Player Ratings: Four West Ham Stars On The Brink After Forest Game

James

3 min read

Post on May 18, 2025

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Player Ratings: Four West Ham Stars on the Brink After Forest Defeat

West Ham United's disappointing 4-0 loss to Nottingham Forest has left manager David Moyes facing some serious questions, with several players' performances raising serious concerns about their future at the London Stadium. The comprehensive defeat highlighted individual failings, leaving four players in particular on the brink of losing their starting spots, and perhaps even their places in the squad altogether.

This comprehensive analysis delves into the individual performances, examining the key factors that contributed to the devastating result and assessing the future prospects of the underperforming players.

Decimated Defence: The Backline's Collapse

The defence was arguably the biggest culprit in the heavy defeat, with Nottingham Forest’s attackers enjoying far too much space and time on the ball. This highlights a systemic issue, but several individuals bear the brunt of the criticism.

• Kurt Zouma (Rating: 4/10): Zouma, a supposed cornerstone of the Hammers' defence, looked incredibly shaky throughout the match. He struggled to cope with Forest's pace and movement, losing several key aerial duels and making several costly errors leading to goalscoring opportunities. His performance raises serious questions about his long-term suitability for a team aiming to avoid relegation. He needs a significant improvement in his next outing to avoid being dropped.

• Nayef Aguerd (Rating: 5/10): While not quite as disastrous as Zouma, Aguerd also had a disappointing game. He seemed to lack the necessary concentration and defensive awareness, often caught out of position and struggling to effectively clear the ball. His partnership with Zouma clearly needs work, and a change of defensive pairing might be necessary.

Midfield Malaise: Lack of Control and Creativity

The midfield also failed to provide the necessary protection for the defence or the creative spark needed to unlock Forest's stubborn backline.

• Lucas Paquetá (Rating: 5/10): Paquetá, usually a key creative force for West Ham, was largely ineffective against Forest. He struggled to influence the game, failing to create enough chances and losing possession too easily. His performance was a far cry from the usual high standards he sets himself, suggesting a possible loss of form or a tactical issue that needs addressing.

• Declan Rice (Rating: 6/10): While arguably the best performing of the four players mentioned, even Declan Rice's usually stellar performance fell short of expectations. While his work rate remained high, he lacked the usual commanding presence in midfield and was unable to inspire his teammates to a better performance. Even the captain needs to step up his game considerably to drag the team out of this slump.

The Road Ahead: Moyes Faces Crucial Decisions

David Moyes faces a monumental task in turning things around. The upcoming fixtures will be crucial, and the performances of these four players will significantly impact Moyes' decisions in the transfer window and team selection. The manager must decide whether to stick with these players and attempt to revitalize their form or seek reinforcements to strengthen the squad. This could include looking at younger players from the academy or considering strategic transfers in the January window. Ultimately, the pressure is on Moyes to find solutions quickly to avoid a relegation battle.

What are your thoughts on the performances? Let us know in the comments below!