West Ham vs Manchester United | Pre-Season Friendly | 26.07.2025

[stubbo-admin]

Not sure the merits of chucking this up, but there's a Scoreaxis page for the game so went with it.

 
Match Centre:

Odds:
West Ham: 14/5
Draw: 11/4
Man Utd: 19/20

Pre-Match Press Conference:
TBC

Watch-along:
TBC

Streams:

 
https://en84.sportplus.live/football/cl ... y/6951759/




https://champagne.pages.dev/docs/gettin ... ive-sports


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


 

[El Scorchio]

I think our centre backs are as big a worry as our centre mids.

Thinking about couple of pacey units in centre mid is gonna give the 3 flakey ones a backbone?

It's not, but it might take a bit of pressure off them and leave them a little less exposed. Ideally I'd replace the lot of them but it's not going to happen. It'll be impossible to get rid of Kilman without flushing millions and millions down the toilet. Todibo is looking dodgy and I'd imagine unless he picks it up we'll be facing the usual situation of making a loss on an expensive player. Mav is the only one we could shift without taking a big hit. However he's handy to keep around because he is cheap although it looks like Potter doesn't trust him. Looks like no takers for Aguerd at an acceptable price either but despite maybe being a bit weak, he actually looks like he's our best defender at the moment. It's a bit of a worrying situation with no easy solution.

[Eerie Decent]

I think our centre backs are as big a worry as our centre mids.

Thinking about couple of pacey units in centre mid is gonna give the 3 flakey ones a backbone?

[El Scorchio]

Kilman getting left in the dust by Hoijland or however you spell the cսnt's name with a 2-3 yard head start was worrying. Nothing can fix that. Although he IS a fast player by all accounts so we won't face that every week but it was like seeing someone running in treacle. 

[Eerie Decent]

Not really, I said as much on here a while ago that it's hard to 'train' mistakes of that nature out.

However, the errors he was making, in my eyes, were double rash, and more to do with him being brave and trying to be proactive. I think on that basis, his problem can be worked on.

On the flip side, I think Kilman is the opposite, he hides and doesn't take responsibility, and is just flakey and cumbersome, that to me is inherent and I don't think he'll change. He'll have the odd great game where we're on top as a team, but in general I think he's a shocker, and was getting away with it because he hides, whereas the Greek fronts up.

Anyway, as always these are just opinions, I won't be surprised if Mavropanos in the first game of the season drops a clanger, and you can call me a cսnt.

Or just call me a cսnt regardless.

[kylay]

A little sidenote, I said a few weeks ago that come the end of this season, we'll be saying Mavropanos has been our best central defender.

I think the brainfarts will be cut out to a minimum, and barring those, he has every physical attribute you'd want in a PL centre back, as opposed to the other 3. I'm not saying I rate him highly, but I think he was made a scapegoat, I don't think the mistakes were any worse or any more than the others made, he's just stand out because he is too brave at times, which makes him rash. Cut that out, I'm having him over the other powder-puffs.

I'm ready for the pelters, but I'm sticking by it.

You cannot fix stupid. Why do you think he'll stop dropping clangers every other game?

[Massive Attack]

Todibo, character wise, has been a disaster of a buy. Unless there is a serious underlying issue, how the fuck can the lad not do 90 minutes?

Poor due diligence and a complete lack of a comprehensive scouting network and database? Which is cheaper to run and provides a far more lucrative return than years of signing players based on the principle of wearing a blindfold and trying to find the steam room in a fruity sauna...

Was Steidten and his backroom Team that scouted and brought him here. Geezer looks like he's on at least 4 packs of Bensons a day. 

[Pub Bigot]

Two very average teams, who rely heavily on one player to produce some magic. They’ll probably improve on last season, but I’m not so sure about us. 

How was it out there, mate? 

the only positives I took from the game were the youth players and the fact that all I could hear on the box was our supporters! 

[threesixty]

Pretty hard to judge our defence when our midfield has been so poor.
I see all the positions in the team connected. If one part isnt doing its job it puts extra pressure on the other.
When Man City had the best midfield and forwards and could keep the ball for ages no one really cared how average their defence was because they barely did anything.

So a fair appraisal of our defenders only makes sense with a working midfield line up.
 

[honky cat]

Todibo, character wise, has been a disaster of a buy. Unless there is a serious underlying issue, how the fuck can the lad not do 90 minutes?

 

What's wrong with him, he looks like hes got a football stuffed up his shirt. One leg longer than the other. Trust us to drop £35m on a raspberry. Is he a sully special or a loppy looper?

[eusebiovic]

Todibo, character wise, has been a disaster of a buy. Unless there is a serious underlying issue, how the fuck can the lad not do 90 minutes?

Poor due diligence and a complete lack of a comprehensive scouting network and database? Which is cheaper to run and provides a far more lucrative return than years of signing players based on the principle of wearing a blindfold and trying to find the steam room in a fruity sauna...

