West Ham United‘s opening day defeat to Aston Villa has exposed some of the challenges facing the club this season. While the potential of the squad is undeniable, the team’s performance highlighted areas for improvement.
The defensive frailties evident in the match are a concern, particularly the vulnerability on the right-hand side. The midfield battle was also lost, with Villa dominating possession and creating numerous chances.
Soucek and Paqueta are not a very dynamic midfield combination, and unless we can compete more consistently in the midfield battles Villa showed that we will be over run by good teams. In that respect nothing has changed from last season.
However, there were glimpses of promise, with Kudus showcasing his talent and Killman putting in a solid defensive performance. But Paqueta’s petulance is still something of concern. He always seems to put himself one yellow away from being sent off and he really needs to to stop it or it could cost us.
But consider the 52% possession (compare that to last season!) and some real endeavour on display are still reasons to be positive about the football we can look forward to, but there is no doubt this is a work in progress this season
Ultimately, this is just one game, and there is plenty of time for the Irons to improve. The team’s ability to learn from this defeat and make necessary adjustments will be crucial for their success this season.
We need a fast , dynamic midfielder desperately. A young Kante type . No paq in team I’m afraid and we need a wan Bissaka type as left back too . Emerson is crap.
Get Durán as sub , sell Sou, ings, Zou, Antonio.
Areola , Wan Bissaka , Todibo, Kilman , Newguy,
Alvarez , Newguy , Summerville, Kudus ,Bowen
Fullkrug
Subs
Fab, couf , mav , cress ,emers, Rodríguez, paq,guil, Durán
Need backup for Emerson one left back is not sufficient.
Preferably with speed and capable of covering c/bk.
Celo Henrique was last link plays l/bk, l/mid and l/wing but not c/bk.
Emerson isn’t crap . Absolute ridiculous statement..he’s literally won every trophy except the world cup . Champions league Europa league conference league and euro 2020 . Supporters like you are the reason our supporters are dug out constantly by the media . Think before you post .
I understand that it will take time – Unai Emery’s first season at Villa was not that brilliant (after he replaced Gerrard)
But how long before the fans begin to see J-Lo as Pellegrini mark II or even as Avram Grant mark II?
Somehow J-Lo has to do something that gives us hope in the short term
COYI
“ The defensive frailties evident in the match are a concern, particularly the vulnerability on the right-hand side. The midfield battle was also lost”
AWB and Alvarez solve that, or atleast go a good way towards it. 52% and a loss by one goal to a serious top 4 contender while we still have a huge amount of room for improvement and a raft of new, top quality players to integrate isn’t a bad result.
It’s going to take a few weeks but when our best starting 11 hit the pitch and if the can gem is cause for a degree of excitement and optimism.
COYI
*if they can gel
I didn’t go to the game yesterday so difficult to comment, but I was disappointed with the starting line up and the general play. From what I saw The only small crumb I could see was that the team were playing in a far further upfield as opposed to camped around our own box. Hopefully it will come together but may take half a dozen games hopefully less
We’ve never replaced rice! We need a similar type of midfielder who dominates like onana fofana etc And soucek and coufal have to leave they aren’t even good enough as back ups! We need to get rid of cresswell aguerd zouma soucek coufal jwp ings Antonio. And bring in a left back midfielders x2 and a centre forward and fast forward
I seem to remember Fergi coming close to the sack at the beginning of his reign and Pep not starting too well at City.
Remind me, what happened to those two?
Patience is a great virtual.
Wait until Christmas before you start bleating.
Oh thank God there nothing to be concerned about then, we need to gel, sort out defensive errors, find someone who can score, sometimes I wonder ( given most players are ” professionals ” on over 35 GRAND a week some on a whole lot more)how the desire and ability is minimal, racing about 50 something % of the ball , this was West Ham at home, shouldn’t expect anything less. More excuses please.
I think it is harsh, to say Villa dominated possession, we did have 52% afterall. I thought it was great to see the team trying to pressure the ball high up the pitch, and we created some great chances. As you say, the style will take time to learn, and there are more players to come into the system. Great start, and I am optimistic for what comes next, way more enjoyable football to watch!
True, Rob. But although they had slightly less possession, it is what they did with it that counted – hence , the scoreline. We had slightly more possession, but did very little with it !
Don’t agree with you about “created some great chances”, either. NO goals came from them, you will notice. In any case, the same could be said about Villa’s “great chances” – including hitting the post. We played well at times; they played well most of the time &, deservedly won.
By the way, I am still very optimistic. We have ,mostly, great players; they have to stick at it & start to gel. Oh, & we still need two competent defenders & a dynamic striker.
Villa didn’t dominate possession we had more, let’s give the guy a chance I think we’ll ageee that he could have started the new signings but they have to keen the system that he wants to implement too villa will be there or about a again this season
Arteta struggled at arsenal for how long g before it came through and also poch at Chelsea last year
The team are used to sitting on there 18 yard box for 90 minutes a game so it will take time to adapt