BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson believes that inconsistency has been West Ham United’s fatal flaw this season.
The Hammers have largely been unable to string positive results together this campaign, and Lawrenson believes that will have been hugely irritating for manager Manuel Pellegrini. The former Liverpool man also believes that Pellegrini’s side will draw 1-1 with Watford on Sunday.
“West Ham, who are looking to sign off with a third successive win, have been much improved of late but they have [had] plenty of blips over the course of the past nine months,” he wrote on the BBC Sport website.
“Every time I think they are going to kick on, they have gone missing – which must be frustrating for their manager Manuel Pellegrini – but overall they have also had a decent season.”
OPINION
Lawrenson is absolutely spot on, here. Every time it’s looked like West Ham have got themselves together and appear ready to go on a consistent run of form, they lay an egg. It’s been happening all season and Pellegrini must, frankly, be sick of it at this point. However, he’s almost at the end of the season so hopefully it will be something he can address over the summer. So even though the Hammers go into Sunday’s game in tremendous form, you wouldn’t be surprised if they go out and lose 3-0 to the Hornets. Lawrenson doesn’t think that will happen, obviously, but it’s certainly a distinct possibility. Having said that, it’s much more likely that this turns out to be the close game Lawrenson predicts. The two sides are well matched on paper, with the only difference between them this season being that Watford have been a little bit more consistent and have enjoyed a phenomenal FA Cup run. How much the West Ham fans would have liked to have had that this campaign…
