West Ham Online

threesixty wrote: ↑26 Jan 2026, 09:40

stubbo-admin wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 19:53 I agree to a level. For me it's the comparison between Aguero and Arnautovic. No question Aguero was the better player, but for West Ham he'd never have been as effective as Arnautovic.

Box strikers need service, and to provide service you need control of the ball and to be able to progress up the field.

Mid and lower table teams rely a lot on direct football and hold up play from their central striker...without that they never get to a position to provide service to a 'fox in the box'.

Wilson may be good in the box, but offers us next to nothing outside it. Can't run, can't press, cant win in the air, and can't hold it up, and only barely occupied the centre backs.

We're just not a good enough team to carry a striker who offers next to nothing outside the box. I like Wilson, but impact sub for him when the opposition are tired, and his lack of athletiscim is less of a barrier is exactly the right role for him on this squad at this time. Pablo and Castellanos will likely never be as good as he was in his prime, or as clinical/instinctive as he still is, but they simply contribute way more to the team effort and are fundamentally the key change in our recent uptick in performances. 

Not a snowball in hell's chance Wilson starts over either of them for me. 

 

Man Utd had a similar problem when Ronaldo rejoined them. They were set up that season thinking greenwood and the uraguay geezer were going to play up front and offer defensive energy / pressing. Ronaldo came in and scored a lot of goals but overall it didn’t work because he just walked around up front with no press.

stubbo-admin wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 19:53 I agree to a level. For me it's the comparison between Aguero and Arnautovic. No question Aguero was the better player, but for West Ham he'd never have been as effective as Arnautovic.

Box strikers need service, and to provide service you need control of the ball and to be able to progress up the field.

Mid and lower table teams rely a lot on direct football and hold up play from their central striker...without that they never get to a position to provide service to a 'fox in the box'.

Wilson may be good in the box, but offers us next to nothing outside it. Can't run, can't press, cant win in the air, and can't hold it up, and only barely occupied the centre backs.

We're just not a good enough team to carry a striker who offers next to nothing outside the box. I like Wilson, but impact sub for him when the opposition are tired, and his lack of athletiscim is less of a barrier is exactly the right role for him on this squad at this time. Pablo and Castellanos will likely never be as good as he was in his prime, or as clinical/instinctive as he still is, but they simply contribute way more to the team effort and are fundamentally the key change in our recent uptick in performances. 

Not a snowball in hell's chance Wilson starts over either of them for me. 

dealcanvey wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 19:09

Vexed wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 17:08

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 16:39

There's no mystique about him, just the nous to score important goals with extremely limited amount of game time anyway like he sent us all bezerk last week scoring the winner against those north London wankers. 

So your opinion is based heavily on one goal where the ball fell in front of him and he poked it home from less than a yard out?  Seems reasonable. 

From what we have seen, Wilson as of now is a better premier league striker than Pablo. Completly reasonable given his experience in this league. May well change over time and let’s hope it does.

Dont let it vex you Vexed. 

stubbo-admin wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 19:13 IMO there is no point comparing Pablo with Wilson, because Wilson does things Pablo doesn't, and Pablo does a whole load of things Wilson doesn't.

It's not apples for apples.

Castellanos is a much better comparison. Wilson is way better in the box, Castellanos is way better outside the box.

Pablo and Wilson is like comparing Antonio and Chicharito...both notionally "strikers" but totally different players.

Vexed wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 17:08

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 16:39

Vexed wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 16:26

The cսnt can't run! Colombo is not required to solve this mystery. He uses his 'intelligence' in a mostly stationary position. The mystique around this truly average cսnt is really fucking weird. 

There's no mystique about him, just the nous to score important goals with extremely limited amount of game time anyway like he sent us all bezerk last week scoring the winner against those north London wankers. 

So your opinion is based heavily on one goal where the ball fell in front of him and he poked it home from less than a yard out?  Seems reasonable. 

eusebiovic wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 16:32

Vexed wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 16:26

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 16:13

He doesn't just add goals he worries defences whenever he gets on the ball in their half. Like the commentators rightly point out it's his intelligence to go with his play that sticks out just as much as his goals and efforts towards goal. How he still gets overlooked starting games with his wealth of Prem experience and goal threat instead given token run outs at the arse end of games is bonkers.

The cսnt can't run! Colombo is not required to solve this mystery. He uses his 'intelligence' in a mostly stationary position. The mystique around this truly average cսnt is really fucking weird. 

He holds the ball up quite well which is probably why he plays deep just behind Taty. He seems to be like a refrigerator who can shield the ball so the wingers can bomb on but doesn't currently look like a goal threat. 

We'll see 

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 16:39

Vexed wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 16:26

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 16:13

He doesn't just add goals he worries defences whenever he gets on the ball in their half. Like the commentators rightly point out it's his intelligence to go with his play that sticks out just as much as his goals and efforts towards goal. How he still gets overlooked starting games with his wealth of Prem experience and goal threat instead given token run outs at the arse end of games is bonkers.

The cսnt can't run! Colombo is not required to solve this mystery. He uses his 'intelligence' in a mostly stationary position. The mystique around this truly average cսnt is really fucking weird. 

There's no mystique about him, just the nous to score important goals with extremely limited amount of game time anyway like he sent us all bezerk last week scoring the winner against those north London wankers. 

