Ukrainian provides perfect birthday gift for Manuel Pellegrini with two goals towards a first league win of the seasonIn West Ham’s situation any win will do. They are off the mark, off the bottom of the table and, on Manuel Pellegrini’s 65th birthday, they ensured they avoided the worst start to a league season in the club’s history. In the goals and all-round performance of Andriy Yarmolenko there were even tentative signs that the summer signings may turn out to offer some value. But nobody should be sounding the all-clear just yet: West Ham will face few opponents as sloppy and lacklustre as Everton were at the back on Sunday. Related: Yarmolenko double against Everton helps West Ham to first...
The Chilean manager has faith in his methods but, with no points from four games, confidence is already erodingIt fell to Mark Noble to deliver some home truths after West Ham’s 1-0 defeat by Wolves two weeks ago. The club captain had watched from the bench at the London Stadium and he felt an obligation to shake things up after witnessing another leggy performance. Noble’s anger filled the home dressing room and the worst part for the rest of the squad was that they could not argue with the midfielder’s criticism. Related: West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini denies being angry over leaked teams Related: Manuel Pellegrini must convince West Ham he’s not yesterday’s man | Paul Wilson Continue reading...
Spurs’ rough month could be extended by Liverpool, another perfect record is on the line at Watford and fears for West HamSeptember hasn’t exactly been great for Tottenham thus far. Defeat at Watford was followed by landing in Barcelona’s Champions League group, Daniel Levy confirming more costly delays to the new stadium and a night in Milton Keynes. Dele Alli got injured on international duty and their captain, Hugo Lloris, was ruled out with a thigh problem shortly after admitting being two times over the drink-drive limit. Ever a man to brighten the mood, Son Heung-min returns this week fresh from pulling the nutmeg of the year, with Asian Games gold (and military service exemption) also in the bag. How...
The Italian has made the most impressive start of the seven managers new to the top flight or on fresh assignments, while doubts already dog Manuel Pellegrini and Neil WarnockThere are no fewer than seven new managers in the Premier League this season, four of them completely new – Maurizio Sarri, Unai Emery, Nuno Espírito Santo and Slavisa Jokanovic – and three others with previous experience but in new club situations. As the domestic programme returns with two from the latter group meeting at Goodison Park, it is already evident that at least one of the fresh faces – if Manuel Pellegrini has ever been thus described – is under pressure.Before we move into the nitty-gritty of the season, with...
The Chilean needs to quickly start turning his disparate collection of individuals into a team to avoid more unrestIt would be premature, though only a little, to suggest that when the Premier League returns on Saturday it will find West Ham in crisis mode, yet there can be no doubting that Manuel Pellegrini needs a result at Everton. If the fifth fixture of the season seems rather early for a must-win game, Pellegrini has to at least convince fans, board and players that he knows what he is doing and is capable of turning West Ham into a viable team instead of a collection of individuals who look as if they need a word with their agent.Alan Shearer on Match...