OPINION
It is widely known that West Ham United’s defence has been not been at their best recently, and various pundits have been quick to criticise them as a result.
This is no different with BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton, who slammed the Hammers’ back four in a phone call with a West Ham fan on BBC Five Live Sport.
"There's only so much the manager can give to the players…the players have got to go out there and perform."
This #WHUFC fan has questioned the commitment of the squad – but @chris_sutton73's not buying it.
Do you agree? #BBC606 pic.twitter.com/Gf9UMPY8Z9
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) September 2, 2018
“Have they improved the defence? That is the biggest issue I think for West Ham, but I don’t think that they have.”
In light of this recent criticism, boss Manuel Pellegrini needs to take action imminently to prove pundits like Sutton wrong and turn his team’s fortunes around.
There is obviously something very wrong if pundits continue to lay into the Irons’ defensive calamities, and this is something Pellegrini must take instant notice of for the sake of the club.
They would not say anything if his defence was not a mess – and unfortunately for him, that is the state of play at the moment.
The defenders are allowing the opponents too much space – especially late on in matches – just like they did in the closing stages of the game against Wolves, where Adama Traore netted a late winner.
This will continue to happen if Pellegrini does not sort out his hazardous defence any time soon, meaning that they will slip further and further behind the rest of the Premier League.
For the amount of money that the board has invested in the club this summer, West Ham should be sweeping teams to one side with the level of talent that they have.
Unfortunately, teams have been getting the better of them recently, and this is largely down to the defence, who do not seem to have gelled.
The fact that Sutton still believes that the Hammers’ back line has not improved despite splashing the cash indicates what a mess they currently find themselves in.
On the back of the big-name pundit’s damning verdict, Pellegrini needs to switch his back four around – otherwise he will start to pay for the consequences of their poor results.
