Premier League - West Ham United vs Ipswich Town Preview & Matchday Thread

[Mauswara]

All the Teams around us have lost today except for Everton

And Leicester, although to be fair to Everton they haven't played yet.

[ATB]

We’ll have bad days and today was one of them. The first 35 mins wasn’t too bad to be honest but after that we were poor.

Really missed Tuanzebe.

What’s concerning me is Omari is not getting into the games at all.

If KM is going to start him he should start him on the right and put Szmodic in the middle.

[ITFC2024]

Gotta stop gifting goals!

[Charnwood]

The problem is the longer we go without a win the harder it gets to get the win as belief and confidence wanes.

We knew it wouldn’t be easy and it’s certainly proving to be the case.

[Charnwood]

Anyone know what’s up with Axel. We know his injury record isn’t good and he didn’t appear to get injured in the game against Villa which suggests it’s a recurring injury. .

We could really do without him going missing for a few games. Maybe we’re lucky with the timing of the international break again.

[lucy]

My Neighbour is happy right now

[Cabanas Blue]

Anyone know what’s up with Axel. We know his injury record isn’t good and he didn’t appear to get injured in the game against Villa which suggests it’s a recurring injury. .

We could really do without him going missing for a few games. Maybe we’re lucky with the timing of the international break again.

https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-new ... ttle-while

It's a pity but better his hand than anything else.

[Ricco]

A hand injury out for that long, what was he doing? Juggling chainsaws?!

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

Well what a chastising afternoon, and a definite setback in our PL journey.
Just goes to show that you can spend £100m on strengthening the squad and still be mediocre, especially if you don't properly utilise what you've added.

It's the first time I've started to have serious doubts about our ability to stay up this season. You can blame bad defending for today (and it was bad defending) but to me there is a bigger problem. Our manager did wonders in getting back to back promotions, but that is history and it's the here and now that matters. I fear he is a one-trick pony - after 50 minutes today it was crying out for changes to personnel and formation but he did neither. Why does he persist in playing Hutchinson through the middle - it hasn't worked this season, and Hutchinson has massively under-delivered. I hope that with experience he will become a bit more flexible in his approach, but it needs to come sooner rather than later.

[shabba]

Couldn’t watch the game today, sounds like that was for the best!

It seems there are some harsh reactions today though, let’s try and be calm - we looked really good last week, and I really like the look of Clark, now he is being slated.

I just suspect it’s a case of us needing to be really at it to get any results in this league, the squads others have is frightening. So it’s not like we are losing to Cambridge in league one when we have a squad way above theirs.

It’s disappointing but let’s move on, key games coming in these next five. We have a great manager, great owners - let’s stay with the team keep up being great fans also.

[ITFC2024]

I wasn’t able to watch it either, thankfully. Yeah, I tend to agree Shabba. Obviously not happy with the result and performance, but we are what we are. My main concern is how we keep gifting silly goals. If we don’t fix that our chances for survival diminishes. Hopefully KM will get it sorted. Remember, we just need to finish 17th.

[Charnwood]

I wasn’t able to watch it either, thankfully. Yeah, I tend to agree Shabba. Obviously not happy with the result and performance, but we are what we are. My main concern is how we keep gifting silly goals. If we don’t fix that our chances for survival diminishes. Hopefully KM will get it sorted. Remember, we just need to finish 17th.

The biggest worry is that if we carry on at this rate we won’t make 25 points by the end of the season and that has to be a concern.

One thing for sure we need to make Portman Road a fortress and make sure we pick up a few wins there.

Next up Everton at home, crazy as it sounds at this time of the season but surely that’s our first must win game if we’re going to survive.

[ITFC2024]

I wasn’t able to watch it either, thankfully. Yeah, I tend to agree Shabba. Obviously not happy with the result and performance, but we are what we are. My main concern is how we keep gifting silly goals. If we don’t fix that our chances for survival diminishes. Hopefully KM will get it sorted. Remember, we just need to finish 17th.

