An FA Cup debut for Ollie Scarles made the headlines as Graham Potter’s first West Ham United team selection faced off against Aston Villa who were in an unfamiliar black and white strip, celebrating their own 150th anniversary. Paquetá a whisker away immediately, a left footed 30-yarder kissing the post – the culmination of a Summerville break down the right. West Ham on the front foot.
An interesting set up, Summerville started wide on the right, looking like a wing-back. Kudus ahead of him in a more ‘inside right’ position. Scarles pushed very wide on the left, hugging the touch line as soon as the Hammers get possession, Paquetá an inside left.
8 Minutes gone and I jumped off the sofa as a lovely break from Summerville down the right with a perfect passed cross allowed Paquetá -again at inside left – to slot home. 1-0 West Ham! What a ‘high’ to start the Potter era.
And then the low – 2 minutes later and Niclas Fullkrug crashed down mid sprint – could almost hear his hamstring twang from miles away. The poor hapless guy had to be helped off: He’ll not be playing again any time soon. Ings on. The cupboard is bare now for Hammers’ strikers.
Three times, Summerville and Kudus combined well, it looked like Villa were not prepared for this attacking presence down the right. I certainly wasn’t!
25 minutes gone and Villa hadn’t had a sniff. Big cheers for Scarles’ first couple of interceptions at left back.
Summerville next sprints back to make a brilliant defensive tackle but goes down holding his own hamstring: Worrying moments whilst we waited to see if he’d carry on.
Fortunately all seemed ok and shortly after he was at it again, another brilliant defensive clearance from Summerville: This is the player who couldn’t get into Lopetegui’s XI. Half time, and innovative wide play from West Ham, Kudus and Summerville both on the right, and Paqueta and Scarles on the left. Hope for more of the same!
Both Wan Bissaka and Summerville were limping through the latter stages of that half, though.
Sure enough, Coufal on for Summerville at half time. Reorganisation followed but Villa coming more into the game, great defending from Mavropanos holding off Watkins. Much less West Ham threat without Summerville now. An hour gone, West Ham seemed to have adjusted, and more neat, tidy passing, Alvarez blowing hard at 65 minutes. West Ham playing a back line of six when out of possession now, defending very deep right in the 18 yard line. Fabianski suddenly called on to make a super save from a swerving shot.
Lots of Villa pressure now. A corner (wrongly awarded) led to the equaliser by Onana -shovelled over the line after Fabianski spilt a shot. Looked like there was only one winner now, West Ham without much threat going forward. And yes, as expected, Villa grabbed a second after Watkins’ centred for Rogers to stab home. Can’t help thinking this game was lost when Summerville went off.
Scarles off for Cresswell: Well played, young man. This will be a test of West Ham’s resilience, of late they’ve been losing by an avalanche. Important for the Potter era that the flood-gates don’t open in the last ten minutes. Alvarez and the dazed Mavropanous off after being poleaxed. Soler and Guilherme on. Dig in, Hammers. And they did. Pressure, shots, corners, really giving it a go.Great attitude from West Ham to finish valiantly even in defeat, Danny Ings skying his one chance from 6 yards in the last minute.
Ollie Scarles won the Man of the Match award. ‘Summerville would have won it if he’d stayed on the pitch’
Early days but already signs that Potter could be everything Lopetegui wasn’t. Looking forward to Tuesday.
I agree up to the hour mark. The players went back into Moyes mode and just invited pressure. I say there saying “Villa will score very soon”. And, of course, they did. Then it was only a matter of time for the second.
When you defend deep and don’t challenge for the ball with conviction, just try to get in the way when the other side shoots, it can only end one way. Good teams always go for the second goal until maybe 80 mins. Then shut up shop.
Potter has to get that seige mentality from 60 mins onwards out of their mindset.
The wily Villa manager Emery won that game with his 2nd half substitutes, we lost it with ours. That is not Potter’s fault, he has had no time to evaluate anyone; and injuries crippled us. It does prove we are short on quality and down to bare bones – we have to be very smart in the market in the 3 weeks left of this transfer window …. With tightwad Sullivan’s record, I am not hopeful! Are you?
Early days with Potter only having 1 day to pick his players.
Injuries things went from bad to worse.
So we don’t have Bowen / Fullkrug / Antonio maybe Summerville.
Latest we’ve been offered Jonathan David on a freebie (along with 7 other clubs).
He’s been linked to whu on a few occasions.
