West Ham suffered an embarrassing defeat in the opening game of the season.

New season, same old West Ham. Two of the main complaints last season were the awfully slow midfield which possesses no transition players and could desperately do with a defensive midfielder too, as well as their abysmal defence. For whatever reason, neither of these issues have been addressed.

West Ham started the game against Sunderland very well, in fact they dominated the first-half but failed to take any chances. It looked like just a matter of time before a goal would come.

Frustratingly, the team that went into that tunnel at half-time didn’t look like the same team that played in the second-half. Everything that had been good disappeared and instead we saw the West Ham of last season.

Absolutely no pressing in midfield allowed Sunderland to put in an early cross into Mayenda who into the back of the net. The defenders left him virtually unmarked with Aguerd being on the wrong side of him, and Hermansen really should have done better.

The Black Cat’s second was in a similar fashion, a cross into a box, to an unmarked Ballard who Todibo couldn’t get the right side of, meant they scored another header.

In the 90th minute, a West Ham corner led instantly to a Sunderland counter which was curled in from range by Isidor and, once again, Hermansen could’ve got a hand to it.

Unfortunately, unless the owners actually commit the money they need to, it’s going to be a very long season. Two midfielders and at least one centre-half is a must. Anything less than that is simply not good enough; but I don’t see it happening.