The biggest worry is that if we carry on at this rate we won’t make 25 points by the end of the season and that has to be a concern.

One thing for sure we need to make Portman Road a fortress and make sure we pick up a few wins there.

Next up Everton at home, crazy as it sounds at this time of the season but surely that’s our first must win game if we’re going to survive.

Yep, unfortunately though Everton are beginning to find a bit of form. This statement will ruffle some feathers, but I think Hutch should start the match on the bench and replace him in the center with Szmodics. Also, J. Clarke needs to find his form quickly! We can’t afford to have him underperforming either. Burns is a great forward, but lacks in defensive play. We need him to track back, especially when Johnson plays (I’m not impressed with Johnson btw). Seriously, I think Omari being benched will do him some good. Maybe it will p*ss him off and he’ll score the winner as a impact sub.

[AzzurroMark]

Stuart Watson, the chief football writer of the EADT sums it up perfectly for me in the last section of his analysis;

REALITY CHECK

Don't get too high with the highs, don't get too low with the lows.

Ipswich weren't Champions League contenders after pushing for a win against Aston Villa. They are not relegation fodder just because they've lost at West Ham.

I saw too many people underestimating this game. Ipswich, lest we not forget, were playing in League One as the Hammers built towards winning the Europa Conference League just two years. This was an opponent that had three top half finishes in the last four years and reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League last season.

Yes, Julen Lopetegui's side had lost their opening three home league games - but those games were against Villa, Man City and Chelsea.

Yes, Ipswich spent in excess of £100m on transfer fees this summer. So did West Ham though - and that was to strengthen a squad already packed with experienced internationals.

Never underestimate the monumental challenge McKenna has trying to secure Premier League survival. The odds are stacked heavily against.

It's been a positive start. This is a little reality check. That might not be a bad thing heading into the second international break.

I too had fallen into the same trap! While I did predict our defeat in the poll in this thread, more of a failed reverse psychology in truth I also felt there was something in it for us with a 1-0 Town win being my score guess in the prediction league.

[Mariner67]

Well after after the Villa game that's not what we expected..Johnson couldn't make it in the spamers first team,ok he wasn't entirely to blame ,I would of had Jack Clarke in there,Omari is better on the right,Szmodics is being played in the wrong position, oh well bad day at the office, home form is the key to survival but tbh I don't care if we do go down,at least I'd get to see Ipswich play more often.

[hallamblue]

Ok, I've slept on it now and yip, that was a bad day at the office is how I'm viewing it now, and you can get yer bottom dollar. McK will approach the analysis in the same methodical/ calm way he always does. But there are things to learn from yesterday for sure.

[Bluemike]

Stuart Watson, the chief football writer of the EADT sums it up perfectly for me in the last section of his analysis;

REALITY CHECK

Don't get too high with the highs, don't get too low with the lows.

Ipswich weren't Champions League contenders after pushing for a win against Aston Villa. They are not relegation fodder just because they've lost at West Ham.

I saw too many people underestimating this game. Ipswich, lest we not forget, were playing in League One as the Hammers built towards winning the Europa Conference League just two years. This was an opponent that had three top half finishes in the last four years and reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League last season.

Yes, Julen Lopetegui's side had lost their opening three home league games - but those games were against Villa, Man City and Chelsea.

Yes, Ipswich spent in excess of £100m on transfer fees this summer. So did West Ham though - and that was to strengthen a squad already packed with experienced internationals.

Never underestimate the monumental challenge McKenna has trying to secure Premier League survival. The odds are stacked heavily against.

It's been a positive start. This is a little reality check. That might not be a bad thing heading into the second international break.

I too had fallen into the same trap! While I did predict our defeat in the poll in this thread, more of a failed reverse psychology in truth I also felt there was something in it for us with a 1-0 Town win being my score guess in the prediction league.

I never understood how so many people just expected us to turn up and win either, it made no sense, I did however expect us to put in a performance but defensively we were cack from 48 seconds in until the final whistle.

