West Ham Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2024/25

From Egan's perspective, it's probably the better move, since he will game more game time injuries permitting

I'm expecting him to start Soucek and Antonio. A decent test today against a more settled Chelsea line-up

Yeah, who are we to expect good-to-watch football, and dreaming of European football. That'll teach us.

Chelsea game a shambles, but with Steidtens' acquisitions, it's still far too early for anyone to know how things will pan out in the long run, never mind the medium term. In the short term, Soler probably needs to come in to sort out the midfield, but if Mavropanos starts again against Brentford over Todibo, I'll probably be one of those already to start shout for Lopetegui's head (unless of course Mavs does start and plays a blinder. We'll see).

^^^^

It's anyone's guess what J-Lo is trying to create at the moment, what with the style of play the team he has inherited, and what has been hammered into them over the past season or so. On top of that, the players brought in seemed great on paper, but getting them to mesh during a changing style and system was never going to be easy. It is the midfield that seems to be the worst problem (aside from having no on-point striker at the mo).

On paper, Alvarez and Rodriquez in front of defense seemed most sense, but they are both getting caught out too much with any high pressing due to their lack of pace. Reverting to Soucek is most sensible at the moment then - he has the better pace for defending from advanced positions, and the instinct and height for attacking. Rodriquez is tenacious, and good at distribution, but is finding it really hard to adapt to the premiership - but looks like he could come good. Soler looks like another tenacious midfielder, and shows cleverness on the ball, but also finding the premiership difficult to adapt to. So for me it's Alvarez and Soucek, and although Paqueta is wobbly at the mo, we do need creativity until Soler is up to speed. Not mentioned much is Andy Irving, who was bought last year and immediately loaned out for the year. He could possibly be deployed with more game-time.