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.
southbankbornnbred wrote: ↑21 Oct 2025, 13:57
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.
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 22 Oct 2025, 11:03
by Tomshardware
Gary Strodders shank" wrote: ↑22 Oct 2025, 10:06
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.
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 22 Oct 2025, 10:09
by Rossal
Gary Strodders shank" wrote: ↑22 Oct 2025, 10:06
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.
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 22 Oct 2025, 10:06
by 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
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 22 Oct 2025, 09:01
by Rossal
southbankbornnbred wrote: ↑21 Oct 2025, 13:57
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.
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 22 Oct 2025, 09:00
by 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.
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
threesixty wrote: ↑21 Oct 2025, 15:07
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.
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 21 Oct 2025, 20:23
by Tomshardware
Fauxstralian wrote: ↑21 Oct 2025, 18:24
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.
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 21 Oct 2025, 18:24
by 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 !
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 21 Oct 2025, 18:19
by onsideman
chim chim cha boo" wrote: ↑21 Oct 2025, 17:24
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.
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 21 Oct 2025, 17:27
by 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.
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 21 Oct 2025, 17:24
by 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.
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 21 Oct 2025, 17:14
by El Scorchio
Mad Dog" wrote: ↑21 Oct 2025, 16:54
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...
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 21 Oct 2025, 17:01
by ragingbull
Fauxstralian wrote: ↑21 Oct 2025, 16:23
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.
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 21 Oct 2025, 16:59
by 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.
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 21 Oct 2025, 16:54
by 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
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 21 Oct 2025, 16:33
by 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.
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 21 Oct 2025, 16:23
by Fauxstralian
We performed like a Portuguese tram last night
All the dead weights snapped the cable about 20 mins in
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 21 Oct 2025, 16:19
by El Scorchio
Bit soon to be talking about Portuguese trams.
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 21 Oct 2025, 16:15
by 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.
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 21 Oct 2025, 16:14
by Fauxstralian
I understood with Onana that the fee & wages were agreed
But his sister (or other relative) was his agent & she wanted an extra figure on top of his wages (maybe 25%?) over the whole contract for HER
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
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 apparently demanded guaranteed selection when fit, to which we rightly said no.
IF that's really the truth and not a convenient fabrication or excuse for ponying up the required funds. That was the company line, so it's probably bollocks.
HAHAHA! Well, I know, but thought I'd better just state the given reason from the club for not signing him, as well as what I suspect the actual reason was...
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
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 apparently demanded guaranteed selection when fit, to which we rightly said no.
IF that's really the truth and not a convenient fabrication or excuse for ponying up the required funds. That was the company line, so it's probably bollocks.
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
threesixty wrote: ↑21 Oct 2025, 15:07
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 apparently demanded guaranteed selection when fit, to which we rightly said no.
IF that's really the truth and not a convenient fabrication or excuse for ponying up the required funds. That was the company line, so it's probably bollocks.
Re: West Ham vs Brentford | PL | 20.10.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Have to be a tiny bit careful, Scorch, as I'm not in the habit of exposing sources (don't really have many football sources, as I've not reported on the playing side of the sport for more than 25 years: I know this source for other reasons).
But this chat was around late June/early July (from memory) and the coach in question said many of the issues with the team and squad were "glaring" problems that needed rectifying over the summer. But my reading of the chat (which mostly focused on other things) was that there was still confusion about who was in full control of transfers. The coaches didn't seem to know, it all lacked clarity. And we know that played out, with Sullivan going above everybody's head and putting himself in charge by the end of the summer.
There has also been concern, for a while, including last season, that this is not a particularly fit squad of players compared with other teams. The hint was that Potter felt he inherited an unfit squad from Loppy, but didn't/couldn't put that right quickly. And we saw that again last night. Several of our players were gassed after 60 minutes.
Cheers! Of course. Much appreciated that you shared what you could. It would be wholly unfair to drop someone in it for something said in confidence so fully understood.
Very interesting and I guess confirms what we all really suspect anyway. Criminal that the coaches didn't know who was running transfers or there was no clarity. Astonishing for a PL club in 2026 when you look at how the others are almost all run like big businesses with a clear leadership structure and matrix of responsibility and accountability for everyone, and we are run like a market stall in comparison, although that's probably insulting to anyone who owns a market stall, with zero transparency even to the employees.
You have to ask what hope any manager even has, working like this.
The fitness issue is also very concerning- how can it not be fixed? Professional footballers ARE capable of being fit. These men are all in their 20s and 30s. Is it just a lack of willing on their part? Are we that dysfunctional where players simply won't do what the managers ask of them? I'm wondering if that's why Emerson, Alvarez, Aguerd were shipped out for being malevolent influences. Todibo seems to be clearly not putting the required work in either. This is probably even more troubling than the transfer scenario above, if there's such a poor culture at the club where certain players are just refusing to get themselves to the required fitness level. Because then we truly are fucked whatever manager comes in and whatever they try to do. We don't have the luxury of being able to drop a bunch of players. I hope it was just a weakness in Potter that Nuno will be able to rectify. Sounds like we really need to bring in a couple of very high character and influential players to set an example for the rest. Sad to say it but someone like Henderson. Someone to tell the players this isn't fucking good enough.
I agree with all of that. For clarity, there was genuine confusion about responsibility for transfers. Who exactly is responsible at what point? This was the post-Steidten era, and it wasn't clear who picked up all of his roles. It's possible that has since been rectified. Sullivan seemingly has taken it upon himself.
On the fitness side, my reading of that short conversation was that Potter felt the players were not as fit as he'd like them to have been, and wondered why. Questions were asked about the work done in pre-season last year (2024). And the impression I got was that Potter and his new team, when they came in (Jan 25), felt we were too far into the season to put in the necessary heavy fitness work to get the team to full capacity. I guess that, with games coming thick and fast, there was not enough space in the training/playing schedule for players to do the gut-busting work because they'd then be heavy-legged for matches.
But. I don't rate Potter as a coach, so some of that might have been him making excuses to other staff. Who knows?
There was a general sense of confusion about the place, though. That much was clear. This coach described the "revolving door" creating ongoing uncertainty.
Sullivan of course would have been the creator of all that confusion. It's up to him to communicate down CLEARLY what responsibility lies with what employees, especially with him making himself the defacto director of football. Abject failure on his part then for not realising or being purposely unwilling to give clarity and solid delegation of tasking to his reports. Just sounds like the oft mentioned circus. No-one can be expected to perform to the best of their ability without clarity from above. Even for me it's hard to know how many big macs to prepare if the manager isn't shouting the orders to me clearly.....
Clearly the fitness wasn't sorted in the summer then- or maybe only some of the players decided to put in the effort. That reeks of Potter not being in control or of a terrible culture at the club that he wasn't able to sort out or weed out all the bad apples. Although that said again confusion and uncertainty wrecks everything and creates apathy and again it comes from the very top. Why should the players bother if they don't know who is going to be in charge next month or even next week? They know the manager is gone before they are so why should they listen especially when they are going to carry on picking up eye watering money every week? This is where the person at the very top has to get their house in order and offer that certainty and clarity to everyone, and we know he's awful at that. He thrives on not having it. That smokescreen to protect him and pull others into the way. Let's hope it continues to evaporate.