[Bluemike]

Well what a chastising afternoon, and a definite setback in our PL journey.
Just goes to show that you can spend £100m on strengthening the squad and still be mediocre, especially if you don't properly utilise what you've added.

It's the first time I've started to have serious doubts about our ability to stay up this season. You can blame bad defending for today (and it was bad defending) but to me there is a bigger problem. Our manager did wonders in getting back to back promotions, but that is history and it's the here and now that matters. I fear he is a one-trick pony - after 50 minutes today it was crying out for changes to personnel and formation but he did neither. Why does he persist in playing Hutchinson through the middle - it hasn't worked this season, and Hutchinson has massively under-delivered. I hope that with experience he will become a bit more flexible in his approach, but it needs to come sooner rather than later.

Agree with pretty much all of that which is what I was alluding to in my earlier post where I said KM changed nothing, he should have seen the playing out from the back wasn't working and ditched it early doors. The Hutchinson thing beggars belief, seven games in and he's been ineffective in all of them where as Szmodics looked our best player at Man City of all places.

[mendipblue]

Defence looks shakey even Greaves. Muric may make a world class save but there is always a mistake waiting to happen. As for Clarke and Hutchinson, well both need dropping. Ogbene another non performer. Chaplin has not been given a chance, we know he has goals and assists in him. Broadhead is fit now also, he can't do any worse.
Who will KMck be working with this week? 4 players at the Republic, 2 in Wales, 2 England 21, 2 to the Australian squad, and a Kosovan. International weeks don't help.

[Mariner67]

Well after the Villa game that's not what we expected..Johnson couldn't make it in the spamers first team,ok he wasn't entirely to blame ,I would of had Jack Clarke in there,Omari is better on the right,Szmodics is being played in the wrong position, oh well bad day at the office, home form is the key to survival but tbh I don't care if we do go down,at least I'd get to see Ipswich play more often.

[Shed on tour]

Just done a lengthy reply and for some reason it didn’t post. Therefore, just a brief summary of my experience yesterday.
1) As has already been said yesterday was a poor performance especially defensively and if this continues then we will have no chance of staying up. Before the season started I felt we would need around 10 wins to stay in the Premiership and tbh at this moment in time I have trouble seeing where our first one will come from if we continue to concede like we did yesterday.
2) What is about London games that seem to attract a minority of idiots amongst our support? Yesterday there were some who racially abused stewards, pushing one over and generally acting like morons. Hopefully they were picked up on cctv and action can be taken against them.
3) My first visit to the London stadium for football and have to say I won’t be rushing back. You are so far from the pitch in the away section that you virtually need binoculars to see what is going on at the other end of the ground. As for atmosphere well it was non-existent for the majority of the game and I can see why some of the Hammer fans wish they had never moved from the Boleyn ground.

Certainly as already been said certainly a bad day at the office in more ways than one.

[AzzurroMark]

As for atmosphere well it was non-existent for the majority of the game and I can see why some of the Hammer fans wish they had never moved from the Boleyn ground.

Loosely on that subject, did the planned "stop exploiting loyalty' protest manifest itself within the stadium? I know it was due to start outside the stadium and that they were encouraging Town fans to add weight to their action. I can imagine when your team is making mincemeat of their opponents on the pitch, that any thoughts of vocal protests tend to get watered down!

[Shed on tour]

As for atmosphere well it was non-existent for the majority of the game and I can see why some of the Hammer fans wish they had never moved from the Boleyn ground.

Loosely on that subject, did the planned "stop exploiting loyalty' protest manifest itself within the stadium? I know it was due to start outside the stadium and that they were encouraging Town fans to add weight to their action. I can imagine when your team is making mincemeat of their opponents on the pitch, that any thoughts of vocal protests tend to get watered down!

No didn’t see or hear anything inside the stadium but assume it happened somewhere outside the stadium.

