Manor Solomon Struggles for Form at West Ham and Israel National Team
Manor Solomon faces a turbulent period at West Ham and the Israeli national team, struggling for form and consistency ahead of the crucial UEFA Nations League clash against Kosovo.
Manor Solomon was envisioned as the face of the current generation in Israeli football, but at 27, he is far from delivering on those expectations. Once tipped as the national team's leader, he struggles to carry the squad, and his meager output in international colors compounds an unstable and fading club career. Ahead of Saturday's match against Kosovo in the fifth round of the UEFA Nations League, even his starting spot is no longer guaranteed.
Just a year and a half ago, the picture was entirely different. Solomon was a central figure in Leeds United's return to the Premier League, finishing the 2024/25 season with ten goals and 13 assists across all competitions, including 12 in the league. That peak campaign concluded with a winning goal against Plymouth that secured the Championship title for his club. However, that success did not lead to an extended stay, and the stability he sought proved elusive once again.
After stints in the Premier League with Fulham and Tottenham, Solomon spent the previous campaign between Villarreal and Fiorentina. He failed to establish himself in Spain or Italy, and the club from Florence opted not to retain him. Last summer, West Ham United signed the winger following their relegation to the Championship, paying Tottenham five million pounds with potential add-ons reaching seven million. A three-year contract with an option for an additional season was supposed to provide the security he lacked during his loan spells. In a club where Yossi Benayoun and Eyal Berkovic once shone, expectations for the Israeli were soaring. In the meantime, both he and his team are falling well short.
After 15 league matches, West Ham sits in ninth place, and Solomon has managed just two goals and two assists. Since his assist against Millwall on September 19, he has gone seven league appearances without a direct goal involvement. Operating at roughly one goal involvement every 260 minutes, the gap from his peak periods is stark. Two years ago, during his standout season at Leeds, he scored 10 goals and provided 13 assists in 41 matches. This season, his scoring rate stands at 0.17 goals per 90 minutes.
Criticism from supporters and analytical sites is mounting. At "Hammers News," calls have grown louder to start 21-year-old Norwegian Edwin Ostbo, who has displayed superior form in recent weeks. Meanwhile, outlets covering Tottenham have questioned his heavy ball retention and lack of defensive contribution. The pressure extends beyond club football into the national team, where Solomon has managed just one goal in his last 18 appearances since June 2023. With only eight goals in 53 caps, his international output has fallen short of the standard set by past playmakers.
National team coach Ran Ben Shimon faces tactical dilemmas regarding balance, particularly when deploying both Solomon and Oscar Gloukh simultaneously. Addressing his recent form and potential benching, Solomon remarked, "Whatever Ran decides, I will agree with and everything is fine. We have had many good games together in the past, and I am ready to contribute however I can."
As Israel prepares to face a bolstered Kosovo side featuring Vedat Muriqi, the bottom-placed team in the group desperately seeks a turnaround to salvage their campaign.
