West Ham

Thilo Kehrer LCB position at West Ham, WHUFC 500th home Premier League game- Talking Points from 0-2 Brighton loss

Another disappointing performance from West Ham, their worst of the season so far, saw them slump to a 2-0 loss to Brighton and Hove Albion at the London Stadium. Here are our talking points from this WHUFC vs BHAFC 2022/23 season clash

Kehrer starts at left centre-back for West Ham

Injuries had forced David Moyes to start Glen Johnson out of position at LCB against Forest. Johnson a full back by trade, dropped to the bench for this one, with new signing Thilo Kehrer playing at LCB instead.

West Ham starting lineup vs Brighton 2022

Silly Kehrer foul on Welbeck (after Zouma mistake) gives Brighton lead

The German defender was decent in the first half, but a silly foul on Danny Welbeck gave Brighton an opportunity to take the lead from the spot, and MacAllister duly took advantage. Bad decision as it was from Kehrer, his defensive partner Kurt Zouma was equally at fault- he went roaming around the halfway line as a midfielder and got caught in possession, leaving Kehrer exposed.

Alexis Macallister and Moises Caicedo very good in centre of park

They may have sold the likes of Yves Bissouma and Marc Cucurella, but Brighton remain a formidable team, and Potter’s first choice midfield duo of Macallister and Caicedo comfortably outplayed their West Ham counterparts.

Sanchez two Soucek header saves and Dunk block on Soucek at the end

The Czech star had two headers excellently saved by Brighton keeper Sanchez and another attempt was brilliantly blocked by Lewis Dunk.

West Ham though need an answer to the Rice-Soucek conundrum. The two haven’t quite had the impact in the middle of the park in recent times that Moyes would’ve wanted, and lack of depth in the centre of the park (it looks from Moyes’ comments that Flynn Downes is even below Coventry in the pecking order) means the duo have to play 90 minutes in every game.

Brighton a bogey team for West Ham in the Premier League

While West Ham fans might be despairing seeing their side at the bottom of the league, it isn’t all gloom and doom yet. Their first loss was against defending champions City; the second against Forest should’ve atleast been a point, if not all three, and Brighton, well, are West Ham’s bogey team- they simply can’t buy a win against the Seagulls in the league.

This 2-0 2022/23 season win takes Brighton’s unbeaten PL run against West Ham to eleven games!

WHUFC 500th home league game- first PL team to lose that landmark fixture

Eight PL teams before West Ham have played 500 home league games, but the Hammers were the first team to suffer defeat in that landmark 500th home league fixture.

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Coufal at LB, Ben Johnson at LCB, Ogbonna captain- West Ham vs Viborg 2022 Lineups Conference League Playoff First Leg

Here is a look at the starting lineups for West Ham vs Viborg from the first leg of their UECL tie on August 18, 2022. West Ham won the game 3-1 with Scamacca (his first goal for WHUFC btw!), Bowen and Antonio scoring for the home side.

Vladimir Coufal left back vs Viborg; Ben Johnson as right centre back, Ogbonna captain in UECL

Interestingly, Vladimir Coufal, normally a right back by trade, played on the left side of defence as regular LB Aaron Cresswell didn’t feature here. Ben Johnson played LCB vs Forest over the weekend (he was paired with Zouma against NFFC), but with Angelo Ogbonna coming into the starting XI, Johnson shifted to RCB against Viborg.

Young Harrison Ashby played RB against Viborg, with Coventry and Soucek pairing up in midfield. Cornet on the left wing, Bowen on the right wing and Lanzini in the middle as a 10, with Scamacca upfront.

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Taiwo Awoniyi scorer of NFFC first Premier League goal of 2022/23, Declan Rice missed penalty against Nottingham, Benrahma disallowed goal

Nottingham Forest’s first home game in the top flight after 23 years saw them beat David Moyes’ West Ham 1-0 at the City Ground. Here are our talking points from the clash.

Taiwo Awoniyi scorer of Forest’s first Premier League goal of 22/23

Who scored Forest’s first Premier League goal of the 22-23 season will be a pub quiz question for the future, and new NFFC signing Taiwo Awoniyi wrote himself into the club history books as he netted NFFC’s first goal of the 22/23 season. He might not have known much about it- the ball ricocheted off him and past Lukasz Fabianski, but it was just reward for the young striker’s first half efforts.

Forest 1-0 West Ham 2022

Declan Rice missed penalty against Nottingham Forest

Bad as they were in the first half, West Ham were a much better side after the interval and were given a penalty after Tomas Soucek’s shot was blocked by McKenna’s arm. However Rice produced a very disappointing penalty (no power whatsoever) and Dean Henderson comfortably saved the spot kick, giving Forest three priceless points.

Dean Henderson performance vs West Ham

Speaking of Henderson, this was another fine performance from the on-loan United youngster in goal given David de Gea’s struggles for the Red Devils over the weekend against Brentford. Some of his reaction saves were top notch, and he had a big role to play in getting Forest their first Premier League win of the millenium.

Benrahma disallowed goal vs Forest

Slightly controversial, but VAR disallowed Benrahma’s goal for Michail Antonio’s alleged bodycheck on Mangala. Antonio claimed that he could do nothing to stop Mangala from clattering into him, but VAR thought otherwise and so did the on-field referee after checking the TV on the sideline.

West Ham chances vs Forest

Speaking of the Hammers they had plenty of chances against Forest

A penalty saved (Rice)
Benrahama and Fornals both hitting the crossbar
Zouma goal line clearance
Benrahma disallowed goal
Soucek header saved by Henderson

They actually dominated the game on xG too (see xG map below), and on the balance of play, deserved at least a point, if not all three.

xG Forest vs West Ham 2022-23

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