West Ham’s first competitive fixture following relegation from the Premier League had a very familiar-looking start to it. Slow, sluggish, no plan, passing around the back four for a hoof forward and a loss of possession seemed very reminiscent of the start of last season.
Fortunately for paying spectators, if not for West Ham’s outcome in the top tier last season, Fernandes arrived in September and the link-up play slowly improved, until the Portuguese youngster was running the midfield after Christmas.
Edson Alvarez still looks a ‘card’ liability waiting to happen
In this post – Fernandes midfield, Kante, well as he played, Orford and Alvarez don’t offer that kind of transition play. From the look of it, on first showing the Hammers still need to focus on bringing in a Fernandes replacement, be it Engels or an alternative.
Orford can grow over time but the Irons can’t wait, with only the ponderous Soucek missing from selection yesterday. The cupboard is bare.
Alvarez doesn’t look to have improved his self discipline and should have been sent off: Another game and he won’t be as lucky. Neither will his victim.
Alvarez – no improvement from the bad old days last year when he was a ‘card’ magnet
But the real difference between the two sides was the clinical finishing of Taty Castellanos. Two chances, two goals in a ten minute period either side of half time alongside Jarrod Bowen’s deflected strike which saw the Hammers overwhelm their opponents in what is quite likely to become a pattern this coming Championship campaign.
Taty’s quality with one side footed shot and a headed goal to follow, emphasised how important it is that West Ham hang onto the Argentine forward this season. Two goals, almost a hat trick and – simples – West Ham ran out easy winners. In this league there are no prizes for hustle and bustle and endeavour, as Portsmouth found out. Put away your chances and move onto the next game.
Which West Ham will now do, apprehension settled, knowing that it’ll be an almighty scrap but their match winners – providing they stay – can do the job at the opposition end. Just sort the midfield out, please, to save us watching and waiting for the ticking time bomb that is ‘El Machin’ to become West Ham’s latter day Tomas Repka. Go google.
For me Alverez was the worst player on the pitch for the Hammers. Slow, a couple of seconds behind in the thought process and poor loose touches summed up his game for me. I’m hoping it’s just a hang over from the world cup, but not holding my breath, board better look at getting another midfielder in because if this carries on he won’t playing much due to suspension I suspect.
Martin! How dare you take a pop at Tomas Repka, mate!? 😀 ;-). Loved that bloke!.. Eventually. [All said in jest bar the eventually loving the bloke part.]
Alvarez was my man of the match yesterday. Still a real class player who should be captain if we can persuade him to stay.
Pablo was pathetic as usual . How he gets on the team sheet baffles me . Some are even trying to credit him with an assist yesterday when all he did was lose the ball which Bowen pounced on. Just get rid of him
HARES: Middlesbrough v Wrexham
TORTOISES: West Ham v Portsmouth.
Got the job done but will be in trouble against other more proficient teams.
Subs should have taken Killman off for Veltman and Pablo off for Ajala give them at least 20 minutes.
Alvarez is very good with communication but needs to think twice before jumping in.
Why do whu try to buy at bargain basement but sell at Harrods prices?
Associated with numerous signings but some falling due to injuries or not leaving their club.
This is diminishing the said list of players they’ve been careful to pick.
Looks like Solomon is on his way, haggling over Parrott/Engles also need Thomas/Disasi.
Without this pace whu will be left in the starting blocks.
Eleventh hour is on its way some things never change but problems when they don’t get required players.
Glad to see Kante doing what he did for the U21s running forwards into the penalty box (because Alvarez played anchor?) with the ball and causing mayhem, this time an assist. It went Orford, Scarles, Kante & goal by Taty. They played U21 football, simple forward, first time passes, no stopping looking left & right, wondering, then passing sideways,.. Maybe reading too much into it, but it worked. However, hope whichever midfielder comes in, they are comfortable playing this way, something JWP just does not do, for example.
Was glad to see Alvarez play, because has same calming influence as Soucek had last season, in steadying the youngsters. I’m not a fan, wish he was a different kind of player but I think he did what the manager asked, dropping back to pick up the ball all the time and acting as anchor in midfield, helping the other 2.
Hope the youngsters are given time to develop and helped with what Taffyhammer calls ‘dynamic coaching’ – one-on-one coaching after every game, for me.
Glad to see Scarles keep his place. Needs to get his left foot working to hit accurate, long passes as Cresswell would. Hard, because players press and not much time, but that would be another step up for him. If Diouf plays, needs to improve his short/long passing – but what a player to have on the bench.
Glad to see Pablo further up the pitch too, not drifting around in midfield – prefer this setup with 3, in my opinion cannot play 2 in midfield with inexperienced players, or with slow players either.
