Whilst i am not in the habit of hysterically calling for the managers head after such a short time i do admit to being a tad worried over what i and i am sure many are noticing about things going on on the pitch and team selection.

Soucek i actually like the player his attitude and clear love for the club but he cannot start ahead of Paqueta surely and in a midfield with know creativity that is very worrying. Of course i understand at different times you need players like this to help close out a game but to start ahead of at least two playmakers is crazy.

Jlo has said he had been watching us for sometime and he wanted to manage us as he saw things that he could do with the club and style of play that would be good for us. Well it may only be four games in and yes players getting used to a new way of thinking but my gosh the Villa game was like a team of strangers the Palace game we got very lucky indeed not to be going in at least two down at HT against City apart from the opening 5 mins we were poor yes we had a few moments in the second half of that game but not enough to convince me we are doing things differently. Bournemouth in the Cup we again got very lucky in another very poor performance but Yesterday against Fulham really took the biscuit for me.

How you start a match with three defensive midfielders and don't try to kid me Soucek was playing as a number ten because he cannot. Do i think the manager was good realising his mistake and taking off Soucek and Antonio at Ht well not really as they should neither of been starting for goodness sake as one cannot control a ball and never has been able to and the other rarely sees it unless he's crashing into the box from a dead ball situation.

So please Jlo learn from what are very clear mistakes for me and going into next weeks game against Chelsea have some balls and play Alvarez Soler Paqueta as our midfield three and have Summerville on the left Kudus on the right and Bowen through the middle and Hammergirl will agree here as much as i love those bronzed legs of Mavropanos i think Todibo will be a better player against Chelsea. and talking of that lot they do look good going forward but at the back they are awful so lets have a go eh we are at home and we need to see a good performance so pull your finger out Jlo the clock is already ticking.

Surely questions are being asked why the club did not stomp up the extra money Villa wanted for striker Duran. The man is on fire and can score goals from all over the field. If Villa wanted £40m in the summer. They will want £60m now.
Why was the money not paid? Did someone truly not fancy him? Missing out on a signing like Duran could be what costs us a return to Europe.

Adama Traoré mainly this guy as i think he will avoid Bissaka and give Emerson big problems with his pace and power so boys is anyone brave enough in our squad to stick one on him early doors to slow him down? of course Alvarez wont have a problem with that lol but jeeez he needs to avoid the bookings mounting up again.

Madness you say but this weekends game at Fulham is a big one and i do not want to see him doing his usual hold onto the ball in tight areas only to get a clip fall over and writhe in pain all the while the refs letting the game go on.....and the times he tries to keep the ball in stupid areas and gets robbed and puts the back four under real pressure.....So for me start Kudus on the right Bowen in the middle Summerville on the left and lets see what Soler or another can do.....it might just Piss off Pacman enough for him to perform coming on as a sub stop his sulking and show us why everyone raves about him so much.....Because for me all he is doing is treading water till the FA stop dithering and either ban him or drop the charges and once that's all done he will be on the blower to Pep to please come and get me.

It's international break boooo well hears a little something to cheer you boys up my Dads favourite West Ham Player and i only wish i had been around to see him play in the flesh but Youtube does help at times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZzFtjgtMvU

So. After the uninspiring victory over AFC Bournemouth last night. What did we learn. Or more importantly. What did J Lo learn?
I think Coufal is now a spent force. All he seemed to want to do was look for a backwards pass. Wan-Bissaka looks mustard. Todibo looks like he needs a few games but he has pace. His withdrawl at HT highlighted how vulnerable we are defensively to attacking pace with Mavrapanos & Coufal defending down the right. Alvarez was Alvarez. Dogged and determined. JWP & Soucek contribute absolutely nothing to the team in open play. Summerville looks like he will be a threat when he finds his fight. Though his preference to drive at defenders rather than cross the ball is not going to do any favours to our German striker Fullkrug. Rodriguez was a worthy replacement for Alvarez. Dropping JWP and Soucek for Paqueta & Kudus is a must. But keep Summerville out wide on the left. He could be a great foil for Emerson. Eould a 4-1-4-1 suit? Still work to be done but when this team click. Things could happen.

The rollercoaster is getting ready to go COYI

https://youtu.be/SK_Av8juaQY?si=Wk0fc-d3HhYt-rY2

Lot of new players at the club and whilst a number i doubt will feature from the kick off here is my idea of our line up this weekend.

Areola...AWB/Killman/Todibo/Emerson....Rodriguez/Pacman/Bowen/Kudus/Summerville.....Antonio.

Subs....Fab/Coufal/Cresswell/Aguerd/Mav/JWP/Soucek/Guilherme/Cornet/Ings/Fullkrug.

AWB and Todibo have to start because of our defence Rodders(Dave as me and mates now call him) As Alvarez injured and come on you cant start Soucek or JWP...Summerville because we need that balance and now we have it lets use it.....and the Beast starts with Fullkrug deff coming on during the game.

Any tweaks you lot want to make? and yes i realise more of the newbies starting in that line up than i thought.

Well, it is for me.
I'm actually looking forward to this season, Now don't get excited, I'm not expecting a top four finish or a European chasing place in fact, I still think we could be in for a somewhat rough ride. A large chunk of my feelgood feelings is admittedly, Moyes has gone. God, that bloke depressed the life out of me before a ball had even been kicked (even Allardyce, Zola and Grant never got me down that much). But there is also a feeling emanating from the club of harmony. Lopetegui is no mug, his CV shows that, he seems to be working well with Sully and Tim and we have a plethora of signings that for the first time in years I actually couldn't predict a starting line up. When was the last time we had that problem? Never mind them, but also we have retained players who could also still be starters, if not, are genuinely players to look forward to seeing on the bench. Go on.... try and pick your team and see what you've got left over for the bench :D
True, I know virtually nothing about our new signings apart from what I read/hear from Wiki, You Tube and general headlines, but taking all I have written into account, for once in a long time this is a season I'm looking forward to. Yes it may go belly up, but Im quietly optimistic.
Shame the club have to spoil it with ticketing price issues.

Following defeats to Wolves and Palace in the USA i have read a number of reactions across many sites and also on you tube and maybe it is an age thing but talk about going over the top with people calling the new manager Flopetigu how we are going to be lucky to stay up the football is the same as under Moyes the players are all crap.

Blimey talk about going overboard......if they took time and looked at the line ups do they think that this is the starting eleven? of course it will not be...do these people not understand that a lot of the main players had been away on international duties this summer and need a break albeit a short one.....the manager if anything has had a real chance to see in the flesh and not on paper or video players that there are question marks over....some he is not sure he wants but a chance to be proved wrong maybe or just have his thoughts proved right.

Many and sorry if it offends some by being age related but many younger fans so quick to wanting it to happen today right now not in six months a years time.....integrating new players and a new style will take time and like it or not you have to have patience and noticing the how the team dropped to a low block out of muscle memory if you will then this shows much work is going to be needed but with players who have not been under the influence of Moyes coming in and our main players Bowen Kudus Pacman Alvarez they have the ability to take on board the challenge a new style and way of playing that is being put into play by the new manager and coaches.

So a little patience is warranted though i do not expect it in all honesty...if we lose to Villa the media will have a field day and some fans will be moaning that we should never of got Jlo in "he's not up to the job" they will shout for all to hear but seriously as the old saying goes Rome was not built in a day so give the man a chance.

Better football is really what we all want to see not bus parked handbrake on every week home or away so be patient for a while and give the manager and the team a chance to breathe and we will be rewarded......in saying that though if he starts JWP and Soucek as our midfield i will join many in shouting from the rooftops lol....but seriously come on guys give the man a chance.