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]

Alvarez & Paqueta are leaving?

You're talking in facts, when it's just opinion at this point. Talk is, the club are expecting them to stay, but who knows at this point?

Let's deal in the actual facts, as it stands, they are at the club, and they're the best options we have available. By a long way.

I never said they ARE leaving, as well you know. But it's undeniable there have been reports about both wanting to and if they do then that's a huge factor in the priorities of who we need to shift in and out. I'd love it if both stayed but we cannot just assume they are until the transfer window is shut and they are still our players. It's equally short sighted to just assume they are staying.

You're speculating, fact is Paqueta came on last match, and Alvarez just joined up with the squad, so im dealing on that basis.

Fulkrug has been linked with a move away, so has Bowen, so has Soucek, so has Aguerd. Shall we discuss the team without any of them in it?

Yeah we can discuss the team without any of them in it. I'm sure one or two of them may leave. But it's the equivalent of sticking your hands in your ears and shouting if you want to completely discount the stated desire in the past of both players to move away this summer where none of those other players barring Aguerd have done that.

It's a bit short sighted to try and shut down any talk or discussion of certain players leaving and what effect it'll have, especially when our recruitment priorities will change depending on if they do or not. People have been discussing the possibilities all summer.

The fact is if either or both those players leave, which is a possibility, our need for midfielders becomes that much more of a priority. If they don't, then a striker can be prioritised more. 

[Eerie Decent]

Alvarez & Paqueta are leaving?

You're talking in facts, when it's just opinion at this point. Talk is, the club are expecting them to stay, but who knows at this point?

Let's deal in the actual facts, as it stands, they are at the club, and they're the best options we have available. By a long way.

I never said they ARE leaving, as well you know. But it's undeniable there have been reports about both wanting to and if they do then that's a huge factor in the priorities of who we need to shift in and out. I'd love it if both stayed but we cannot just assume they are until the transfer window is shut and they are still our players. It's equally short sighted to just assume they are staying.

You're speculating, fact is Paqueta came on last match, and Alvarez just joined up with the squad, so im dealing on that basis.

Fulkrug has been linked with a move away, so has Bowen, so has Soucek, so has Aguerd. Shall we discuss the team without any of them in it?

[Eerie Decent]

I don't particularly agree with that, plus, we're not saying he'll be in there on his own, are we?

Regardless, he's certainly quicker than the other 3 snails, that is for fucking sure.

[El Scorchio]

Alvarez & Paqueta are leaving?

You're talking in facts, when it's just opinion at this point. Talk is, the club are expecting them to stay, but who knows at this point?

Let's deal in the actual facts, as it stands, they are at the club, and they're the best options we have available. By a long way.

I never said they ARE leaving, as well you know. But it's undeniable there have been reports about both wanting to and if they do then that's a huge factor in the priorities of who we need to shift in and out. I'd love it if both stayed but we cannot just assume they are until the transfer window is shut and they are still our players. It's equally short sighted to just assume they are staying.

[eusebiovic]

Alvarez & Paqueta are leaving?

You're talking in facts, when it's just opinion at this point. Talk is, the club are expecting them to stay, but who knows at this point?

Let's deal in the actual facts, as it stands, they are at the club, and they're the best options we have available. By a long way.

Alvarez is good at defending when dealing what is in front of him where he can see them - the problem is he doesn't have the legs to recover quickly when the team get totally overrun on the counter attack. We need youth in there with quick feet, good mobility and anticipation who can toe poke the ball in the right direction.

Which has yet to be addressed up to this point...

[Fauxstralian]

I’d like to see Alvarez Potts & Paqueta start against Everton
Fearon can maybe get half an hour
Im selling JWP Rodriguez & Soucek and buying two more suitable midfielders 

[Eerie Decent]

Alvarez & Paqueta are leaving?

You're talking in facts, when it's just opinion at this point. Talk is, the club are expecting them to stay, but who knows at this point?

Let's deal in the actual facts, as it stands, they are at the club, and they're the best options we have available. By a long way.

[El Scorchio]

I think the reason people are so stuck on central midfield is because last season, and now in pre-season, he keeps picking the slowest midfield in the country, when there are other options.

Yeah I've thought that as well.  We've got glaringly obvious gaps/holes all over the pitch, yet we somehow need to get more central midfielders in to go with the 8 or 9 we've already got.

I know I'm struggling at containing my excitement at the thought of Callum fucking Wilson joining, but we still only have 1 Premier League quality striker in our squad.

It's not 'to go with' it's 'to replace' because let's face it, the only ones we'd really want to have playing significant minutes are Alvarez and Paqueta, both of whom are also most likely to be sold because neither seem to want to be here and Sullivan will see them as pound signs on legs. We can't function properly without a central midfield. We can buy a 50 million quid striker and it'll barely make a difference because we won't be creating anything for them to score from. Yes we really need a striker and we really need a central defender or two but nothing will work with what we currently have in midfield so surely the priority is to quite substantially upgrade that first, surely. If somehow Alvarez and Paqueta or one of them are convinced to stay then great, we can probably get away with adding only one and that really means there might be funds for a suitable striker, but if both leave, that midfield that started in NY will be starting all our PL games until Christmas at least. We'll be fucked, chasing shadows and not getting near the opposition while they play through us with ease. We won't be scoring any goals no matter who is up front because we won't be able to get them the ball in goalscoring situations. 