Did we beat Bournemouth too.
Great news, I missed that game
You were definitely out last night on the lash celebrating the win . I think you will find out we played Portsmouth. Get some ibuprofen mate🫣🤣
Shame Bournemouth were in Spain yesterday, the proof reading was good on this article………🤣
When Nuno says we are taking our time over transfers to get it right. He must be having a laugh with Manor Soloman is that taking our time for little quality. Also Nils why is her here won’t pay for Engels or Parrott we are being to tight . The game yesterday was easy but better quality will find us out. We need proper players signed and Nils and board need to pay the money !
The wrong Mouth 😉
Hi, Picky I know and I’m sure you’ve realised by now but we played Portsmouth not Bournemouth
Think you mean Portsmouth
I think the score line would have been very different if you had actually played Bournemouth 🤣🤣🤣
Bournemouth 😂😂😂. Says everything about Martins point of view😂😂😂
If you watch Alvarez a little closer instead of just slating him, you’ll notice that he is constantly talking, positioning, advising and scolding when necessary.
He is a good solid player that is prepared to put his head where it hurts and yes, he can be a little rough and ready… but at least he gets stuck in…
Spot on Mac Will be a vital player for us a Roy Keane Billy Bonds type if you like Need it in this division to ruffle a few feathers
Alverez’s leadership qualities will be useful in an otherwise very young midfield, until Soucek comes back thatbis
Yes, there are gaps in the side and concerns about squad depth, but we should be applauding the likes of Walker-Peters and (yes) Kilman and the goal made by the Scarles,Orford and Kante link up. These three will quickly grow into dependable regulars for years to come.
Bournemouth? Lol
I take alot of positives from that. Yes a worryingly slow start but once we got going we played some decent stuff. Taty and Bowen rightly take the plaudits but even Pablo was involved in some of the better moves. You are right that the midfield needs work. We need Engels and if we are getting a relatively low cost solution on the left then surely we have the funds to make it happen. We have good options at the back even without the wantaways. Get a few decent signings in plus some loans and we will have a good time this season.
If Tottenham are prepared to sell us this great prospect Solomon for the left side why were they allegedly in for Summerville?
BOURNMOUTH?
I would like to add that I was very impressed with the performance of Max Kilman yesterday. Last season must have been horrendous for the guy with a lack of confidence leading to huge criticism which became self defeating. I believe there is a decent player in there and if he can have a good season, (obviously against lesser players this term), perhaps we won’t have to splash the cash on a replacement. Fingers crossed.
I thought we played Portsmouth
Bournemouth?
Alvarez made a positive impact, ran the midfield and will terrorise the Championship IF he stays.
Hi Martin – thanks for the article I look forward to reading your “Morning After”
I take your point about El Machin being a red card risk but perhaps you are being unfair to the legend that is Tomas Repka – I remember him going around Upton Park bowing to the fans after his last game (a 2-1 win over Fulham) and Pardew talking of “grown men crying in the dressing room
😂😂😂 Bournemouth
Always so negative… yes it wasn’t great for 38 mins and we looked slow, leggy and lethargic, but their goal was a stroke of luck, big deflection, and yes we upped the tempo and individuals won us the game.
That’s called football. Yes we are a bit threadbare and need some variation but the team battled, won and will get confidence from it.
Can we not enjoy sunday morning with a win rather than focus on the problems?
Well said Chilly. We all know the problems, let’s just enjoy the win and look forward to Burnley by which time we may be even stronger with an addition or two. It’s a happy Sunday 👍.
And that ladies and gentlemen is what is wrong with most of the western world today. You must not criticize anything in a world so full of rainbows and Unicorns.
Bournemouth?
As you mention Alvarez is a red card waiting to happen and it should of happened yesterday for me he is a liability and if we got decent money i would happily seen him gone he just has no discipline and you cannot blame his age or experience…..on the positive side Kilman looked comfortable at this level and apart from one or two sides in the division i do not see to much troubling us if we keep Taty…..we all no left side needs sorting and Nuno cannot be allowed to get away with letting us sit back pass sideways and hoof the ball forward..he has to understand that in this division we are the big fish we are the ones everyone fears and will be doing their all to try and claim our scalp so put us on the front foot at home and show the division why they fear playing us.
Bournemouth?m
About as accurate as the rest of the stuff on here.
Keep up the good work!m
Watching the game it looked to me that Alvarez played more in a back 3 than in midfield with the two full backs playing well up field as wing backs, hence the line up was 3-4-3 not 4-4-2. All 3 defenders had forays forward but when Portsmouth attacked Alvarez was mainly between the other 2 defenders not in front of them.
Portsmouth.