West Ham vs. Aston Villa - Team and score predictions

[Come On You Irons]

"Team, for me: Areola Wan-Bissaka Todibo Kilman Emerson Paqueta Rodriquez Kudus Summerville Antonio Bowen Score prediction: 0-2 Villa."

[Takashi Miike]

"maverick, you must appreciate that it may be difficult finding clubs for some of these players. especially ones on ridiculous wages, and we have no idea what value the owner puts on someone like ings? he may still think we could get five to ten million back, plus getting rid of those hundred plus grand a week wages. some of these players may need to be given frees, but their new clubs still have to match the salary. soucek and jwp are great lads, but I think they're two we could get some reasonable money for and clubs would be interested. there's still time to make these decisons, but I agree it's worrying he doesn't seem to evaluated the squad, cresswell getting another year being the biggest red flag when he had a very good youngster who could be an understudy"

[maverick180]

The exile - you liked the fact Lopetegui looked pissed off at the end???? Let me give you the equivalent of that analogy I’m looking pissed off cos I just crashed my own car This bloke is a clown

[maverick180]

"We’ve hired a fraud Couldn’t care less what anyone thinks about knee jerk reactions The blokes just spent 6 weeks with Moyes’s diabolical squad and still thinks the majority are worth a start Regardless of whether he changes them over the next 9 months, this prick just through 3 points and has proved to me he knows fuck all about football"

[simon.s]

Undone by a player we’ve flashing our knickers to all summer. Now his value will go up a few more mil. Classic West Ham.

[Any Old Iron]

"I’m still seething about Lopetegui’s treatment of our captain. You do not, unless he’s injured, substitute your captain, especially in the first game that he’s skipper. It was insulting. The Dago is completely out of order and to do that in the first game of the season is unforgivable. He can fuck right off."

[Any Old Iron]

"I’m still seething about Lopetegui’s treatment of our captain. You do not, unless he’s injured, substitute your captain, especially in the first game that he’s skipper. It was insulting. The Dago is completely out of order and to do that in the first game of the season is unforgivable. He can fuck right off."

[Jaan Kenbrovin]

"Exactly what I expected really. Our style of play wasn't much better, although we defended high and played out from the back, our attacking patterns of play were the same under Moyes. Get it wide and cross to Soucek and Antonio. If that continues, the same results will continue. We desperately need another creative CM and a first choice striker that has pace, or we will struggle to grind out results again. Especially with an equally vulnerable defence. Kilman is no upgrade on Zouma, Aguerd or Mavropanos."

[happygilmore]

Positives: Kudus Negatives: Everything else. ps ..hope the big boys don't try to poach Kudus before the window shuts

[stubbo]

*penny wise

[stubbo]

"Typic West Ham that. Downed by the two players in their side that should be our players. Onana walked when Moyes didn't make him feel a part of his plans. Duran not done because the Goblin in charge got pound wise again. Those saying it was more Moyes it wasn't. We were higher up the pitch, we tried to pass it more (and did). But we were bitten by familiar failings...Coufal too slow now. Same with Emerson really as good on the ball as he is. Soucek decent in both boxes but anonymous in between. JWP good at dead balls but anonymous in open play. It's clear we need someone like Fofana alongside the DCM and Paqueta (unless when Alvarez comes back he can be more expansive). We also need a replacement for Paqueta. That means getting rid of Soucek and JWP...something we all already know. Concerning Lopetegui doesn't recognise it having 'studied' us I thought Mavro did ok. Thought Kilman did ok. Soucek with the needless corner for their first from terrible effort to control the ball. Whole first half Antonio had his concrete boots on and the ball bounced off of him. Bowen without playing on the counter less effective. Kudus excellent but less effective on the left. Paqueta bad for first 30 mins but came into it after the penalty. Rodriguez off the pace....he'll need to find a way to cope with a faster pace of game. Todibo came on and looks like he has a lot of presence and energy. Summerville looks lightweight but tricky...will.need to add some power to his game. Fullkrug is what we know...nothing without service, which he didn't get. Ings the same. But as I started with it was mostly a tale of two players that should be West Ham players, that when push came to shove, we didn't push the boat out to make happen, and today it bit us on the arse."

[aldgate]

Five subs and soucek still on the pitch - blimey

[Fauxstralian]

"Fair result on the 90mins, no complaints that we got nothing Will take time but think Loppy needs to be bolder No Coufal, Soucek or Antonio Having not watched preseason I thought Kilman looked good & Summerville was lively when he came on Villa seemed to walk at will through our midfield in the first half and were allowed to carry the ball 50m without challenge Kudus had Cash on toast and after he beat 3 men he’d be confronted by a 4th while everyone watched Quiet day for Bowen & Antonio ineffectual. Fullkrug not in the game after he came on & Paqueta hot & cold. A long way to go but I’d prefer Kudus central as a 10 & eventually Rodriquez & Alvarez together with AWB at right back On to Palace"

[fraser]

"I didn't think we were that bad today, started off poorly but grew into it. I could never get my head around how we went from explosive, runs the channels, pacey and pressing Duran to Fullkrug... I'm even more baffled after seeing them both live."

