14 Sep 2024 16:50:05
Smith-Rowe class player on the pitch. We have no idea. Wonder what the odds of Loppy not lasting the season. Potter will be circling!

1.) 14 Sep 2024
14 Sep 2024 17:12:39
Umm, last seasons away games against Fulham and Palace yielded 0 points and 10 goals conceded. Loppy has 4 pts and conceded 1, yet you're clamouring already for him to go?!

2.) 14 Sep 2024
14 Sep 2024 18:38:42
I don’t see much improvement. We’re playing the same way. We were cheering the team on today, but many of us thought it was the same ole same ole.

3.) 14 Sep 2024
14 Sep 2024 21:26:12
No. The same old same old would've been conceding a hatful, 18% possession, 1 shot on target if we're lucky and flinging on defensively minded substitutions at about the 75th minute while we're chasing the game.

None of those things happened today.

Whilst I'll readily admit Fulham probably should have scored more than the one they did today it's going to take more than 4 games for Lop to A. know his best starting XI B. Get his players familiar with his tactical set up and philosophy and C. The new signings acclimatised to the PL.

Signing Julen Lopetegui was never going to result in instant gratification and us sitting 2nd in the PL after 4 games. Give the bloke a chance, things will improve, of that I'm certain. If we're skirting around the relegation zone in January I may think differently but I honestly don't think we will be.

4.) 15 Sep 2024
15 Sep 2024 10:16:12
Come on Billy; you must admit, his starting Soucek and Antonio after several matches is nothing short of worrying. He obviously realised his mistake quickly and withdrew them both at half-time. This isn’t the first time he’s cocked up the starting XI. As I’ve said before, I hope this is ‘wedding nerves’, but I’m now worried.

5.) 15 Sep 2024
15 Sep 2024 12:35:45
I honestly think he's starting Soucek and Antonio only because our new signings aren't up to speed just yet. Although the manager really is between a rock and a hard place choosing between Antonio and Ings.

In fact it's the only reason I can think of why he's starting them, since I do agree that neither of them should be anywhere near the starting XI and you have got to think that as a professional football manager, Lopetegui is well aware of that fact.

I'm edging towards the fact he's in a HAS to play them rather than WANTS to play them situation at the moment. If I had to wager I'd reckon there are match fitness issues with one or two of the new signings right now which has been forcing the managers hand a bit.

We shall see in the next game I guess, I really don't expect Antonio to be starting, and all things being equal nor should Soucek.

6.) 15 Sep 2024
15 Sep 2024 13:41:46
You might have been right had we not looked ten times better after the restart. This begs the question ‘why on earth didn’t he start with that (second half) lineup? ’ Sorry, but I just don’t agree that the summer purchases aren’t up to scratch. It’s looking more and more like Gonzo says - ‘West Ham are looking like a Ferrari being driven to the shops by an old lady’. I bloody hope not.

7.) 15 Sep 2024
15 Sep 2024 17:48:21
Didn't say the signings weren't up to scratch, I was saying about their match fitness - which given that Lop decided to give several of them 45 mins as opposed to 90 kinda suggests that the manager didn't think they had a full 90 mins of competitive football in them at the moment.

I'm guessing it's preferable to sub your better players on than off which is why the 2nd half change up.

8.) 15 Sep 2024
15 Sep 2024 21:50:27
Agree totally makes logic Billy

9.) 15 Sep 2024
15 Sep 2024 22:10:13
Not up to scratch = not up to premiership readiness yet. Wrong. We are 5 games into this season (4 league and 1 cup) . Just how long do you think it takes? Other players bought by other teams seem to be playing. Why not ours?
Surely, you start with your best lineup, not keep them in reserve? To do so would be idiotic! No, Billy, he f*cked up mate.

10.) 16 Sep 2024
16 Sep 2024 17:33:26
No pleasing sum. If the manager did make a mistake, I don’t think he should be questioned this earlier on.
If he did, let’s hope he learns early.
Be happy Tin we live a short life.

11.) 17 Sep 2024
17 Sep 2024 01:06:12
I’m not saying we should give up on him. He still has my backing, but I must admit to a few doubts creeping in over his team selections.
And there’s little doubt he cocked up the starting XI against Fulham. That is borne out by the poor performance in the first half and the obvious improvement after he withdrew the hopeless Soucek and Antonio at half-time. Starting them was a glaring mistake, plain and simple, and he knew it.

12.) 17 Sep 2024
17 Sep 2024 13:50:10
I’ll be honest and say I liked his move to bench Pacqueta who has looked disinterested and sloppy since the last few games of last season and first few of this (slightly better against Fulham might I add) . I didn’t like the move to replace Pacqueta with Souchek though, there was only one way that was going to go. Kudus should have started through the middle with Summerville out on the left. 2nd half we looked much better going forward and the high press worked better with players prepared to work hard to do it. Antonio and Souchek have done great things for West Ham but neither are future starters any more. Loppy has to turn this team into his own which means integrating the new players as soon as possible. He’ll only know whether they are match fit and can play in the PL by starting them