West Ham banter 3

05 Dec 2025 05:11:02
Morning all, I think apart from replacing Soucek with Summerville then I think that has got to be the starting 11, I would even leave Paqueta out.

05 Dec 2025 07:05:28
Stevie who would you pick if Summerville is still unavailable. We saw this last season with a minor injury led to him being out all season.
I think Paqueta has alienated himself after last Sundays antics even from those of us who have always defended him.
But if is a straight question of Paqueta or Souchek who do we go with? From a footballing point of view I would go for Paqueta or go curve ball and give Earthy a go

05 Dec 2025 07:17:51
Agreed Stevie. Lot better balanced team where they all contributed. Clearly we need serious pace up front and maybe swap Diouf with KWP, but this was a lot better.

I was just thinking if Potter was still managing, i guarantee he would still be starting Kilman, JWP, Rodriguez and soucek

Nuno has transformed the midfield, just by bringing players we already have in to the side

If we can continue playing like that, we will win more than we will lose

05 Dec 2025 13:54:20
How about kwp at left back then pushing diouf a bit further forward with summerville injured?

05 Dec 2025 14:10:22
If I’m totally honest, I can’t see us escaping relegation with Nuno in charge. Last night epitomised his lack of ambition and showed up his total lack of guts. To illustrate perfectly what I’m saying, I’ll forward this as an example:
To escape the relegation zone, at KO we needed a win, and by 2 clear goals. After scoring our equaliser, we began to show real fight. Man Utd looked really vulnerable for the first time and it looked like we could at least score a second and take all 3 points. What did Nuno do? He crapped himself and took off our striker to replace him with a central defender! He was satisfied with the single point. That attitude will not save us. Our biggest rivals, Leeds, showed real fight for the whole of their Chelsea game. We haven’t got that, and this twit hasn’t got that either.

05 Dec 2025 16:10:02
Tin legs, understand what saying, if there were only a couple of games to go until the end of the season then he might have gone for it a bit more but we’re not halfway through the season yet and he wanted to make sure we went away with something rather than nothing, but we still had our chances to win it anyway, we just need that bit more pace upfront and who knows what could’ve happened.

05 Dec 2025 16:16:06
I agree Tin, I said that before he was appointed, I thought he was the wrong fit, to play counter attacking football and achieve results you need a rock solid defence and pace up top we have neither

05 Dec 2025 21:54:24
Got to disagree here. Like most of us I don’t feel Nuno is a long term fit for us. He has made mistakes but has far less latitude than the previous 2 managers. So this guy has come in to keep us up which I think is what will happen. Yes he has made mistakes but he isn’t frightened to wield the axe when needed and has sorted out our midfield. It’s going to be touch and go but I don’t think we will get relegated even if we lose the next 3.

06 Dec 2025 10:36:59
I agree with everything you’ve put there HD. Just read he is starting Paqueta which personally disappoints me as it gives out the wrong message. He’ll probably score a wonder goal and some on here will crow about it but there you go ….

06 Dec 2025 10:42:01
And before anyone asks I’d play Kante with Potts and Mougassa and push Fernandes further forward instead of starting Paqueta. Just my oppinion

06 Dec 2025 12:35:58
Paqueta one of our best peformers so far this season before he lost his head agaist Liverpool,

I feel he will bounce back and make up for it, i know we all have a soft spot for soucek but Paqueta is on another level entirely in footballing terms.

In terms of staying up i get respecting the point as their is still a long way to go, let's hope leeds gambing and going for games back fires.

Sullivan doing the baremimum just to keep us up was eventually going to back fire. Nuno thrown away 6 points agaist brentford and leeds, potters selections were awful as well especially in the midfield potts best midfielder in preseason and he started jwp soucek and irving, things might have been different if we had signed magassa and fernandes earlier on in the window not after the season started, but sullivan knows best he probably saved a few quid on agent fees haggling and low balling for weeks, instead of fixing a position that has been a problem since Rice left ?

07 Dec 2025 04:14:13
I am surprised Nuno is not playing the same side from Wednesday. Today, at Brighton, it will be a difficult game and one we’ll need to be battle heartened. If I were Soucek I'd be pretty annoyed if I’d been dropped for someone who showed NO composure in their previous game.
As they say, ‘Never change a winning side or one with balance’.
Separate, what is wrong with Summerville?

