Half term report on West Ham United - a work in progress but could do better

West Ham United had a decidedly poor finish to the first half of the season - up to the World Cup break. Three home defeats in the final week, including going out of the Caraboa Cup on penalties to Championship side Blackburn Rovers. Manager David Moyes has come under fire, after spending £180 million in the summer. A number of those signings though came in the last weeks of the transfer window. The club did not get the players they wanted in early, giving them the time to settle before the season began. As a result, the settling in has had to be done as the season has gone on. Injuries have further complicated the bedding in process. The team are in European competition for the second season in a row. Indeed, it has been in Europe that West Ham have been at their best, winning all six games in the Europa Conference League competition. Moyes has developed almost two separate teams in Europe and the Cups compared to the Premier League. Some players perform in both. There have been some promising performances in Europe from youngsters like Conor Coventry, Flynn Downes, Divin Mubama and Ollie Scarles. Things have been slower to gell in the Premiership. There is the basis of an excellent team but it is not quite working at the moment. The lack of goals scored is one of the most alarming features - just 12 in 15 Premiership games. Moyes and his team are still looking at how to get the best from Gianluca Scamacca. There have been flashes of brilliance from the Italian striker but he does not look like a target man to lead the line, more one to play deeper in the three behind the main striker. The developing understanding between Scamacca and Lucas Paqueta is something fans want to see more of. Jarrod Bowen has struggled for form, which has seen him miss out on the World Cup. Of the other new signings, Thilo Kehrer has looked a good defender but the decision to play him at right back seems questionable. Often caught out of position, is he really the best right back at the club? On the other side Aaron Cresswell continues to perform well but he has been losing pace over recent years - this cost West Ham dear last year in the latter stages of the Europa League. It was surprising with all the buying in the summer that a recognised left back was not brought in. Emerson Palmeira came from Chelsea but he seems more of a left wing back - a like for like replacement for Arthur Masuaka. Moroccan Nayef Aguerd was a £30 million signing but got a serious injury in pre-season, which has delayed his arrival in the first team. He though looks a good player, who should form a strong centre back partnership with Kurt Zouma. So there are many positives, including the creative cutting edge of Said Benrahma and solid efforts from Pablo Formals, who seems to be adding more goals to his game. Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers nicely summarised David Moyes problems, after the final game before the World Cup break. He pointed to the great job Moyes has done over the last three seasons, bringing regular European football to a club that was previously a regular relegation contender. Rodgers also highlighted the need for the new faces to settle and to recognise that older players are declining. This latter category would include Cresswell, Craig Dawson, Angelo Ogbonna and Michail Antonio. Moyes and his team will find the winning formula, again, if they are allowed the time. There is a changing of the guard underway. Nor have West Ham had the greatest fortune in the first 15 games, controversially denied a perfectly good goal and a point against Chelsea. Then, there was the referee interference and denied penalty against Southampton. The team were also unfortunate to not get something out of the games against Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Manchester United. The fans need to reflect how far the team has come in the last three seasons, it's not time to be booing the team off the field. There is still much to come from Moyes team, when this transition phase is complete. A bit of patience, will see the results come, maybe a Cup and top eight finish, who knows?