West Ham banter 2

24 Oct 2026 15:53:14
Came on in pyjamas. Fast asleep, horrible defending getting a lesson here Our defence is costing us, plus where's the striker we needed from the off, this season, Taty awful

If somehow we pull this around, we are promotion certainty

Nuno and everyone knew before the game saints are counter specialised. Have to set yourself up for thst situation.

24 Oct 2026 16:02:58
Taty is dreadful and doesn't look interested and alot worse than pablo. Defending is dreadful. Please get Disasi and a decent striker.

I notice we have shot after shot blocked by southampton players but they keep picking up rebounds from Hermandsen

Can any blame be left at nuno with selection? I dont understand why he doesnt start with the 11 that finished at Swansea.

24 Oct 2026 20:08:49
It is at Nunos feet Mac. He isn't to blame for all our poor performances but the vast majority. After the poor performance in the first half v Lincoln Nuno sorted it out. But that was rare. Too much thinking he is a master tactician when he clearly isn't.

I went for a beer and a bite to eat after the game in the Big Easy. Nils Kopen was sitting at a table near us I felt like telling him to get his cheque book out and get Disasi and a striker but didn't have the bottle to do so.

24 Oct 2026 15:04:33
That took all of 2 nibs. Could be a long afternoon. That might wake us up from our slumber or not.

24 Oct 2026 15:12:11

Holy s*** what is going on!!! We are all over the place ?

24 Oct 2026 15:37:25
Solomon off get austbo on.

We cant defend not news cause we knew this lol.

24 Oct 2026 14:39:24
What odds ward prowse scores?

24 Oct 2026 11:13:38
Has it ever been done before ? Last night in the under21s match v Burnley,Preston Fearon scored 2 goals from within his own half. A magnificent display from him.

24 Oct 2026 11:47:35
Yeah I saw them pretty amazing. Nuno hasn't done bad in regards to integrating the youth but I feel he has given Fearon a raw deal and feel he could make it at the higher levels and may leave to get that chance.

20 Oct 2026 12:21:26
People might not like Pablo, and he should be scoring more, but bottom line is that when he plays, we tend to win, and rarely lose.

Agree on Solomon - Austbo should be starting ahead of him.

20 Oct 2026 12:41:27
Do you think there's a possibility we might have won anyway, and by more, had he not played?

20 Oct 2026 16:11:44
Whilst I agree Pablo's ability in front of goal and general skill levels are on the low side to say the least. The team do still seem to perform well when he plays as there is enough talent in our team in a weak league to be able to get away with it. His work rate is very good, he made a big difference against QPR and Millwall.

And I have to say the fans in the ground like him because he works hard. I have seen many a dead loss over there and the fans aren't slow to turn on them but by and large they haven't with him.

20 Oct 2026 18:46:26
It never ceases to amaze me how many people think he has a good work rate because he runs around a lot! Surely, it's the finished article that matters, isn't it? His actual contribution in a game, more often than not, is in the negative. Because I couldn't understand why Nuno keeps playing him, I've actually made several studies of each and every Pablo contribution to games in which he's played. One against Millwall I even posted on here:
21 Sep 2026 00:07:07
I suggest you watch a recording of the game again. These are the main contributions by Pablo. I cannot see how he made a massive difference.
47.37 Poor foul by Pablo gives Millwall the ball;
58.03 poor pass to Bowen resulting in Millwall attack;
63.02 bad pass to Mukasa gives the ball away;
67.09 header saved by Marschall (should have scored);
73.14 pass to Kante who scored;
Lost every one on one aerial dual.


This was a game where he played for the second half, but some said he made a big difference!
Whilst I accept that everyone has differing opinions, every study of Pablo during a match has shown he runs aimlessly around, loses the ball or gives the ball away more often than not, continuously loses one-on-one aerial duels, and actually contributes very little to the game. His off the ball runs and positioning are poor, with little or no result. The only positive is that he's tired when the match ends! Pablo could be one of the worst WHU signings, and for €25 million, someone really needs to look into who benefitted from the acquisition. It certainly wasn't WHU!

