Sensational Crysencio Summerville made an incredible impact from the bench as West Ham stunned Nottingham Forest with a 3-0 victory at the City Ground.
This might not have been a “must-win” for Graham Potter in the strictest sense, but the stakes were huge. A heavy defeat could easily have cost the Hammers boss his job.
Instead, Potter’s big calls paid off – switching to a back four, handing Mateus Fernandes his debut, and promoting Summerville to the matchday squad. Those decisions proved decisive.
It was the Dutch winger’s introduction that turned the tide. His direct running, blistering pace and fearless direct dribbling gave West Ham the counter-attacking edge we’ve been sorely lacking. Suddenly, Nuno Espírito Santo’s defence were rocked back, and the game shifted in the Hammers’ favour.
Summerville improved the whole team
Everyone seemed to rise with him – from Malick Diouf to Callum Wilson – as the team looked sharper, quicker and more confident. And credit must also go to a defence that finally kept a much-needed clean sheet, with Mads Hermansen commanding between the sticks. Lucas Paquetá also deserves special praise after putting in a big performance despite 24 hours of transfer speculation swirling around him.
All in all, this was a huge result for West Ham – not just the scoreline, but the manner of the win. After weeks of frustration, fans finally had something to celebrate.
And right now, I’m just buzzing to see us win a game of football – let alone by three clear goals.
Best bit – a clean sheet for our team and new goalkeeper. Long may this resilience last.
Excellent result to win 3-0 away at Forest and what a team performance especially in the 2nd half following Summerville’s introduction. Brilliant to see him scaring the life out of defenders with his fast attacking play and ability to dribble past players changed the game and what a welcome return. Creator for Bowen’s fantastic opening goal, and winning a penalty for the second, he had me on my feet celebrating an incredible 20 minutes of pure attacking football. When was the last time we could say that on C&H? Fernandes was immense on his debut showing his ability to receive the ball in tight spaces, turn and go past his opponent, and linked superbly with Paqueta, what a great signing. And Paqueta who put to rest all transfer rumours by playing all over the pitch and once again reminding us of the creativity which he brings when he is at his best. The ultimate showman with his celebration of his penalty and goal celebration showed his desire to fight for this club, and he is starting to look as though he is enjoying football at West Ham again.
Brilliant to see Callum Wilson have 3 goal attempts in 10 minutes and score but Jarrod must have been fuming when Wilson took the ball off his toes after Bowen made a worldie run past 3 defenders and was about to score an unforgettable second goal. Lastly a big performance from Diouf who put in a fantastic cross for Wilson’s third goal and give his all. Finally it feels good to be a West Ham fan again tonight and hoping for couple more incoming before the transfer window closes tomorrow.
Yes, Gonzo, I agree with all that; but Callum Wilson deserves a special mention, in my opinion. I am one of the many who derided his arrival at West Ham (for all the usual reasons); but today I was forced to admit that I was wrong about him as he delivered exactly what I thought that he was incapable of doing. So, as well as to all the team today, very well played , sir. Keep it up.
I agree completely that Summerville ahead of Diouf should be a lightbulb moment for Potter the two of them overlapping gives us balance and width and boy can Diouf whip excellent crosses in, teams will be forced to double team them if they continue like that which will create more space for our other players.
Let’s hope it was a master stroke though a part of me was thinking is this just because Aguerd has downed tools the system has been forced on Potter ?
Either way it was a positive performance, Andy Irving to me anyway seems much more effective than JWP am struggling to see why he doesn’t get more minutes, although not today he has also demonstrated he scores goals, Fernandes and Paqueta in midfield already looks good, maybe add Magassa into the defensive 3 for JWP/Irving and even take another look at Rodriguez with players that can control play ?
Great win but hardly a masterstroke in that a) he finally recognised Summerville might have something to offer and b) he ditched his much vaunted (by himself alone) ‘system’ with all the pointless fiddling about at the back with silly triangles and the keeper simply kicked long.
Summervilles been injured for a long time you hadn’t noticed.
yes I did.
You made it sound like Potter only played him because he finally recognised Summerville might have something to offer. Bit of a rediculous statement since Potter has only ever known Summerville carrying an injury until now. Potter got it spot on for me, both with the system and the substitutions.
