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.
I liked the fact we had some youth in midfield in Orford and Kante (the future of the club?), but they’ll need time to develop and some protection, which is why 3, on occasion 4 in midfield is needed. If you have 2 in midfield, (I do not count Pablo who ranges across the pitch) they need to be experienced and very good or they can be overrun and tough for Orford who is straight out of the academy.
Played some quick neat one touch football, but only sometimes and Magdeburg were chasing the ball. I like the structure but do need new players exactly as stated in the article and in those positions, otherwise concerned we’ll be clobbered by some teams who are quick & physical.
Scarles went about his business, not caught out of position, trying to get forwards when he could.
Having watched all the friendlies I just hope they have got another geat
Like a lot of fans, I would have preferred Paco to stay instead of Nuno. Can’t help thinking Nuno got shot of Paco because he didn’t like being called out on his rubbish tactics.
Spot on. Who on Earth was the genius who came up with the tactic of a long back pass to the keeper from kick-off, against a team operating a high press. Talk about invite pressure!
Spot on mate.
There needs to be an enquiry as to how we paid £20m for Pablo.
I said it when the season ended and I’m really thinking it again: Nuno is not the guy for this job. Continues to play horrible players like Pablo and Lamadrid and play others out of position while seemingly ready to offload good academy products like Freddie Potts. It appears as if he wants them to play just as slow as they did under Potter! No urgency, no playing with pace, and that’s because the players aren’t on the same page with one another so they take no chances. That’s on the coaching staff.
you would have thought the club would have learned from last year, no signings until it’s too late.
cost us relegation last year, probably cost us promotion this year.
we only got someone in who knows the championship a week ago…
clueless.
You dont say
Gonzo dont be fooled by Kilmans performance When it comes to the hussel a d bustle of the cship he will be caught out 38 bad performances agaist one good one today Way up the odds NUNO BEING VERY NAIVE HERE NOT TO SEE IT
“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.
Even slower at end of game.
Agreed John, and usually a few teams set a high tempo early doors and remain there. I fear a Pardew esq season where we scrape the playoffs.
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.