04 Dec 2025 21:52:21
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, West Ham United v Liverpool - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

04 Dec 2025 19:34:41
Think we've started really well. Our only problem is Diouf, Amad has the beating of him - comfortably.

04 Dec 2025 20:17:34
Well, we clung on as long as we could. Game over.

04 Dec 2025 20:41:25
AWB and Magassa have been excellent
Well deserved goal

04 Dec 2025 20:56:27
I’d settle for that. Diouf is a liability and souchek as much as I like him and he is a hard worker he is as much use as a chocolate lampshade in midfield. But overall I thought we battled hard and deserved the point

04 Dec 2025 20:56:41
Thought we did well there, showed some fight dug in and got a point nice to see Kante come on aswell, quite pleased with that much better than Sunday and nice to see Wilson getting the full game

04 Dec 2025 21:46:22
Said it before but why on earth did nuno drop magassa and fernandes for soucek and irving against brentford and leeds, big 6 points wasted and to potential relgation rivals.

Bench and lineup showed how badly our squad has been assembled over the years, great opportunity for the youngsters but how many signings we need 3-4, then jwp, rodriguez, irving, fullkrug could be away.

04 Dec 2025 21:47:16
Think the starting 11 had a nice balance. We were better without Pacqueta. Soucek gives us 100% commitment. Can’t believe I’m going to say this, but Todibo was very good tonight.

05 Dec 2025 04:18:38
IMO brooking Todibo has been pretty decent for about the last 4/5 games. He always had ability and you could see he was class but didn’t seem fit or wanting to try. But now he seems a changed man

05 Dec 2025 06:51:04
I think having the likes of Potts, Fernandes, Magassa in midfield takes the pressure off the defence massively, we don't get cut open through the middle time and time again, Todibo looks quality tbf he's shown moments in the past but always looked unfit.

05 Dec 2025 13:31:29
Must admit, thought we were toast but Man U's profligacy in front of goal cost them. Very decent away point in the end.

04 Dec 2025 07:39:06
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 13 - Quick Round Up

04 Dec 2025 18:04:02
Soucek starts in place of paqueta? Odd decision

04 Dec 2025 18:49:47
Earthy is the obvious replacement, but Nuno has bottled it again.

04 Dec 2025 21:47:48
Earthy ahead of Soucek, how ridiculous!

05 Dec 2025 00:08:22
As ridiculous as putting Soucek in midfield where he’s about as useful as gloves for a budgie.

05 Dec 2025 04:27:50
Earthy v Man Utd over a seasoned international captain? Not one person who knows about football would do that.
Play the youngsters in FA Cup and bring them on. You were always obsessively going on about Scarles, that poor lad got ripped apart in 3 or 4 games last year, and to date, he hasn’t recovered.
Earthy v Man Utd… amazing.

05 Dec 2025 06:45:57
Let’s just agree to disagree. You and I live in different worlds—-thank God.

05 Dec 2025 08:05:03
Thought we battled really hard last night?whole team run and chased, got well deserved draw because we defended magnificently against a ManU side superior in squad strength!
Tin has got an anti obsession about Soucek just just as I have a pro obsession with him?As Brooking said, seasoned International, massive experience no comparison with youngsters, Soucek in my team every time with our present squad! Pleased to see Wilson get more time on, had some good touches up front! Well done lads for the hard work everyone??⚒⚒⚒⚒

05 Dec 2025 08:56:23
Much much better! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again we play much better without Paqueta! The guy isn’t a team player and isn’t as good as he and some people think he is. Nuno needs to keep him on the bench now until he can be sold.

05 Dec 2025 10:42:20
Chelmsford, I don’t have an ‘anti obsession’ with Soucek. If you read my past posts, I’ve always admired his commitment and thought he’s a really nice bloke. He just can’t play in midfield. He has no creative ability and can’t pass a ball. Essential for that position. I lost count the number of times different people on this forum said that with Soucek and JWP in midfield we were 2 men short and our midfield was non-existent. (Brooking10 would still be playing them.) As Hammer-D will confirm, I even suggested trying Soucek as a striker. We did, and even that didn’t work! Soucek is a useless midfielder, nice bloke or not. Starting with him is a waste of a position, as was seen against Man Utd. He did his usual headless chicken routine and contributed FA before being hooked off. Soucek scores the odd goal by throwing himself at the ball. That’s why he suffers so many cuts and bruises. A lovely bloke, but a Premiershiip midfielder? Naahh.

