Bilic says strikers have not been good enough

West Ham sit 18th in the Premier League table, but at least Slaven Bilic knows where the problems are.

The manager has stated that he is currently unhappy at the performances from his forwards so far this season which forced him into making a major tactical reshuffle for the home draw against Middlesbrough.

Michail Antonio, our star winger who had bagged himself five goals in five games, was given the start as a lone striker last Saturday due to poor performances from Simone Zaza and Jonathan Calleri of late.

When asked why he made the decision, speaking to EssexLive, Bilic said that he and his coaching staff were not happy with the way their out-and-out forwards have played this season.

“We are not happy with the way our forwards have played in the last few games and he was a good solution in our point of view and he [Antonio] did well, because with his physical ability, with his pace and his work rate and that is what he was doing in the first half.”

At half-time, Bilic brought off Gokhan Tore after another woeful performance and introduced Simone Zaza who again looked off the pace.

Between Zaza, Calleri and young striker Ashley Fletcher, the trio have combined for 19 appearances and no goals so far this season.

With injuries to Andre Ayew, Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho plaguing the squad since August, Slaven Bilic has been short of options in the attacking areas but that could soon change.

Carroll is expected to return to first-team training during the international break, along with left-back Aaron Cresswell, and he could be available for the Hammers’ next game away at Crystal Palace, while both Ayew and Sakho are edging closer to returns.