West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread

[stubbo-admin]

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Match Centre: 

 Odds: 
WHU: 8/5
Draw: 5/2
Arsenal: 19/10

 Pre-Match Press Conference: 
Official Site

 Match Preview: 
Analytics United 

 Watch-along:
Hammers Chat


Streams:

Sport+

 If there above doesn't work go look for a Stream from the sites listed here!

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

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It will have been 16 days since we saw what football at the top end of things could look like by Arsenal, who made us look second class citizens in footballing terms.

This game is unusual this season, in so far as the bookies have us down as favourites to win.  Monday nigth, under the lights....but how empty will the bowl be.  With a boycott planned, kids for a quid, general sale tickets up for cheap, and Nuno's first home game, the atmosphere and attendance is anyone's guess.

Injuries wise, our Big Fucking German is big fucking injured again...reducing the options up front to the two Callum's.  Nuno chose to save ~86k in wages last time out, preferring the pace and mobility of Marshall over Wilson, and it will be interesting to see if he does the same thing here, or goes for a 'makeshift' centreforward.  And of course Soucek is back.

Other than that, there are no fresh concerns reported going into the weekend.

Predicted Starting Lineup:

Areola

Wan Bissaka   Mavropanos    Kilman    Diouf

Magassa

Fernandes             Soucek       Paqueta       Summerville

Bowen (c)

Subs: Hermansen, KWP, Igor, Potts, Guilherme, Marshall, Rodriguez, Wilson, Scarles

Predicted Score: 1-0 (Soucek)

COYI

 

 

[Metroplex]

Areola
KWP Mavro Kilman Diouf
Fernandes Magassa Paqueta 
Bowen Wilson Summerville 

Really hoping not to see Soucek back for this one. For me he represents the past and was a major factor in what was a failing midfield. 
I don't mind which of the Callums starts, but either way, I would hope the other one gets a good half hour. 

 

 

Soucek is just a God awful footballer. Sure he runs a lot and scores the occasional tap in, but for me he's a constant reminder as to how the team is failing to evolve

[Far Cough UKunt]

Wish we had the Wardrobe Abdoulaye Faye

[El Scorchio]

Bowen is and never has been a captain on the pitch.  Behind the scenes he might be great, but i want a captain shouting at the players, seeing them up, getting at the ref.  Not simply waving his arms occasionally.

If your captain isnt leading on the pitch, then someone else needs to just do it.

Problem is weve got a bunch of gutless pathetic mercenary cowards who arent up for a fight and are gojg  through the motions to collect (in some
cases) double my ANNUAL wage every single week.

Soucek has that character and needs to step up.  He had no issue putting his body in the way.  But he ia so hot and cold in games it's unbelievable.  And probably shouldn't even be starting.

Kilman And todibo, no chance.  Fernandes, potts, magassa?  Nope.

Wan bisakka maybe. 

Paqueta is vocal, but hes self absorbed and would probably get himself sent off.  A lot

Much as I dislike him, we need a character like Tarkovsky. Nasty fucker who gets in the face of his opponents, plays as dirty and physical as he can to upset them and put them off their game, and gets in the face of the officials as well. Leads his team and looks like he cares.

We have had nothing like that since arguable Dawson or Zouma. Even those two weren't that nasty but they were lumps who could put themselves about.

Mav, Kilman and Todibo are just utter melts in comparison- less said about that gutless pussy cսnt Aguerd the better.

[Mad Dog]

Bowen is and never has been a captain on the pitch.  Behind the scenes he might be great, but i want a captain shouting at the players, seeing them up, getting at the ref.  Not simply waving his arms occasionally.

If your captain isnt leading on the pitch, then someone else needs to just do it.

Problem is weve got a bunch of gutless pathetic mercenary cowards who arent up for a fight and are gojg  through the motions to collect (in some
cases) double my ANNUAL wage every single week.

Soucek has that character and needs to step up.  He had no issue putting his body in the way.  But he ia so hot and cold in games it's unbelievable.  And probably shouldn't even be starting.

Kilman And todibo, no chance.  Fernandes, potts, magassa?  Nope.

Wan bisakka maybe. 

