Ironically, the player who made the biggest difference yesterday was once a David Moyes’ target. The contrast between the two sides couldn’t have been clearer. Aston Villa, strong in midfield, fast paced (once Duran came on anyway, Watkins looks jet-lagged) and with a midfield powerhouse driving the team. West Ham – fragile and Swiss-cheese like in the middle with the opposition passing freely through the centre.
Amadou Onana was apparently a Hammers target when Everton snapped him up for £39 million two years ago. The 1.95 metre Senegalese / Belgian powerhouse looked a far stronger, matured player yesterday having joined Villa just this summer for £59 million. Jumping uncontested to score after three minutes might have been one of his easier goals but he looked pretty imperious in the middle of Villa’s team and to me, highlighted the difference between the two teams.
As Jamie Redknapp highlighted:”There was a moment when Onana stood on the ball after 25 minutes, he had the freedom of the park, nobody from West Ham were closing him down and the fans were getting restless.“
West Ham need to fast track Alvarez back into the midfield and come up with a solution: Tom Soucek divides opinion but he is not a combative tackler or creator.
Time to look forward, now, enough raking over the coals of just one defeat. Can’t wait to see our new signings fully integrated against Crystal Palace and maybe a cheeky Carlos Soler arriving on Tim Steidten’s executive jet.
Call me a blind optimist but I’m still sticking to a top – seven finish. Come on you Irons, cheer up. Move on. Support the Coach and the team. Look forward to ‘better’.
Thought he played for Belgium?
He does play for Belgium
Villa fan here, newsnow link brought me here. Really thought you’d batter us yesterday. With your signings and possession based football under Loptegui really think you’ll find your mojo and return to being massive this season(with Soucek on the bench!). Glad we played you when we did. UTV/COYI 💜💙
yeah, I thought it was a rather clever move only blooding two new recruits, after all the hype, good luck for the season, pal, i’ll be cheering Villa on in Europe.
Until Soucek is replaced nothing will change, he’s one paced, unable to beat an opponent in a one to one and only able to play simple short passes. We need a younger midfield player with some power and speed to close down space, it was shocking that Villa were able to counter attack down the centre of the pitch mostly unappossed time after time. Apart from slightly more possession the high press was non existent and when in possession Villa were hardly ever challenged and pressurised. I accept Lopetegui has given the senior player’s an opportunity to show what they can do before giving new signings game time but unfortunately the same defensive frailties and lack of pace result in another defeat. I’m impressed that in post match interview the manager won’t publicly criticise individuals but collectively looks for improvements and positives for the future but I suspect mid table is probably the best we can expect this season. Hopefully, Tobido and one or two other new signings will start against Palace.
The difference was a Soucek back pass without looking behind him properly, which caused the first goal and the fact that Antonio lost the person he was meant to mark and ended up the wrong side of him. Two Moyes old Players caused our downfall.
This anti-Moyes narrative is getting beyond tedious. If you say Antonio and Soucek were at fault, fair enough (and I don’t disagree with you). But what has Moyes got to do with it?
I agree with your comments. Well said
Just how are we going to fast track an injured player back to fitness, if that could be done as a norm everyone would do it, wouldn’t they?
The deal fell through because of Moyes. Instead of ensuring him of playing time . Did the complete opposite.
Alvarez is needed back pronto, but not a good idea to fast track it as it could make the injury far worse and out for longer.
Soucek is a total liability. Championship player at best. Rodriguez had a decent debut but needs to be playing with a more dynamic player. JWP would be a far better option than Tom. When Tom plays our team avoid midfield at all costs. You can’t expect to win without a central midfield…
Totally agree about Soucek.I once concentrated on him for about ten minutes when i was in the LS.
He did nothing but stroll about.He cannot make a tackle but he can be tackled himself pretty easy also his passing is terrible.
For the life of me i cannot comprehend why he keeps getting picked?
.
You haven’t a clue.
Championship player at best? The same player who is captain off the Czech Republic national team with 72 caps – some of them gained in major tournaments. When Tom plays there is a continuous threat to our opposition at set pieces……he’s a player who has often scored that important goal when we’ve needed one. If he’s not around, we’ll miss the ten goals he scored last season.
Let’s celebrate what he does well, eh?
Most of the new signings will be starters before very long, yesterdays starting eleven was like a half way house between the old and new.
Fullkrug, Summerville, Wan Bissaka, Todibo will all join Kilman and Rodriguez as regular starters. Alvarez to come back too.
I’m not really concerned at all by yesterday because I can see what the answers are. Plus Villa are nobodies mugs.
Are you miseries referring to the Tomas Soucek, captain of the Czech Republic national team with 72 caps? The same Tomas Soucek who was Hammer of the Year not so long ago? The same Tomas Soucek who bagged ten goals from midfield last season? The same Tomas Soucek who has been the fittest player in our squad since he joined us in 2020?
He may not be the silky smooth midfielder of the type that West Ham had in the past, and he may not be the barking mad, two-footed tackling battler from our bad old days that we’ve left well behind. Neither Ian Bishop or Martin Allen scored ten goals a season whilst they were at West Ham it has to be said.
No one player is perfect. Tomas Soucek should be appreciated for what he does well, not beaten up for what he doesn’t do.
He got us the penalty and nearly the equaliser at the end when OK he should have but if he had I don’t think you would be criticising him so much .