West Ham Online

goose wrote: ↑04 Sep 2025, 08:18 Needs to sort out the home form asap. 

Russ of the BML" wrote: ↑01 Sep 2025, 10:51

Sir Alf" wrote: ↑31 Aug 2025, 20:51 See where are at game 5. If we see the improvement sustained for another couple of games it might then be that we have “turned a corner”. But to really know will probably mean waiting until xmas assuming we dont immediately go back into a “downward death spiral”. The transfer window needs to get us at least a CB ( Cresswell?)  but imo another centre mid is still required to starting JWP and Soucek. A younger striker too is required but realistically I suspect we will only get a CB.  That said, was looking at this Magassa’s stats, he is Europe’s top 5 for defensive duel winning, tackles and interceptions. Something we really have missed since Rice went. Im hoping to see us go up another notch with him and Fernandes alongside Paqueta.  

Magassa's stats are unreal. And if he is as good as they declare and as good as some French football pundits are saying then we have stolen him for that money. I think, as you say, ultimately it will be Paqueta, Magassa and Fernandes. 

Potter needs to quickly work out what is our best formation though. If he wants that midfield 3 then he needs to play a 3-5-2 or a 4-5-1. But yesterday we played a 3-4-3. Now with Summerville back how does he integrate him with Diouf? Has KWP played himself in over AWB? Is Wilson now the starter of Fullkrug? 

Lots for Potter to think about. And all this on top of him still being under the microscope for many. We lose next game and its all doom and gloom again. 

Sir Alf" wrote: ↑31 Aug 2025, 20:51 See where are at game 5. If we see the improvement sustained for another couple of games it might then be that we have “turned a corner”. But to really know will probably mean waiting until xmas assuming we dont immediately go back into a “downward death spiral”. The transfer window needs to get us at least a CB ( Cresswell?)  but imo another centre mid is still required to starting JWP and Soucek. A younger striker too is required but realistically I suspect we will only get a CB.  That said, was looking at this Magassa’s stats, he is Europe’s top 5 for defensive duel winning, tackles and interceptions. Something we really have missed since Rice went. Im hoping to see us go up another notch with him and Fernandes alongside Paqueta.  

Takashi Miike" wrote: ↑31 Aug 2025, 08:33 it shows how out of touch this cսnt is that he apparently named Aguerd in his five man leadership group before the season started. 

Eerie Decent" wrote: ↑29 Aug 2025, 21:48 He'll realise the centre backs are the actual problem when we're still letting in goals by the bucketload.

Sir Alf" wrote: ↑29 Aug 2025, 08:41 Still not convinced with his “Poor Man’s Pep” tactics as the best teams seem to have moved away from a pure controlled possession game. Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal etc can move the ball quickly and get it from back to front with 2 or 3 passes to break teams down and other teams like Bournemouth, Brighton and even Forest all rely on relentless pressimg and speed and power.  I look at City and yes they have great players but not the same athleticism in midfield overall or at least last season that was the case. Even Guardiola said the game has evolved and he needed to modify how he had the team playing.  Potter seems stuck in 2020 thinking but maybe, just maybe if he gets the power, pace and ball carrying, pressing capabilities in midfield he can get us competing far more effectively ( I mean its impossible to be worse than we’ve been for the last few seasons surely ?).

Still think we need a 3rd young powerful attacking midfielder like possibly this Timber geezer but anyway we are about to see if Potter can start to properly improve us after 8 months of going nowhere.

At least you and I can stop banging on about needing midfielders quite so much now though.