[Come On You Irons]

"What a shocking performance. Rodriguez looks like a total dud and Wolves must be laughing their heads off that we paid £40 million for Kilman. Villa carved us open at will in the first half and how we went in level was crazy. It could easily have been at least 1-5. I said all summer we will have a long, hard season with Lopetegui managing. He will be gone by January I'm sure as we have a long season ahead battling the drop. Relegation battle this season. Nailed on."

[the exile]

Not worth getting too worked up about that. It's the first game with a new system and some new players. I liked the way J Lo looked really fucked off at the end - unlike Moyes I got the distinct impression that he will do something about it. When we were defending against the slow build-up we were really solid. Both Kilman and Mavro did some good work. The problem was when Villa broke on us. If you're going to play such a high line you've got to be better at spotting the breaks early. AWB's pace should help and Alvarez will strengthen the defence. I thought Guido was solid but does lack a bit of pace. Kudus was superb and Summerville looked promising but Bowen and Antonio were poor. We need much more coherence going forward and I don't feel too confident about that if Soucek and/or JWP are regularly going to be in the side.

[boleyn8420]

"WTF is the point of making all these exciting signings and then play the same old tired eleven from the Moyes era. So angry. As someone said Villa no chance of top 4 but more tha good enough for this Dads Army. Antinio should have been hooked after 15 mins let alone the 70th minute. Soucek, fuck me, is he still here. So dissapointed, i thought, hoped it was going to be a new start, front foot and all that. But no same old crap. Licky pen, they missed at least 3 good chances on top of the two goals. Anyway, 5 pints in, now onto the wine and pretend it didnt happen. FFS."

[LeroysBoots]

"Can people please stop the hero worshipping of Coufal that some persist with on here He was fucking dogshit today, all over the place, running around out of position like a headless chicken For Palace him and Mavropanos are dropped"

[Nutsin]

Onsideman make your mind up. You wanted a squad and now you’re getting one. You don’t have to play them all at once ffs!

[onsideman]

"I think we got the performance and the result I would have expected from that starting 11. It was basically a Moyes team. How Antonio stayed on for as long as he did is beyond me On their short cameos both Maatsen and Duran showed what we miss. Our recruitment has been a bit weird though. Not sure Bowen, Kudus and Summerville can play in the same 11 unless Kudus is redeployed centrally, but no room for him and Pacqueta in that case."

[Vexed]

"Ugh That team selection was shit. I was annoyed with it. Villa ain't getting anywhere near top four this season, they looked pretty average despite having a largely settled side. First 30 mins could have been a Moyes team, we were abysmal. Big hole in the centre of the park at all times, not sure we ha e the player to adequately fill it in the squad Kudus is mustard, outclassed Cash to the point Cash ought to retire from football. Was an embarrassing gulf in class. Felt sorry for him. Summerville looks a bit lightweight. Rodders looks classy but is sloooow. He was left exposed too often. Bowen anonymous performance was a concern. Paqueta a walking red card but class. Antonio fucking pisses me off. Coufal is done at this level, they went after him. Fullkrug is not the striker we were looking for unless we're going to drastically change the way we play. Was not impressed with the transfer, still ain't. Duran looked good, annoyingly. Bizarre subs from the gaffer, not sure what the plan was. Overall this will curtail the wild unrealistic optimism from divs. Bit concerning we don't look like we've done much in training."

[twoleftfeet]

"No one wants Moyes back but we did want someone different and clearly JLO is just a Spanish version of Moyes. I thought we were slow, predictable and easy to beat. All criticisms laid at Moyes last season. It’s like swapping a beige cardigan for a beige jumper."

[J.Riddle]

"Don't panic, Moyes has already said he will come back if things don't pan out with J Lo. Moyes came back before and saved our arse. Be careful what you wish for....."

[paulon]

One thing that 100% hasn’t changed this season is the level of fuckwittery on here Must be more fuckwits per bandwidth on here than anywhere else on the internet

[Stowie.40]

"Pace is such an issue, I thought Guido looked very poor but not having pace around him is an issue, we need a proper power house in midfield and up top, it would make such a difference."

[Sir Alf]

"It is early days but our first 5 games are really tough. I saw little change either. The possession stats were not much better and we didnt press or show any increased ability to play thru the Villa midfield. They are a team that is well drilled with over a season with the manager but Im still seeing us with a soft centre in midfield. We allowed Villa too much time and space and the new bloke Rodriguez, technically good and strong but yet another that lacks real pace when covering counter attacks. Soucek, Coufal, Antonio, JWP all looking old and slow and technically wanting. We were never in control in the middle and Villa should have won by a hatful but for poor finishing. Loppy needs to get another central midfielder and a young strong, pacy striker and get rid of Ings. That Duran bloke looks a good prospect and worth a punt… even for £40mill … oh wait Palace are a well organised outfit nowadays so another tough game coming up. Bright spots? Kudus and I already like the look of Todibo. Ok he only had a few mins but he’s strong, fast, good on the ball. Summerville was ok and lively. The German looks too slow. The problem we’ve had for so long is a lack of pace. It remains a problem imo. Anyway lets give it 10 games and the end of the window but “green shoots” not showing in the first game"