- Amadou Onana scored on his Aston Villa debut after simply 4 minutes
- Lucas Paqueta levelled the scoring from the spot for West Ham
- Hammers goal Jhon Duran scored the winner 12 minutes from time to down Julen Lopetegui’s aspect
There could also be a brand new coach within the house dugout of the London Stadium however previous issues are operating deep for West Ham.
Below earlier boss David Moyes they went 18 video games with out a clear sheet within the second half of final season. Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa means it’s now 19 straight Premier League matches with out one, their final coming in opposition to Brighton in January.
Lopetegui’s aspect conceded the primary objective after simply three minutes and 40 seconds, with Villa midfielder Amadou Onana allowed a free header from simply two yards out. West Ham’s defence was reduce open far too simply time and time once more and, had Villa been extra scientific, the scoreline might simply have been extra damning.
It’s no shock Loptegeui and the membership’s technical director Tim Steidten, who’s in command of transfers, recognized the defence as a key space for enchancment.
The membership has introduced in three new defenders this summer time, although just one – £40million Max Kilman – began on Saturday. Jean-Clair Todibo, who’s on a season-long mortgage from Good, got here on for the final 5 minutes whereas Aaron Wan-Bissaka was an unused substitute. Neither participant was deemed able to play 90 minutes, in truth Loptegeui solely began two of his eight new signings, with midfielder Guido Rodriguez the opposite.
Julen Lopetegui might solely watch on as West Ham conceded inside 5 minutes
West Ham goal Jhon Duran scored the winner for Aston Villa
Vladimir Coufal began at right-back regardless of the arrival of Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United
‘There are a variety of new gamers however a variety of them arrived very late,’ Lopetegui mentioned.
‘We’ve to handle this for certain and we’ve got gamers who are usually not able to play 90 minutes.
‘We needed to change some essential gamers but it surely’s an opportunity for the brand new gamers to indicate they’re right here to be aggressive and make us higher. The signings, there are totally different timings for all of them and we’ve got to assist them to adapt.’
Rodriguez was substituted within the eighty fifth minute after a blended debut. At occasions, the holding midfielder appeared as if he was missing in match sharpness and struggled to maintain up with the tempo of the sport, however he was not the one one. There’s a feeling West Ham’s pre-season journey to the USA was too lengthy and that Lopetegui would have favored one other pleasant earlier than the beginning of the Premier League season. On Saturday’s proof, his instincts have been appropriate.
Rordriguez, who joined on a free switch from Actual Betis, is somebody the membership have excessive hopes for. Moyes blamed West Ham’s defensive struggles final season on the departure of Declan Rice and his potential to guard the again 4. Rodriguez is tasked with filling that function, although Edson Alvarez, who’s near coming back from a hamstring damage, could also be a greater midfield associate for the Argentine than Tomas Soucek.
It appears doubtless Todibo and Wan-Bissaka will come into the beginning XI for subsequent weekend’s journey to Crystal Palace however Loptegeui may look to clean up the attacking areas with a few of his new signings. Crysensio Summerville and Niclas Fullkrug each appeared energetic after they got here on and almost mixed for an equaliser late within the second half.
With £120million already spent on this window, West Ham could not but be carried out within the switch market – with Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Carlos Soler a participant on their radar. Saturday confirmed it might take Loptegeui time to suit all of his new signings into the West Ham jigsaw.
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