05 Dec 2025 11:09:08
Completly agree

05 Dec 2025 11:33:25
I would totally concur with that assessment of Souchek, Tin.
Lovely fella and popular, tries his heart out, loves the club, and scores many a crucial goal. But even after a decent performance like last night I feel he was an impediment. Numerous times, especially towards the end of the first half, the ball was kicked out of defence to our right only for Thomas to be unable to keep the ball or find Bowen or Wilson with a pass. Only for the ball to end up back near our penalty area. Wilson is great at holding the ball up. I would like to see TS to come on as a sub when a goal is needed. I totally understand why people don’t want Paqueta as he did himself no favours last Sunday. But he is a better player. Maybe try someone else in that position

05 Dec 2025 14:44:44
Oh, and wile I think of it, Brooking, as an illustration of why you don’t know what you’re talking about — Scarles isn’t ruined; he’s injured, and just back in training. He’s the best left fullback we have and will soon reclaim his position. Diouf can’t defend for toffee and he’s beginning to look poor as a left wingback. He’ll be off to the Africa cup soon and I think he might struggle to get back in the side. All young players need the experience of difficult games. If we’d listened to your gems, Potts would still be bench warming and we’d still be watching JWP, so I don’t need any lectures from you, thank you.

05 Dec 2025 21:30:51
We all know his injured currently ?

06 Dec 2025 07:22:49
We also all know he’s not ruined.

07 Dec 2025 04:17:58
He was last season. He was constantly shouted at by Cresswell. Scarles positional sense is limited.

07 Dec 2025 10:45:07
If anyone has limited sense— ?

04 Dec 2025 05:41:50
Morning all, 4 games left before Xmas, we basically need 9 points to have a chance of staying up, the 4 fixtures are,
Man Utd away
Brighton away
Villa home
Man City away
Where are we going to get the points from ?
We could be well adrift when the window opens, the only way we will get players in is by paying massive wages, why else would anyone want to play for us ?

04 Dec 2025 06:27:37
Not happening Stevie.

I watched that Leeds game last night and watched how, from the off, they were after Chelsea. They chased and battled, and had pace on either flank which made them look dangerous every time they broke. Deservedly they won

I then reflected on our performance v Liverpool where we had a real opportunity to turn them over. The difference is there for all to see.

Dont get me wrong, I do think things are changing on the pitch, but we have those players who's lack of effort will cost this club its premier league position

Bowen was dreadful and should be sold along with Paqueta. Kilman, tobido, soucek, Irving, Rodriguez and fulkrug all need to go in january

04 Dec 2025 09:09:59
Mac3 you want to sell Bowen due to a few poor performances? Sorry that's a very deluded idea!

04 Dec 2025 11:41:28
Not trying to split hairs but I don’t think we need 9 points out of those 4 games. If we play as we did v Liverpool we could lose all 4. It is slightly worrying how teams around us have suddenly upped their game and we are still treading water. I don’t think we currently have the personnel or manager to get us attacking sides as Leeds did and Fulham did v City. I would take a risk on a few more youth options if it fails it fails. I’m not going to slam the manager too much as he has been brought in to try and get us to avoid relegation. I think most of us don’t like his style of play but it is what went before and our chairman and sidekick that has done the real damage. We definitely need a few new players to help us try and escape the drop.

04 Dec 2025 17:37:20
Id cash in on bowen just like palace did with Eze

04 Dec 2025 19:05:01
Bowen is 29 this month, if we did sell him we would probably get 35 mill tops due to his age and current form, you can't replace him for that money would be a mad decision to even think about letting him go

04 Dec 2025 21:49:25
£35m, double that… comfortably. Apart from that, he won’t leave. He’s king of the castle.

03 Dec 2025 15:10:03
Be great to see Earthy tomorrow against man U considering summerville is missing . i'd line up
Areola
AWB Mavro todibo Diouf
Potts Maggasssa
Bowen Fernandes Earthy
Wilson

03 Dec 2025 17:13:04
I’d have Soucek ahead of Esrthy

03 Dec 2025 18:00:17
Earthy all day long Souchek should just be used as a super sub

03 Dec 2025 19:32:36
Well said Hammer-D.

03 Dec 2025 22:24:46
Earthy didn't play for the u21s tonight, so he should at least be on the bench.

Guilherme looked good when he came on. So its between those 2, both should get minutes, see what they can do.

