Everton Vs West Ham | League | 15.03.25 | Match & Predictions Thread

[stubbo-admin]

Match Centre:

Odds:
West Ham: 3/1
Draw: 9/4
Everton: 29/25

Pre-Match Press Conference:
Official Press Conference

Tactical Preview: 
Babbling Irons

Watch-along:
Hammers Chat

Streams:

SportHD 

(With all live streams be mindful they can carry viruses etc.  Don't click on any ads and use a VPN).
  

[Eerie Decent]

Agree he is somewhat dull and pragmatic in his tactics so far. Away games that is acceptable but at home is the problem and would be his undoing.

For me, I will wait until the sunmer business concludes. If he gets pace, “legs” in that central midfield I will start to feel there is hope ( yep cruel in the context of West Ham ).  It comes down to our inability to transition quickly and generally play at pace thru midfield that limits our attacking play.  Players in centre mid that play on the “half turn”. We dont have any. We cannot link the defensive third to the attacking third other than a long out ball. That invariably comes from Areola but also any player as we get pressed high and do not have the speed and movement from our central
midfielders to make space. That midfield also makes it very risky to commit to many players forward as a turnover high in the opposing half can see the opposition cut thru us with our midfielders and a lot of the defenders ( Todibo AWB aside ) looking like they have divers boots on as they chase back.

Add to that we cannot jump into pressing effectively ourselves as teams do with us to pin them in, get turnovers and generally stretch them. We are so slow.  Having said all that, a good central striker is still needed to help Bowen and Kudus etc who are not suited to receiving it and holding it up.  



 

We'll be starting next season with Ward-Mouse & the Donkey in the first 11, 100%

[Eerie Decent]

For those who want the 'post game' nerd breakdown...

Ooooh excellent, let's play a bit of football analogy bingo.


I'm going for 6 low blocks, 9 pivots, 12 mid-presses & 17 transitions...

[Lee Trundle]

Agree he is somewhat dull and pragmatic in his tactics so far. Away games that is acceptable but at home is the problem and would be his undoing.

For me, I will wait until the sunmer business concludes. If he gets pace, “legs” in that central midfield I will start to feel there is hope ( yep cruel in the context of West Ham ).  It comes down to our inability to transition quickly and generally play at pace thru midfield that limits our attacking play.  Players in centre mid that play on the “half turn”. We dont have any. We cannot link the defensive third to the attacking third other than a long out ball. That invariably comes from Areola but also any player as we get pressed high and do not have the speed and movement from our central
midfielders to make space. That midfield also makes it very risky to commit to many players forward as a turnover high in the opposing half can see the opposition cut thru us with our midfielders and a lot of the defenders ( Todibo AWB aside ) looking like they have divers boots on as they chase back.

Add to that we cannot jump into pressing effectively ourselves as teams do with us to pin them in, get turnovers and generally stretch them. We are so slow.  Having said all that, a good central striker is still needed to help Bowen and Kudus etc who are not suited to receiving it and holding it up.  


 

So, what you're saying, is that we need a whole load of new defenders, a whole load of new midfielders, and a striker.  

(I agree with you, btw)

[Sir Alf]

Agree he is somewhat dull and pragmatic in his tactics so far. Away games that is acceptable but at home is the problem and would be his undoing.

For me, I will wait until the sunmer business concludes. If he gets pace, “legs” in that central midfield I will start to feel there is hope ( yep cruel in the context of West Ham ).  It comes down to our inability to transition quickly and generally play at pace thru midfield that limits our attacking play.  Players in centre mid that play on the “half turn”. We dont have any. We cannot link the defensive third to the attacking third other than a long out ball. That invariably comes from Areola but also any player as we get pressed high and do not have the speed and movement from our central
midfielders to make space. That midfield also makes it very risky to commit to many players forward as a turnover high in the opposing half can see the opposition cut thru us with our midfielders and a lot of the defenders ( Todibo AWB aside ) looking like they have divers boots on as they chase back.

