By my estimations, West Ham’s starting lineup against Crystal Palace included 4-5 players who can expect to begin the Premier League season opener against Aston Villa.
Therefore, I’m not going to read too much into the result of the pre-season friendly against the Eagles, but there were snippets and clues as to what the forthcoming season might hold.
The style of play that new Hammers head coach Julen Lopetegui is trying to implement has become clear. The former Real Madrid and Spain manager is aiming to encourage more possession, tighter control, and quick interchanges of passing in restricted areas.
It is immediately evident that some players are more comfortable with this style of play than others, in what is quite a large cultural shift from former manager David Moyes’ tactics. Unfortunately, for some, it’s clear that they may not fit under Lopetegui, and I thought one player in particular struggled against Palace.
Poor Vladimir Coufal just can’t adapt to this new system. I would love to be proved wrong, but the Czech defender’s inadequacies have been exposed, particularly when he is pressed by the opposition. In previous seasons under Moyes, Coufal would have simply played the ball long down the line for Bowen to chase, a tactic now actively discouraged.
Coufal struggled against Palace
The full-backs are expected to control the ball quickly, play incisive short passes along the ground to teammates, and then move into space to receive the ball. While there is some leeway for long balls from central defenders, the emphasis appears to be on quick passes and movement.
Coufal isn’t the only one struggling with this system. Though he is making an effort to acclimate, he doesn’t seem technically proficient enough to meet the demands of his role, which will be key for West Ham under Lopetegui.
It’s evident that the club needs to upgrade this position, and West Ham’s ambition in this regard is unquestionable. It’s unfortunate to see such a likable and professional character like Coufal struggle; he has been an excellent servant to the Hammers, but it seems his days may be numbered.
You are spot , hate to say but he will struggle under this system.
like the bloke alot, his always battled for us.
I’d be sad to see him go. If he’d be willing to accept squad player status, he could still be very useful. In different systems, I could see him on the right side of 3 CBs, or even a RM for his crossing, if the game calls for it. But not as RB in a high press. Too exposed.
If he goes, we need two right backs and that won’t be easy.
Was terrible against Palace
He is top pro I think he will adapt
Let’s hope. He’s got a great heart, hard as nails and I’ve loved him taking the bus at the start.
Coufal has been a solid defender for us but it looks like he’s not quite onboard with the new system hopefully he will get there if he leaves then as much as I would like him to stay he must do what he feels right for him things are really looking up for us at the moment let’s hope we get the players we want signed up asap COYI
full-stops are free. it’s like taking a breath 😆
Give him a chance mate he’s played in 2 friendly games 😂
Too right! It’s the end of the world already for some… FFS!
Know there’s no point looking backwards, but really wish we’d made more of an effort to keep Ashby. He looked so promising when he was given an opportunity, and would maybe have been more technically suited to J. Lo’s style than Coufal… Had we kept Ashby, we could have pushed Coufal further forward anyway (or at least occasionally used him as a right sided wing back) given he was among the best crosser’s of a ball at the club. As it is, we’ll likely have to move Coufal on (which I’d also be sad to see), while Ashby’s career looks like it’s gone down the pan at NFC.
Interesting how few that we let go have done great. That being said, I try not to follow Toon as I can’t stand them so don’t know if Ashby is a starter even
Everyone seems to think some of the youth players are the new messiahs and lambast the club for letting them go. The reality is as Ashby, Nathan Holland Sonny Perkins, Reece Oxford etc have all found out you need to do more than just turn up at the ground expecting to be a shoe in. Professional football is brutal for young players
He has been nowhere near good enough for Newcastle or PL football.
We all know who the players are, that will struggle under the new system demanded by J-Lo. Typically they were all favourites, guaranteed First Eleven under Moyes, even if at death’s door. Alas, whatever sterling service they have done in the past, unless they can adapt quickly, they will be surplus to requirements, if not now, very soon. I have a feeling there will be no new arrivals on Transfer Deadline Day, but a hell of a lot of departures. It could be the night of the long knives.
Bloody hell Gonzo, give the guy a chance, he is one of the late arrivals so will be a couple of weeks behind all of the others. They will all have been given instructions and dossiers on the new tactics and the chance to work on them, so I’d at least give him the benefit of the doubt and the chance to get up to speed. A lot of the ones that played against Ferencvarosi and Daggers didn’t look too comfortable with it either, but they have had a hell of a lot more time to get used to the tactics and bear in mind they weren’t playing Premier league opposition like last night. Maybe not jump the gun just yet on throwing away a decent pro who has given his all for the club!
