West Ham 2 Fulham 1
Manu Lanzini grabbed the first goal of pre-season, Ashley Fletcher walked in a second after the Fulham keeper Button tripped over some blades of grass, the Championship tam got one back later.
Apart from that not much else happened!
Ok, I know all about the fitness issues – which is what it’s supposed to be all about – and that two entirely different teams took the pitch over 90 minutes but a few things became clear.
Whilst our fitness levels are probably up on last year at the same time there are some ominous signs that we still prefer to play sideways and backwards over long periods.
When we do get forward with purpose as we did for the first goal we look good but for too long we sink into a self induced shell seemingly unwilling or unable to carry the game to the opposition at pace.
Lanzini capitalised on a great move down the left and a fine lay off from Fletcher but much more of the same was needed.
Yes, I understand there’s no Antonio or Kouyate available plus the usual suspects Carroll and Sakho but when Lanzini left the pitch after 45 minutes absolutely nothing happened.
The second half line up which included Burke, Ayew, Snodgrass saw Martinez used as a loan striker and with no pace coming out of midfield it would be highly unfair to pass judgement on him at this stage.
Youngsters Nathan Holland, Josh Cullen and Declan Rice had looked totally comfortable on the ball and must have impressed the manager during the first half.
And skipper Mark Noble, who played throughout, has clearly recovered well from his summer surgery whilst Obiang looked stronger on his second pre-season appearance.
Zabaleta is a class act but there may be an issue with Darren Randolph who is apparently booked for a move to Middlesbrough but left the action at half time holding his groin.
A win is a win at the end of the day but we need to step up the tempo and call a halt to all this sideways and backward motion – it totally is of no consequence whatsoever.
So we’re unhappy with no goals in first game. Unhappy with no creativity this game. These early games are about fitness, nothing else. I wouldn’t worry. Pre-season 85/86 we had a shocking build up, but look where we finished.
I’m not unhappy.
Look at how **** our pre season was with bilic, getting knocked out of Europa… and boom we ended up 7th
Okay last season wasn’t that great, but something was definitely going on behind the scenes last season.
What about the season with allardyce… our form in pre season was shocking yet we started off booming in the prem.
Pre season means nothing, it’s about fitness, it will be about tactics. Yes the first two games have been bland, but it’s not our first team, they are mixed line ups, it’s all trial and error in pre season, trying to find his best team again, his best formation… yeah I have watched the two games and I have been bored. But a draw and a win isn’t losing… so at least there’s that… this is all about fitness confidence and tactics. Simple as that.
COME ON YOU IRONS!!! ⚒⚒
Lanzini was class again and Cullen looked very composed.
Any injury to Lanzini this season will cause us creativity issues.
Ayew plus 30 mill for sigurdson , simples 🙂 a crocked lanzini or quiet game = no creativity , stands out a mile !! Same as last season , lanzini and a gylfi in tandem is much better, shame it will not happen 🙂
Would be my first choice too.
Don’t want to hear about Barkley, he’s too up himself. If he’s worth £50m, what’s Lanzini worth?
Gylfi would be a terrific signing. It’s interesting that there’s been little or no transfer speculation about him at all.
We arent going to sign Sig,its a nonstarter and i wouldn’t want ayew sold anyway.
I believe West Ham won every pre-season game under Avram Grant, proving preseason means absolutely nothing. Don’t analyse anything until we play Man Utd that’s the start of the season not now
So now were dissecting a kick about in the park.I know lets play at full pelt and get a load of musle tears while they still arent up too speed.
Great idea.
The most important part of this preseason is to get fitness to where it needs to be for teh forst matches and to work on pressing the ball, last season despite not having a recognised striker for most of teh season we didn’t have too many problems scoring goals, it was conceding them that was the biggest problem and being uncompetitive against 5 of the top 6. If we can get Arnautovic and create chances for Chicharito and others we should get closer to the 60 – 65 point mark which should put us in line for Europa League and who knows if we get some confidence up and sign some more quality we could do even better. I didn’t watch the match so nothing constructive to add about the preseason but the fact you guys say we look fitter is encouraging COYI !!!
yes 32 we reverted to the typewriting system after lanzini departed 🙂 where’s the young Samuelson gone ? Ideal situation to play the lad ?
He is currently injured but still with us