Add to that we cannot jump into pressing effectively ourselves as teams do with us to pin them in, get turnovers and generally stretch them. We are so slow.  Having said all that, a good central striker is still needed to help Bowen and Kudus etc who are not suited to receiving it and holding it up.  

 

[Manuel]

Geo and his mate Frankie have just put out a vid and they are far from convinced with Potter. Yes, their opinions, but they make some good points near the end off the vid. Apparently in Potter's third season at Brighton he won only 4 home games all season and went 4 months without a home goal. Geo thinks that next season we will be playing exactly how his Brighton side played.

For me it's too early still, but what I do think is that he's a proper spikey cսnt and has a very high opinion of himself with very little to back it up.

I am not sure how you find Potter spikey. I don't get that from him at all. As for a high opinion of himself, really not sure about that either as I don't think he has said anything in his pressers that indicates that to me. I suppose he comes across as confident in himself - But, then again, wouldn't you have to be in that job? 

Personally, I am quite happy with Potter, mainly because we look about 100 times better than we did under Floppy. Although, being brutally honest, I genuinely believe that I could've gone in to West Ham and got them playing better than we were. So, for me, although a little frustrated at our home form, I am generally content with Potter.

I think he is the type of coach that is a slow burner - We may not see any major improvements until the season after next. I just think Potter needs time to slowly plot and develop the squad and change the mentality. He was Brighton four seasons and you could clearly see their upward curve. Problem for Potter, does he have enough time at West Ham? 

As you say, people are on the fence with him. I get that. He hasn't exactly 'burst onto the scene' at West Ham. You yourself aren't convinced, and other supporters I know are the same as you. I get that too. West Ham is a big club with demanding supporters. The majority of the fanbase are not going to be content with being competitive whilst also being compact and, without sounding too negative, a little bland. It will just end the same way it did with Moyes, except Moyes had the Europa to show for his efforts so had added kudos which gave him time. 

For me, Potter needs to inject some power, pace and craft into our attack. I hope he does. He seems to have shored us up defensively. So hopefully with Fullkrug and Summerville back, we have some more of what we need. Will it be enough? Not sure. He will absolutely need to address our lack of box to box pace and power in midfield in the summer. And, another priority if he is to succeed, is to make us unbeatable at home. That's where you set your stall out. You have to be the favourites at home in almost every game bar obviously the top four. That's where he has fallen this season. Not good enough results at home. 

The performances for me are there generally (bar Palace) but results are not yet. Long way to go. 

C+ 

He is spikey, a couple of times he's been told his record since he's been here hasn't been great and his back has gone straight up with the 'stare'. For me Potter clearly doesn't like to be criticized, which is where I get the inflated ego opinion from. You see other coaches taking criticism on the chin and sometimes even agreeing with the person asking the questions. He was meant to be a a bit of a prick at Chelsea by all accounts. He's full of excuses and spin and never seems prepared to say we were poor or not good enough, or worse thinks some of these performance have been fine. I will say though that he has been unlucky to be without Antonio/Fullkrug/Summerville.

After 10 games I was expecting more.

[Takashi Miike]

there's no point in another manager failing, and I liked the early signs from potter but when he started blowing smoke up the owners arse in press conferences & turned on the journalist for a pretty basic question, I haven't watched any presser (and I hate the press) since. with the system he's using, frankfurt showed it can be an exciting formation by using attacking players in those wide positions. I think he's only ever used one (summerville), and that was in his first game in charge. I had zero time for lopertegui, but even some of the games he was in charge with were more entertaining than the current displays. I don't think there's much chance of the drop, so it would be the perfect time to commit an extra player forward and create a few more chances, but I just don't see him ever changing. this is what he is, another pragmatic negative safety first coach, something we've had almost the whole time (bar, bilic) under the ownership of that poisonous midget cսnt

[stubbo-admin]

For those who want the 'post game' nerd breakdown...