Gonzo, it’s a bit early to declare that certain players are struggling to adapt to a new system, especially Coufal who only played his second pre-season friendly against Palace.
Give the boys a chance, eh?
He is named after a muppet, says it all.
2 or 3 who started yesterday will be regular starters . This season kilman Kudus and Emerson the rest nope especially as the season progresses.
The team that played yesterday is nothing like the team that will play premier league games.
In the 30 minutes each way behind closed doors game that wasn’t publicised it was West Ham 3-0 Palace.
Coufal, and Soucek, have been back a couple of days but you just couldn’t wait to pile in and write him/them off, could you?
Pathetic.
Next to no training with the squad, no time at all to fully understand what the coach wants, despite those who have been there from the start not being that great either.
So typical of West Ham fans who love to put a player on the scrapheap or think they know more than the coach. Plus he’s not had all the time off some of our truly abysmal players have.
Let’s just wait and see. We could’ve done without the Euros and Copa America as his style of football will take longer than a few weeks, especially with so many new players..
Spot on, these fanzine website ‘experts’ need to be reminded that they don’t have either the qualifications or experience of actually working in professional football and simply give opinions. The trouble with this is other ‘experts’ the public then jump on it and start mouthing off the same nonsense. Everyone is a coach, they should understand this is not Fifa 2022.
This is a plastic article by a plastic fan who wants clicks to get paid.
you have to be having a laugh. plastic fan? where’s your dedicated yputube channel, or the amount of time/work that you put into followi g this club. head up your own a^$e, mate
I’d disagree, George, respectfully. So would his 40,000 plus followers on YouTube.
Its probably having 40,000 followers that makes him want to make controversial statements. I’m sure if he didn’t then his remarks wouldn’t be so designed to inflame and get people commenting!
No comment needed from me. I’ll just leave this here.
My Mum used to say “If you haven’t got anything good to say about someone, then don’t say anything at all!” But I don’t think that kind of humble opinion would be controversial enough for you, or get you many clicks now, would it? Maybe you should go back to plumbing instead Gonzo, you might be able to provide a helpful service instead of the trash talking you keep doing!
take yer mum’s advice
And my advice to you isn’t worth the effort of typing it. That’s the kind of abusive place this website has become. I’d close down the comments section if I were you like Hugh did before. All this place does now is give idiots the opportunity to abuse, and give some writers the platform to post inaccurate information and talk rubbish…..in fact both sides are as bad as each other. Maybe just shut the whole thing down as I cant be arsed to come here any more just to waste my time reading this drivel and the responses it provokes!
All the good signings could be undone unless this defence problem is solved.
Johnson_Gone.
Coufal_Strugglng.
Zoom(a)_Just deadweight.
Aquerd_Premier league to physical.
Cresswell_Good for sub bench and 30 minutes playing.
Mavros_Comes and goes, sporadic.
Kilman and Emerson are only possible regulars.
Not an appertIsing summary
If Coufal goes need 2 right backs + c/bk + left back who can also cover c/bk.
It is rather ironic how so many fans lambasted Moyes defensive style of play and keep pushing attack! attack! attack! without understanding the importance of a sound defensive strategy referring to the “West Ham way” which saw us with a barren trophy-less spell of + 40 years.
Specifically right and left back positions (which are the most unfashionable positions for players to learn to do) are crucial to developing a good team plan.
In centre of defence we seem to have struggled ever since Dawson went and Zouma came in with his clear and sad limitations caused by his knee injury situation. We need not only left/right back positions sorted with players of pace and confidence we need a top quality central defender who can then influence the defenders around him and exert control at th back especially at set pieces. These are not easy to find.
Whilst we are on the subject of defence, one of my observations is that goalkeeping wise we seem to have keepers not so keen or confident at corners or whipped in free kicks.
This position has become more challenging at the top level because of the improving techniques and accuracies at these set pieces in the professional game. This in turn makes central defending even more important. A good central defender not only needs to be towering these days they need to be quick and assured on the ball. The game today is so much harder than it was 10-40 years ago.