MATTY Upson has given an honest assessment of West Ham's dismal form and admitted that they are failing to live up to expectations as an attacking force.
The defender also conceded that they might need to rethink tactics after being outgunned and outclassed in back to back 4-0 defeats against Chelsea and Liverpool, which has all-but ended their UEFA Cup hopes.
Amongst a number of growing concerns, those two matches has notably exposed the Irons' lack of willingness to attack.
Last night at Anfield in particular, imagination going forward was sparse. Besides a glaring Luis Boa Morte miss inside the first ten minutes, the Irons failed to trouble Reds keeper Pepe Reina all evening.
Worringly, it has been a common theme running through the team's play this season and most notably in recent weeks.
Upson (pictured) said: "We've lacked that real urgency to go forward - we're not running beyond the striker and the wide players are not getting behind the full backs, making runs and moving off the ball.
"We've also got to pass it better. We haven't passed it at all in the last two games because we're not using our energy to move into space to receive the ball.
"We've identified it as a team and as a group - we need to figure out what is best to do and go on from there."
It is due to their inefficiency in front of goal - they've scored just four times in the last eight matches - which Upson feels has been a contributory factor for the tiredness that has crept into the team's play.
"It has been hard work all season because we haven't scored enough goals, so everything is either a 1-0 or a draw and they are quite taxing games on your body," he said.
"It is someting we've got to think about for our next game - we need to regroup and try to piece ourselves together again.
"We can't let the season dwindle away. We're in a safe position but that's not enough for the club and the supporters, and where the club wants to go.
"It's important that we put it right."
The fans vented their frustrations with boss Alan Curbishley at Anfield for continuing with a lone striker system which they consider to be negative tactics.
Upson himself, while acknowledging that it is ultimately Curbishley's decision, backed those claims by hinting that it may be time to deploy two players up front.
"That's one way you can go," he said.
"I don't think we are going to be bothered if we finish tenth or 11th - its a mid-tale finish and there is not a lot to lose in that sense.
"I know the supporters are hungry to see that (4-4-2). They want to see more attacking action and more flair but its up to the manager to decide which way he wants to go.
"He has to assess how we are looking and how the players are applying themselves. If we don't look like we're equipped to do that physically, then its a lot to ask of people at the moment.
"The players have got to be in the right condition and frame of mind to want to throw everything at it."
At the other end, eight goals shipped in two outings has put a big dent in the club's previously excellent defensive record, something Upson also offered no excuses for.
"We've worked hard all season to maintain that and in two games we have let in eight goals which doesn't make for pleasant reading," he said.
"I don't think we can have too many excuses, whether or not we are playing Chelsea, Liverpool or Birmingham.
"We didn't apply ourselves and we didn't match the work rate of Liverpool, which when you come here (to Anfield) and you don't do that, there's only one end result and thats a defeat."
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