The last few days have been filled with pundits, commentators and former players all picking over the bones of the Hammers team — but one point has remained consistent: we’re slow. Painfully slow.
And if Leeds United boss Daniel Farke was in any doubt about where to target Nuno’s West Ham side, he surely won’t be now.
It’s therefore little surprise to hear that speedsters Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto are being fast-tracked in an effort to play at Elland Road tomorrow. Former Manchester United winger James is said to be closer to fitness than Gnonto, who has frightening pace and will face a late test.
Gnonto and James could cause West Ham big problems
Undoubtedly, West Ham gaffer Nuno Espírito Santo will have to change his team from the car-crash selection we saw against the Bees on Monday. Nobody in this Hammers squad is particularly rapid, but former Leeds man Crysencio Summerville, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Malick Diouf are probably our quickest players — and all need to be in the starting line-up.
How West Ham have reached the stage where we’re so unevenly matched as athletes is a subject for another day. But Leeds are well aware of that weakness — and look fully set to exploit it.