West Ham need more pace.placeholder image
West Ham need more pace. | AFP via Getty Images
Nuno Espirito Santo saw his West Ham side struggle to keep up with Brentford at the London Stadium on Monday evening.
West Ham were outpaced and outplayed by Brentford on Monday night in a worrying display for new manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who had gone into the match looking for his first three points on his London Stadium debut.
The 2-0 scoreline is kind to the Hammers, who never got a foothold in the match against a dominant Brentford outfit, who could have scored five or more goals with the number of chances created.
The first goal of the match came after 43 minutes when Bees striker Igor Thiago slotted home following a swift Bees move. As the visitors strung three passes from the edge of their box to the West Ham penalty area, Nuno’s men couldn’t get anywhere near the ball.
Jamie Carragher criticises West Ham ‘pace and energy’
Speaking on Sky Sports after the game, Jamie Carragher said: “Physicality and pace and energy will always be near the top of what you need to perform in this league. What I’ve seen over the last 12 months with West Ham, I can’t think of a less athletic team I’ve seen for a very, very long time in the Premier League. It’s one of the slowest teams I’ve seen in Premier League football.
“You look at that first goal and it feels like a throwback to 40 or 50 years ago in football where everybody had all the time in the world and there was space. The first goal was absolutely horrendous from a West Ham point of view.”
Carragher isn’t wrong. West Ham struggled to get near the ball on Monday, lacking pace both at the back and going forwards. Crysencio Summerville was the only player who looked capable of leading a break but has just one goal in 28 outings for the club.
Hammers linked with Fulham winger Adama
West Ham have been linked with a transfer swoop for Fulham star Adama Traore since the appointment of Nuno and that’s a move that would certainly inject some energy into the squad. It may not solve defensive vulnerabilities but it would provide an outlet, as well as a player capable of individual brilliance to inspire the team.
Earlier this month, former West Ham scout Mick Brown told Football Insider: “Traore has always been a player who promises a lot and delivers little. He’s got unbelievable pace and power, even if the end product doesn’t match that, and that’s something which can be an asset for any team.
“There are obviously concerns that he doesn’t score or assist enough, but Nuno knows him and has worked with him before, so he’ll know all about that. He likes to have direct wingers who are willing to run at their man and drag the team up the pitch on the counter attack, and that’s what Traore would bring.
“So if he’s going to be available in January or at the end of the year, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him make that move to play under Nuno again. I hear West Ham look like they’re going to back the manager to bring in players who suit the way he plays, so we’ll see if he’s one they go for.”
Nuno knows the player well thanks to time at Wolves and even tried to bring him to Nottingham Forest in the summer. The winger has made just one start for Fulham this season, which could point to him being surplus to requirements at Craven Cottage.
It’s not just Nuno who is a big fan of the winger and what he can bring. Traore has received praise from the likes of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola in the past, with the manager labelling him as ‘unstoppable’ after one match.
Manchester City beat Fulham 3-2 last October but, after the game, Guardiola said: "Adama, he's unstoppable that game. We couldn't control when he had the ball. You have to defend in your 18-yard box."
In other news, Jamie Carragher slams West Ham ownership in support of Brentford Boycott.
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