The penny dropped for West Ham’s greedy gang as four stars outshone the rest in a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.
New West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui has lift off thanks to second half goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen.
The Hammers have brought in eight new signings this summer but it was two mainstays of the last four years who got the all-important goals.
There is no lack of irony in Soucek and Bowen delivering Lopetegui’s first West Ham victory.
They were David Moyes’ first Hammers signings when he returned to the club in January 2020.
Soucek in particular has faced much scrutiny this summer given West Ham’s transfer activity.
And yet more will follow if the Hammers complete the signing of PSG outcast Carlos Soler.
After all the excitement of a new manager and a raft of new players, the start of the new season was something of a damp squib for the Irons last weekend.
Lopetegui only named two new signings in the West Ham starting XI and they were beaten at home by Villa.
The world and its wife expected the Spaniard to ring the changes this week and fully usher in his new era.
But no.
Moyes’ first two signings give Lopetegui lift off
In a move many noted was remarkably similar to his predecessor Moyes, Lopetegui named the same team which lost to Villa when West Ham played Crystal Palace.
Make no mistake this result could – and perhaps should – have been very different.
Crystal Palace hit the bar and post and wasted two gilt-edged one-on-ones.
Had the Eagles been leading at the break, West Ham couldn’t have had any complaints.
But the Hammers grew into the game and the penny dropped for their greedy gang as four stars outshone the rest.
West Ham have some supremely talented attacking players.
But they are part of a problem that has been something of an elephant in the room for a while now – and too many have been ignoring it.
Penny drops for greedy gang
Brazilian magnifico Lucas Paqueta, star boy Mohammed Kudus and captain Bowen are all brilliant players. West Ham’s talismanic trio without question.
But far too often they each – although less so Bowen – have a tendency to hang on to the ball too long, take one touch too many, overplay or make the selfish choice.
It means West Ham have not been as ruthless as they should be.
And that piles pressure on the defence to keep clean sheets – something West Ham finally managed for the first time in 17 Premier League matches against Palace.
It was more of the same in the first half, Paqueta too lackadaisical in possession at times, Bowen holding on to the ball and coming back on himself and Kudus hogging it at times.
There were several moments where one of their teammates were better placed in and around the box or on the attack but they kept hold of the ball or made the wrong choice.
One moment in particular summed it all up. Paqueta showed lovely footwork to lift the ball over his marker in the final third. West Ham had a four on three with Kudus and Bowen both options either side and Antonio through the middle.
But Paqueta elected to try and score on the volley from 35 yards out instead much to the exasperation of his teammates.
Four West Ham stars outshine the rest
You can’t play a new brand of passing football if your key players aren’t passing quickly and to the right players.
Lopetegui clearly had a word at half-time because West Ham’s attacking players were visibly looking for their teammates in the second half.
If a touch of selfishness has been holding West Ham back, it was fitting that the most selfless player in the squad opened the scoring – that man Soucek.
All built on another hugely impressive performance from West Ham’s man of the match Max Kilman.
The 27-year-old made Bowen’s goal with the kind of marauding run out of defence Lopetegui signed him for.
Konstantinos Mavropanos was also excellent for the most part alongside him.
He was only on for a brief spell but Aaron Wan-Bissaka transformed West Ham when he came on too.
Wan-Bissaka made an instant impact with a pacy run down the right which opened up the game for Soucek’s goal and Bowen to get forward and notch.
It was all held together in midfield by Soucek and another new boy Guido Rodriguez.
The World Cup winner was harshly criticised by Jamie Redknapp last week.
Rodriguez bit back at that criticism and said he felt he played quite well on his debut.
Well there is no debate this week as he was everywhere, breaking up Palace attacks and – as a shining example to his attacking teammates – passing the ball to his teammates quickly and efficiently.
The Hammers rode their luck at Palace for this win. But there was plenty on display to raise hopes.
And it feels like the Hammers are only going to get better and better with every game as the new players are integrated.
West Ham player ratings vs Crystal Palace:
Alphonse Areola – 6.5/10: Some really errant kicking in the first two games which is a concern. Areola is a brilliant goalkeeper. But he has looked a touch nervy with the ball at his feet as West Ham try to implement a new style. Overall not a huge amount to do but stood up well for two vital one-on-one saves.
Vladimir Coufal – 6/10 (Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 7.5/10): Coufal has been a brilliant servant for the Hammers. But while he didn’t do a lot wrong, Wan-Bissaka showed what a major upgrade he will be within seconds of coming on. This game was the transition for Coufal and Wan-Bissaka. The £15m new boy will surely be first choice right-back from here on in. When Coufal does step in for cup games or injuries, though, he certainly won’t let anyone down.
Konstantinos Mavropanos – 7/10: Overall another solid display from the big Greek. Lopetegui has handed him the shirt and he deserves to keep it right now.
Max Kilman – 9/10: Absolutely brilliant performance again from Kilman. He looks a steal at £40m let alone overpriced. Completely outshone Marc Guehi of Palace, who is about to be sold for nearly £70m. Composed, reads the game brilliantly and is so good on the ball it will transform this team. Gets an assist for Bowen’s goal too. Superb.
Emerson – 6/10 (Aaron Cresswell – 6/10): Still not quite the Emerson we know he can be. Palace got in beyond him too many times and a better team would have punished West Ham. Needs to work on his connection with Kudus. Aaron Cresswell came on for him as a time-wasting sub.
Guido Rodriguez – 8/10: Superb in the middle of the park. Moving to a new team in a new league, one might expect him to need a few months to adjust. But Rodriguez looks like he’s been playing for West Ham for years already. Breaking up play and providing a calm head in this new-look team. His stats will make very good reading indeed from this game. No wonder Xavi wanted him at Barca as a replacement for Sergio Busquets.
Tomas Soucek – 8/10 (Edson Alvarez – 6.5/10): Soucek got his goal and did so much important, selfless work off the ball. Deserved a 10/10 for rescuing a Palace ball boy in the celebrations that followed his opener. Subbed due to being on a booking. Alvarez looked in great condition and his return will give Lopetegui a big selection headache in the weeks and months to come.
Lucas Paqueta – 6.5/10: Gave the ball away too often and too selfish in the first half. Was still good on the ball and looked to make things happen. But better to come from him once things gel with the new players.
Jarrod Bowen – 7/10: Bowen struggled for much of the game after a difficult first game as captain last week. But he came to life in the second half – especially when Wan-Bissaka came on. Got his goal and it could and should be the first of many in this exciting Hammers side.
Mohammed Kudus – 7/10 (Jean-Clair Todibo – 6/10): Holding on to the ball for too long at times. Was less selfish in the second half and always a threat with his unbelievable dribbling. Should have opened the scoring in the first half but fired wide. Made openings for his teammates in the second half. Off as a time-wasting sub for Todibo.
Michail Antonio – 5/10 (Niclas Fullkrug 6/10): Michail Antonio was West Ham’s worst player on the day. Showed a complete lack of awareness at times, second to far too many balls. Infuriatingly kept flicking the ball on when he was the player furthest forward. Came off for Fullkrug but it should have been sooner. German got in behind twice and should have done better but the fact he did more in his cameo than Antonio before him suggests the roles must be reversed.
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