West Ham’s changed starting eleven caused a stir amongst those of us watching on, trying to interpret from the names how they’d combine into a coherent playing style. Three at the back, Bowen at centre forward – Summerville a kind of inside left midfielder. The three at the back worked. For 25 minutes.
One moment of lax defending allowed Forest to get ahead – Moreno getting around the outside of Mavropanos to allow an unmarked Wood to head in from six yards. One chance, one-nil to Forest.
Now the pitfall of this style of play would be tested- West Ham looked light up front with only Bowen as the striker often isolated, Summerville and Paquetá deeper. West Ham really needed to add to the attack with Antonio leading the line at half-time, hopefully Lopetegui would roll the dice.
Some pretty awful tackling, Rodriguez and Summerville could easily have got more than yellow cards for dangerous challenges. Alvarez’ customary yellow for a shirt pull. Where was the discipline? Worse followed.
No shots on or off-target until the 46th minute of the half said it all. In the last minute, during a Forest break with everyone chasing back – Alvarez’ mistimed, impulsive late slide got him his marching orders following a second yellow card. Brainless and un-necessary.
Early in the second half with Antonio and Soler on for Summerville and Rodriguez, it felt we were chasing brainlessly around and looking increasingly like we were about to be on the end of a bit of a hiding. Hammers moved to a back four. Lots of dejected faces in the team, especially Jarrod Bowen who I think was struggling to find a role in the system Lopetegui had set out.
An obviously dejected Captain
Forest’s second came from a set piece cut back from the dead ball line, Hudson-Odoi’s shot skimming Mavropanos’ head and over Fabianski’s gloves.
Still only 65 minutes on the clock and the game had gone: Forest fans were now singing ‘You’re going down with the Leicester’.
Dreadful and disorganised – I sat and watched Todibo appear as a right winger inside Forest’s box, Antonio playing in a right back position – Chaos. I don’t think the players even buy into this. Real Madrid we are not. Great strike for a third when Todibo gave possession away and if I could, I’d have left early.
Fabianski’s brilliant reaction save at 86 minutes stopped it being worse. I actually felt sorry for some of the players this afternoon – some, Bowen, Wan Bissaka, Kilman, had put a real shift in after Alvarez’ rashness put them on the back foot.
It isn’t the players’ fault the system and the requirements placed in them keeps changing, the 93rd minute saw a fourth goal disallowed to save The Irons’ further blushes. Get this game over with. For the players the end couldn’t come soon enough. Fabianski pulled off an absolute ‘worldie’ save to stop a fourth from the last kick. The only thing worth watching tonight on MOTD.
If I was Lopetegui, I’d walk. No, actually, I’d slink away in embarrassment.
Was so excited for this season that I finally shelled out on a subscription to watch the full 90, not just the extended highlights on YouTube.
Plenty of useful looking signings, a new manager (I thank Moyse, but believe he had taken us as far as he could).
I didn’t expect the new manager to hit the ground running, and have constantly said, “give him till Christmas”, “don’t panic”.
Well after getting up at 5am to watch that sh*t show, I’m big enough to admit I’m wrong.
Too many games the players are like headless chickens.
There are truly clever tactics that can make a great team, but some of what we see, I can’t see the tactics.
When the quick pass is on, we go sideways or backwards.
We put long, high balls into the box to a vertically challenged front line.
The sight of our RB jogging back from a LM position when the opposition are attacking.
Slow, ponderous build up play that allows the opposition to get men back and close down the play.
Waiting for that spark of genius that never seems to arive.
I don’t think it’s actually knee jerk now to be saying the hierarchy needs to be looking at options.
Teams must relish the thought of playing us at the moment.
Sunday off to a bad start, hopefully it gets better from here on in.
Do you still expect everybody to CALM DOWN, or are you also heading for a disaster . I think that was one of the worst pieces of advice C.&H. could have dished up this week. Thanks.
Even starting with 3 centre backs and 2 defensive mids we looked anything but solid and we’re very sloppy.
The most bizarre thing from these early games in Lopetegui’s tenure is that AWB seems to be our main attacking outlet that everything seems to go through. Now I do think AWB has been a good signing so not knocking him at all, but an attacking focal point he is not.
As I said the other day Martin when you told us how many key forest players could be out and how that would work to our advantage and I wrote do your talking after the result. Guess what who were missing for forest err none of them ,it was again shambolic today and the 1st thing this team needs is discipline, how many yellows do the best teams get in a game. Paqueta needs dropping fast ,creates nothing and losses the ball to easily and always the 1st to be rolling like he’s been shot. We need fighters not primadonas
Absolutely clueless, week after week, these are relegation performances time and again. Pay him off now before it’s too late and get rid of Alvarez and Paqueta they bring absolutely nothing to the team. Get some young, fit mobile player’s in midfield and a manager capable of organising a team that can press as one and defend.
Every game we are no closer to understanding the coaches tactics and its different most games. Mostly chaotic. Unbelievable for a supposed top coach
Knowing Sullivan hel get rid of jlo and appoint to haag
Well he won’t appoint anyone he needs to pay compensation for will he?
And it will always be a perceived safe pair of hands, experienced manager aged late 50’s or early 60’s that will get the gig.
This is the real issue. The same bloke who picked the current manager will be picking the next one too if Lopetegui is sacked.
Well done Sullivan. Biggest muppet going .
Surely we cannot carry on with this manager who we appointed because he wanted to come was cheap and the chairman liked him
Agree with Tom 100% and take Brady with him
If the season ran December to December, I think we would be down!
To say that I’m dejected after watching these games doesn’t come close. After all the hope of a new manager and direction we end up like this….again.
There was a shot on the TV coverage of an old man in the West Ham end, standing all alone and looking so forlorn it was painful. He must have been in his late 70’s who had travelled to Nottingham to witness that! He’s probably been going to West Ham since he was a boy. That image alone would make me sack this manager immediately. Shameful.
JL makes Avram Grant look good ffs!! 🇪🇸🤡
Loppy walking will be the only way for him to leave the club. The clown running the club who appointed Loppy in the first place won’t sack him. A circus of a club with a clueless clown running it. Just go Sullivan you’re a ten ton weight holding this club back with your lack of ambition and penny pinching ways. Just go.
Even all the elephants shiz in a circus couldn’t stink out the place more than Sully, Brady and JL 🎪🤡💩