I think we need to give Potter a break
He at last was given support by the owners Fernandes in and looking very good with Paqueta
Also Summerville return who changed the game and I will eat my words on Wilson, he looked good if we can keep him fit.
The whole team looked great bar Fulkrug is just not up to the pace of the premier league
If we can get Cresswell and Hayden Mullins and maybe a striker that would be icing on the cake
And keep Paqueta and Soucek who we can not afford to lose no matter what
Interesting point as we discussed this at work, backed by the board or a power play to get the signing he wanted? Lose lose lose and keep saying I desperately need these few players, gets what he wants and suddenly a win? Ok a bit of a tinfoil hat theory but whichever the case we got a well needed win. COYI 🫧🫧
I reckon Hayden Mullins must be pushing fifty now. Probably still better than JWP though.
I agree we could use Hayden Mullins but he’s knocking on a bit now 😊
For me Sumerville looked fit and looked sharp. Now with an international break his fitness can only improve. He needs to start on the L.W with Bowen on the R.W and for me a midfield 3 of Paqueta, Magassa and Fernandes. With allowing Paqueta a free role.
A great piece Gonzo. Honest, but also realistic and positive.
Perhaps you could show it to your apprentice (Martin) as an example of how to be honest without being negative. 🙂
Well done you Irons, great result when most were against us getting anything.
maybe you need to read a few more of the apprentice’s pieces, Jeff.https://www.claretandhugh.info/nottingham-forest-west-ham-united-final-whistle-first-impressions/
… and the ‘apprentice’ even predicted a 2-1 win for us. If that wasn’t realistic and positive for @Jeff then I don’t know what he’s talking about. You can’t please all the people all of the time, eh!
Summerville should claim a starting berth on wide left. This allows Fernendes to move to central midfield in place of Ward Prowse. Wilson and Fullkrug can rotate as centre forward to give the opposition different looks and problems.
And there we have the beginning of a team with a bit of menace and attitude.
Great result and performance.
Thought Soucek was immense today too in a deep role and won so many tackles and headers .
I have been Potter’s biggest critic on here .
However , he played today the formation and team I have bern asking for .
He was also very brave with his subs and didn’t sit back on the lead .
Please learn from this Potter and continue to be brave and play with a front 3 ….
Credit , where credit is due .
Yup all exactly right. Just need some better players on the pitch than JWP and Soucek and the season may not be the horror show we were coming to expect.
Still puzzled why suddenly the club had money to spend but hey ho.
Well done lads!
The team and manager took the criticism on board and proved us all wrong.
An international break to cement new players and tactics and off we go again.
Paqueta stays and lets us know. Kudus helped Spurs lose.
Great day!
What a result!
I’m fed up with moaning all the time on this site so tonight I’m celebrating!
Well done Gonzo! Its great to see you smiling again 👍⚒️⚒️⚒️⚒️
Finally, I can come on here and say something positive. Anyone who has read my comments would see I was advocating for a formation change. And the change worked. Our effort also seemed to increase. Was completely against signing Wilson but he he has made a fool out of me as he looked sharp and like a proper striker. Hope he stays fit. Mavropanos seems to prefer a four as he looked much more comfortable. Paqueta was superb. Summerville super sub. I could go on. Only negative I feel was poor old JWP. Hopefully he is displaced by the new lad from Monaco. I can go to bed happy after a Hammers game for the first time in a while. Happy days. Do I dare to dream of a couple more incomings and getting rid of the poisonous Aguerd.
Great result boys. Let’s hope this is genuinely a turning point in our season and time under potter. Reasons to be cheerful part 1
Must admit I thought we hadn’t offered much from the left until summerville came on but then what a brilliant sub . Great win .
Summerville GOOD PLAYER ISNT HE MADE THE DIFFERENCE
Gonzo
I am not sure I would call it a master stroke to ditch the back 5 after 22 games of persisting with it. Let us hope he sticks with it and encourages the team to play more on the front foot rather than dropping deeper and deeper as we have often done. Final word on Paqueta who was immense today. It was a 10 from me
Well done Hammers – what a result!
And congratulations to Martin for believing enough to forecast a Hammers win
COYI