West Ham Banter 3

02 Sep 2026 11:28:46
Apart from the first half hour, I enjoyed the Wolves game. Yes, it was a bit nerve racking at times, and we looked vulnerable, but it seems that the wonder strike by Mukasa woke up the West Ham players and shook them out of the malaise in which they were initially immersed. It’s as if an unknown hand took hold of them and a voice said, “f*** this defensive bollocks; let’s have a go!” One match a season does not make, but we desperately need more of that.

Nuno looked bemused on the touchline as if it came as a surprise. Maybe it did. If ever there was a lesson for him that this group of lads are capable of playing attacking football, then this was it. Take note Nuno.

03 Sep 2026 07:37:00
Our problem, Tin, is the CBs. Kilman is shocking, and Mav is even worse.

How many goals has Mav cost us so far this season? At least 3 and an own goal!!

Drop them both and then sell them in January.

03 Sep 2026 12:09:35
But Mac, it wasn't that long ago we were saying how good Mavropanos was, me included. I think we have to avoid a knee jerk reaction. Kilman is a different fish.

02 Sep 2026 10:39:42
I'll probably get shot down but I like Pablo. I know he don't know where the goal is yet but he don't stop harassing defenders all the time he is on the pitch. If all our outfield players had his energy then we'd be a force.

02 Sep 2026 11:14:27
In excess of £20million for an attacking player who runs around "harassing" defenders and who can't hit a barn door? Never mind that, because he's got a lot of energy. Really? Unpack your parachute, Skaman.

02 Sep 2026 11:23:27
Pablo is an interesting one. When he plays, we play better, although he never shoots, and therefore never scores, which is his job.
I wonder if he is a little bit like Joelinton and could drop back into centre midfield.
Personally, I think he is a marmite player.

02 Sep 2026 11:53:50
Haha, I knew you'd be first to comment, Tin, cos you have a personal vendetta against him. As Brooking says, he's a bit marmite, I like him, you don't. All the time he has our badge on his chest, I'll support him and any other player. My hand is on the rip-cord.

02 Sep 2026 12:17:47
Well said Skaman, although I do take issue with your comment about a personal vendetta. Not true. I have nothing personal against Nuno. I just believe he is clueless and not the right coach for West Ham. There are better alternatives. I do wonder about his motives with transfers and team selections, and you'll never convince me there's a good footballer in Pablo somewhere.

02 Sep 2026 13:03:37
I agree with you about Nuno, Tin. There are better jobless managers out there, but we're stuck with him now. I mean, Orford has been our best player so far, and he wasn't even on the bench. As for transfers, I don't think he or any manager has much say in who comes and goes anymore. Modern day football, I guess.

02 Sep 2026 13:03:45
Fortunately, you're not the one that needs convincing, TL. He's only a young lad and doesn't stop trying, which can't be said for all of our players, Taty, for example. I like Pablo's attitude and think when he gets one goal, more will follow.

No problem with getting on the manager's case, btw. He's there to be shot at if/when things go wrong, but if Pablo's getting moans and groans from the terraces, that isn't going to help him... the lad needs a break.

02 Sep 2026 13:08:28
He is definitely an enigma. I've slagged him off plenty of times, as he does lack genuine ability in front of goal. But he is a likeable character, and in some of the games we did actually miss him, like against Burnley, where he helps keep the ball in the opposition half.

Don't think he should be starting necessarily, but in comparison to JWP, Cornet and Todibo, he is there when needed.

02 Sep 2026 13:51:45
You couldn't be more wrong, Dabber. I am only one of thousands of supporters who need convincing that each individual player has a role to play in the team, in order to command support. There are plenty of young players who try their best and who have the right attitude, but there are limits to ability.

If a player doesn't have what it takes at this level, no amount of running around will change that.