[El Scorchio]

Fearon needs to be in and about the squad but it might not be the most sensible thing to just chuck him right in as a starter despite his very good showing on Saturday/Sunday. It would be great to see a LOT more of him in these friendlies- and Potts- to get more of a feel for how they are against decent oppo for more than the last 15 of a match against another team's second string. I'd like to see them play well a couple of times before we get too carried away, although of course we were all mighty impressed with the cameos.

 

I get not exposing him from a player welfare point of view. But I’m also asking what is “better” about other midfielders from an actual playing point of view vs Fearon? A deputy is a deputy because they are not better at playing football than their senior. Not sure I see what our current 1st team mids do better apart from maybe being physically stronger (?). 

in Europe they routinely play young players who are good enough.  Ultimately if it’s a difference between us getting 0 or 3 points we have to play the best players. That’s why they are there. 

we also have to commit to giving them minutes to become better. Rice was very lucky that we had no other senior CDM when he came in and he got far more minutes than any kid at his age. That’s why he ended up being worth 100m. He would never be as good as he is now without the crazy amount of minutes he got with us. 

Because the sample size on Fearon is so small. He's got to be evaluated more before you could count on him as a key piece. 20 mins against Man U's reserves in a friendly just isn't enough. I'm not suggesting we don;t use him or that he won't be any good, but there needs to be more sustained evidence that he can handle it. What he's done is very different to starting a PL match in central midfield vs a decent team. I'd really like to see him get a lot of time in the next two matches in the US preferably at the start of games where it's going to be more competitive. We all knew about Rice for a long time before he broke into the team. Fearon has largely come from nowhere. Credit to him but you cannot make long term decisions based on one cameo appearance. He should be in matchday squads at least but you can't just assume yet he will be a reliable solution to our midfield problems.

Remember the highly touted Reece Oxford? Smashed it against Arsenal on his debut, then was hauled off at half time next game against Leicester and sank without trace. We owe it to the kid to be responsible toward him.

[threesixty]

I’m also trying to remain positive. I’m literally grasping on to any bit of positive I can find because I’d go mental with this club if I didn’t!

the last 15 minutes of that game is the most positivity I’ve seen in 6 months. I just want to see us play good passing football. That’s all I ask. Is that too much ??

[Eerie Decent]

I'm trying to be as positive as possible, but the Wilson signing if it happens is as bad as it gets.

[Lee Trundle]

I think the reason people are so stuck on central midfield is because last season, and now in pre-season, he keeps picking the slowest midfield in the country, when there are other options.

Yeah I've thought that as well.  We've got glaringly obvious gaps/holes all over the pitch, yet we somehow need to get more central midfielders in to go with the 8 or 9 we've already got.

I know I'm struggling at containing my excitement at the thought of Callum fucking Wilson joining, but we still only have 1 Premier League quality striker in our squad.

[Eerie Decent]

Potts deserves his chance ahead of Fearon. I actually got told about the kid and how highly he's rated, personally I think a season on loan to see what he does consistently is the best way to go. He is full of energy which stood out, but if you actually watch it, Potts was very composed, and has the experience now of being a first team regular.

We clearly need a signing in there, but to me, Alvarez & Potts sitting with Paqueta just ahead of them is a million times better than the 3 snails. JWP & Soucek should be 5th & 6th choice to start, with Soucek being a sub to launch the ball at if we're behind late in games. I think the reason people are so stuck on central midfield is because last season, and now in pre-season, he keeps picking the slowest midfield in the country, when there are other options.

[threesixty]

Fearon needs to be in and about the squad but it might not be the most sensible thing to just chuck him right in as a starter despite his very good showing on Saturday/Sunday. It would be great to see a LOT more of him in these friendlies- and Potts- to get more of a feel for how they are against decent oppo for more than the last 15 of a match against another team's second string. I'd like to see them play well a couple of times before we get too carried away, although of course we were all mighty impressed with the cameos.

 

 

I get not exposing him from a player welfare point of view. But I’m also asking what is “better” about other midfielders from an actual playing point of view vs Fearon? A deputy is a deputy because they are not better at playing football than their senior. Not sure I see what our current 1st team mids do better apart from maybe being physically stronger (?). 

in Europe they routinely play young players who are good enough.  Ultimately if it’s a difference between us getting 0 or 3 points we have to play the best players. That’s why they are there. 

we also have to commit to giving them minutes to become better. Rice was very lucky that we had no other senior CDM when he came in and he got far more minutes than any kid at his age. That’s why he ended up being worth 100m. He would never be as good as he is now without the crazy amount of minutes he got with us. 

