The Hammers led, and looked ‘comfortable’ for the first half, after Max Kilman’s simple headed goal from a set piece early in the first half, yet continued to look a tad vulnerable at the back. Stroking the ball around, with both Solomon and Bowen enjoying the freedom of wide spaces of Turf Moor, holding just a one goal lead at half time was never enough as Burnley grew into the game whilst West Ham’s defensive errors stacked up in the second half.
West Ham had their warnings.
Flemming’s several ‘sighter’ headers all looped harmlessly into Hermansen’s hands or over the bar but three or four times Burnley’s striker rose, unchallenged by Kilman or Mavropanos. On the hour mark, it seemed only a matter of time before he connected properly with one.
Indeed no sooner had the words left the keyboard than he did the same again – and cannoned one off the post. Classic Mavropanos non-jump, followed five minutes later by a Scarles header off the line from Flemming again, unchallenged again.
You’d think Rui Pedro Silva would have been bellowing at his pair of centre backs to get tighter and get a challenge in. Whilst West Ham were just a goal up, their superiority in possession and style counted for nothing. But the evidence of the shortcomings of this Kilman – Mavropanos partnership were evident for all to see.
Just at the right moment, a brilliant Kante dribble down the right (which looked very close to the deadball line) and a cross gave Manor Solomon the chance to gleefully bury the chance for his goal on debut. This was not a game that West Ham led because they were better (they were) but because Burnley’s profligacy and bad luck stopped them taking advantage of West Ham’s poor defending.
The Hammers rocked as the game wore on and old defensive frailties reminiscent of last season returned. Nuno’s switch changed everything – but more on that later.
And the game turned on Scarles’ naive defending, which set up a nervy finish by gifting Burnley a lifeline on 82 minutes.
Flemming got his goal and the home fans got the finish they wanted as West Ham caved and Flemming hoofed in the equaliser. Welcome to the Championship, West Ham. Woeful defending costs, whatever league you are in.
Kilman lost his man he was marking more than once, miskicked on several occasions making Mav nervous and indecisive. It still seems to be the same problem, everyone trying to defend in the box and not a lot of closing down or challenges outside the box. Are we defending too deep or is the problem midfield are slow and defending too late in the oppositions attack?
Same old same old
Keep the manager as a cheap option he proved last season he’s not tactically good enough best way to defend is attack not sit back and invite teams on as wer not good enough with non league kilman and midfield that can’t run
Nuno tactics are useless he got no idea and Scarles is not good enough
We should start with manager. West Ham went down because of his experiments of not playing best 11 and of his negative tactics. Same old story.
Pablo should be sacked immediately, absolutely useless. Scarles should never wear the shirt again. Why Alphonse is not our first choice? Shame
It is very early days, I know that. But is there anybody out there, who would like to give me odds, that Eddie Howe will be West Ham manager by Christmas?
It is obvious to anyone who saw this game, that we are a bit short here and there, and need a proper centre forward. So why aren’t we considering Zian Flemming. Whenever I saw him play for Millwall, he looked pretty good, and seems to have improved, and he knows how to play in this league, so why not?
Pablo was injured or at least feeling a twinge. No options off bench at this point
Should have never have brought on Ward Prowse, game changed completely after his introduction. Too old, too slow, too lightweight who has absolutely no physically.
When both at Forest Ward Prowse was considered not good enough, so what’s changed a few season later.
We need the chelsea c back in our side urgently
Nuno must go he is negative and has not learnt a thing from last season. This bringing on more defensive players and sitting back. Please just go now and let us have reasonable season . Favourites to go up ,no way.
We looked so shaky defensively and, against a more clinical side, we would have been punished badly. The full-backs offered virtually nothing going forward either.
Some of the decisions were baffling. Ward-Prowse brought on to play right wing? KWP moved to left wing when his legs looked completely gone? At times it almost felt like NES wanted us to struggle just to make a point to the board about how desperately he needs reinforcements.
Whatever the reasoning, one thing is clear: we will not get promoted playing like this. A two-goal lead against Burnley should have been seen out comfortably.
A familiar game we saw last season, 2.0 and then we retreat. Brighton and Bournemouth spring to mind . I accept we need more in midfield and diasi or someone as good but it’s a worrying pattern if we are going to only defend leads
Nuno keeps making strange team selections and substitutions Main point being he dosnt learn by it
I remember BFS first championship game – a 0-1 home defeat to Cardiff – BFS comment afterwards which has gone down in legend “Respect the point” – so maybe here that is what we must do – respect the point
COYI
Just can’t seem to wrap a game up.2-0 never enough
Very average game and watching today we need many more reinforcements!
Defence collapsed and marking disappeared
Not too bad going forward but still missing a top striker, in the one you just let go Parrot
Don’t think Piroe is the answer, if he is going for 5 million fine but if we are going to pay 20-25million, might as well have paid the price for Parrot which would be a total no brainier, but instead on this one we are going for second best
Have let the fans down on a striker, promised the earth, which I think we never had a chance of getting
Solomon had a good game, he will be good
Bang on Martin. Same old same old………
Shocking defending throughout the game – bring Paco back, he seemed to make the difference to the defence last season. Midfield completely weak in the first half too, not much better second but a slight improvement. Pablo shouldn’t wear the shirt again, absolutely hopeless. Still, we’ll improve…
Scarles is not to standard and we are not going up defending like that
Mick I think you’re right, Scarles, is not at the level right now, his expressions look troubled, his body language is all a bit last minute. Compared to a new player like Solomon whos just arrived and played like a terrier. Very disappointing to see Scarles embarrass himself, but moving in the positive Orford looked very good
I agree that the centre backs looked nervy, but the chances Flemming had that hit the bar and that Scarles cleared off the line were so close to the six yard box that Hermanssen should have taken control and punched
You don’t mention the woeful decision by Nuno to put JWP on for Pablo at half time. He never learns. If you give your already wobbly defence the signal that they need to hang on to what they’ve got rather than keep looking forward with purpose, they’re going to be under intense pressure. It also gives the signal to the opposition that they can have the ball and build their confidence and momentum. Last season showed that only ends up with exactly what happened today.
Charlton and the rest of the Championship will see that vulnerability and will get a lot of confidence from it.
It’s going to be a long and frustrating season.
He did this time and again last season, resulting in us giving more points away from winning positions than any other team.
Diasi is a must have!!
A fair reflection Martin, and whilst I agree Scarles challenge was unnecessary, I’ve seen worse challenges not given?
We are awful , we have no pace , no defence , no midfield no creativity . Nuno needs to see we need pace and creativity . We need a striker we are so off the pace of being favourites . Koppen needs to do his job and stop the BS of low ball offers .
Couldn’t agree more and Nuno reverts to type in the second half. His negative tactics/outlook will be a big problem again this season.
On a more positive note I noticed Josh Landers on the subs bench which is good, but almost begs the question why he played no part in the pre season games?
miserable boring manager inspires no one.
Has never made a forward thinking sub in his life.
once again sits on a lead , brings more and more defenders on and heh presto.
definition of an idiot…..
JWP did what, exactly? Can’t tackle, too slow and while he can still deliver a dead ball was a liability. As for the D…
De ja vu from last season.. now im questioning the manager as this crumbling when leading a game has happened too often on his watch. Can see us playing catching up in 4 or 5 games time