Last time wasn’t on a freebie but his greedy agent(s) wanted £10m, end of story.
Ings came on but was a non entity.
Unless things go extremely well for Potter whu will get a roasting if they don’t sign a striker.
David is exceptional quality and a good age at the right price (add ons?) any later transfer looks like profit.
Potter looking at other positions any incoming players should not have injury history.
Well done Scarles as Man of the Match.
JD is only a Freebie at the end of the season, he can sign a pre contract now, but won’t play till nest season.
But we should have signed him or Dhuran already.
But hey we must love old boys.
Glad to see Scarles given a crack and it’s amazing what happens when youth is given a crack.
Definite improvement in performance and encouraging to see Summerville switched to the right with Kudus playing inside right. Both combined well and Summerville was outstanding at both ends of the putch and so unlucky to get injured. Brilliant to see Ollie Scarles make his FA Cup debut and produce a Man of the Match performance with our fans singing his name.
Paqueta drives me mad rolling all over the floor and trying to con the ref, yet capable of so much more when scoring our opening goal. As for their equaliser ref and linesman should never given a corner but poorly defended. After one day with the players Potter has a lot to do but it’s clear he has a much stronger gameplan and will be active in the transfer market this month. Brilliant away support as always.
Summerville being injured changed the game, hopefully it’s precautionary that he came off. Despite losing, I’m pleased with Potter’s first game in charge, we saw so much of the attacking play and teamwork we’ve needed all season, and I’m hopeful for what’s to come. But we definitely need to get another striker immediately, we can’t have Ings as our only one.
Big difference for me was the organisation at the back. Every time play was turned over the players seemed drilled on what to do.
Held their positions and absolutely nullified Villa in the first half.
Second half, with the injuries changing how we played a bit, Villa came back into it. They’ve a good team, with some depth too, wish we did right now.
There was a 10 minute wobble where I think doubts started to crawl back in. How couldn’t they after being on the end if so many drubbing of late.
However, they game literally wasn’t over until the final whistle, with the boys still pushing for an equaliser right up to the finial Whistle.
Long way to go, but the team looked better organised, big injury problems for the new manager to deal with now, but a good start.
It was a loss, but even so the team should be able to draw some confidence in the manager and themselves.
Villa are no mugs.
Sorry same old load of rubbish? I’ll give potter six months as well?
Oh, you didn’t watch the game then?? I mean clearly it’s not good enough that Potter’s had a day with them and that didn’t convert to a Liverpool style 4-0 win. What a load of rubbish eh? Should’ve appointed Harry Potter instead right??
Really? We were organised in defence,had a midfield that protected that defence and a threat up front, don’t think I’ve seen that so far this season. Can’t please some people.
Probably a Chelsea fan….
Did you watch the game? Mate give him a break he’s only had one day with his néw team.
You should have watched the game mate, then you’d realise how much better it was than under Loppy. Not bed given he’s only been.there 48 hours!
this from the bloke that said if he didn’t see a new-manager-bounce reponse that was it for us this season? one of this sites biggest moaners isn’t pleased with that turn-around? then it’s time for you to go to Fulham or wherever! best we’ve played all f**king season. Villa away on a Friday night! 8 minutes of misfortune and he’s off! bye bye. happy to see the back of you
Dumb f’ing butcher, best stick to chopping up meat. You asked if it was the same old load of rubbish. Then you asked yourself if you give Potter six months as well. So you really don’t know anything then. Ignorance is bliss for you. Better get your head back in the sand!
Mate what game were you watching? So many positives and improvements all over the pitch compared to previous performances after Potter had only had one training session with the players! Summerville and Scarles were outstanding yet you still bloody moan!
Hard place to go and we were unfortunate. How that could ever be given as a corner is beyond me, it never went anywhere close to any of our players.
Good appoint for the hammers potter, could see him being there for years. Surprised he didn’t wait for Everton job tho.
He didn’t want the Everton job. He preferred West Ham. Besides, he also prefers to be in the south of England.
Almost back to winning, what a welcome change that would have been. A good West Ham first half. Scarles started well, Summerville active while on the pitch and Kudus contributing in a more central role. Paqueta with glimpses of a much needed focus and sacrifice. Beyond the first 60 minutes, it became a puzzle with no solution for West Ham. Füllkrug again injured, so it is only down to -a rather opaque- Ings now, and adding one more striker in this window remains a priority for West Ham.