02 Sep 2026 14:50:55
As you don't buy the players or pick the team your opinion of any player is actually irrelevant. West Ham evidently is a club that commands support irrespectively demonstrated by the thousands of supporters who purchase season tickets every year therefore your argument is flawed. I do however agree that having the right attitude needs to be complimented with ability but until this season concludes none of us will know whether Pablo can cut it in the Championship.

My argument is that those who go to the games every week, which does not include you or I, need to try and help the lad by not getting on his case.

02 Sep 2026 17:55:12
So, in other words, you are saying that the opinions of hundreds of thousands of West Ham supporters worldwide, because they don't physically buy the players or pick the team, matter not a jot (they are irrelevant). What utter nonsense. It's the reason they support the club. If they didn't, they wouldn't buy tickets, would they?

02 Sep 2026 21:00:46
As per usual, you try and resort to smug retort. Every single West Ham fan and supporter has an opinion on players, managers and formations, but ultimately their opinion matters not. Fact. The owners of this club will do whatever they want, as they have the power to do so.

The 60,000 who buy season tickets will continue to do so, because they love the club, demonstrated this season post relegation, and even though we've kept a manager who divides opinion at best. Utter nonsense ... pot calling the kettle, mate!

03 Sep 2026 00:43:33
I don't see how saying that supporters' opinions matter can be 'smug'. True, they have little administrative power, but to suggest they are irrelevant is blatant nonsense. To my mind, supporters' opinions do matter.

03 Sep 2026 01:15:58
The smug comment was reference that my opinion is utter nonsense. Give me an example of supporters having any administrative power or their opinion relevantly affecting any decision and I'll back down

{Ed001's Note - it has happened 3 times that I can think of at liverpool Dabber. FSG backed down over ticket prices on 2 occasions, did over layoffs during Covid as well. If fans get together and organise they have all the power. Clubs can't exist without you.

03 Sep 2026 07:11:58
And at West Ham, the crowd demonstrations at the Burnley (I think) game a few seasons back had an effect on Sullivan and the board.

03 Sep 2026 07:08:03
Thanks Ed, that's exactly what I mean.
Dabber, on reflection, it's not your opinion I think is nonsense. More your misuse of vocabulary. In this case, your use of the word "irrelevant". In my opinion, supporters should never be described as irrelevant. They are the life blood of the sport.

03 Sep 2026 09:02:23
That's fair comment from both of you. I will say, though, my use of the word irrelevant was in relation to your views on Pablo.

03 Sep 2026 11:30:23
Ah, but I am a West Ham supporter! 😬

03 Sep 2026 14:49:11
And, as a West Ham supporter, your view on Pablo will have no relevance when it comes to Nuno picking the side on Saturday. 😬

03 Sep 2026 15:53:27
That doesn't alter the fact that I am one of thousands who think Pablo is useless and will never be any good at this level. And, if a useless coach keeps selecting a useless player, it will eventually come back to bite them both, making that opinion valid.

03 Sep 2026 23:06:01
Unless, of course, he eventually succeeds, which is also believed by thousands... Either way, your opinion of him or mine is not relevant.

04 Sep 2026 00:20:41
Don't hold your breath! 😄

04 Sep 2026 04:45:00
You know, evidence tends to question your assessment of "...believed by thousands", as I've seen little to support that view. Pablo attracts a great deal of the opposite when team selections are announced.

Having said that, I am a West Ham supporter of many years standing, so I hope any WH player comes good and succeeds, even if I believe it's not possible. Good luck to him.

02 Sep 2026 09:43:01
Well confidence is a big issue, and doubtless the win last night will boost that

Let’s be honest, our defence is just not tight enough whichever way you look at it, and the amount of space the Wolves wingers, were allowed to manoeuvre in without challenge, was shocking

The squad with yesterday’s additions, and Magassa and Alvarez staying, is getting there

Nuno’s selections and tactics, I find disturbing, sometimes wonder what he’s thinking about?


If we can win the next two, it will put us on the points ratio needed, for a promotion team to be aiming at two points average a game

I take the point a lot are making about Pablo’s close passing and harassing game, but it’s not much to justify a ludicrous price tag.