Last thing we need is soucek breaking up the young dynamic midfield of fernandes, magassa and Potts.

03 Dec 2025 23:08:05
I'd like nuno to be brave and pick earthy but he won't be will he, i'd like to be long though

04 Dec 2025 17:47:22
Looks like soucek is starting, i get he pops up with goals and he's good in the air but generally its like playing with 10 men with him in the team at times.

Maybe going long to him and wilson will work, magassa and potts will have their work cut out for them but who knows.

04 Dec 2025 18:09:45
Yeah not too inspiring but at least we have earthy, Kante and Marshall on the bench. can't see us getting much out of this but I suppose they ain’t too great and I always live in hope

03 Dec 2025 11:58:07
Guys what's your thoughts on Ollie Watkins, it's been suggested that he wants a move where he will be the starting striker, he's soon to turn 30 therefore 31 next season, he's not the quickest of strikers but is he the one that can score the goals to keep us up, be interesting to get your opinions guys.

03 Dec 2025 13:05:46
Stevie, I think he’s decent and would have him, but no good if he starts scoring and the Damager subs him?⚒⚒⚒

03 Dec 2025 13:38:01
Stevie he would want massive wages and would still command a high transfer fee, if he was avaliable there would be clubs in a much better position then us that would want him, plus we messed Aston villa around for the whole of last January transfer window with the whole jhon duran saga, this is just never going to happen to be honest

03 Dec 2025 17:14:50
Chelmsford, Nuno definitely subbed Wilson too early against Bournemouth costing us a much needed win. Which is proving even more important as it looks like not only Paqueta will be missing but also Summerville. A good player who seems extremely lightweight on the injury front. But I think it is a given that Wilson can only do about 60-70 minutes, we have to blame the chairman for that.
Regarding Watkins I think he would be great but as Robbo says next to no chance of that happening. Not only would his wages be extortionate but many other clubs would be ahead of us in the pecking order IMO

03 Dec 2025 17:16:11
I mentioned Oliie Watkins a few days back. He’d want £100k pw, which we can match, plus we can guarantee a starting position. As its World Cup year he ‘may’ take it.

03 Dec 2025 18:26:30
I think you'd have to double that just to get him to talk brooking and even then there would be many other suiters that are much more attractive than us

03 Dec 2025 10:02:39
We need a strict coach, someone like Mancini. Joe Hart spoke about Mancini, and 'basically' said he was not a popular man, but a winning man.

03 Dec 2025 11:09:02
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 13 - Quick Round Up

01 Dec 2025 06:31:15
Slightly apt the day after we sadly lost one of our greatest ever players. A captain who had all the qualities needed for that role. Hard working, courageous, motivational and helped massively with team spirit.
Sadly our current captain has none of those qualities with the exception of hard working. Bowen form has dipped massively the last few weeks, not sure is this is linked to his captaincy role. Somehow I doubt it because he is not acting like a captain. Paqueta was a disgrace yesterday but Bowen should have been doing all he could to get the fool away from that situation. Instead he just looked on.
I just wondered if people agree and who they would prefer to see as captain. On current form the only players who could be in with a shout are Fernandez Potts or Areola. AWB on his previous performances could be but not sure he shows those qualities. I'm not keen on goalies being captain simply because of their distance from the action. I would go for Potts as he shows maturity above his years but will probably get shot down for suggesting that.

01 Dec 2025 10:31:51
I think we need 11 new players first, whoever is captain won't inspire these losers, if one of our greatest players deaths doesn't inspire them to put in a performance then nothing will, wholesale changes needed, nobody in that squad is safe at the moment

01 Dec 2025 11:42:11
Nothing will change until we get shot of the circus act masquerading as a board of directors. A different manager and bringing in new players won’t change anything. This club needs an entire reboot, with wholesale changes in the way it’s run. It’s going down the toilet and yesterday Paqueta pulled the chain.

