The Cherries did, scoring two goals on the counter and that’s that. A 2-0 away loss for the Irons.

Here is how we graded West Ham’s players in the match

Grades (/10):

Fabianski–7 Too bad the Iron’s best player week in and week out can’t get on the end of some crosses in the 18-yard box at the opposite end. Again made a few key saves that kept the game close and the scoreline respectable.

Cresswell-6 I thought he was maybe our best player outside of the keeper. All around the action in the second half especially.

Ogbonna- 5 Lucky he didn’t get called for a penalty in the box on a first-half challenge when the game was still 0-0. Solid defensively otherwise

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Diop–4 Just ok. Inconsistent from half to half. A couple of great tackles offset by a few other questionable decisions.

Zabaleta- 5 Far better in attack today then defending when he was often caught in a full sprint back towards his own end chasing the play and the ball

Rice- 5 Grew into the game later in the second half when he was West Ham’s only option in link-up play to get the ball forward after Nasri and Noble went off

Noble (79’) 5- Not nearly as good a performance today as last time out; but that’s what you get right now from the Skipper who has so many miles on his legs.

Nasri (66’)– 4 Really struggled to get involved early on and at points was dropping all the way back to the defensive line in an effort to get the ball. Managed to work some tight passes around the box that didn’t result in anything but you can see the skill. This is one player in particular that needs to have a better Striker to play with than Carroll and maybe a better winger too

Anderson -6 Really the Club’s only offensive threat. Forces defenders to come out and play him; did will with the ball on either side and in the middle of the pitch. But again, it didn’t result in anything productive

Antonio -5 Here’s the first instance that Pellegrini got wrong from the start. Antonio should’ve been played up front in place of Carroll. Maybe he thought so too as that head-down, rampaging power going forward was not there today. That’s his one trick, and the pony needs to perform it

Carroll (66’)- 6 Here’s the other mistake by the Gaffer. Antonio should’ve been upfront and then either Diangana or Snodgrass should’ve been played on the wing in place of Antonio. Carroll was literally invisible for the first half. He did have the clubs best chance off a header, and then a boot right over the bar so that improves him from a 4 to a 6.

Subs Used:

Snodgrass (66’) 5- Speaking of Snodgrass—if Carroll plays, Snodgrass has to play on the right side as he is clearly our best crosser of the ball and best corner taker. Why in the world would Snodgrass go on as Carroll comes off? Again this is a mistake in my view by Pellegrini.

Chicharito (66’) 5- Had the Hammer’s first attempt on target! Outside the box though, so no power and no chance to beat Boruc. Also tried some nifty through balls. He fits the current style more than Carroll and I expect he could be part of the solution at striker now that he is back healthy

Diangana (79’)- Very lively when he came on and seems to be the type of player that can work around the box with the likes of Anderson and Nasri. Why isn’t he getting a look when Nasri is on the pitch?