Three things we learnt from Southampton’s victory over a woeful West Ham

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Simone Zaza isn’t up to scratch

Signed on loan from Juventus with a £25 million option to buy, early evidence suggests that the Hammers would be crazy to exercise that right. With three shots on goal, the Italian failed to get a single shot on target and looked lazy in attack, failing to get back and provide cover and drifting wide rather than deep, but still offering no point of attack from which the Irons could counter.

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When the best chance of the game did fall to Zaza, he limply toepoked his effort straight into the path of Jose Fonte on the line, rather than smashing the ball into an empty net. Whilst he started well battling in the air, with the ball at his feet the Juventus player produced nothing of note and failed to have any influence.

A yellow card for simulation only went to worsen the Italian’s afternoon as he appealed for a penalty despite there being no contact from Oriol Romeu. With Jonathan Calleri not looking much better and Andre Ayew and Andy Carroll both out injured, it seems that young and inexperienced Ashley Fletcher is the only alternative. Hammers fans may have to put up with Zaza for a lot longer yet.

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