[El Scorchio]

Fearon needs to be in and about the squad but it might not be the most sensible thing to just chuck him right in as a starter despite his very good showing on Saturday/Sunday. It would be great to see a LOT more of him in these friendlies- and Potts- to get more of a feel for how they are against decent oppo for more than the last 15 of a match against another team's second string. I'd like to see them play well a couple of times before we get too carried away, although of course we were all mighty impressed with the cameos.

[threesixty]

The thing that does annoy me about Potter is that he has that annoying “middle manager waffle” thing. Where he will never tell you any of his actual reasoning for a decision and obfuscate everything. An old school manager like redknapp or warnock will just say “he was shit so I subbed him” etc and it’s clear what’s going on. But with Potter I will never know why he thinks Guido is better than Irving etc? Or why Fearon can’t start for us. 

I don’t think in 6 months I’ve heard anything useful in a press conference or after match interview from Potter apart from when he lost his shit that day. lol. 


 

[Lee Trundle]

If Fearon can continue how he played in that fleeting appearance, then I'd have him in there.

But we all know Potter will line up with Soucek and JWP to help his crab football.

[threesixty]

If we don’t get a senior decent CM in, given what we saw the other day, why would you not put at least Fearon in the starting 11?

I haven’t seen ANY of our midfielders besides Paq do anything better than what he was doing in that last 15. If you have more experience and still play shit how does it make sense. 

I remember Guardiola made the decision to play a more senior player ahead of Palmer whilst Palmer showed he could do the job. So palmer left, and look what happened. 

if you’re good enough you’re old enough in football I think. 
 

[fraser]

I still SEETHE at the Kilman transfer.

I thought he was £15 million overpriced, I now think £15 million might be overpriced 

[Lee Trundle]

I still SEETHE at the Kilman transfer.

[fraser]

Potts and Fearon did only play against their weaker players.. Alarmingly so did our starting midfield and they looked no better against the weaker ones. 

The word from a "senior source" at the club is they're not concerned because Paqueta and Alvarez aren't playing yet which indicates they're both staying... Those two with a new addition backed up by the youth would be OK. 

What I also found alarming was a couple of balls up the right hand side that JWP tried to get on and failed while Bowen was in the middle doing nothing, he seldom got to any wide positions as there wasn't room, when there was and we got forward quickly he scored but was anonymous before that 

We also have Summerville who doesn't really have anywhere to play in Potter's formation 

[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.

I remember that when the England squad was announced for the first international break last September, a few on here were moaning that kilman wasn't considered despite there being a dearth of left-sided centre backs. The frustration was based purely on our having laid out £40m for him as he'd barely played a game for us at that point.

Fast forward to the March 25 break and no one (NO ONE) was asking any more.

There's a reason he's never made a squad at the age of 28

I was on the fence, hadn't seen loads of him but the most worrying thing was what the Wolves fans were saying. Sometimes fans can be bitter at a player leaving, but it, to a man, verged from scathing, to can't believe we got that money for an average centre back who can't play in a back 4.

I've been shocked at just how shit he is. As I say, he commits the worst crime of all - hiding. Give me the big brave Greek fronting up any day of the week, mistakes an all.

[Vexed]

We don't seem to have one CB with testicles, a body that works, can trap a bag of cement and a brain. Doesn't seem too much too ask does it?

We've got two bad attitudes, a coward and a bonehead. At least one of them has TodibAIDS. Thanks Steidten! 

To be fair we have major issues in every department. Keeper's shit. Centre backs are questionable. Centre midfield is dire. We have zero competent strikers. Two and a bit weeks to go. Strap in, it's going to be a bad one. 

 

[onsideman]

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.

I remember that when the England squad was announced for the first international break last September, a few on here were moaning that kilman wasn't considered despite there being a dearth of left-sided centre backs. The frustration was based purely on our having laid out £40m for him as he'd barely played a game for us at that point.

Fast forward to the March 25 break and no one (NO ONE) was asking any more.

There's a reason he's never made a squad at the age of 28

[Sir Alf]

Having watched the last 15 mins again on one of those full footy match replay sites, I was pleasantly surprised by Potts. He was so much quicker with his 2 touch passing, always dropping into the “pockets” in central midfield and constantly making himself available to receive the ball.  Keeping it simple but also able to press and snap into challenges.  Having watched him at Pompey I was concerned about his strength on the ball but he was able to compete on that front too. What was also encouraging was how he and Paqueta and Fearon were linking up and playing some impressive one twos. Moreover, the three of them were constantly looking to get the ball forward asap and were able to beat the press multiple times. 
Fearon was impressive simply because he has had no senior level experience and is another that moves constantly and is confident on the ball alwayd looking to receive it. 

One game and a preseason is not conclusive and it was the Mancs second string 11 at the end of the game. Nonetheless, it was encouraging and Potts even Fearon look a better bet than JWP, Soucek and Guido based on that.  Potter starting the 3 “snail like” midfielders and playing them for 75 mins ( for  full match fitness)  suggests they are pencilled in as starters fir our first game. Lets hope Potter is having a rethink?  Ideally we get 2 new athletic midfielders in but otherwise surely Potts has to be considered?  Maybe we will know the answer on Wednesday against Everton in the next preseason game.  Im hoping Potts starts with Paqueta and impresses.