Issa Diop is missing from today’s squad for the game against Newcastle because of a back injury.
The Hammers – looking pretty dull and dreary in the first half of the game against the – Toon teamed Winston Reid with Angelo Ogbonna at the back.
And a source inside the club told us that according to the manager had explained that the defender had felt his back before the start of the game but described the injury as “slight.”
The Hammers went into the break in Shanghai 1-0 down via a Muto goal during Steve Bruce’s first game in charge with the Irons dominated from the first to 45th minutes.
They had no shots on goal at all whilst Newcastle looked energetic and very much on the case as the Hammers continued to look dreary and dull.
Pellegrini will inevitably change the team in the second half and will be defending far more effort and interest from the players.
Well that was quite dire!
It will let Pelle know that Lanzini runs into trouble and loses the ball in dangerous positions and Cresswell doesn’t Interact well with Anderson and leaves big gaps in defence by coming in far too narrowly.
Wiltshire was commanding and must start in front of Lanzini. Chicharito cannot play as a lone striker and Sanchez is not Rice mark 2!
From that perspective they will have seen s lot and let’s hope they also learn from it.
Hopefully nothing serious, just watched the game. It was only a preseason game but not what I was expecting. The only plusses for me were Rice first half and Johnson second half I think we actually have found our RB for the season. Far better than Fredericks. There is no point in keeping hold of Hernandez as he just does not suit the role of a single striker. Sell him. Unfortunately Cullen and Diangana need to go out on loan too. Sanchez not good enough and should be sold. Reid and Yarmo need more games but we need a quality wide player who can take on his opponent as I fear for Yarmo. Finally I have to say it Wilshere is muck, I watched him closely he has not changed just walks around when he does not have the ball. No where near good enough. When you play one player up top you need a midfielder getting into the box. We have not bought the box to box midfielder we have been crying out for, for such a long time. Pell wants to play 1 defensive mid with two in front but one of these two must be a box to box player. Overall preseason stuff but was expecting more. We need a midfielder, an aggressive wide player and another forward within two weeks. Mr Sullivan you need to get that 25m loan back asap.