Lewis - Slaven will turn things around

lewis

Daily Mirror football writer Darren Lewis believes it is only a question of time before Slaven Bilic gets his team back on the winning trail.


Lewis draws strong comparisons with last year after the Hammers suffered a home defeat against Bournemouth and then managed to turn their season around.


He sees no reason why they cannot do the same thing again and hopes the likes of Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini will continue to show their best skills and entertain everyone in the Premier League.....

 


I think Slaven will turn things around. I remember last season after the Club were beaten by Bournemouth and Slaven said he felt under pressure.


After the press conference had finished, a few of us could not believe what he said as it was so early in the season.


I look at the West Ham squad now and there is so much reason for them to be confident that things can improve.


One concern could surround the defence and a few people have wanted to see another defender brought into the club, but offensively West Ham are fantastic.


There has been a debate this week that Watford were motivated to beat West Ham last weekend because of the tricks and the flicks that the likes of Payet and Lanzini were showing in the opening half an hour.


But I don't think there is anything wrong with players of that quality expressing themselves on the pitch.


The fans pay good money to see that and long may the likes of Payet continue to show off their tricks on the football pitch. I don't have a problem with that.


I don't believe Payet was being arrogant and he was just being Dimitri Payet. The goals West Ham conceded were of their own making.


The goal Troy Deeney scored just before half-time was down to a lack of understanding and communication between Adrian and James Collins.


For us as journalists, Deeney's comments make great copy, but when you analyse the performance there were a lot of self-inflicted injuries that contributed to the result.


I think there is enough about the West Ham team to wake up and get started. It is just taking time for everything to come together at West Ham United this season.


When you look at the front six players there is a lot of creativity with the likes of Payet, Lanzini and Michail Antonio who is now playing in his right position and scoring goals.


His record is up there with the best players in the Premier League at the moment. His ability to get into dangerous positions and finish off the chances he gets is fantastic.


It is now time for the defensive players to do their job. They got a lot of credit for the way they defended last year and they now need to bring that into this season.


Looking ahead to the game on Saturday, if West Ham are focused they can come away with a good result, but it will not be easy as West Brom are very organised and efficient under Tony Pulis.


The thing that could work in West Ham's favour is that there is a lot going on behind the scenes at West Brom and a lot of uncertainty surrounding the manager.


There are a couple of disillusioned players after what has happened during the summer and maybe this could work to West Ham's advantage. For once it might help them not being at home.


I expect it to be a very tight match and if West Ham win it will be by the odd goal.