Paqueta is vocal, but hes self absorbed and would probably get himself sent off.  A lot

[Russ of the BML]

Every team in the PL has a methodology. So basically, when they get the ball, each player has a job to do - They are all thinking the same thing and have been drilled to get the ball, whichever way suits them best, into and around their main goal threat. West Ham have no methodology, players are not all thinking the same and we have no threat. How are we expected to win a game at this level?

[southbankbornnbred]

The midfield problems reflect the stunning ineptitude of this board and previous managers.

Everybody, right down to your nan, was yelling at the club to bring in some pace and legs in central midfield over the summer (throughout last season, really). Other managers said it, pundits said it, fans said it, coaches at the club said it privately (I know this because I spoke to one).

What did they do?

They brought in, expensively, Fernandes and Magassa. Neither of whom look especially quick or mobile.

I’m not going to slag them off, because both are still finding their feet at West Ham - and both might have other strengths over time. Fernandes does have good technical ability, for example. Maybe pace is not their thing. Good luck to them. But, from what we’ve seen so far, there are already doubts that they are the solution to the actual problem we had: a clear lack of pace and ability to cover ground quickly.

Right now, they’ve just joined the large stock of slow or bang average (speed wise) CMs that we already had in Alvarez (now gone), JWP, Soucek, Irving, Paqueta and Rodriguez.

Watching that midfield last night was like watching blokes wade through treacle. Early days, of course, but I still don’t know what sort of player we’re watching with Fernandes. I hope he comes good.

Do we even scout players these days? If so, how? And who does it? How do we assess players against the needs of the team?

 

Remember having a ding dong on here end of transfer window over Fernandes and Magassa.  Looks like I was spot on.   Also said Paqueta is shit and overated hugely. Get me as DOF its not hard to apply some common sense and some logic to this game!

As usual we left it late, panicked and overspent on a loads of shite. 

Who in our SQUAD is worth more than what we paid..... Bowen, AWB and Diouf?  Shocking. 

Considering we can't sell for shit either, expect the firesale after relegation to provide next to fuck all in funds and us end up how Soton are doing down there this season. 

You did indeed ask Qs about our summer spending, Rossal.

But to be fair to both Fernandes and (especially) Magassa, they haven't really played much for us yet. So, realistically, none of us know how good they will be for us. My wider point was that neither of them look particularly quick, so they don't directly address the glaring problem we had, which was the lack of pace through the middle of the pitch. But they might go on to be decent players for us for other reasons. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

You might still turn out to be right, though, fella. We don't exactly have a good recent track record with signings.

[Tomshardware]

The big thing we miss apart from the obvious is CHARACTER.

Who is out there pulling up those who are not putting a shift in and challenging others to try harder when the chips are down.

Who is doing the organising on the pitch and leading by example ?

Nobody.

Bowen does his best and is our best player but isn't a captain in the true sense of the word partly because of the position he plays 

It's almost by default he has the armband in my opinion as when you look around there is nobody else who is up to it bar Soucek who is now likely to only be a bit part player.

Who in this squad those two apart would run through brick walls for the club.?

Oh for a Ginger Pele a Dawson a Kevin Nolan even

Not the best players but truly got what was required and were more than prepared to put their bodies on the line or take one for the team.

All gone and largely replaced by characterless and in some cases talentless individuals.

Relegation beckoning

 

Agreed, would add to that list the likes of Steve Lomas, Scott Parker, midfielders with bite and passion who would put their head on the block for the shirt.    

[Rossal]

The big thing we miss apart from the obvious is CHARACTER.

Who is out there pulling up those who are not putting a shift in and challenging others to try harder when the chips are down.

Who is doing the organising on the pitch and leading by example ?

Nobody.

Bowen does his best and is our best player but isn't a captain in the true sense of the word partly because of the position he plays 

It's almost by default he has the armband in my opinion as when you look around there is nobody else who is up to it bar Soucek who is now likely to only be a bit part player.

Who in this squad those two apart would run through brick walls for the club.?

Oh for a Ginger Pele a Dawson a Kevin Nolan even

Not the best players but truly got what was required and were more than prepared to put their bodies on the line or take one for the team.

All gone and largely replaced by characterless and in some cases talentless individuals.

Relegation beckoning

 

Yep, thats pretty spot on. I am not sure anyone can argue with any of that......unfortunately.  The club is rotten and ruined. 

[Gary Strodders shank]

The big thing we miss apart from the obvious is CHARACTER.

