Dark day for West Ham
The atmosphere was not as toxic as the Burnley game here two seasons ago but this was a dark day for West Ham.
It is too early to say Manuel Pellegrini’s job is under threat but there is no doubt that pressure is growing on the West Ham manager.
West Ham fans turned on Pellegrini and the team as Newcastle ran riot at the London Stadium. The Hammers did pull two goals back but the 3-2 scoreline flattered them and they are now without a win in five Premier League games.
The stadium was half-empty by the final whistle as many West Ham fans had seen enough. Everyone at the club made it clear European football was the minimum target this season but West Ham are now closer to the bottom three than the top six.
Pellegrini tactics baffle
Some of Manuel Pellegrini’s team selections in recent weeks have been baffling. The decision to start Pablo Zabaleta at right back against the pace of Allan Saint-Maximin looked a strange one and the veteran Argentina had a torrid afternoon.
Zabaleta has been one a great Premier League defender but his legs have gone and surely it would have made more sense to bring the speedy Ryan Fredericks back in.
The decision to drop Angelo Ogbonna for Fabian Balbuena in recent weeks has been another strange one. Ogbonna had started the season well and Balbuena struggled again against Newcastle.
Magpies outfox Hammers
Newcastle were playing ‘ole’ football in the second half. Newcastle. The manner of the defeat was a shock but this poor performance from West Ham was the culmination of a string or bad displays.
Manuel Pellegrini’s 4-2-3-1 formation has not been working and too many players are badly out of form. Felipe Anderson looks a shadow of the player he did last season and Sebastien Haller had no service all afternoon. West Ham’s build up play was too slow and something needs to change if they are to get out of this sticky patch.
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There were fears among West Ham fans that Lukasz Fabianski’s injury would cost them and those concerns were realised here.
Fabianski a huge miss
Roberto was at fault for two of the Newcastle goals. First he was caught in no man’s land from a cross into the box and allowed Federico Fernandez a simple header. And the veteran Spanish goalkeeper should never have been by Jonjo Shelvey’s long-range strike in the second half.
There were ironic cheers from home supporters when Roberto made a routine save short after that which will not help his confidence. But with Fabianski out until the New Year, Roberto will be playing for another two months.