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Newcastle United 0 West Ham 2 | Final Whistle, First Impressions

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For West Ham’s crucial match against Newcastle, Lopetegui again changed the layout in midfield – starting Soler alongside Soucek and Paquetá. The early signs weren’t good, Isak having the ball in the net after 4 minutes, being judged by VAR to be about 20 cms off side. Worrying how easily our back two were sliced open. Ten minutes gone, West Ham were looking like a counter attacking team, Bowen breaking well and combining with Antonio to win a corner which Tomas Soucek met perfectly -with a thumping unopposed header and Hammers had the lead!

Interesting to observe some better link up play, more resounding defending and a slick one touch-passing routine on the edge of Newcastle’s shot that led to Soler shooting wide. Was it me or did it look as if there was a bit more understanding between the Hammers?

Amazingly Isak missed the target on 40 minutes after Newcastle’s superb pressing: West Ham certainly being challenged by the hosts but looking competent and well drilled – both full backs making important tackles in the first half. Would it last? West Ham had yet to put two 45 minute decent performances together so I was under no illusion as the second half started. Harvey Barnes on at half time looked ominous after his showing against us last time out.

Incredibly after huge early Newcastle pressure, it was West Ham who scored. Paqueta’s great work winning the ball back fed Bowen who popped the ball through to Aaron Wan Bissaka  to fire across goal in in off the far post. Silence in St James’ Park. Great running from Wan-Bissaka, and a great steal and pass from a much more involved Lucas Paquetá.

Antony Gordon withdrawn at almost 70 minutes for Callum Wilson was a mini victory for the Hammers who were defending and passing the ball well, unlike so many games before.However Mavropanos, on for Todibo, got caught out horribly on the wrong side of Wilson and was lucky not to concede s penalty for wrapping his arm around his opponent and stopping him jumping.

Noticeable even after 80 plus minutes, West Ham”s back line four held a very high defensive line, refusing to be pushed back towards their own goal in a much more cohesive defensive plan: This caught Newcastle out a couple of times. Changes for West Ham brought on Irving and Rodriguez for the last five minutes. The ole’s were ringing out at Hammers kept the ball and teased their opponents in mature game management style that had looked an impossibility a couple of weeks ago.

Six minutes of added time and I wasn’t’ worried. My First Thoughts? Somebody gave Lucas Paqueta new Duracells and he kept the commitment up right to the end. Great to see. Soucek as a defensive midfielder worked his socks off. And Aaron Wan Bissaka is immense. Credit to Lopetegui under enormous pressure. 3 points. A clean sheet. And a slightly dazed, shocked smile on a lot of Hammers’s faces!

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From the old Bobby Moore Upper to the Billy Bonds' stand these days I've been watching since '03 and a supporter since about 1970.. 'Football is Life' oh yes. Let it raise your spirit but never darken your mood. Life's too short not to enjoy the journey with our Claret and Blue heroes n' villains.

22 comments

  • Simom says:

    Embarsing joke

  • Thom Ridgeway says:

    We are not going to be relegated. Are we going to get into Europe, unlikely but I never expected us to be any higher than we are now at this stage of the development. It takes time to bed in new players into a new system, in a super tough, ruthless and hard fast-paced league of football like The Premier League. How many of our new players,other than Wan-BIssaka, had any experience of this league. Soler has only started two games. Toledo has had 4? Didn’t it take at least a season for Bowen to come good when he first joined West Ham. We have potentially some very good players. What’s important is that our possession rate is much higher under the last manager – we went to a tough place like Newcastle and our possession was 50 percent. It’s all gradually getting better. Don’t let the Bedwetters and The Moyes Club win.

  • Hammerpete6 says:

    Pleasantly pleased, I admit I expected a slapping. Really enjoyed Soller and Paqueta, using the ball beautifully in transition. Complete contrast to Alvarez & co defensive block. Cheers to Wan Bisaka what a fabulous all rounder he is, motm for me. Good to see Irvine given a run he is another ball player. Well played Irons. J Lo deserved his applause.

  • Ray says:

    Killjoy or realist? “Credit to Lopetegui” – Why, what exactly did he do? He had run out of options with his team selections. All this means is that we probably have to put up with him for another 3 or 4 games or worse still, until the end of the year. What the players did today, they did in spite of him not because of him. He has already fully demonstrated his lack of control and ability as well as his bizarre character, and that is not going to change.

    • Steve1 says:

      You are entitled to not like Lopetegui but given the performance last night your comments are just making you look silly.

      Of course it is a case of “credit where credit is due” for Lopetegui. To suggest otherwise is just vindictive nonsense.

      • Ray says:

        I respect your view Steve, but time will tell if that performance negates the previous eleven.

        • Steve1 says:

          Can’t disagree with that, Ray.

          Like you, I am not convinced that Lopetegui is the man for us long term but I am willing to give him credit when he gets it right. Hopefully, he will go on getting it right and erase any reservations that I still have.

    • Simon says:

      Your all jokers

  • B says:

    Beat Arsenal and we would be only 4 points below them in 4th place. It would be a crazy win.

  • Bryno says:

    Great report. Just add that Soler came good. Must say I enjoyed JLo’s engagement before the booking.

  • Neil Down Under says:

    Bl**dy typical. First time this season I’ve decided to check the score before watching the game and it sounds like our best performance of the season so far 🤣🤣🤣
    Hopefully we build on this.
    One swallow does not a summer make.
    A solid performance at home this weekend and maybe the storm clouds will start disappearing.
    COYI ⚒️⚒️⚒️⚽️⚽️⚽️🍻

  • B says:

    Great West Ham ‘team’ performance, looked solid passing, & moving, and crucially, they took their chances.
    Retribution for last seasons 4-3 travesty!

  • Robert Schmidt says:

    One in a row.

    That is all

  • ricardo says:

    That was more like it. It remains to be seen if the team can keep up the good work also in the coming games. Meanwhile Lopetegui gets to keep his job a bit longer and West Ham managed to move away from the relegation zone. Good 3 away points!

  • Steveo says:

    What a great performance. I thought we would get a right slapping. That was a massive improvement on what we have seen this season. The work rate was a far better and Soler was excellent. Let’s hope we can push on from here we are 5 points behind 6th place

  • J says:

    Oh dear,how will c&h cope .won’t be able to be negative for rest of the week now , bet a few articles have already been scrapped

  • Alhama Hammer says:

    Really good performance, nobody saw that coming, more of the same please.

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