Who is out there pulling up those who are not putting a shift in and challenging others to try harder when the chips are down.

Who is doing the organising on the pitch and leading by example ?

Nobody.

Bowen does his best and is our best player but isn't a captain in the true sense of the word partly because of the position he plays 

It's almost by default he has the armband in my opinion as when you look around there is nobody else who is up to it bar Soucek who is now likely to only be a bit part player.

Who in this squad those two apart would run through brick walls for the club.?

Oh for a Ginger Pele a Dawson a Kevin Nolan even

Not the best players but truly got what was required and were more than prepared to put their bodies on the line or take one for the team.

All gone and largely replaced by characterless and in some cases talentless individuals.

Relegation beckoning
 

[Rossal]

The midfield problems reflect the stunning ineptitude of this board and previous managers.

Everybody, right down to your nan, was yelling at the club to bring in some pace and legs in central midfield over the summer (throughout last season, really). Other managers said it, pundits said it, fans said it, coaches at the club said it privately (I know this because I spoke to one).

What did they do?

They brought in, expensively, Fernandes and Magassa. Neither of whom look especially quick or mobile.

I’m not going to slag them off, because both are still finding their feet at West Ham - and both might have other strengths over time. Fernandes does have good technical ability, for example. Maybe pace is not their thing. Good luck to them. But, from what we’ve seen so far, there are already doubts that they are the solution to the actual problem we had: a clear lack of pace and ability to cover ground quickly.

Right now, they’ve just joined the large stock of slow or bang average (speed wise) CMs that we already had in Alvarez (now gone), JWP, Soucek, Irving, Paqueta and Rodriguez.

Watching that midfield last night was like watching blokes wade through treacle. Early days, of course, but I still don’t know what sort of player we’re watching with Fernandes. I hope he comes good.

Do we even scout players these days? If so, how? And who does it? How do we assess players against the needs of the team?

 

 

Remember having a ding dong on here end of transfer window over Fernandes and Magassa.  Looks like I was spot on.   Also said Paqueta is shit and overated hugely. Get me as DOF its not hard to apply some common sense and some logic to this game!

As usual we left it late, panicked and overspent on a loads of shite. 

Who in our SQUAD is worth more than what we paid..... Bowen, AWB and Diouf?  Shocking. 

Considering we can't sell for shit either, expect the firesale after relegation to provide next to fuck all in funds and us end up how Soton are doing down there this season. 

[stubbo-admin]

Post match from the nerds:

Some interesting observations....

1. Are our defence so weak because they train against weak attackers?
2. Quite simply we have a lower calibre first 18 than almost every other squad in the league, player for player
3. Brentford turned up with 2 rows of Analysts for the game.  Most teams arrive with 3 or 4.
4. We dont have a coherent team where combinations of players compliment each other.

Anyway, given how dire the performance was, the breakdown shows were a good listen.



 

[Full Claret Jacket]

Where is our Busquets?? Our Yaya Toure? The midfield general that teams are scared of?




 

Our owner whored him out on 8th June 2023 to all comers, then wrapped him in a bow and waited for Arsenal to take him off our hands. That's where. 

 

Weren’t we in for Amadu Onana? And Everton out bid us or something? 
Just a strong CM that can properly play. Everyone we have is one of the following: slow, weak or has no technique. It’s the glaring hole in our squad.

He didnt stay at Everton long and he wouldnt have at us either. He thinks he is better than he is and is all about the money. Problem player with no loyalty. 

[Tomshardware]

Clubs have players often from when they are 8 years old if not younger
The idea that players get to an age where they make the first team 10+ years later without having developed the ability to use both feet equally is laughable 
​’Professional’ footballers ! 

Agreed, I'm always amazed that so many of these professional players cant use both feet.  How do they get to that level being one footed. 

[Fauxstralian]

Clubs have players often from when they are 8 years old if not younger
The idea that players get to an age where they make the first team 10+ years later without having developed the ability to use both feet equally is laughable 
​’Professional’ footballers ! 

[onsideman]

It seems obvious to me that Nunu HAD to show a bit of loyalty to the players who stayed behind while others were off on  international duty as they were coached by him every day the others were away.
 

