By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
Meanwhile, back at the football, West Ham rounded off their pre-season programme with a 1-1 draw against German second-tier side 1. FC Magdeburg. If the performance was supposed to provide reassurance ahead of next weekend’s Carabao Cup clash with Portsmouth, it failed to do so.
The Hammers took the lead midway through the first half when Max Kilman brilliantly volleyed home from a Lewis Orford corner. It was an excellent finish from the defender, who was comfortably West Ham’s standout performer on the afternoon.
Unfortunately, the visitors couldn’t see the game out, with Falko Michel firing home an equaliser in the 90th minute after Magdeburg had grown into the second half.
Too Slow, Too Predictable
Kilman impressed in Germany
Kilman wasn’t just impressive because of his goal. Defensively he looked assured throughout and also produced a superb pass after the break that created one of West Ham’s better attacking moments for Josh Ajala.
Beyond that, though, there was very little to get excited about.
With the season now just days away, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side still look laboured, sluggish and desperately short of pace.
A front four of Jarrod Bowen, Taty Castellanos, Pablo and Lamadrid never really clicked.
Bowen looked exactly what he is – a class player trying to drag others up to his level. Castellanos worked tirelessly but spent as much time conceding free-kicks as threatening the Magdeburg goal. Lamadrid produced the occasional flash of quality, but there is no way he can shoulder the burden of replacing Crysencio Summerville over the course of an entire Championship campaign.
As for Pablo, my opinion hasn’t changed. He remains one of the slowest players I’ve seen in a West Ham shirt and, based on pre-season, doesn’t look any more likely to score than he did in the Premier League.
West Ham still look short of a striker with genuine pace, a left winger and someone capable of adding creativity in midfield.
The frustrating thing is that we’ve been saying exactly the same thing for weeks.
With Portsmouth now looming, it feels as though the club have once again left themselves with far too much to do, exactly as they did last summer.
“He remains one of the slowest players I’ve seen in a West Ham shirt”. So slower than the Holy Trinity heady days of Rodriguez, Ward-Prowse and Soucek? Those days are amongst us again very soon. I wonder if Stavely has any pace on her.
I can’t see us getting off to the start required.
Keep up the good work Gonzo. Pablo will have the freedom of the park when we get into serious competition. The opposition now know that he is not worth marking as he is useless and can’t kick a ball to a team mate.
Genius.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.