The now customary awful start for West Ham, cut open not by brilliance but just by pacy, direct play as Brentford proceeded to hit West Ham on the break in the first half, again and again. The Hammers went behind after just five minutes with a suspicion of defensive disarray. It did look as if one of the centre backs had gone AWOL for Brentford’s first foray forward.
It took a few minutes to work out this Hammers’ formation – three at the back, with Paquetá strangely playing as a front man, Kudus on the right behind him and Bowen behind them both. And Wan-Bissaka behind them all – frequently getting in each others’ way.
Ten minutes later it looked like a back four – but with no midfield shield in front of them as Alvarez and Soucek continually capitulated. West Ham had set up to allow Brentford to play fast on the counter – which they did. Frequently.
A dreadful Paqueta cross-pitch pass straight to Mbueno led to the second goal that – thanks to VAR – was chalked off, but West Ham in absolute ‘Lopetegui – like’ disarray: The midfield just not competing, the defence backing off and Brentford playing straight through, Soucek’s yellow card for a foul was his only contribution before he was hooked at half time.
Brentford kept up their fast hitting on the counter attack, Schade hitting the post. Should havebeen 3-0 done and dusted by now.
All looking very Lopetegui-like, with Alvarez and Soucek running through treacle, trailing to get back and defend, committing fouls when all else failed. This team has just had a week off yet they looked slow and leggy. Hopeless defending led to the second-Wissa’s side foot end to slick passing through West Ham’s defence. But again VAR came to West Ham’s rescue.
Totally undeservedly, the Hammers were sill in the contest at half time. Just as bad as anything ‘El Julen’ served up.
Cue Scarles, Ferguson and Ward-Prowse at half time, Emerson, Soucek and Soler withdrawn. Ferguson immediately laying on a certain goal for Kudus who – somehow – skied it over. Several West Ham corners followed and the crowd now stirred: West Ham looked a but more combative with Paquetá restored to midfield, Ferguson up front, a threat running in behind. Yes, we all knew that. Except, it seems, the head coach.
The Irons huffed and puffed, but were ineffective and meek. Ward Prowse fiddled around, took lots of corners but – no end product. Be thankful it wasn’t televised live – watching that was a form of punishment that most were thankfully excused.
I waited two weeks for that game. I don’t know about you, but that has ruined my weekend.
The honeymoon is definitely over, Graham Potter.
I didn’t think it would be this quick before this site turned against Potter. You could have waited till at least the season was over before you started posting negative post. So how long before everything is Potter’s fault and he needs to go. Give your head a wobble and behave.
I don’t know what some of you expect but some of the comments on here are bordering on the idiotic. Yes, it was disappointing to lose, and that feeling is amplified by the Everton results but the carnage that Potter inherited 5 weeks ago was created jointly by Moyes and Lopetegui over an entire year. In 5 weeks, Potter has transformed the body language of the players and raised the effort levels beyond recognition from what the Spaniard was serving up, and all with only half a back line, no midfield and no forward line, through absolutely no fault of his own. At least he now knows who to keep and who to drop when injuries allow. I was very doubtful about Ferguson, but I am happy to say I was wrong and his performance was encouraging. Scarles is looking good for the future. Soler does not look like he is going to make the grade and Mavrapanos should start packing. Some others are on borrowed time but ok for the short term. My bet is that Potter knows exactly what his task is and what the skeleton of his team is, and he will succeed if he gets the backing from within. West Ham will not qualify for Europe or get relegated this year, but we already knew that before Potter arrived.
I think it is about time Kudus and Paquete are dropped and give Guilivvere a shot and Ward Prowse. Must play Ferguson
Also play Scarles
Nothing to loose
lets give these guys a shot.
Kudus and Paqueta need to be dropped to make the buck up their ideas
Essex iron yes but Everton have not got the expert fans that we have
Fair point. That 2-1 win by against Palace means Everton have now won 4 of their 6 league games since Moyes returned. More than Sean Dyche achieved in 19 matches before he was sacked. No other PL team have collected more points in their last 6 games. The “careful what you wish for” brigade will be in their element after our display today.
