Five West Ham players that need to improve in the reverse fixtures

Even after a convincing win last Saturday and the reappointment of David Moyes, West Ham United are still not out of the relegation fight and they need some star players to step up and make it happen.

Tough is an understatement when it comes to describing West Ham United’s first half of the season. Not only in the EPL but after already being eliminated very early from the Carabao Cup they need to make the FA Cup count.

Notwithstanding the Hammer’s slow start has been quite a few players that have stepped up to help so far.  Without the likes of Declan Rice, Mark Noble, Pablo Fornals, and Angelo Ogbonna, the current table position of 16th wouldn’t be possible.

David Moyes has made it a goal to get the club up and away from the bottom 3 but to do that, their need to be several players that need to step up so that West Ham can reach their goals and hopefully make a good run at the FA Cup. Here are the 5 players that need to improve and now.

Felipe Anderson

If choosing Felipe Anderson seems obvious, it’s because it is. The Brazilian has been completely invisible compared to last season. In his 18 Premier League appearances he has scored once and assisted 4 times. His goal was a work of art last time out and will surely help him going forward.

Last season Anderson was a lightning rod down the left side of pitch not only in the attack but defending as well. If you take away his drop in stats he still is underwhelming with a lack of confidence that is honestly frustrating and strange.

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For Felipe to improve, he needs to get back to what worked before. Taking the opposition on and using his skills to get the midfield moving and feeding his strikers. If the last game out was any inclination to things to come then he might be headed in the right direction already.

Manuel Lanzini

With West Ham looking to add another midfielder it would behoove Manuel Lanzini to get going before it’s too late. Understandably, his injury-plagued past hasn’t helped his growth and progression for the Hammers but he is idolized by many regardless of his slow start.

So what’s the problem then? It’s easy, passing and Lanzini’s end result. Starting with the end result he only has 3 assists in 14 league matches. Those stats mirror last season’s as well where he only played 10 matches all season due to injury but he at least got on the scoreboard.

Passing is what used to be a constant for Lanzini and is now a question mark. For Manu to improve, he needs to get back to the basics of passing and focus on the right pass, not being so ticky tacky. He has amazing footwork but he needs to use it correctly.

Issa Diop

The Hammers can have a very solid defensive core when playing well. When they aren’t, it’s destructive and embarrassing to watch. In the mix of both of those statements is Issa Diop in his second season with West  Ham.

Diop has played in 17 matches in all comps this season but only averaging just over 1 interception and 1 tackle per match. He has had some horrendous matches as well including the Newcastle, Tottenham, and the Carabao Cup eliminator against Oxford United.

Issa has gone from being a constant name on the team sheet to fighting each week for the starting role. To improve here, Diop just has to be smart with what he’s doing in defense. Sometimes his over-aggressiveness has led to easy mistakes and the ball watching needs to change.

Albian Ajeti

The Swiss international has only been a Hammer for 5 months but his overall importance to the club is already coming into question. But is that a fair assessment of Albian Ajeti? Probably not, but if he was able to turn around his slow start for West Ham it would go a long way.

Before transferring to West Ham Ajeti played in 3 matches scoring 2 goals. Since his transfer, 7 matches, and 0 goals. People calling for his to leave is unfair and early but his slow start had affected everything from the Hammers plays to the idea of a solid backup striker.

For AJeti to improve he needs to help not only himself but he needs help from Moyes and the club. Playing him upfront alone won’t help but getting him surrounded by the rest of the attacking force can help immensely. A consistent Ajeti will get consistent goals and more wins to boot.

Sebastien Haller

Lastly, West Ham’s record signing striker Sebastien Haller. Haller came to East London with the baggage of excitement and hope that has somewhat yet to be seen. His up and down season is synonymous with the Hammers ups and downs so far.

19 league matches have come with 6 goals and an assist so far but they have come in bits for the Hammers leaving his input in a lot of matches nonexistent. It might seem weird to have the Hammers leading goalscorer on this list but if he can become consistent, the Hammers will rise.

It’s simple for him, keep getting in the right positions and let your surrounding teammates feed you. He has been trying to do it all on his own and he can’t. The appointment of Moyes has already paid off as Haller is no longer upfront alone and getting help.

Out of Anderson, Lanzini, Diop, Ajeti, and Haller, I would say that the resurgence of Anderson and Haller is going to be the keys to West Ham climbing the table to staying in a low-end relegation battle.

Part of the issues with all of the names above is either they are still getting used to the EPL or they have been struggling with injuries. With a new manager at the forefront that will push them to play hard and train well, it can hopefully bring a change and much better push in the second half.