Which is nonsensical. There isn't another manager who would pick the players who aren't good enough to be selected for their national teams and leave out the ones that are. Especially as he had a couple of days longer than most to bed in the returnees. It's madness and fucking inexcusable.

[zico]

I don't think the modern day players seem to bother working on their weaknesses either these days.  Training finishes then off home to play FIFA!  A lot knock the likes of Frank Lampard but like his dad he wore spikes after training to try and get some level of pace that allowed him to compete and I am sure the likes of Ian Wright spent a couple of extra hours working on their finishing.  Not just at West Ham but the lack of a two footed player these days is incredible.  They aren't all Messi or Maradona who could get away with just the one good peg.  It's so easy for defenders when they know you are going to cut inside to use your only foot,  Nuno should have them in both morning and afternoon working on fitness and sprinting.  The only way we are going to get out of this is by competing because we aren't going to do it on skill.

[chim chim cha boo]

It seems obvious to me that Nunu HAD to show a bit of loyalty to the players who stayed behind while others were off on  international duty as they were coached by him every day the others were away. He would have scratched out some sort of gameplan but omitted one small detail, backbone.

As much as I hated Allardyce one of the first things he did was add a few utter lumps to the squad. Remember Faye? We went from one of the shortest teams in the division to one of the biggest. Useless ball players really but nasty bastards some of them. When they walked down the line of opposition players shaking hands before a game I used to laugh as it was SO not like West Ham. Now we're in a position where some big old lumps who CAN play a bit can walk through our defence and there's NOTHING we can do about it.

If you'd said last season the player I'd least like to leave would be Kurt Zouma, knees and all I'd have laughed at you. Fuck, we could do with him marshalling our defence and showing them anticipation can hide a multitude of sins. most of all putting an arm around Kilman and telling him to stop acting like a headless chicken and don't give a fuck about Opta stats-they mean NOTHING.

All in all it was a bit weird watching a home game from my armchair as I've had a season ticket for about 30 years and have rarely missed one but boycotting...that....was about as easy a decision as I'll ever make. With the poundland gimp at the wheel hopefully I'll have the conviction to actually do what I've been thinking about since we moved and I finally realised we'd been sold a pup, not renew. These cunts are taking the piss and I've got better things to do than get soaking wet and freezing cold on a Monday night.

[El Scorchio]

That lack of fitness thing is unforgivable.  Reminds me of when bilic was in charge with dicks and training seemed more of a laugh than hard work.

Its simple.  Srixk an hour on training (im sure they could go from.2 to 3 hours of fucking work a day) and fucking run

Wonder how below standard our fitness facilities, equipment and regimen at the training ground is, as well. Probably a factor. 20 of them waiting around to take 5 minutes on the two exercise bikes before queuing to sit in an inflatable ice bath in the car park which we can only use when the freezers in the canteen are being defrosted...

[ragingbull]

We performed like a Portuguese tram last night
All the dead weights snapped the cable about 20 mins in

 

 

Played more like a Portuguese tranny working on a john...all messed up.

[theaxeman]

We were fucked last night as soon as Nono handed in the team sheet. Absolutely gave us no chance of competing in that game.

[Mad Dog]

That lack of fitness thing is unforgivable.  Reminds me of when bilic was in charge with dicks and training seemed more of a laugh than hard work.

Its simple.  Srixk an hour on training (im sure they could go from.2 to 3 hours of fucking work a day) and fucking run

[Sweep]

The club has been on a downward slide since the start of 2024, but last night was something else entirely.

Yeah, we get caned now and again by good teams, and we often struggle if the other team have a bit more physicality, but last night....woah. 

How could any manager go into that game and change 5 of the back 6? WTF had some of these players done to regain their place, and others to lose it?

And playing the full backs on the wrong side? 

One of the weirdest nights ever.

[Fauxstralian]

We performed like a Portuguese tram last night
All the dead weights snapped the cable about 20 mins in

[El Scorchio]

Bit soon to be talking about Portuguese trams. 

[Come On You Irons]

It was a shocking performance yet again at home and as has been mentioned, it could easily have been 0-5.

Nuno's tram selection and tactics were also shocking. We look nailed on for relegation this season unless Nuno sorts things out pronto and we spend big and sign a couple of strikers in January.

An aged Callum Wilson, an unproven Callum Marshall and Paqueta up front are not good enough, alongside the Kraut crock.