GONZO reports from the Select Car Leasing Stadium in Reading.
Reading FC 1- 1 West Ham United
In David Moyes’s own words West Ham’s pre-season friendly matches are all about fitness and getting ‘miles into the players legs’.
As any Hammers fan who witnessed the thumpingly epic pre-season under former manager Avram Grant will no doubt be aware . . . there is no point reading anything into friendly games.
However. this afternoons jaunt to a very sunny Berkshire did provide elements of intrigue in the shape of new signings Flynn Downes and Nayef Aguerd. This was my first opportunity to take a look at West Ham’s new acquisitions.
Both played roughly 60 minutes before a tsunami of changes altered the team completely and I must say that I was quietly impressed.
Aguerd was particularly good in terms of reading the game and orchestrating the offside trap. In fact it was he rather than Kurt Zouma who seemed to be marshalling and dictating when the team should push up the pitch or drop deeper.
It’s already clear to see that the Morocco international has an impressive array of long range passing which I expect to be a feature and hallmark of his game.
As for Downes, he was neat and tidy in possession and clearly relishes the attritional aspect of tackling. He played the first half in central midfield alongside Manuel Lanzini but it was interesting to watch him deployed next to Declan Rice during the second half.
The former Swansea midfielder was clearly instructed to remain in the deeper role which allowed the Hammers skipper to play further forward.
West Ham’s goal was scored by Nikola Vlasic following good work on the wing by a very sharp looking Jarrod Bowen.
Reading FC scored a tap-in to equalise but by that time in the game the whole composition of defence and midfield had altered, however West Ham were certainly the brighter of the two teams.
Overall I expect David Moyes will view this as a good build-up to the season and I’m sure he’ll be pleased with the contribution of the two newbies.