You have to go back as far as January for the last time West Ham kept a clean sheet in the Premier League, a 0-0 draw with Brighton.
The Irons have now managed to have played 19 league games in a row without one. Despite the fact that Julen Lopetegui signed three defenders this summer but only one of them, Max Kilman, started Saturday’s game.
The team’s inability to keep a clean sheet for an extended period is a significant concern that I am sure Lopetegui is giving his full attention.
The defensive reinforcements brought in during the summer transfer window, including Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo, will need to quickly establish themselves and improve the team’s defensive solidity.
It would also not be a surprise to see Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jean-Clair Todibo come into the starting XI for next weekend’s trip to Crystal Palace. The Eagles will be no pushover and look to have improved drastically following the appointment of Oliver Glasner last season and will undoubtedly put the Hammers backline to the test once again.
Midfield still a problem, Villa just did what they wanted. Soucek been great for us and scored some important goals, but he is not mobile enough at this level. Need to get another couple in before window closes. If we’re just going to stand off teams and let them dictate as we did under Moyes, and as we did against Villa, will be another long hard season.
Agreed, defensive frailties are a concern, who decided that Antonio should mark Onana at set pieces? Talk about a mismatch!
For several seasons our midfield has been underperforming, simply put we need a proper central midfielder who can actually play possession based football and keep it ticking over. This is the missing ingredient. We have a ball carrier in Kudos., an off the cuff maverick in Paqueta but not a cultured no.6. I like Alvarez but he’s a no.4 destroyer type. I believe that once the midfield axis has been fixed our defence will not be under as much pressure.
However we are only at the beginning of this transition and I have previously made the point that we will need to be patient, shut out outside noise from those who take pleasure from our defeats and be accepting that it’s probably going to be several games before we begin to look like a decent team.
In Arteta’s first season Arsenal were midtable but progressing in gameplay, we’re not at that level so let’s be realistic with expectations please. Anything from 12th upwards is fine by me this year.
Thanks for another enlightening article.
Yes indeed, another depressing post West Ham match.
J-Lo needs to man-up on his big mistake to field literally the entire Moyes brigade i.e. Mavro, Coufal, Soucek, Antonio, even shaky Areola. Could he not see the weaknesses at trainings as well as pre-season matches?
And guess who again missed simple goal scoring chances … Antonio, Soucek + Ings. Oh boy.
The last words of the tv commentator was … what WH team played here today. In other words nothing different, and similarly … the first 2 goals of the next season 74?
So yes, your comments are worth noting. Play the new players, and get the new West Ham to play the West Ham way … with their hearts.
Thanks for another enlightening article.
Yes indeed, another depressing post West Ham match.
J-Lo needs to man-up to his big mistake to field literally the entire Moyes brigade i.e. Mavro, Coufal, Soucek, Antonio, even shaky Areola, and moody Pacqueta. Could he not see the weaknesses of these at trainings as well as pre-season matches?
And guess who again missed simple goal scoring chances … Antonio, Soucek (5yards from goal) + Ings. Oh boy.
The last words of the tv commentator was … what WH team played here today? In other words – nothing different, and similarly – the first 2 goals of the next season 74?
So yes, your comments are worth noting. Play the new players, and get the new West Ham to play the West Ham way … with their hearts.
What was most disappointing was the lack of chances created In fairness we never looked capable of winning the game .Early days tho
Has anyone seen anything to suggest Kilman was worth 40 million? Early days and he obviously deserves a lot more time but …
Aerola. Wan bissaka and Tobs need to start in Def. Kil and Emerson. Summer on wing. Kudus ten. Bowen wing. Paqs drop back a bit with rod. K up top.
Disappointed yesterday. Very slow start. Looked like same team as last year. Preferred when pressed bit higher and won ball few times when did.
Kudus really impressed second half. Gutted soucek couldn’t finish at end. Nice to see him getting in box though. Won pen and caused few prob in box.
Big guys should mark big guys off set pieces…..stupid first goal when so early in match! Need to start quicker.
Kilman look strong. Kudus. Rod play ok and few nice passes. Summer will have a go. K will finish in box. Feeling optimistic. Just need to push up field a bit and press higher. Attack with ball……….COYI!
Jeez, I hope you don’t speak like that in real life. It’s like some kind of shorthand!
Doesn’t anybody speak English in England anymore. Or maybe it’s just Cockney cor blimey innit?
What’s really surprising, Hammeroo is that his name is Barry, which would put him at around 70 years of age!!
Think Kenny Iroms is bang on about midfield midsing a player to dictate play and help press when out of possession.
Soucek can not start. He’s an impact sub along with Antonio when chasing a game and we want to go direct. Yesterday the presence of Soucek, Coufal and latter on JWP alongside Paqueta and Rodriguez was pedestrian and chasing Villa shadows. It was a narrow defeat only in scoreline. Villa should have won by 3 or 4 on chances.
Aside from midfield, Fullkrug alone is not the answer and we need a fast, powerful young striker in the squad.
We are suffering from the recruitment of previous regime. Stuck with slow, old and/or high earning players we cant shift. In turn we cannot buy any more.
Early days but very little sign of “green shoots”. Aside trom Todibo who u could see immediately has the quality for success in the Prem
New manager same crap as moyes we never looked like scoring at least we got a penalty to on the score sheet but I think the referee must have felt sorry for us that was never a penalty was amazed it wasn’t overturned by VAR
Agree harsh pen which added to disguising the fact that Villa were much better over 90 mins. You cannot coach a player to run faster. Even basic techique has to be there by early teens. Control and passing at speed and non stop pressing and movement as a collective was still sorely missing. Ok should improve with Alvarez but if Loppy wants us to dominate possession and have the abiliyy to press and play thru a press you dont start Soucek, JWP, Coufal. Rodriguez cannot play as a single defendive CDM against a lot of Prem teams either as he does not possess pace. He played in mexico with Alvarez in a 2 and that seems the best fit? But we need this Soler or another central midfielder or I see mid table at best as we cannot protect the back 3 or 4.
And to repeat, anoyher pacy young striker option. Its a squad game and u need diffrrent options for diffrrent tactics depending on the opposition. We are restricted tactically currently even with all new players imo
All tho Antonio let onana get away from him for the first goal but areola needs pointing out, the fact he could be heard shouting get it away as the ball came in “he stayed fixed to his line ! The ball was no more then 3 yards out he could of punched it away or at the very least attempt to move for it instead he pulled a fabs and star jumped on his line , and also socrap putting a simple pass out of play to give them the corner simply isn’t good enough
Midfield and team balance still remain the biggest problem, when teams are allowed to run through the middle of the pitch forget about defence…. Did anyone notice Onana stand with his foot on the ball while his team mates took up attacking positions …
Same old, same old moaning.
As short-sighted as ever, with no ability to look at the big picture and no intelligence to understand what has been happening within the transformed West Ham squad over the past six weeks! Julen and his fellow coaches have been working with some of our players for just that short time……..and some of them much less than that!
You didn’t really expect them to hit the ground running did you?
Well said and spot on. The kneejerk moaners just can’t help themselves. Pathetic.