West Ham veteran James Collins has had a few choice words to say about the Hammers’ defending this season.
The team have conceded 54 league goals already this campaign, giving them the third worst defensive record in the entire league, and Collins told the club’s official website that they are not defending as a team without the ball at the moment:
“We have to be more solid as a group without the ball. When we have got the ball we’re looking good and creating chances. At the minute without the ball we aren’t really defending as a team which means we are conceding silly goals. Obviously set-plays are an issue at the minute, too, which we are working on.”
Collins, now 33, has been a bit part player this season, making 11 starts in the league, but did return to the starting eleven for the 2-1 defeat to Hull City at the weekend.
With Winston Reid out injured for the rest of the month, and Angelo Ogbonna’s out for the rest of the season after knee surgery, Collins will likely be starting once again at the Emirates stadium against Arsenal tonight.
He will likely partner another veteran in Jose Fonte at the heart of the Hammers defence, with the Portuguese international seeking his first clean sheet since his move from Southampton in January.