[Eerie Decent]

Todibo, character wise, has been a disaster of a buy. Unless there is a serious underlying issue, how the fuck can the lad not do 90 minutes?

[fraser]

They're all as bad as each other with the mistakes but at least Dinos has some physicality, Aguerd has just seemed too weak.. Killman has really nothing about him.. Todibo I just don't get, looked good initially but just looks off the pace. 

[Eerie Decent]

A little sidenote, I said a few weeks ago that come the end of this season, we'll be saying Mavropanos has been our best central defender.

I think the brainfarts will be cut out to a minimum, and barring those, he has every physical attribute you'd want in a PL centre back, as opposed to the other 3. I'm not saying I rate him highly, but I think he was made a scapegoat, I don't think the mistakes were any worse or any more than the others made, he's just stand out because he is too brave at times, which makes him rash. Cut that out, I'm having him over the other powder-puffs.

I'm ready for the pelters, but I'm sticking by it.

[simons]

Two very average teams, who rely heavily on one player to produce some magic. They’ll probably improve on last season, but I’m not so sure about us. 

[eusebiovic]

I really don’t think it was his preference to sell Kudus. It was the only way to get any transfer funds seen as clearly no fucker is interested in buying any other player we have and we know now we had to sell before buying. Sadly the only sellable asset worth a bean. What we need is the fucking owner to pull Salthouses dick out of his mouth and sanction the purchase of players we need to improve the team rather than his and his mates bank balances. 

 

Then he's even more of a weak cսnt than I thought he initially was then. Stop being such a Yes Man to the Board and have some bollocks and say no, we will do this another way. "He stays, I can get the best out of him again". That's what a good manager does when he has genuine quality on his books, regardless of how difficult they can be. He's such a pushover it's embarrassing. The winners are Sullivan/Brady as they get to manipulate him with ease. Who's next through the door you say Wilson and likely Brownhill... 

Selling Kudus definitely wasn't the 'only' way to generate funds. And make no mistake, Potter couldn't handle Kudus and was more than happy to see him leave ASAP. No great shakes said by him about keeping him, radio silence for the most part happy for the sale to go through.

Also selling Kudus rushed the way that we did, we undersold him by a long way which was long term counterproductive hemorrhaging more money when the potential should be a lot more. Like he was after his 1st season proved. £55M for his talent in todays market?? You fucking sure, West Ham?! Spurs got a right steal there under a much better manager who will get the best out of him.

Not a single club has been interested at all in any of our other players. Not a single club. If that doesn’t speak volumes about the quality of our squad then I’m not sure what does. I reckon we might be able to shift Alvarez for some ok money but that’s about it. And I wouldn’t pick to sell him out of what we have in an ideal world at all seen as he’s the only one semi useful in CM despite also being slow as treacle and a walking yellow card. Of course it doesn’t help when the chairman blurts out how desperate we are to sell anyone and get some money to pay back our Wonga style loan before we can even do any business. That’s why we got such a paltry fee. And the player being obstinate. Between them they really fucked our chances of getting any sort of good deal. Bet he’s a fucking shit poker player. Sure Potter could have demanded we don’t sell Kudus but then no-one aside from Callum Wilson comes in. It’s clearly the lesser of two evils unfortunately. 

No one is covering themselves in glory here but all of the problems point ultimately in one direction only. 

"Not a single club has been interested at all in any of our other players. Not a single club. If that doesn’t speak volumes about the quality of our squad then I’m not sure what does"

YES! Precisely and succinctly put!

Not a single club interested in any of our players because they are being paid more than most clubs outside the Premiership can afford to shell out for. 90% of clubs in Europe can't afford the contracts they are on and the few clubs flush with money won't sign them because they are simply not good enough. 

Most of the other 19 teams in the prem won't bite because these players won't dramatically improve their squad and offer very poor value for money. You can bet many of them had already been scouted and passed upon by most of our rivals before they signed for us.

That leaves the Middle East - They have more money than sense but won't be looking to sign any of our lot unless there is a slim chance a manager who has worked with a certain player in the past specifically asks for him. I'm thinking maybe Alvarez or Guido but it's not a nailed on certainty that a Latin American manager out there will want them. Maybe Aguerd as a Moroccan but that is clutching at straws too.

Nobody is signing Areola or Cornet either. The first was a bang average keeper that PSG overpaid for and have now managed to pass on his 125K a week contract to us when there are clearly a number of better French goalkeepers who would gladly have joined us for half those wages. The second was given a crazy 5 year contract when it was clear nobody else was willing to massively increase the wages he got at Burnley but like the Kilman deal our owner rushes in offering the agent stupid money via his back scratching network.

I think Kretinsky knows he has made a bad investment - the only hope I have is he is waiting for our main shareholder to finally hang himself by his own petard. He certainly won't be subsidising his stupidity any further. As for the other two who really knows? I suspect the Tripp Smith given the chance might be biding his time to put a deal together but if he doesn't see any hope of making leeway could well sell up and move his money somewhere else.

