A manager is walking a tightrope. Ahead of what could prove to be a definitive round of games for some this weekend, an analogy could implicate one of the league's bosses.
East London has a lot of desperation in it. West Ham's luck is down as they prepare to face Wolves on Saturday.
The side can hardly catch a break because of the many misfortunes. Contentious refereeing decisions, VAR reviews and an overfamiliarity with the goal frame have resulted in four points from seven games.
The first manager in four years to restore European football at the London Stadium is in danger of being deposed. There was a sad figure on the touchline at Goodison Park two weeks ago. His expressionless look indicates that he is acknowledging another problem.
West Ham's worst start to a league campaign in more than two years was compounded by Neal Maupay's 53rd-minute goal as they were beaten by the Toffees. There's more pressure on the situation.
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The Hammers need a huge recovery between now and the winter break to have a chance of getting back on track.
A lot of the supporters behind the goal were surprised by him. Jamie Carragher remarked that he was included when assessing the goal that plunged West ham into the bottom of the table.
The disbelief was born out of the fact that neither side wanted to break the stalemate and that they wanted to avoid another defeat. There was no tension in the two teams. It was the first time this season that my players let me down.
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There are stark differences. West ham was flirting with the bottom three a year ago. The upward trajectory was synonymous with the second stint in the West ham hot seat. It turned out that the appointment was a stroke of genius.
He guided West Ham to a sixth-place finish in his first season back at the helm. The season ended with a semi-final appearance in the Europa League and strong showings in both the domestic cups and the FA Cup.
Positivity was present. "West Ham are massive" is a chant sung by Hammers fans.
What has gone wrong for the London side this season, and is it the fault of the coach?
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No top-flight side has lost more away games in the last five years. It's a concerning figure. The year has not gone well. Performances have been characterized by a tentative approach.
West ham have only breached backlines three times this season, the lowest of any side. The rest of the drop zone have scored six and 10. The goals-to-games ratio is not safe.
Wolves are the only other side in the competition to have scored less than them. Their blunt attack is suffocating, even though their goals against column is not as bad as the ones of the other teams.
The game plan may have been exposed. Teams tend to find it hard to recover after going behind.
If the Hammers concede first, Plan A - heavy reliance on entries from quick turnovers and swift counter- attacks - is likely to be defeated. The teams sit back and use a small block to break down. Immune to a short break. West Ham's downfall this season has been identified by Sky Sports' Paul Merson.
He said that they didn't score the first goal. People don't realize how big the first goal is in a game. David Moyes' teams are very good on the counter-attack, even when he was atEverton. Teams are picked off.
Antonio's effectiveness has been reduced as a direct result of West Ham's lead in games this season. They are completely different when they score the first goal. They don't suit their counter-offensive style and going behind doesn't support their forward line.
West Ham has scored more goals than any other side in the league so far this season and has a better goal differential than any other side.
Even though he's in need of fresh impetus, he seems reluctant to integrate either Lucas Paqueta or Gianluca scamacca from the start of the game. It is possible that after a couple of weeks of reflection, the pragmatic move in staving off boredom will emerge. They were the third highest spenders.
West ham rounded off rare attacks with an attempt that struck the frame of the goalmouth Said Benrahma crashed one of their best chances off the post when he came on in the second half of the game.
They have brushed the woodwork five times this season, which is more than anyone else.
West Ham's decline across the board will be unnerving the club's hierarchy, even if travel sickness and goalshy forwards are not enough to condemn a side. The entertainment value has all but deserted their brand of football, as evidenced by the list of established underachievers.
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A lot of the metrics that assess a side's attacking efficiency have stopped working. The pass success rate is down and shots on target are down. The final-third passes have gone down. Less action in the other side means less goals.
Despite the drop-off, Merson is not concerned about them.
They will be okay. If you beat West Ham you'll get three points and you'll be in the top four. The VAR was terrible against the Blues. It shouldn't have been a loss.
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I think it's a good idea to start questioning him at your peril. He is a top manager. Clubs would queue around the block to take him if he lost his job.
It remains to be seen if he can revive West ham's fortunes or if he will have to wait. If the Hammers don't kick into gear soon someone will have to pay the price, according to Merson.
Many will wait for Saturday's team sheet. Will a bold selection end a troublesome run or will West Ham's troubles continue?
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