Our first pre-season game of the 2025/26 season against Zurich ended in a 3-1 victory for the Hammers, the goals coming through Andy Irving, Callum Marshall and Lucas Paqueta.
However, if you could look past the awful commentary alongside the utterly abysmal camera quality, you would've been able to see a rather intriguing game which showed improvements but also patterns that haven't changed whatsoever.
It was a slight difficulty to get the team-sheets done due to the fact we had two seperate lineups... which was announced before the game, the 'A' team was filled with the more senior players with the inclussion of the evergone Cornet, and the 'B' team had the majority of the returning youth players, such as Potts, Orford, Marshall as well as Diouf.
To kickstart with what we all knew already, the 'A' team midfield pairing of Guido Rodriguez as well as James Ward-Prowse were both completely run through, it was easy for Zurich to find gaps which subsequently gave them two clear-cut chances, but both wouldn't convert. But comparing 'A' to 'B' was light day and, the midfield of Potts and Orford as well as Soucek, seemed very comfortable and also could press forward more together with and without the ball, something of which we couldn't even be able to fathom under Guido and Prowse.
Our first goal was converted by Andy Irving, but the play between Bowen and Wan-Bissaka created the chance for the goal, a duo which we saw worked very well last season.
The second goal came through Callum Marshall with a lovely strike into the bottom-right corner just as the second half began. It seemed that we were able to create more chances in the 'B' team rather than the 'A'.
West Ham's latest confirmed signing in Malick Diouf, played the entirety of the second half and gave good impressions amongst fans. The Senegal international seemed to be everywhere on that left-hand side and constantly provided chances in the box either with a one-two or a cross.
He also very nearly grabbed himself a goal at the end, but a handball & clearance off the line meant that we got a penalty instead, which Lucas Paqueta converted to end the game at the finishing scoreline of 3-1.
Overall, a positive performance, but one that evidently shows that the Hammers require new midfielders in the remainder of the window. There will be more to come and more to learn with the Premier League summer series up in a week's time, but in the meantime, it's crucial that transfer business continues.
Team 'A': Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Scarles, Cornet, Rodriguez, Irving, Ward-Prowse, Bowen (C), Fullkrug
Team 'B': Foderingham, Mavropanos, Aguerd, Casey, Diouf, Potts, Orford, Soucek (C), Paqueta, Guilherme, Marshall
Comments
just posting what i put in my post
Grasshoppers 1 v 3 West Ham........we blew them away it was like watching Brazil in there prime we do not need to buy any more players we looked like a Rolls Royce pure poetry in motion i do not see anyone who can stand in our way.....or maybe the suns got to me a bit this week!
Irving goal was a nice finish Marshalls was quality and a Pacman pen to finish the ROUT! all in all a good little workout but we do have a number of things to work on.
Grashoppers goal was from the edge of our box with nobody closing the player down so a free shot no challenge remember BRIGHTON Potter this is something that is needing addressing big time...Areola clearly still looks suss with the ball to feet and Todibo mmm i am still not sold on the player with some of his play today distinctly lazy.
Harsh words you think and only the first preseason game and i agree with that obviously but with the first game 4 weeks today away much needs working on.
I thought the first half had
I thought the first half had the edge,though there was some good in the second,well taken goal by the lad Marshal,that new fella Diouf was quite sharp i thought for first outing,i must say on the whole,today was ok,they werent Barcelona,so feel what we have isnt strong enough for the Premier League challenges ahead.
I watched the first 2o mins
I watched the first 2o mins and all I saw was Areola, trying his best to be a liability. God he was like Bambi on ice, a rebel without a clue. I saw the goal which was great interchangeable play. So I cannot comment really except the quicker we get a keeper the better...
I disagree with Ward-Prowse's
I disagree with Ward-Prowse's performance. I thought that this was the best shift that he put in with the Hammer's colours. Rodriguez on the other hand was lucky not to be shown a red card with two awful tackles. But there were positives to take in the manner in which the ball moved with fluidity compared to the last season. Wan-Bissaka, Irving and Bowen stood out in the first half. With the addition of Diouf and hopefully a fully recovered Summerville will mean a far more attack minded flair to West Ham's performance. Marshall should be given an opportunity to move into a centre-forward role. West Ham need one more very versatile mid-fielder and a centre forward. As usual Paul Merson has 100% negatives with West Ham as his favourite to be "Relegated'. He will be proven as usual to be 100% WRONG. The only concerns is the African Nations Cup in the beginning of 2026, and two potentially key players like Wan-Bissaka as well as Diouf could be out for around a couple of months. Hence Kyle Walker-Peters signing does make some sense.