01 Dec 2025 12:13:05
Interesting how they sent out young Fernandes out to do the post match Sky interview yesterday rather than the Captain ….

I think you all make really valid points. The club is in a mess and needs a complete overhaul. I hate to say it but maybe going down forcing the tosspot owners into a fire sale of both club and mercenary players wouldn’t be a bad thing. Of the current squad the only ones I’d keep for the Championship in the hope of a swift return would be Fernandes, Potts, Scarles, Mougassa, Summerville, Areola, KWP and AWB the rest can and probably would do one ….

01 Dec 2025 13:58:04
Dabber, What no Bowen? ⚒⚒⚒

01 Dec 2025 14:51:10
Sadly I agree with a lot of the points above and I am hopeful that the clowns who run the circus will be gone. I’m not sure about Bowen he does try and has ability but has been rubbish of late. Maybe taking the captaincy away may allow him to concentrate on his game.
Other names I would possibly add to that list Dabber could be Todibo who seems much better recently and I actually thought Guilherme played pretty well when he came on he just seems to lack a bit of confidence and self belief. If they were to sell him I would have a few clauses in any deal because I think he may possibly turn out to be a really decent player.


I still think we need to introduce some of the youngsters like fearing and Kante as they can’t do worse than some of our players

01 Dec 2025 15:09:06
The captain needs to be Fernandes. He was the one 'trying' to stop Pacquetta and 'trying' to speak to the referee.

01 Dec 2025 16:09:17
I love Bowen Chelms but I’m making the assumption that if we go down he would be sold anyway. I’ve never thought he was Captain material apart from the fact he always tries hard. If we go down I’m with Brooking and would give it to Fernandes. HD I also think Todibo has improved under Nuno but again like Bowen think he will be on his toes if we get relegated

01 Dec 2025 16:34:36
Guys, the reason Fernandes tried to intervene was because he’s Portugese and speaks the same language as Paqueta! He’s far too inexperienced for the captaincy. The ideal man for that job we let go out on loan—Alvarez— because he didn’t agree with the style of football Potter was playing. Anyone with a heartbeat can see Bowen is no captain material, and it’s affecting his play along with the crap tactics employed by the gutless Nuno. We need a new owner, chairman, a football director and a new head coach who isn’t scared of his own shadow. Then we can start talking about a captain and the new players we need to start playing entertaining attacking football. I’m not holding my breath. The club is f*cked.

01 Dec 2025 17:08:12
@brooking, i was thinking Fernandes could be a good shout, i think he is captain of the u21s for portugal, Potts i think needs to concentrate on establishing himself as a prem player.

Personally i never thought bowen should have been given the captaincy, all he needs to be focused on is putting the ball in the back of the net. Although due to how terrible our squad mangement has been we were pretty short of options.

Maybe Cress should have been given another year would have taken a bit of pressure off for who ever the captain is.

All that said the captaincy issue is pretty small compared to all the other problems at the club.

01 Dec 2025 17:52:24
I again agree we have bigger problems than the captaincy however Rome wasn’t built in a day. New ownership and director of football isn’t going to happen anytime soon and as s**t as his tactics are sacking Nuno is probably a slightly worse decision than giving him more time. The quicker fix is new players in 4 weeks and releasing pressure from our best player by relieving him of the burden of captaincy

02 Dec 2025 19:33:58
As you say Dabber and Tin we all know the problems with the owners but that probably isn't going to go away soon so i'd expect a load of quick fixes again with no long term planning and another load of wasted cash in January, the only way I can see anyone half decent joining is on loan because they have an outside chance of a world Cup squad let's face it we aren't very attractive at the moment

The manager has shown inept boring tactics but again that isn't going to change anytime soon to be honest, I think this will be a long season again and there won't be cash to change it in the summer

03 Dec 2025 06:22:50
I agree Robbo. The board has brought this on us by its cheap attitude towards coaches. They have always gone for the cheap option—-available (unemployed) coaches. They’re unemployed for a reason, and they’ve always proved to be bad fits for WHU. Weeks ago, many on here were forecasting problems, with relegation a real possibility. Nothing really has changed.