02 Sep 2026 10:08:28
I thought Scarles got roasted last night. He needs time away at a div1 or 2 club. I think, I read somewhere that when Mav and Kilman have played together, we have never kept a clean sheet, and you can see why when watching. A wins a win and hopefully another on Saturday against Derby. COYI.

02 Sep 2026 10:21:10
Can see Morata being brought in, especially being left-footed, taking the place of Kilman. Mavrapanos is harder to drop; he made a few mistakes last night, but made up for it with the goal.

You cannot rely on forwards to get many goals every game, our defence is just too porous at present.

Maybe a change of formation at times may help.

02 Sep 2026 11:56:12
Can't agree with you on Scarles' performance last night, Corby. I thought he played well for the first time in months. If anyone got roasted, it was Walker-Peters.

02 Sep 2026 13:10:38
Scarles played well up until their second goal, where he was caught too square on and their winger nipped in behind him. He'll learn from that sort of thing, though.....
I actually thought Kilman looked the better cb last night, Mav looked unfit, slow and nervy.....

Yes, he scored, but also put one into his own net. Golambeckis/Kilman look the better cb pairing for me, unless, of course, he tries Alvarez there, in which case I'd like to see him paired with Golambeckis..... That lad looks quality.

02 Sep 2026 16:02:45
Joyful, I don't think £20m is an ludicrous price for an EPL team to pay nowadays, especially when the player scored 10 goals in 13 appearances for his previous team.

02 Sep 2026 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 2 - Quick Round Up

02 Sep 2026 00:22:11
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 2 - Quick Round Up

01 Sep 2026 21:40:54
Well, we got there. Confidence is so important. Looked rocky at times. Point is, can we move on from here?

Pablo meh?

01 Sep 2026 22:19:37
Nice at least to get a win and some points. 2 teams who are slightly overrated. Possibly Wolves, more so than us.

01 Sep 2026 22:20:05
Mukasa is a class act tho.

01 Sep 2026 22:23:18
I enjoyed that. It was a fun, open game. We aren't good at the back, but 4 goals is great, good confidence booster.

01 Sep 2026 23:13:14
What are our win / loss ratios with Pablo in the team / not in the team. You may not rate him, Joyful, but today he definitely had a positive effect. We scored 4. How many was Soloman involved in, and how often did he lose the ball?
When Austbo came on, we looked much stronger defensively on the left.

So, ok, you don't rate Pablo. Today, he was one of the better components in the team.

02 Sep 2026 02:56:31
I wouldn't say he was one of the better components. He just had a decent game, as opposed to his usual nil contribution. One game doesn't justify his inclusion in the starting XI, though. I'm with Joyful - I don't rate him at all, and certainly for what he cost us. A waste of money.

02 Sep 2026 07:19:21
Mate, Pablo did not have a positive effect, I must have watched a different game. He's terrible, he's defo not good enough for the prem and I don't think he's good enough for the Championship.

02 Sep 2026 07:40:12
Different people see different things, because I also thought he had his best game yesterday, granted, not good enough to justify the high fee, but...
On another note, I'll eat humble pie about Hermanssen, who worried the hell out of me last night and should have at least saved their first goal.

02 Sep 2026 08:18:43
I've criticised Pablo in the past, and rightly so in my opinion, but last night was his best game. I mean, he still didn't look like scoring, but he did show some nice touches and link-up play.



Hopefully we can now kick on from that. We got a new LB and CB now as well, and I wonder what will happen with Alvarez and Magassa? If those 2 are reintegrated, our squad is good for the Championship, I'd say.