Vexed wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 16:26

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 16:13

dealcanvey wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026, 20:24

Wilson, a striker, whose job is scoring goals, has a goals to minutes ratio twice as good as the next player in the squad. Does very little as fucking usual?

He doesn't just add goals he worries defences whenever he gets on the ball in their half. Like the commentators rightly point out it's his intelligence to go with his play that sticks out just as much as his goals and efforts towards goal. How he still gets overlooked starting games with his wealth of Prem experience and goal threat instead given token run outs at the arse end of games is bonkers.

The cսnt can't run! Colombo is not required to solve this mystery. He uses his 'intelligence' in a mostly stationary position. The mystique around this truly average cսnt is really fucking weird. 

Vexed wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 16:26

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 16:13

dealcanvey wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026, 20:24

Wilson, a striker, whose job is scoring goals, has a goals to minutes ratio twice as good as the next player in the squad. Does very little as fucking usual?

He doesn't just add goals he worries defences whenever he gets on the ball in their half. Like the commentators rightly point out it's his intelligence to go with his play that sticks out just as much as his goals and efforts towards goal. How he still gets overlooked starting games with his wealth of Prem experience and goal threat instead given token run outs at the arse end of games is bonkers.

The cսnt can't run! Colombo is not required to solve this mystery. He uses his 'intelligence' in a mostly stationary position. The mystique around this truly average cսnt is really fucking weird. 

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 16:13

dealcanvey wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026, 20:24

Vexed wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026, 18:54

Interesting because the Wilson I saw did very little, as fucking usual. Without a goal his performances look somewhat different to the superhero the idiot majority seem to have decided he is. 

Wilson, a striker, whose job is scoring goals, has a goals to minutes ratio twice as good as the next player in the squad. Does very little as fucking usual?

He doesn't just add goals he worries defences whenever he gets on the ball in their half. Like the commentators rightly point out it's his intelligence to go with his play that sticks out just as much as his goals and efforts towards goal. How he still gets overlooked starting games with his wealth of Prem experience and goal threat instead given token run outs at the arse end of games is bonkers.

dealcanvey wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026, 20:24

Vexed wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026, 18:54

dealcanvey wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026, 18:44 Thought Wilson came on and once again offered more than both the new signings. Should be Wilson and one of the two new lads.

Interesting because the Wilson I saw did very little, as fucking usual. Without a goal his performances look somewhat different to the superhero the idiot majority seem to have decided he is. 

Wilson, a striker, whose job is scoring goals, has a goals to minutes ratio twice as good as the next player in the squad. Does very little as fucking usual?

He doesn't just add goals he worries defences whenever he gets on the ball in their half. Like the commentators rightly point out it's his intelligence to go with his play that sticks out just as much as his goals and efforts towards goal. How he still gets overlooked starting games with his wealth of Prem experience and goal threat instead given token run outs at the arse end of games is bonkers.

dealcanvey wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026, 20:24

Vexed wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026, 18:54

dealcanvey wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026, 18:44 Thought Wilson came on and once again offered more than both the new signings. Should be Wilson and one of the two new lads.

Interesting because the Wilson I saw did very little, as fucking usual. Without a goal his performances look somewhat different to the superhero the idiot majority seem to have decided he is. 

Wilson, a striker, whose job is scoring goals, has a goals to minutes ratio twice as good as the next player in the squad. Does very little as fucking usual?

El Scorchio" wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026, 15:53 He’s got me stumped. He puts in so much effort and runs all day and makes us a lot better off the ball as well as trying hard when we have it, harasses defenders and tires the opposition out to give a good opportunity for Wilson to come on. I like him. We are better when he’s playing…

 

Ron Eff" wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 11:57

southbankbornnbred wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 11:12 He’s been poor so far, as a goal threat. Does work hard off the ball, granted. Let’s be honest, most of us wouldn’t have signed him.

We’d have been better off signing one proven £40m striker than two unproven £20+m types (and keeping Wilson, of course).

But he’s one of us now - it’s a big step up for him and we do need to give him some time. As always, I hope he becomes a good player for us. Because he’s West Ham now.




 

I don’t know that I agree with the £40m point. For one we’ve tried that with zero success, but more importantly, both of these two are comfortable dropping deeper with one always playing as the extra midfielder at alternative times to the other, and both have excellent work rate. Dropping in opens up the space that both Summerville and Bowen are benefitting from. Without them occupying the defenders no chance the smallest player on the pitch drifts in unmarked to score a header yesterday! They are both honest types, not trying flicks that give the ball away like Paqueta, for all his good qualities. 

There is more to playing up front than scoring loads of goals. Have they made us a better team, and have our results improved with them in the team? Undoubtedly. 

Grafters is exactly what we needed in our predicament. In this position, it’s nearly always the team that runs the most that gives themselves the best chance. 

southbankbornnbred wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 11:12 He’s been poor so far, as a goal threat. Does work hard off the ball, granted. Let’s be honest, most of us wouldn’t have signed him.

We’d have been better off signing one proven £40m striker than two unproven £20+m types (and keeping Wilson, of course).

But he’s one of us now - it’s a big step up for him and we do need to give him some time. As always, I hope he becomes a good player for us. Because he’s West Ham now.