21 Oct 2026 06:36:18
In reference to the Millwall game I didn't see it, I was driving to Heathrow, but it was what I heard and it did seem a game of 2 halves. Chronic 1st half much better second half with some bite. I was at the QPR game and from what I saw he was getting into them when others in the first half weren't. I find it more difficult at the actual games as it's mainly where the team attacks that allows a good view. Second half near the box I have a good view. Admittedly I thought Peroe made more of a difference and Pablo wasn't nothing special but he did get into them and the mind set of the team changed.


If you want to forensically rewatch the games again. You would be better placed to rewatch the first half of the Millwall game which I heard was such an abject display to find out what players didn't make good passes or challenges or attempts on goal if there were any. I think the list maybe somewhat dwarf the 2nd half critisism.

21 Oct 2026 08:17:31
I agree with you H-D about the WHU performance in the first half, but it's Pablo's contribution we are specifically talking about. Because the other players were also crap doesn't alter the fact that Pablo's contribution was poor. And this is part of a pattern.

22 Oct 2026 09:04:07
Very interesting comment by Jamie Carragher about Man Utd's Bruno Fernandes:
"He runs all over the place like a kid in the school yard for the supporters. They all think he's working hard, he is not. He is killing the rest of the team by doing it.”
Ring any bells?

22 Oct 2026 18:39:07
Well, I don't like being argumentative but one of my mates is a Man U fan and I remember taking the micky out of him when Ruben Amorin was manager and he said similar to what you are saying that basically they were shoe-horning BF into a system that he was hopeless at playing. They were dreadful under Amorin as they have become again under Carrick. But in both instances the main reason the fans are so pissed off is that they can't stop losing and he is one of the common denominators.

In our case it is the opposite and a lot of fans are saying when Pablo plays our win rate is higher.
I agree with you, Robbo, Joyful and others that he is a terrible player with very little actual skill and rarely scores.

The deal is also a bit suspect but the others who talk about his work rate our win rate are also right.
Sometimes it's not always the best players that get picked. As West Ham fans we know a lot about 66 but if you had to pick the best player from Geoff Hurst or Jimmy Greaves, Jimmy Greaves was a far superior player. It's just that he lost his place in the England side at the wrong time and Geoff Hurst rightly took advantage with England getting the results and deserved his place in the starting line up.

22 Oct 2026 22:47:19
Yes, mate, that is all well and good, and what you say is correct, but the major flaw in your argument is.both Fernandes and Hurst is/was a decent footballer. Both make/made contributions to any game.

And I repeat, we have no way of knowing how WHU would have played had Pablo not been on the pitch. Just closely watching Pablo leads to one conclusion — he's not a player at this level.

22 Oct 2026 22:51:25
Pablo was purchased to score goals, which he has not done, however, when the man plays our performances are significantly better. He works hard for the team, and it's a team game.

22 Oct 2026 23:00:43
Brooking, just how does he work hard for the team?

24 Oct 2026 09:56:20
Just a thought, but it seems money was tight in the summer so Nuno had to try and build a team with limited funds to get us promotion.

Pablo and Taty were brought in to try and get us goals to keep us up and we all thought taty at least would get a bucket of goals. Alas how wrong were we. We have luxury at the minute in that goals are coming from all over, but, we still clearly need a striker who can put the ball in the net and thats not Pablo. If we go up would we retain him or taty? I suspect not.

24 Oct 2026 11:56:39
Mac I get the feeling Tatty will go in Jan as his heart don't look in it thus far this season. If we get promotion I can't see a place for Pablo but to be honest I would like to see Nuno given the old golden handshake. Thanks very much and goodbye.

Unless we really start to boss and dominate matches and start to run away with things.
The next two games are the ideal opportunity to see us really kick on but I have a horrible feeling it will be that 2 steps forward 2 steps back routine. Hope I am wrong.

20 Oct 2026 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - Big C has posted a new article entitled, Everton Need Stability Under Moyes

19 Oct 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - OptimumShots has posted a new article entitled, Everton Need More Than Moyes' Stability

18 Oct 2026 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - thefutureisoldgold3 has posted a new article entitled, Wolves Player Ratings v Burnley

17 Oct 2026 18:51:01
Well today was a very good result. We ground out a good away 3 points. The team is still not firing on all cylinders at present and are still sitting second in the league so improvement still to come.
Strange to take kante off today and keep Solomon on who was way off the pace today.