Probably to Croydon!

[Massive Attack]

"All and only" Righto.

 

Again I’ve not absolved Potter of all blame but he is pretty far from the main culprit in all this. 

You keep saying that like someone doesn't blame Sullivan for most of the shit that happens at the Club. I couldn't be more clearer that I mostly blame Sullivan for what he's done to the Club, that will never change. That said, blame also lies at a managers door too for their part in the state of a Club and how we play. Be it Potter, Lopetegui, Moyes and so on.

Sullivan, Brady and Gold will always be enemy No.1 at West Ham for their shocking mismanagement of our Football Club. It goes without saying but happy to repeat it again.

[onsideman]

By the way, notwithstanding anything I've said, it obviously can't be argued that Potter's tenure at the rent boys was anything other than fucking dreadful

[El Scorchio]

Oh and on Ferguson, there’s absolutely more than meets the eye to that deal. It just doesn’t make any sense the way it went down at face value. 

[El Scorchio]

"All and only" Righto.

 

 

Again I’ve not absolved Potter of all blame but he is pretty far from the main culprit in all this. If he gets given the players we all know he needs and it’s still as shit I’ll be more than happy to put more and more of it on him but I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt until then. We clearly disagree at least for now and I’m absolutely comfortable with that, but it also takes a gent to disagree respectfully so I appreciate that. 

[onsideman]

They're hardly likely to say Chelsea offered 50 bags a week more than Arsenal so he followed the money

But if 2 different papers printed a story based on the statement that was released? Well that's different then
 

[Massive Attack]

Two different papers reporting on it. It's clear both Potter and Macaulay wanted him and scouted him. Mudryk is on both Potter and Macaulay. 

As for Ferguson, that made it all the more baffling to me to then see him walk away without trying him properly for us. It's no secret he brought him to Brighton.

[onsideman]

Lol! Behave... surely we can all recognise a puff piece when we see one?


"Head Coach Potter is excited by the prospect of working with a player who he first worked with following Ferguson’s transfer from League of Ireland club Bohemians to Brighton four years ago.“I’m delighted we’ve been able to bring Evan in on loan until the end of the season,” said Potter. “He’s a player we obviously know very well, so I’m grateful to the Board for bringing him in.“He’s got plenty of quality attributes as a striker that we believe will benefit the group over the course of the coming months.“We’re excited to integrate him into the squad and see him in action in the weeks to come."
 

[Massive Attack]

First of all Potter would need an owners backing. 

Why would anyone really bother when he was gifted Ferguson in January, only to virtually ignore him the time he had him? The same wasteful manager who along with Macauley brought and scouted Mudryk to Chelsea. His track record in the market isn't great.  

 

Obviously Mudryk is up there as an Antony level of fuck up, but he was very much in demand by.multiple clubs and Arsenal made repeated bids for him in excess of £65m and were pissed off when Chelsea nicked him from under their noses with better wages,  so I'm not entirely convinced he was scouted by either Macauley or Potter?

 

 

Potter believes Mudryk, a quick and direct attacker, will make Chelsea better. “He’s a young player with a big future,” he said. “He’s exciting one v one, direct, attacks the backline, can go in wide areas but also affects the goal. I think our supporters will really like him.”

 

a deal worth an initial £62m, manager Graham Potter held positive talks with Mudryk in a phone call sanctioned by Shakhtar.

 

Potter is a fan of the Ukraine winger and believes his pace and creativity could be just the spark his team need to ignite their struggling season.

 

Mudryk had shown a clear desire to join Arsenal and had been regularly posting on social media to show he was watching their matches. But during those talks with Potter, he was assured he would go straight into the first-team as Chelsea outlined their vision for him.

 

Chelsea’s move for Mudryk might have been swift, but their interest is more long-standing. They first scouted him in 2019 and, more recently, new recruitment analyst Kyle Macauley has been tracking him.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... nitial-70m

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba ... 53268.html

[onsideman]

 I'm no fan of Potter's but don't forget this "nice" squad was largely assembled by others... including your mate, Massive

As an aside it's hugely depressing that Rodriguez, Cornet  and others were taken to the states. Looks like Emerson is the only one certain to go at this stage 






 

First of all Potter would need an owners backing. 

Why would anyone really bother when he was gifted Ferguson in January, only to virtually ignore him the time he had him? The same wasteful manager who along with Macauley brought and scouted Mudryk to Chelsea. His track record in the market isn't great.  

 

 

Obviously Mudryk is up there as an Antony level of fuck up, but he was very much in demand by.multiple clubs and Arsenal made repeated bids for him in excess of £65m and were pissed off when Chelsea nicked him from under their noses with better wages,  so I'm not entirely convinced he was scouted by either Macauley or Potter?

[Massive Attack]

"All and only" Righto.