[Russ of the BML]

Geo and his mate Frankie have just put out a vid and they are far from convinced with Potter. Yes, their opinions, but they make some good points near the end off the vid. Apparently in Potter's third season at Brighton he won only 4 home games all season and went 4 months without a home goal. Geo thinks that next season we will be playing exactly how his Brighton side played.

For me it's too early still, but what I do think is that he's a proper spikey cսnt and has a very high opinion of himself with very little to back it up.

I am not sure how you find Potter spikey. I don't get that from him at all. As for a high opinion of himself, really not sure about that either as I don't think he has said anything in his pressers that indicates that to me. I suppose he comes across as confident in himself - But, then again, wouldn't you have to be in that job? 

Personally, I am quite happy with Potter, mainly because we look about 100 times better than we did under Floppy. Although, being brutally honest, I genuinely believe that I could've gone in to West Ham and got them playing better than we were. So, for me, although a little frustrated at our home form, I am generally content with Potter.

I think he is the type of coach that is a slow burner - We may not see any major improvements until the season after next. I just think Potter needs time to slowly plot and develop the squad and change the mentality. He was Brighton four seasons and you could clearly see their upward curve. Problem for Potter, does he have enough time at West Ham? 

As you say, people are on the fence with him. I get that. He hasn't exactly 'burst onto the scene' at West Ham. You yourself aren't convinced, and other supporters I know are the same as you. I get that too. West Ham is a big club with demanding supporters. The majority of the fanbase are not going to be content with being competitive whilst also being compact and, without sounding too negative, a little bland. It will just end the same way it did with Moyes, except Moyes had the Europa to show for his efforts so had added kudos which gave him time. 

For me, Potter needs to inject some power, pace and craft into our attack. I hope he does. He seems to have shored us up defensively. So hopefully with Fullkrug and Summerville back, we have some more of what we need. Will it be enough? Not sure. He will absolutely need to address our lack of box to box pace and power in midfield in the summer. And, another priority if he is to succeed, is to make us unbeatable at home. That's where you set your stall out. You have to be the favourites at home in almost every game bar obviously the top four. That's where he has fallen this season. Not good enough results at home. 

The performances for me are there generally (bar Palace) but results are not yet. Long way to go. 

C+ 

[stubbo-admin]

Turns out we were due to have left Paqueta on the bench on Saturday...was only because Alvarez failed a last minute fitness test that Paqueta started.

[Manuel]

Geo and his mate Frankie have just put out a vid and they are far from convinced with Potter. Yes, their opinions, but they make some good points near the end off the vid. Apparently in Potter's third season at Brighton he won only 4 home games all season and went 4 months without a home goal. Geo thinks that next season we will be playing exactly how his Brighton side played.

For me it's too early still, but what I do think is that he's a proper spikey cսnt and has a very high opinion of himself with very little to back it up.

[El Scorchio]

I would as well, or a nominal three with AWB as the third CB flexing into a RB.

But if Kilman isn't good enough, we can't just wish him away or stick him in the reserves. If we can't move him on, we either have to try and make it work with him as part of a two, or stick as a three.

I'd definitely see what we can get for him in the summer. Even if we take a loss on him, he's one of a few who might be surplus who will actually bring some money in. I'm sure we can get a younger cheaper and better player for the position. But he doesn't have to go anywhere for six years if he doesn't want to. And given his wages he really may not.

[Lee Trundle]

If you're happy going into next season wishing to play 3 at the back, then fair enough.

I look at the other teams that do in the division:
Leicester
Man Utd
Southampton
Wolves

I'd prefer us to play a 4 with 2 decent centre backs.

[Russ of the BML]

Plus Kilman is here to stay unless we are prepared to take an enormous loss on him and likely subsidise his wages wherever he goes. Even if we choose not to play him, he ain't going to walk out on the deal we gave him as he won't get a better one anywhere else. 

