West Ham coach Billy McKinlay put a brave face on the defeat we suffered against Stade Rennais this evening claiming the game was exactly what the Hammers needed.
The Irons crashed to a 3-1 defeat at Roazhon Park on Saturday evening in what may have been their sternest challenge of pre season so far.
Baptiste Santamaria’s stunning long-range strike in the first-half was cancelled out by Tomáš Souček, who headed in a leveller for the Hammers on 66 minutes.
Amid a host of substitutions, including nine for the home side, Stade Rennais re-took the lead when Arnaud Kalimuendo flicked home from close range, before Angelo Ogbonna’s unfortunate own-goal late on secured the win for the Ligue 1 outfit.
Lucas Paqueta was so eye catching producing a series of tricks and passes which will threaten and Premier League club this season whilst Soucek, again wearing the captain’s armband, looked in decent form
Afterwards McKinlay said the Hammers had expected a challenging game adding: “It was the game we needed after the last two or three. We knew it was going to be a difficult game and that’s what it turned out to be.
We’re going to start the Premier League season at AFC Bournemouth so we’re going to be straight at it, in terms of the levels that come with being in the Premier League.
So we need to play games like this that are going to give us the best preparation for that. We understand that and this was a really, really tough game for us.
We’re disappointed with some aspects of it and pleased with some others but it was just what was needed for the team.
I think we’re happy with where the lads are at. We’ve got a bit of work to do, as we could see, and I think we tired a little bit in the end.
We’re disappointed with some aspects of it and pleased with some others, but it was just what was needed for the team. I think we’re happy with where the lads are at.”
Soucek in decent form?? Did you actually watch the game? He scored, so it’s an easy buy for the Soucek faithful, but the cost of his slow, clumsy, foul-laden movement, his aptitude for hiding, and his total inability to pass a football far outweigh the odd good thing he does, and I’m staggered that it’s not blindingly obvious that with him in the heart of our team, we’re stagnant and ineffective. Paqueta must be tearing his hair out.
Today’s game was a carbon copy of last season. Nothing has changed. Downes isn’t taking his chance, and Scamacca wants to be anywhere but here. Cressie is destroying his legacy, and Johnson & Antonio need not bother coming back.
Really gutted.
Anything else lol ?
Ha ha! You know me – I have many opinions! Just trying to fit them all in!! 🙂
For me nothing has changed from last season judging by that performance. It’s getting to the point now where someone (Sullivan?) has to step in and tell Moyes that transfers will be taken out of his hands. If he doesn’t like it tough, he knows where the door is, close it on your way out.
No new players= Championship next season.
I wonder how many will turn up in Leverkusen?
Typical WH I don’t think tickets even reached General Sale yet there were only a handful
Irons supporters.
We were set up to defend and had no out ball, the number of times we booted it aimlessly into the channel with nobody near it was embarrassing. Another season of that and hoping for a set piece will be torture.