West Ham 2-1 Queens Park Rangers
Hermansen:5 Will have been pleased to get his hands on the ball to stop a cross in the 6th min. Literally nothing to do until he had to pick the ball out of his net. His distribution is better than Areola.
Mavropanos:5 Got clattered during a corner routine at the end of the first half. Stretchered off after a long period of treatment. Hopefully he’s okay?
Kilman:6 West Ham didn’t need three central defenders and another one playing at wing back. Let Kone get across him on 88 mins. He doesn’t seem to have any tenacity.
Todibo:5 Some of his passing was poor, giving up possession when under no pressure. That said, Todibo did make a good pass to Castellanos who then linked well with Bowen and forced a corner with a cross. Not sure if he’s injured but doesn’t look at his best.
Wan Bissaka:5 Too many backwards passes but he wasn’t the only one. Wrong side of his marker for the equaliser.
Mayers:7 He’s a central defender who looks okay a fullback but offered nothing going forward as a wing back. Strange selection but not his fault. Made an excellent run and cross when the team changed formation after collecting a good long ball from Kilman. Continued to improve after the switch.
Magassa:6 Good strength but some sloppy touches at times. Given more licence once West Ham moved to a 442. Got the assist as Summerville made it 1-0.
West Ham 2-1 Queens Park Rangers: Magassa won the physical battle but struggled with his passing at times
Potts:5 Steady enough but West Ham missed a playmaker to pick out a pass as the visitors sat deep.
Summerville:8 Nowhere near as involved as he should have been early on and failed to get decent service. When he was played in by Castellanos, he forced the QPR keeper into a good save. Put West Ham ahead with the last kick of the first half. The teams most lively player but should have scored at the beginning of extra time but supplied the assist for Castellanos moments later.
Bowen:7 Looked desperate to try and make something happen from the first whistle. Put in a good cross for Taty following a dribble and pass by Summerville. Hi corners caused Rangers defence a few problems. Ultimately, couldn’t let his quality shine. Fought for everything.
Castellanos:7 Doesn’t have the instincts of a goal poacher when he failed to make the necessary movements to follow up wing play. Very industrious but looking to link rather than finish. Was unlucky not to score when his double was blocked. Forced a corner with a long shot. Not seen anything to suggest he’s a £30m player but I appreciate his energy and he scored the decider with an excellent header following great trickery by Summerville.
Jarrod Bowen seemed up for the fight but didn’t have great service
Substitutes
Pablo:5 Brought on in the first half for the injured Mavropanos. Played his part as the Hammers took the lead. Clumsy and committed. If Nuno keeps asking him to defend and protect the right back we’re going to be in big trouble. Needs to play as a NINE if at all.
Soucek:6 Brought on for Magassa in the 69th minute. Odd choice given that he was playing better than Potts at that point. Played a decent cross-field pass to Summerville but wide far too often. Had a header cleared off the line. Forced a very good save from Walsh at the start of extra time.
Walker Peters:5 Replaced Wan Bissaka for extra time
Scarles:5 Subbed on for Mayers. Got caught out for pace and had to be rescued by Kilman.
Rodriguez: on for Taty in the second period of extra time.
Really worried about the next three Saturday’s. Looking good for three bad defeats in a row.
It was great to see Summerville finally score for the hammers. He has been very unfortunate not to score ,
especially in the previous game, having a goal disallowed for offside.
Westham played like a mid table Championship team perhaps in readiness for next season . Once again plenty of effort from all the players but no guile . If Westham continue to play so impotently in the Premier League they won’t win another match . Nuno is failing just like Moyes ( his last year ) , Lopetegui and Potter most probably as a result of not having enough quality coaches to coach all of the nuanced details required to win matches .
Honestly cheer up. Yes th small margins of difference were helpful – Bowen and Summerville suddenly looking very fast again for example – but there was lots to like today. Both original wing backs did well and then again as full backs. Meyers fills me with confidence in a way that Scarles doesn’t. Freddie Potts was great timing things along. Having two strikers up front eventually was good to see. How much does this – and also Hermansen’s quick distribution – help the centre backs? Torino was largely very good.
Magassa for Soucek was OK, he hadn’t played that well and Soucek did some useful things. Castellanos had a v good game.
Yes they’re a division below but we overpowered them by all statistics. Lots to like, I didn’t hate them watching it and a much needed win.
Would you like to write the player ratings mate? You’re very welcome to send them in after each game for an alternative opinion?
We’d very much appreciate it.
claretandhugh66@gmail.com
Thought Killman improved as the match progressed, particularly in extra time.
Summerville was good throughout although his tiredness was evident in extra time.
West Ham could do Bowen a favour by passing the captaincy on to Soucek. He appears the only squad member to have good leadership skills- ffs he’s the Czech national team captain!!
totally agree
as much as i love Bowen he is not a captain but once given it cant be taken away
A little unfair on Taty – three shots on target bringing out last ditch blocks on two of them and then a cracking header. Looks good to me. Also thought Mayers attacked well when he had the chance – I’d play him over Scarles on today’s showing tbh.
There are few certainties in life but one is Nuno will always substitute the best performing players and leave the worst on. Also that Nuno will approach every must win game with an overly cautious approach.
Today should be his last managing our great club. This is not a win it is a sign that Nuno doesn’t have a clue and no matter the cost he needs to be removed.
Interesting comments from everyone today .
Numo obviously started with a back 3 as they play with 2 up top .
Potts and Magassa both do the same job and both pass back more than forward .
For me the DNA of this team is simply wrong and has been for a few years ( end of Moyes reign ) .
How we long for a Lanzini type player to carry the ball in the midfield . To dictate play with forward passes .
Reality today was we looked like a top half championship team .
We drew 1-1 with QPR ( after 90 mins ) who are hardly doing well in that league .
Some minor positives though
Keeper’s distribution was very good and he will do well for us in the championship next season .
Mayers looks a steady defender ….
Why oh why don’t we go down our left more ?
Summerville is our most creative player and we need to feed him more …. Gonzo scored him poorly for first half , but if we don’t give him the ball what can he do !?
And good to see we eventually went with 2 up front …. I thought it worked . However , one minor injury to Taty and we’re back to square one ….
To compete in the premier league or the championship you need 3 strikers !!
The ultimate reality is though Aerola , Kilman and Tobipdo all have too many mistakes in them and in the premier league you get found out for these mistakes !
Great to be back to winning! Very important Summerville today. Nevertheless the game today shows that even playing in the Championship, the irons will have a very tough time