I think Kilman has improved under Potter. Might be because we aren't getting sliced through from midfield every two minutes. But looks a much better player. 

[Lee Trundle]

We really need 2 decent centre backs this summer, to go with Todibo.

We can't go on next season having to play 3 at the back because 2 of them aren't good enough to play as a pair.

Fuck me, your Kilman obsession is getting close to Fordstar's with Noble.

I didn't even name him.

Your current obsession with policing my posts, along with others, is odd though.

[El Scorchio]

Plus Kilman is here to stay unless we are prepared to take an enormous loss on him and likely subsidise his wages wherever he goes. Even if we choose not to play him, he ain't going to walk out on the deal we gave him as he won't get a better one anywhere else. 

[Manuel]

We really need 2 decent centre backs this summer, to go with Todibo.

We can't go on next season having to play 3 at the back because 2 of them aren't good enough to play as a pair.

Fuck me, your Kilman obsession is getting close to Fordstar's with Noble.

[El Scorchio]

Was interesting that Bowen went to the left against Everton.

I didn't see the game, but have been advictaing for this for a long time as a way to get an effective Kudus and Bowen in the same side.

Did it work or was he nullified when operating on that side?

From what I saw and for he time he was there it was ok. Lively. It's where the goal came from as well. He took it through a few players and made the assisting pass to Soucek.

[stubbo-admin]

Was interesting that Bowen went to the left against Everton.

I didn't see the game, but have been advictaing for this for a long time as a way to get an effective Kudus and Bowen in the same side.

Did it work or was he nullified when operating on that side?

[Lee Trundle]

We really need 2 decent centre backs this summer, to go with Todibo.

We can't go on next season having to play 3 at the back because 2 of them aren't good enough to play as a pair.

[El Scorchio]

Was interesting that Bowen went to the left against Everton.

[Russ of the BML]

I thought it was a very solid performance against a team high on confidence and on form. 

Not the most exciting, but as others have said, you can clearly see Potter's affect how we defend as a team and you can clearly see a drastic drop in goals conceded and how often teams play through our midfield. Bar Palace at home, we do also look competitive in the games are in. Potter has built that platform to build from.

We clearly miss a goal scorer and a proper attacking threat from wide left. We also lack pace from midfield. It's that lack of pace that is slowing our attacks down. We also need to be better passing the ball forward through the lines. Obviously Summerville is the threat from left when he returns. And, I am simply unable to believe I am saying this again.....In the summer we need a goal scorer. 

[Rossal]

Why on earth in the first half did Mav jump out the way of a through ball and basc left them 1v1 with Areola.  Physically his attributes are amazing, he just has no brain to defend at all. 

[onsideman]

One of the positives of the past few weeks has been an improvement in Kilman’s form and role.

Unsurprisingly, he’s better in a back three because there’s an extra man centrally to compensate for the lack of pace.

I still don’t think he justifies the price tag - but definitely a little more secure in that role.

Won’t comment on Mav!


 

I'm not sure... he got away with one monumental fuck up in the first half on Saturday.  Should've been a goal, really

With you on Mav... almost responsible for a last minute winner as he lets the ball pass between his legs 

[Rossal]

I’ll give you an example. On the day we signed Ferguson, Ajax loaned Chuba Akpom to Lille. He’s 29 and has plenty of experience in England - and scored many goals for Boro.

He’s started five games since, and scored twice.

I’m not at all saying Akpom would be a saviour of West Ham. But as an emergency loan, I know what would have made more sense.

Corr the meltdown on here if we had signed Akpom instead of Ferguson.  I don't think many could of envisaged him being as poor as he has or look like he is so un matchfit 

Hindsight is a wonderful thing and all that... 

[nychammer]

back to the game in general, I think we were the better team on the day against a bang in form side. Everton given their recent run would, like many side with their recent form would be bitterly disappointed to not to have beaten us. That is a positive, a continuation of our relatively impressively away form what we need to build on and move forward, especially at home.