02 Sep 2026 13:12:57
And we have Souchek to come back, which adds leadership qualities to the pitch.

01 Sep 2026 20:41:35
Are we getting any new players over the line tonight joyful?

01 Sep 2026 21:49:36
Well, looks like we have two, Morata and Boiro.

01 Sep 2026 21:59:13
Morata has signed. Boiro no confirmation.

01 Sep 2026 22:02:08
Boiro definitely happening?

01 Sep 2026 22:25:42
No confirmation so far.

01 Sep 2026 22:38:48
Any suggestion he's even in the country?

01 Sep 2026 23:09:58
This one sprung up about 1 pm today, there was a bit of noise between 2/3 pm, then it all went quiet. At 10 pm there was no confirmation re this player.

Agency people have left, so can't make comment. Apologies to all, but I'm going boss eyed, going to bed now.

01 Sep 2026 20:38:42
Amanda Staveley is there and she was celebrating our goal, can only mean one thing I reckon. 🤔

01 Sep 2026 22:16:55
She's a West Ham fan?

{Ed001's Note - she is a Liverpool fan mate.}

02 Sep 2026 06:39:16
Sorry Ed001 it was meant with my usual sarcasm 🙃

{Ed001's Note - sorry mate, I was tired at the time, it was a very long day!}

02 Sep 2026 13:14:07
It was a very odd thing for her to do, though... As if she knows something we don't.

01 Sep 2026 20:35:00
Great goal from Mukasa and a well taken penalty from Bowen, but that’s what happens when we haven’t got pace at the back.

01 Sep 2026 20:03:27
This formation is more not to lose than to win!

01 Sep 2026 20:30:09
And right on queue 2-1, lol, just as I was thinking Nuno would park the bus.

01 Sep 2026 20:34:54
I think it makes a big difference when you play teams who are willing to attack us. It does allow us chances.

01 Sep 2026 20:35:26
Good goal from Makassa tho.

02 Sep 2026 11:28:06
We are a team set up to attack, therefore, we may have to go down the Keegan/Newcastle route. They score 4, we score 5. Whether Nuno would consider that is debatable, but it needs considering. Next year, the squad needs rebuilding from the back.

02 Sep 2026 13:17:10
We need to focus on this season first, Brooking, but I get your point. Whatever it was, an enjoyable watch, and you guys at the ground must have been highly entertained, which is what you want, right? Us at home can switch off or go and put the kettle on when the game's poor, but you stalwarts don't have that luxury.

01 Sep 2026 19:56:24
We haven’t lost our first two at home in a league campaign outside of the top-flight since 1956/57!!! Food for thought.

01 Sep 2026 19:38:19
Pablo starts! Am I dreaming? This manager is a joke. Get him out now.

01 Sep 2026 20:01:34
Gonna put my head on the block and say this is not good. It's all Wolves. Ffs.

01 Sep 2026 18:55:07
West Ham not even getting a mention when they talk about EFL clubs on Sky Sports deadline day, if anything was close then surely they would know about it.

01 Sep 2026 20:02:16
Because we are a joke, that's why.

01 Sep 2026 09:19:32
Remember Moyes complaining about playing on deadline night, happened before then as well, not new thing.

01 Sep 2026 15:28:57
I'm not sure it's relevant. He wouldn't be involved in the recruitment technicalities anyway.

01 Sep 2026 16:15:01
Managers do not like it, whether it's relevant or not.

01 Sep 2026 09:16:41
Wout Faes??? F*** sake.

01 Sep 2026 09:44:15
Yep, this is how far our ambition has taken us. Leicester fans hate this guy!!

01 Sep 2026 10:34:58
He would make Kilman look world class, he is truly awful.

01 Sep 2026 12:08:07
Hey, this Belgian defender has been sourced by our top Belgian head of recruitment. Apparently he uses Google. 🤣

01 Sep 2026 12:55:04
More likely uses the Beano.

01 Sep 2026 15:29:37
Last I heard it's off.

01 Sep 2026 16:05:19
Koppen whipped down B and Q and found a plank of wood that was better and cheaper than Wous, so cancelled the deal.

01 Sep 2026 18:10:47
Should have gone to the builders merchants, he'd have found a plank cheaper and better than Kilman.