West Ham banter 10

26 Aug 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 1 - Quick Round Up

25 Aug 2026 22:58:08
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 1 - Quick Round Up

25 Aug 2026 21:51:00
Very early days yet, but there are hints of Rice in the way Orford plays.

Protects the back four well, reads the game positionally, moves the ball forward from deep and can suddenly appear in the opposition box.

I have high hopes.

25 Aug 2026 21:17:13
Lot better tonight without Bowen and Taty.

Seemingly we are debating whether to get Nelson or Austbo. For me the better investment is Austbo.

25 Aug 2026 21:32:19
Spot on Mac.

25 Aug 2026 21:57:50
The young lads did exceptionally well. Golembeckis looks comfortable and assured as a CB, Meyers did ok, Ajala scored a couple, but Orford was the best player on the park.

When the first teamers came on with half an hour to go, we upped the pace, and Soton were completely outplayed.



That was by far our best performance this year.

Early prediction. Orford will be hammer of the year if he stays fit.

26 Aug 2026 08:33:43
The first teamers coming on took the game away from Southampton.

We definitely went up a gear when they arrived on the pitch.

25 Aug 2026 20:35:15
Orford's assurance on the ball and reading of the game will not be going unnoticed by the bigger teams. Be prepared.

25 Aug 2026 20:54:11
How are they playing, Mark? I have been saying for ages, there should be more of our youth side given a chance, because technically they are superior to many of the so-called senior players. You could see it in the friendlies. The team always improved when the youth were involved.

25 Aug 2026 21:37:59
M7ch better tonight young uns all did well, played without fear and showed some balls after going 1 down, Veltman looked solid, Orford was really good, ditto Ajala, Golenbekis (I hope thats right!) was solid as well, all in all a good night's work.

25 Aug 2026 21:44:36
That's more like it. ⚒️ ⚒️

25 Aug 2026 21:46:55
Ajala and Golambekis were excellent. Nuff said.

25 Aug 2026 22:16:48
Yeah, but "the academy lads aren't good enough."
Imagine if Potts and Marshall had been kept?

25 Aug 2026 22:21:54
I sadly didn't see, so can only go on the stats and the rave reviews on here. But it also sounds like he didn't try and park the bus!
Let's hope the academy players play far more of a role in the season ahead.

25 Aug 2026 19:10:18
Very inexperienced starting XI.

25 Aug 2026 18:53:22
Line up for tonight
Herrick
Mayers
Kilman
Golambeckis
Veltman
Kante
Orford
Lamadrid
Mukasa
Piroe
Ajala.

25 Aug 2026 17:20:43
I'd like to know exactly what Nils Koppen was brought in for and what's he done?

25 Aug 2026 18:17:20
To take the flak when it goes tits up.

25 Aug 2026 19:11:53
I find it difficult to have a go at him because he obviously hasn't been employed for his great recruitment knowledge, and he is the fall guy.
It seems 3 potentials turned us down, and he knows Karim from when he was at Rangers, therefore, let's give him the job. It's like going back to the 1970s. Whilst it's not as bad as Sullivan with his trusted agents and the probable back-handlers that went with that, most of his signings, or players we are looking at, have a degree of that. Numerous targets from Scotland, our marquee signing played in Scotland and is Belgian. Or Scandinavia, where he previously worked.

It isn't data driven. He has obviously been told he has to work in conjunction with Nuno! And most of the other choices are known to most people who follow football. I personally don't, but I knew about Solomon, Veltman and Engels. I wouldn't be able to say how good they all were, but you wouldn't need an encyclopaedic knowledge of football to do so.
I wouldn't argue the previous 2 people (Haan and McKauley), who performed that sort of role, did a far better job of bringing unknown players to West Ham. You just get the feeling the guy is completely out of his depth. And this is who can be blamed.

25 Aug 2026 19:57:28
I would argue I meant to say.

25 Aug 2026 13:45:59
Looks like Wrexham are going to sign Ekomie for about £8m. What is it coming to when we can’t even compete with Wrexham for a player? I know they’ve got wealthy owners but come on £8m is nothing.

When are our owners going to get their heads out of their a****? Did they see the first two league games? No good splashing the cash in January. We’ll be too far behind then!

25 Aug 2026 15:17:08
I've given up trying to understand the strategy, Stevie?

I think we were all under the impression, as were the bookmakers, that we would be one of the favourites to win this league.

What we've been witness to is anything but.

And, as always, we can all see where our problems lie (we simply can't defend), and yet, nothing is being done.

Both full backs from last season will now be gone, no more Disasi, and yet what have we done?

25 Aug 2026 15:35:18
I keep saying it, but Kretinsky is a fraud. He was supposed to buy the Gold shares early June and just didn't do it, which is why Staveley put her offer in in July. He has been alongside Brady and Sullivan throughout all our strife over the last 4 years, and not done a thing to help, so why should we expect any different now.

The man is a fraud, but seen as a messiah by many. ?‍♂️

25 Aug 2026 16:00:07
It's no good them splashing the cash in January to try and put things right. We will be too far behind by then, and only be able to attract a very average player. I thought we would be able to attract top Championship players and fringe Premier League players. How wrong was I?

25 Aug 2026 16:34:03
Nuno might be a hindrance in regards to bringing people in. He doesn't inspire confidence.

25 Aug 2026 16:43:53
Paco would take the job tomorrow if he was offered it.

25 Aug 2026 18:19:15
Stevie, he'd cock that up as well!

25 Aug 2026 18:21:10
Hammer-D: "Nuno might be a hindrance in regards to bringing people in. He doesn't inspire confidence."
Understatement of the year. ?

25 Aug 2026 18:28:47
Sorry Stevie, cancel my post. I thought you meant Pablo!! It's my age! ?

25 Aug 2026 18:58:54
Tin Legs, that's ok, mate, I did wonder. ??

24 Aug 2026 20:48:18
Got to be honest, I get the feeling Nuno is more scared of losing than he is winning.

24 Aug 2026 21:23:36
He's definitely more incapable of winning than losing.