West Ham United might have salvaged a draw against Burnley last weekend but there is a feeling of discontent around the London Stadium, with the results over the coming weeks likely to shape the club’s future.
The Hammers will host Freiburg on Thursday night in a Europa League last-16 tie that they trail by a goal after losing in Germany last week before welcoming Aston Villa to east London at the weekend.
Seventh in the top-flight, West Ham are four points behind Manchester United and just ahead of a wealth of European hopefuls, but David Moyes will be most displeased with his team’s lack of defensive solidity against struggling Burnley, sliced open with ease during a dreadful first-half on Sunday that, albeit, saw Moyes’ half-time tweaks bring the game level.
Brought in last summer, centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos suffered a nightmare of a game after diverting a cross into his own net to double the Clarets’ advantage before the break.
Konstantinos Mavropanos’ season in numbers
In fairness, the Greece international has not been a bad signing since arriving from Bundesliga club Stuttgart for £19m, making good on past praise in his “gladiator”-like presence in defence, as said by former boss Pellegrino Matarazzo.