[Charnwood]

Well after after the Villa game that's not what we expected..Johnson couldn't make it in the spamers first team,ok he wasn't entirely to blame ,I would of had Jack Clarke in there,Omari is better on the right,Szmodics is being played in the wrong position, oh well bad day at the office, home form is the key to survival but tbh I don't care if we do go down,at least I'd get to see Ipswich play more often.

Definitely a bad day at the office but not sure about Jack Clarke playing in place of Johnson, maybe you mean Harry Clarke but even that would have been a risk given he’s played zero minutes this season thus far. Not sure about Szmodics being out of position for his 20 mins on the pitch as he hardly got into the game and had minimal touches. From best I recall it appeared he had freedom to play where he could find space. I agree Omari is best on the right which is where he naturally drifts to during the game anyway. The only problem is we then have nobody in the middle and he and Burns get in one another’s way.
What stood out for me yesterday is that Burns, Hutchinson & Clarke are all too lightweight and have similar styles of play and up against West Ham’s strength they were just muscled off the ball or forced into making errors and giving away or losing possession. It really looked like men against boys.
I’ve never liked Hutchinson playing down the centre and it’s clear to see it doesn’t work, although I still think we need both him and Clarke on the pitch on either wing to give us pace and width. Let’s not forget how well Jack Clarke played against Villa and how much Omari has to offer. Let’s not throw the babes out with the bath water too soon.
As for not caring whether we stay up or go down makes we wonder how much you really care about our football club anyway Mariner as most of us want see our club and team successful and to achieve that all we need to do this season is survive. 17th position will be good enough and at the moment that’s exactly where we are.

[Mariner67]

Yes obviously Harry Clarke, he was OK last season, ok premiership is a different kettle of fish.Why question my support for the club,alot of people have problems getting tickets & don't like the premiership, I think it s corrupt.Man city have over 100 cases against them & will probably get away with it.

[ITFC2024]

What stood out for me yesterday is that Burns, Hutchinson & Clarke are all too lightweight and have similar styles of play and up against West Ham’s strength they were just muscled off the ball or forced into making errors and giving away or losing possession.

I think this is exactly why Hutch is not performing. Yes, he was very effective on the right in the Championship, but I honestly don’t believe playing him on the right will affect his performances in the Prem. But sure, let’s try it and see what happens.

[Mariner67]

What stood out for me yesterday is that Burns, Hutchinson & Clarke are all too lightweight and have similar styles of play and up against West Ham’s strength they were just muscled off the ball or forced into making errors and giving away or losing possession.

I think this is exactly why Hutch is not performing. Yes, he was very effective on the right in the Championship, but I honestly don’t believe playing him on the right will affect his performances in the Prem. But sure, let’s try it and see what happens.

Yes we need to do some tweaking, that's for sure.

[Mach_Polish_Blue]

Worst away day of the season. Plus the stadium is so soulless and away.

Absolutely shocking when playing out of the back and I have no idea why we have signed Johnson on a long term contract. Not surprised he hadn't been a West Ham regular prior to joining us.

At times that was men against boys. Like a cup tie against much better opponent.

Yet again Delap was our best player.

Everton game is a must win. I don't want a great performance and draw/loss. Don't want saying it is a good point if we draw. Must win end of.

For the first time this season I am worried.

[Charnwood]

I think when you see how well Delap has adapted to the Premier League and you see how physically strong he is, it suggests to me any further recruitment we need to look at size and strength. Yesterday many of those West Ham players looked like giants next to our guys.
Although he’s not tall Szmodics looks physically very strong and maybe needs to be given an extended chance either in the centre of the three behind Delap of alongside him in a 4:4:2 formation.
Yesterday there were do many loose balls pinging around in their box with nobody around to pounce on them apart from of course Delaps goal which was exactly that.

[RRanger]

Amidst all the gloom I'm reminded about last season's two games against Leeds when we conceded 4 goals in each game, losing both of them, and bounced back after each game and went on winning runs. My only disappointment is the international break. I'd much rather that the players could be playing their next match next week and not in two weeks time.