12 days to prepare since the 2-1 defeat against Chelsea so no excuses. That first half was pathetic. Why was our best player and Captain playing at wing back instead of in his best position making him totally ineffective?
Midfield so bloody slow it was like watching Lopetegui all over again. Soucek, Alvarez and Soler so ineffective. No good Potter saying we will learn from the defeat and get better. Everyone knew Brentford scored after 38 seconds in September and are fast starters and have scored 7 goals in the opening 10 minutes of their games this season. Yet we still go and concede after 4 minutes! This was the 10th time this season we have conceded in the first 15 minutes To then see Brentford have 2 goals disallowed and 1 hit the post, we were lucky not to be 4-0 down at half time. Paqueta’s dreadful cross- pitch pass, then Kudus blasting over from 6 yards! Fans around me getting very frustrated booing the team and manager off and I don’t blame them. You’re right Martin, the honeymoon period is well and truly over.
I agree ive no idea anymore… we are so …relagation is a real possibility…simply because we look way behind even today’s team Brentford….AWFUL….so glad they didn’t strengthen in the window.again..great decision making once again….plums 🙄…..terrible
A complete shambles today.
Potter got it completely wrong.
The stadium announcer announced Rodriguez instead of Ferguson. What must he have thought? They can’t even get that right.
A horrible match day experience all round
Agree John Ayris 100%. Also, first goal was down to Dinos.
Potter inherited a squad in disarray and you’re after him after 6 games? Grow up man.
Why the midfield issue wasn’t addressed in January is beyond me. It was essential we got some dynamism with young legs in there – even on loan. But as usual in the January window when something so bleeding obvious needs addressing, we do nothing !
Very depressing and think we have more to come, hopefully we’ll just about avoid the drop.
We did do something, we kept spending to an absolute minimum… £57m bid on Duran was a fantasy. Beyond that we brought JWP back and a short term loan for Ferguson kept money in the bank.
We were indeed shocking in the first half. You can’t expect Potter to suddenly halt decline that has been evident for at least 18 months with the players available. To his credit he used subs at half time and we were much improved, the crowd even getting excited for short periods! Potter seems to talk a lot of sense and needs time for a comprehensive rebuild.
Can see why the board only wanted to off him 6 months, the bloke is a fraud who talks a good game.
Oh shut up luke, 6 games in and people are turning on him. ****ing load of wet wipes in this fanbase nowadays. It’s 6 games into the ****ing job
Not turning on him, didn’t want him anywhere near our club in the first place. He’s got areola trying to play out from the back with 2 left feet. Couldn’t decide if it was a back 3 or back 4 in the first half with zero protection from soucek and Alvarez.moving the ball about way to slowly with no purpose. He had to make 3 subs at half time to fix the wrong formation and although better after the break I’m not sure if we hit the target. Bowen at wing back… behave potter..:
Weak squad. Inept owners.
We are a club just fighting to avoid relegation. Lopetegui was blamed for all sorts of things, but Potter is not exactly setting the world on fire, is he?
Let’s try to avoid the drop and see if we can buy some young, motivated players during the summer. They are out there if you have a proper scouting department.
I agree that the first half was awful, Soler, Soucek, Emerson off had to happen. Could and probably should have been more than only one down.
The second half was appreciably better though, we definitely looked improved for Ferguson, Ward Prowse and Scarles.
It was a blow to me as I was optimistic that we’d win.
Everton are doing a lot better now , just saying
Ironic Skipper, under Moyes Everton have won 13 points out of 15 in his first 5 games and they are above Man Utd, Spurs and West Ham. Potter has delivered just 1 win and a draw, losing 4 in his first 6 games.
Essex iron yes but Everton have not got the expert fans that we have
Still early days for Potter but Brentfird are so far ahead of us all over the pitch Mbweno or Kudus I’d have Mbweno in a flash