Fail, flunk, and suck; West Ham player grades from FA Cup loss

Upon further review, West Ham haven’t let us off the hook from watching an awful performance so they shouldn’t be free from criticism either. Here are the terribly poor player grades from the Hammer’s embarrassing loss to West Brom.

Darren Randolph – 7: Starting with easily the highest player grade for West Ham, Randolph deserves credit for his performance. He made every save needed, and was beat on a shot that he had no real chance of getting to. He was relied on far too much with back passing but his distribution was still great.

Pablo Zabaleta – 2: The team visibly ignores Zabaleta on the pitch and for good reason: if they invite him in the attack he can’t get back and his delivery has dissolved over the years. He shouldn’t have started and blew it on the goal against. Bad game.

Fabian Balbuena – 1: The only reason he gets something better than zero is because he made one block on a shot that potentially could have gone in. He, like Zabaleta, didn’t close down the attacker on the goal against and gave the ball away countless times. Rightfully subbed at 45 mins.

Issa Diop – 3: He made some solid tackles and had to overly cover back in the first half with double-agent Balbuena giving the ball away, but he didn’t attack on set pieces and didn’t hustle back either.

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Aaron Cresswell – 2: Just a brutal game from the left-back, who had every opportunity to make an impact. His crosses were inaccurate and far too infrequent with two and three strikers on the pitch. The attack was funneled down his side and he squandered it.

Carlos Sanchez – 0: Not worthy of a grade, Sanchez simply hurt more than he helped on the pitch. It is a genuine indictment on the club when this player has to be used or even features on the bench. He isn’t a footballer and is stealing a living. Terminate his contact.

Declan Rice – 5: Overrun and with zero help, Declan Rice struggled in the first half today. Once Noble was brought on, Rice looked more adventurous and ready to help the attack. He was the best midfielder and attacker today, but he needed to be a leader, and he wasn’t.

Pablo Fornals – 2: This one hurts those who have been saying “play Fornals over Lanzini” because he was just off today. He’s an attacker who likes to play centrally, but injuries made him play out wide. He needs to be better and more effective.

Manuel Lanzini – 2: His atrocious footballing IQ was on display again, letting defenders catch up to him when the team was counterattacking, and missing open teammates with arrant passing. He was better later on, but only because there wasn’t as much pressure with ten men against.

Albian Ajeti – 1: He finally got his start and chance to impress for 90 minutes and he flubbed it away. He has good energy in the attack and tracked back well, but wasted chances killed his effectiveness.

Sebastien Haller – 1: There isn’t much he did right in this match. He didn’t win headers in the box, he missed the target on a left-footed shot from six yards out, and was invisible or out of position for most of the match. Wasted money in this one.

Substitutes

Angelo Ogbonna – 4: He needed to be rested in this game but Balbuena’s awful game saw him forced into action. He was physical and won some key headers and was overall fine.

Mark Noble – 5: He almost played the hero, but instead held his head in disbelief. He changed the game when he came on to replace Sanchez and had the best chance, it’s just a shame he missed it. Regardless, he was a difference-maker.

Michail Antonio – 4: This grade isn’t really fair to him. He shouldn’t have had to have been used but when he was, it was as a right-winger beside two central strikers. Dumb system that didn’t help him be effective. Still, he ran his socks off.