Bayer 04 Leverkusen v West Ham United - Saturday, 5th August (12:30pm)

OldCastleSwift

Penalty to Leverkusen.

OldCastleSwift

4-0

buffybegood

4-0.

Lukerz

And people think Maguire doesn’t improve this awful defence 😂

buffybegood

We've brought on Fornals and Cornet for Benrahma and Bowen. Given that Fornals and Benrahma have basically been competing for the left forward position for two seasons, and that Cornet, like Bowen is pacey and left footed, it seems odd that Cornet is playing on the left and Fornals on the right where he's generally been fairly ineffective whenever he's had to fill in for Bowen.

buffybegood

Lukerz said:

And people think Maguire doesn’t improve this awful defence 😂

He might improve it (although it's not certain by any means given the mistakes he's capable of), although I don't think today is a fair representation as we've been dreadful across the park, but it's the amount he'd cost.

OldCastleSwift

Passed me by, but we've now got Ben Johnson playing left wing back.

This squad needs some serious work.

buffybegood

Not sure why Coventry is on the pitch, no way he should feature for us this season. He's only got a year left on his contract I believe, surely time he was moved on.

Lukerz

buffybegood said:

Not sure why Coventry is on the pitch, no way he should feature for us this season. He's only got a year left on his contract I believe, surely time he was moved on.

Cos we have no other options

thornburyiron

I think Slacker’s relegation thread is going to get a lot of hits.

buffybegood

Lukerz said:

buffybegood said:

Not sure why Coventry is on the pitch, no way he should feature for us this season. He's only got a year left on his contract I believe, surely time he was moved on.

Cos we have no other options

So leave Downes on, he needs all the game time he can get, especially as it's looking likely he'll start against Bournemouth.

Slacker

thornburyiron said:

I think Slacker’s relegation thread is going to get a lot of hits.

Bingo!🎉

OldCastleSwift

Well, we only lost the second half 1-0. A better performance, but still didn't lay a glove on Leverkusen.

Far too many holes in the squad though going into the new season. Light at left back, and centre back, massively light in midfield and we could do with more attacking threat, too.

Slacker

OldCastleSwift said:

Well, we only lost the second half 1-0. A better performance, but still didn't lay a glove on Leverkusen.

Far too many holes in the squad though going into the new season. Light at left back, and centre back, massively light in midfield and we could do with more attacking threat, too.

Apart from that that though……

OldCastleSwift

Slacker said:

OldCastleSwift said:

Well, we only lost the second half 1-0. A better performance, but still didn't lay a glove on Leverkusen.

Far too many holes in the squad though going into the new season. Light at left back, and centre back, massively light in midfield and we could do with more attacking threat, too.

Apart from that that though……

I'd take a new 'keeper and a right back.

Barney

I'd take a new manager. The team were lifeless and I would not mind betting they are fed up with Moyes approach to games.

epsom_bubbles

If Bayer Leverkusen are the level we will meet in the Europa.....God help us, please 🙏

MrsGrey

Reminder - got some negative manager vibes on this thread -> https://whu606.com/discussion/11823/first-casualty-of-the-23-24-sack-race

Can we keep this one for match-related discussion, please.

Barney

oops - sorry

MrsGrey

No worries. Just trying to avoid misery creeping everywhere

thornburyiron

Hadn’t known but their plane was cancelled yesterday so they had to rise at 5 am today and travel this morning to the game. Maybe just maybe that’s why they started so poorly especially as it was an early kick off too.

MrsGrey

OldCastleSwift said:

Passed me by, but we've now got Ben Johnson playing left wing back.

Might just be because they needed to get him minutes on the pitch, as a priority. He's only just got back from his hols.

Pengeman

Not a good feeling for the coming season. WHU got thrashed 4-0 today by Bayer Leverkusen, after the 3-1 loss last week against Stade Rennais. we can't defend, create or score. It wasn't just the defeats, it is the manner of the defeats - no fight, pride, guile. I m hoping that they are saving it all for next week.

Even if we get new signings, Moyes' model is not to give them a decent game for another month. They may well not be match fit.

OutcastLondoner

epsom_bubbles said:

If Bayer Leverkusen are the level we will meet in the Europa.....God help us, please 🙏

I doubt in the group stages. We pretty much cruised through those last time around. We will need to improve but hopefully have time before we play this level of opposition

Lukerz

With the current personnel, the only side we can currently field is:

Fabianski
Kehrer - Zouma - Aguerd
Coufal - Paqueta - Soucek - Emerson
Bowen - Antonio - Benrahma

alderz

We played 4-4-2 in the first few games of pre season, and I think that’s a good option for us.

Fabianski; Kehrer Zouma Aguerd Emerson; Bowen Soucek Paqueta Fornals; Ings Antonio

Lukerz

Always remember when we lost 3-5 at home to Bournemouth final pre-season game going into the 2020/21 season. Finished 6th.

nychammer66

Lukerz said:

Always remember when we lost 3-5 at home to Bournemouth final pre-season game going into the 2020/21 season. Finished 6th.

Phew! That’s alright then.