For Premier League fans who expected West Ham United to build on their recent European adventures, the reality of the new season has been a bucket of cold water. Three games into the campaign, the stats are as bleak as a monsoon sky over London: zero points, zero goals scored, and rock bottom of the table. This isn’t just a slow start; it’s a calamitous plunge that marks the club’s worst opening to a top-flight season in 52 years.
A Calamitous Start for the Hammers
To put this into perspective, the last time West Ham began a season this poorly, in 1971, the world was a very different place. After two seasons of punching above their weight under David Moyes—finishing sixth and seventh and reaching a Europa League semi-final—this was supposed to be the year they kicked on. Instead, they look utterly lost.
The confidence is shot, the technique looks flawed, and the pressure from the stands at the London Stadium is becoming deafening. So, where has it all gone wrong for the East London club?
What’s Gone Wrong for David Moyes‘ Side?
The most glaring issue is the complete evaporation of their attacking threat. Key players look like shadows of their former selves.
- Toothless in Attack: Jarrod Bowen, a livewire who was knocking on the door of England’s World Cup squad last season, has been ineffective. Michail Antonio, for all his tireless running, has been isolated. As a team, they have managed just six shots on target across 270 minutes of football—a damning statistic pointing to a deeper, systemic problem.
- Tactically Predictable: David Moyes’ setup, once lauded for its disciplined and effective counter-attacking style, now appears rigid. The low block and quick transition that worked so well has been figured out by teams like Nottingham Forest and Brighton, who seem happy to let West Ham have the ball, knowing they lack the creative spark to break down an organised defence.
Big Summer Spending Yet to Pay Off
The club’s hierarchy can’t be accused of a lack of ambition. They backed Moyes with a war chest of over £150 million this summer, bringing in marquee signings like Italian striker Gianluca Scamacca and defender Thilo Kehrer. Yet, these new recruits have yet to gel.
The cruel pre-season injury to star defensive signing Nayef Aguerd was a huge blow, but it cannot be the sole excuse for such a lacklustre start. Scamacca has shown flashes of quality but is being eased in, while the rest of the new boys look like they are still adapting to the frantic pace of the Premier League. The arrival of Brazilian playmaker Lucas Paquetá from Lyon for a club-record fee is a clear attempt to inject that missing creativity, but it’s a massive ask for one man to reverse this tide of negativity.
Pressure Mounts as Tough Fixtures Loom
The pressure is now firmly on David Moyes. He has earned a great deal of credit for the remarkable turnaround he has overseen at the club, but football is a notoriously fickle business. The board has given him the players; now he must deliver results.
With daunting fixtures against London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea on the horizon, things could get worse before they get better. This isn’t just a blip; it’s a crisis. The jubilant bubbles have been replaced by a palpable sense of anxiety. West Ham are in trouble, and they need to find a way out, fast.
