Areola:6 Important save from Eze after 15 mins. Nothing he could do as Eze hit the bar. Not much on target for him to save. Important for the club to keep a clean sheet.
Coufal:5 I have a massive amount of sympathy for Coufal who is not cut out for this role and frequently struggled.
Mavropanos:6 Sloppy pass early on almost proved costly. Good block from Eze at the end of the first half and looked solid at times.
Kilman:9 Very good, the more I see the more I like. Great in the air and comfortable on the ball. Wonderful dribble from central defence set up Bowen for West Ham’s second.
Emerson:6 Some bright moments but often on the periphery of the game. His understanding with Paqueta remains excellent.
Rodriguez:6 Often asked to battle alone in midfield in the first half with Paqueta roaming and Soucek in attack.
Soucek:7 Played as an attacking battering ram rather than orthodox midfielder. Perfectly suited to Lopetegui’s long ball game and got the opening goal.
Crystal Palace 0-2 West Ham
Paqueta:5 Incredibly sloppy passing early in the game but worth noting that torrential rain made it difficult. On piece of skill towards the end of the first half was particularly impressive.
Bowen:7 More involved than against Villa but the system seemed to suit neither Bowen or Kudus in the first half. Looked frustrated until the introduction of Wan Bissaka when he cam alive. Took his goal with the usual assassin like finish.
Kudus:6 Had a snapshot early on but isolated and wasted on the left. He won’t enjoy playing this role for long. Comes alive when he gets into central areas so I’m somewhat baffled why he’s stuck out in a position which doesn’t suit him.
Antonio:5 Almost scored from a corner after 3 mins. Flashed a dangerous ball across goal early in the second half.
Substitutes
Wan-Bissaka: 61st min sub for Coufal. Immediate impact as he skipped down the wing a helped create the Hammers opener.
Fullkrug: On for Antonio. Involved in the mele which led to the Irons opener. Had a chance when set up by a good Bowen pass but shot wide.
Alvarez: 77th min sub for Soucek. More balance once he was introduced. Immediately shut down Wharton.
Todibo: 88th min sub for Kudus
Cresswell: Replaced Emerson
All the utter muppets writing Tomas off. This is how he very successfully plays for Czechia.
JLo knows how to get the best of of him, not make him adapt his play for the benefit of others, negating the skills he has.
That’s called coaching.
Geez what do you expect. Look at the reaction to the line up.
P45 for Lopi at 2.01pm Celebrations at 4.50pm.
Love Big Tommy Souchek. Probably my favourite player. Won us so many games with his goals.
Mavro was better than a 6 today, he played really well.
Gonz, A bit harsh on Mavro mate.
You really don’t like Mavro and Coufal.
Have you ever tried to play football.
Both left and right full back positions could be testing over the season.
Appears many don’t think Coufal is consistent enough.
Emerson has no backup Cresswell managing 5 minutes in today’s game.
Injury or suspension will be bad news.
Perhaps coffers may run to replacements in January transfer period.
With his versatility Joe Gomez could have solved problems on both sides and covered c/bks
Soucek saved ballboy’s live when his goal celebration. He deserved to 10.
Yes I’m one those who have demanded Soucek be dropped, and I don’t budge an inch on that opinion. Play him at the front where he will score goals, fine. Or play him at the back where he can effectively defend. Do not play him in midfield, as he can not pass a ball or run with a ball – he does not have the skill, sorry! As for playing him in a forward position – he is depriving Kudus of his perfect position. Meanwhile Fulkrugg can do what he does anyway. This is not about Tomas’s commitment and character, which are superb. This is about us playing possession football, which is what I thought we were trying to do.
I think it’s fair to say that Julen Lopetegui knows more about football tactics and team selection than you and I, Thom.
Really? So we’re not entitled to an opinion? He may know more, but we know some, and have eyes
100%. Well said. Deathblow…. What he said! (You utter muppet)
Watch the games back without your anti Souchek glasses on and I think you’ll find he does more than you give him credit for he might not be as technically gifted as some of the others but he often sets up others like Bowen with key key passes and hes constantly involved in goal scoring opportunities. He doesn’t look as good on the eye as some others, doesn’t dribble like some of the others but does much more off the ball. Never stops running and grafting for the team. Creates goal scoring opportunities and has the happy knack of anticipation and getting on the end of things. Lopetegui would have studied games and knows his value that’s for sure. And I bet his team mates do to.
Enforced armchair fan (it’s a bit of a trek for Brisbane to London).
Though Marvo did well, he seems more confident alongside Max.
As a player who was offered a way out, I like the fact he’s backed himself, and I think that’s starting to show.
I also like the fact that by saying he wants to stay, he believes in this squad and what the manager wants to achieve.
Loved the fact that at the end of the game Loppy turned to those on the bench and high fived the all, they’re part of his squad and they looked happy about it.
Early days, been a Hammers fan too long to start waxing lyrical, but it’s already starting to look good ⚒️⚒️⚒️⚽️🍻
Fair ratings, Mav was good, Coufal OK, but you could see Glasner overloaded that side to expose them, and midfield could have done more to help.
Overall a Great result,performance still a work in progress.