New captain Jarrod Bowen was substituted as West Ham go the Julen Lopetegui era off to a losing start at home against Aston Villa.
It may only be a minority but there were already some murmurings of discontent among West Ham fans before, during and after the 2-1 defeat to Villa at the London Stadium.
It’s never nice to start the season with a defeat. Especially at home.
And especially when you have a new manager and a host of new players as is the case with West Ham.
Hammers fans were hoping to see a new-look side come flying out of the blocks to start life under Julen Lopetegui with a bang.
But that bubble was burst less than four minutes in as the Keystone Cops defending which has dogged the last year – and pre-season – continued.
There is no hiding the fact Lopetegui left excited West Ham fans disappointed with his team selection.
Only two of the eight new arrivals started.
Damp squib for Hammers after pre-season excitement
That’s despite Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo, Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug having full pre-seasons behind them.
The real reason for Lopetegui’s underwhelming West Ham team selection makes sense for the long term.
Hammers supporters are not stupid.
They know the team will very much be a work in progress with a new manager trying to implement a new style.
But West Ham fans are only human and were hoping to see some real tangible changes to get the pulses racing.
More possession, passes and the same number of shots as the visitors very much suggests there has already been progress made given the team which started contained much of the old guard.
So things should improve drastically when the new boys are properly given their head.
Subbed Bowen’s plea to West Ham fans about Lopetegui
Some fans would also bemused when new captain Jarrod Bowen was substituted with West Ham looking for a winner against Villa – only for the visitors to get it instead.
That will be more down to the fact Bowen has hardly had a pre-season having only played 25 minutes of England’s Euro 2024 campaign.
Spanish journalist Guillem Balague urged West Ham supporters to show patience with Lopetegui and said it would be richly rewarded.
Balague continues to insist his compatriot is one of the best managers in world football.
Now Bowen has issued a plea to West Ham fans about Lopetegui after the damp squib.
The message from the skipper is for fans to ‘trust the process’.
Because he believes there are already clear signs Lopetegui is making inroads over the style of play.
“You could (see the impact of the new head coach) with the way we pressed higher up the pitch,” Bowen told the club’s website.
“We turned the ball over a few times in really dangerous positions.
‘Now it’s down to us to show it’
“I thought there were signs with the ball too. We spoke about the final ball not being right, but those positions we got in, with the interchange and link-up play, the crosses and the numbers we got into the box [were there] and on another day those chances fall for us and they go in.
“It’s a really exciting time with the new manager and new ideas.
“There were signs today that there were things that were clicking and coming into play. Now it’s down to us to show it.
“There are positives there to take for sure, but like I said before we’re in a results business. We’ve lost the game and we’re disappointed with that.”
Spoken like a true captain.
But Lopetegui must ensure he eventually combines style with substance if he is to build on the job done by David Moyes.
West Ham fans should heed the pleas of Bowen and Balague.
The wider football press will be all over the Spaniard like a rash at the first sign of any discontent.
Good things come to those who wait.
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