03 Dec 2025 18:14:27
Unfortunately it takes a certain type of manager to handle these lying owners, ones that are not afraid to stand up to them and do things their own way. We’ve had 2 in the last 10-15 years and that's Moyes and Fat Sam. Because of their ability to avoid being “yes men” both had a degree of success. This was why I personally didn’t mind Moyes. The football wasn’t great to watch but at least we had security in the PL and were playing in Europe. I know a lot of people will say Moyes is to blame for the position we’re in now but that's just unfair. When Moyes left Sullivan replaced him with a lesser standard manager who along with Steidten spent all of the Rice money and more on substandard signings. Look at Everton now, flying ….Shearer was right, we needed to be careful what we wished for

03 Dec 2025 23:34:55
Sorry, Dabber, but I cannot agree with that. When Moyes left WHU he left behind the oldest, slowest first team squad in living memory. And that old chestnut “careful what you wish for” is nonsense. As for Moyes giving us ‘Premiership security’. Do you not recall our Prem performances in the last months of his tenure? The football was dire.

04 Dec 2025 09:14:25
Morning TL, I knew you wouldn’t agree mate, you were very anti Moyes. In this instance “careful what you wish for isn’t nonsense at all”, we are a mile away from where we were when Moyes left in terms of toxicity within the club and attitude of a lot of the players. Moyes would have spent the Rice money on McTomminay (probably spelt wrong) and McGuire, well I tell you what I’d take them both now! The squad was ageing agreed but we needed a mix of youth and experience. Loopy and Steidten took us too far the other way which is why we now have a Captain that got the role just because he was the best senior player…no captain though as we all can see. We need a balance Tin. Someone like Connor Gallagher in January works for me, hard working, tough tackling leader and get rid of Paqueta with his “all fur coat and no knickers” attitude …… Up for a proper debate on this mate as this forum is getting depressing ?

04 Dec 2025 10:27:32
Charlie Cresswell, Nathan Ake, Conor Gallagher and Ivan Toney would be my January picks

04 Dec 2025 12:11:56
I agree with your four player suggestions, but not with your memory! I was anti-Moyes for a very good reason. Personally I don’t honestly believe new players in January will save us. The club is rotten to the core. Don’t get me wrong; nothing pains me more than to admit such a thing about a club I have supported for over 60 years. Everything is wrong with this club. We have a slippery money-grabber as a majority owner, directors who don’t really give a toss, a coach who is not a good fit for this club, a captain who is out of his depth in the role and players who number a couple of individual talents, but are all pissed off with the style of football (as are the fans) and have given up playing as a team and for the heart of the club which no longer exists since a move left us without a real home. Be careful what you wish for? A joke. These problems started long ago, and things won’t change with just a few alterations to personnel! We need a wholesale change, starting at the top. I fear it won’t happen until we drop out of the Premiership, and in this day and age, escape upwards from the Championship won’t be easy. Maybe we’ll get entertaining football again though?

04 Dec 2025 12:47:09
Actually I agree with virtually everything you’ve written above so this debate might be short and sweet. We’ll agree to disagree on Moyes and being careful what you wish for but I will say this, in the last 20 years our highlights have been an FA cup final in 2006 and a European Cup in 2023. Coupled with back to back European campaigns and saving us from relegation in 2018 Moyes has statistically been our best manager. He is now performing at Everton at a new stadium. With the reputation of these owners we will never get the progressive fresh manager we all want. A disciplinarian like Moyes was and is our best option. I agree relegation might actually see off BS but as you say the risk is we don’t make it back to the PL

04 Dec 2025 14:58:02
I think your statement ".now performing at Everton" may come back to bite you! The Everton supporters I know are saying that more and more of their supporters are growing impatient with the type of football being served up under Moyes and he won't last long because they're an ambitious club who look with envy on their red rivals. Moyes is a good "fire brigade" manager, but once saved, his abilities are limited. As for him being a disciplinarian -- I think an odious, self-centred bully is a more fitting description, and the best thing about him as our manager was the boot mark on his rear end. Is that clear enough?

05 Dec 2025 20:49:58
That’s me told then ….?