17 Oct 2026 23:37:38
Solomon needs a goal. Lacking confidence. If he gets a few goals the next few games, we will see a different player.

17 Oct 2026 17:20:24
What's becoming. ckear. Is our actual forwards are poor, I just dont understand how Pablo starts, piroe castellanos. For me add nothing, our goals are not coming from the front men, which for me is not good

If we are fortunate enough to get promoted, none of those people are. capable of making the jump.

17 Oct 2026 17:55:45
As long as the team keeps scoring enough to win games, I don't mind where they come from. Pablo won the ball back which led to today's goal. The fact that our three forwards are getting chances is encouraging, though of course, I'd like to see them putting a few away. All three have scored in the league so far and I'm sure they will all score more.

We have the most points in the league over the past 6 games.

As of now, I'm not in the least concerned about next season. Let's get it right this season.

Come on folks, enjoy the moment.

17 Oct 2026 18:22:26
Does anyone reckon a punt on vardy would've been worthwhile

He looked sharp against Wolves. Its clear we do need a prolific forward (with pace) but more importantly, weve now got two clean sheets on the bounce, lots of players contributing with goals, so maybe in January we can look around and test the waters.

17 Oct 2026 19:12:30
Again I'm not sure I agree we need an apex striker. You would hope your strikers would do what they are supposed to do and put the ball in the net. But many teams a lot bigger and better than West Ham have played with no recognised number 9. Spain, Barcelona to name but 2. We have a current squad with goals coming from all over. We have Kante with 4 goals and Mavropanos with 5 goals the highest scoring defensive player in Europe ATM.
I think it must be something to do with how we set up because Fulkrug has left us after scoring 3 goals in 2 seasons and is now scoring for fun with Bremen.

He scored another 2 today.
I can't say I rate the manager and am worried that we will just fall back into this inconsistency in the next couple of matches. I want to see entertaining football and wins. But we should be happy with the last couple of results. Lastly the team took a bit of criticism after the first half performance on Wednesday and the manager shouldn't shoulder any blame there as he selected a reasonable first half team but made changes at half time that changed the game.

17 Oct 2026 20:01:36
I get ghe sentiment Hammer D but playing these strikers when they arent contributing means we are carrying them can we afford to do that?

17 Oct 2026 21:03:11
I agree Robbo it's not ideal and the inconsistency or inability of some players is irritating but I would argue that we can afford to carry 1or 2 because the league is so weak. Or maybe we have just got away with it so far.

I think if this had been the prem we definitely wouldn't have got away with it. But we all know the old classic about teams playing poorly but winning is the sign of champions. I suppose time will tell.

18 Oct 2026 10:10:57
One thing is certain. We play better when Pablo plays. His work rate is excellent.

18 Oct 2026 11:10:58
Agreed brooking. He isnt the best but his workrate is constant.

18 Oct 2026 16:24:52
Unbelievable. The bloke runs around, gives the ball away more times than not, constantly loses one on one duels, scores a lucky deflected goal, but has a ‘good work rate', so ‘we play better' when he's in the team! What a pity we haven't got ten other players as good as him. 🙄.

18 Oct 2026 18:41:42
Spot on Tin he is awful, and our best performance this season against wrexham he didnt play lol.

18 Oct 2026 14:26:43
Rubbish brooking our best performance this season was against Wrexham and pablo didnt play, his finishing is laughably bad so is his passing, positionally hes even worse offering nothing gor anyone to aim at in yhe box and making no runs at all granted he runs about a bit but so does my 8 year old niece and she isn't a professional footballer either, non league football is pablos level.

19 Oct 2026 09:08:21
Robbo, Managing at 5th level conference, Pablo doesn't make my team, for sure, just do not understand what he's doing there, I'm genuinely puzzled.

19 Oct 2026 16:38:48
I would have taken a punt on vardy.

19 Oct 2026 20:33:57
How on earth did Gil Vicente pay €250,000 for Pablo in July 2025, only to sell him 6 months later to us for €25,000,000? This deal stinks, especially as the bloke is useless. A nice little earner for someone.

20 Oct 2026 15:50:38
Think stinks is being mild. Somehow the club (Gil) only ended up with 8 million. Some people got a nice share out. Mind you the Fulkrug deal was a bit suspect to say the least and that was brokered by Saint Tim !