West Ham suffered their third defeat on the bounce in their loss to Brighton on Sunday. To compound their woes, the Hammers were goalless once again, and David Moyes's side have yet to hit the back of the net this season.
Brighton maintained their excellent start to the season displaying a ruthless streak, scoring with their only shots on target. Picking up seven points from a possible nine, Brighton are on an upward trajectory with realistic ambitions of finishing in the European places.
West Ham need to integrate Gianluca Scammaca into their side quickly
David Moyes's side were impressive last season, finishing seventh and reaching the Europa League semi-finals, but this season West Ham have gotten off to a terrible start. Defeats to Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, and Brighton see the club rooted to the bottom of the table. Though they have been unfortunate in some games not to score, especially at the City Ground against Forest, it is a growing concern for a side with lofty ambitions.
Costing £35.5 million from the Italian club Sassuolo, West Ham's big summer signing Gianluca Scamacca has only had a few cameo roles in the opening three games. Moyes has tried to give the man nicknamed 'The Fridge' time to bed in but with the attack looking ineffective, the time has surely come for Scamacca to start the next Premier League match away to Aston Villa on Sunday.
For a man who is 6'5, the Italian will of course bring physicality to the forward line but he offers so much more. Known for his power in the air, he also has excellent close control, an explosive shot and a maverick personality on the field that fans at the London Stadium love to see.
Michail Antonio led the line well in the previous campaign, but his play is rather limited and predictable. Scamacca could provide the spark that reignites the club's season and propels them to their third qualification to Europe through the league and, who knows, maybe even bring home a first European trophy since winning the now defunct Cup Winners Cup back in 1965.
If Brighton find a goalscorer, Europe is a realistic target
Brighton equaled a top-flight club record of 8 games unbeaten with their victory over West Ham on Sunday. Picking up seven points from the opening three games, the Seagulls are a club on the up. If they can maintain their current run of form, a push for Europe is not an unrealistic shout. However, to make this a reality, they will need to find a proven goalscorer before the transfer window shuts.
Danny Welbeck has proven himself as an excellent focal point of the attack, playing an influential part in Brighton's success so far this season, but he simply won't score enough goals. Graham Potter's side drew fifteen times last season - if they had turned five of those draws into victories, they would have finished sixth, finishing above Manchester United in one of the Europa League spots.
Strikers have been signed in the hope of solving the lack of goals. Denis Undav has joined from Union SG after an impressive season in Belgium in 2021/22, though with only one appearance so far, it is yet to be seen if the German is the answer. Paraguayan Julio Enciso crossed the Atlantic to sign for Brighton for around £9.5 million from Libertad. Aged only 18, the youngster is seen more as one for the future than a solution for the here and now.
Of the top ten teams in the Premier League last season, only Wolves scored less goals. Under Tony Bloom’s ownership the club are doing many things well on and off the field, and an investment in a top-quality striker appears to be the only thing holding Brighton back from establishing themselves as a challenger for Europe. With Neil Maupay heavily linked with a move away, it is imperative they don't leave themselves light on options in attack.
Declan Rice needs help in Midfield
West Ham's midfield partnership of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek, once so imperious is now beginning to show signs of decline. Although Rice is not at his best, he is still providing consistent performances in the Hammers’ midfield. The same cannot be said for Soucek.
The Czech's form has been on the slide for quite some time and surely must be a worry for West Ham manager David Moyes. On Sunday, Soucek offered a physical presence but for large parts of the game he was a passenger allowing Brighton to simply bypass the West Ham midfield with their sharp movement and passing.
England international Rice currently seems like a one-man band trying to put out multiple fires as he tries to carry his underperforming teammates. Apart from Aaron Cresswell, he had the most touches in comparison with the rest of his side on Sunday. If West Ham are to pull themselves back up the table, more players will simply have to up their game.
David Moyes needs to find a way to get his midfield working in sync once again with Rice. Tactical changes might be needed, a switch from the preferred 4-2-3-1 to a 3-5-2 could help tighten the defence, as well as offer more of an attacking threat. This formation could allow Rice to have more freedom in the midfield without the worry of trying to do everything himself.
Outside of the top six, Brighton have arguably the best midfield in the Premier League
Brighton have started the season in sensational form and as a team unit they are impressive, but midfield is where their strength lies. The loss of Yves Bissouma to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer has had little effect on the effectiveness of the midfield. The triumvirate of Alexis MacAllister, Moises Caicedo, and Pascal Gross have been as good as any midfield since the resumption of the Premier League after the summer break.
The star of Brighton’s early season, Moises Caicedo, has shown that with the right scouting network and structure in place at a club, value in the transfer market can be found. Bought for an absolute steal from Independiente del Valle in his homeland, his physical and technical qualities would not look out of place in a top-six side. Tactically he provides Potter with a lot of flexibility, as the diminutive midfielder can play from deep or can be used further forward. Possessing superb athletic qualities and an excellent range of passing skills, the future looks bright for Caicedo. If and when he is sold, Brighton are sure to make plenty of profit on the £4.5 million fee they paid for him.
The total cost of Brighton's midfield that faced West Ham on Sunday was around £15 million. Manchester United, who were humbled on the opening day by the Seasiders in contrast paid £50 million on Fred alone. The ease with which Brighton’s midfield have dominated the opening three games has been nothing short of remarkable - only an inspired Nick Pope prevented them from achieving a 100% start. The worry for Brighton is squad depth. If they pick up any long-term injuries, it's doubtful they can replace the quality of any of the three players in midfield with what they have in their squad.
