Having fixed West Ham’s avalanche – prone defence, Nuno Espírito Santo and his assistant head coach Pablo Jemez need to look to the opposite end of the pitch to improve the Hammers’ survival chances. Only five teams have scored fewer goals than the Irons this season.
Jarrod Bowen with 8 goals leads West Ham’s scoring rankings, whilst the traditional strikers brought in during the January window, Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe have managed three goals between them which has led to a somewhat surprising suggestion from footballinsider247.com to end the drought:
“Josh Ajala should be considered by Nuno Espirito Santo for a West Ham debut in their remaining Premier League fixtures.
With the Hammers currently one point inside the relegation zone, playing Championship football next season is a serious concern this season, with seven “finals” left.
Josh Ajala’s two goals in stoppage time sealed a remarkable u21’s triumph: But is he ready for a step up?
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Many fans have voiced their discontent with Nuno in the games during which the Hammers missed Pablo through injury, claiming that the lack of options screamed out for a but of academy talent to switch things up in the last twenty minutes of games in which the Hammers couldn’t muster sufficient attempts on target. As football insider concludes:
Included in those matches are relegation six-pointers against Wolves and Leeds United, but with only five teams scoring fewer than the Irons this season, Ajala could offer some much-needed attacking prowess. While all eyes are currently on West Ham’s FA Cup clash with Leeds, there is so much more at stake, and Nuno cannot afford to lack firepower in the Premier League.
Whilst Ajala lacks the physicality, he certainly has the credentials deserving of a place on the bench and the odd cameo – if West Ham have an exhausted Taty or Pablo to replace for the last 20 minutes, better a young striker than another midfielder as has too often been the case.