West Ham United

Holly Turbutt
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham are facing a key issue that we have seen in the past - a struggle to dictate games when we have the majority of possession.

The stats from the Charlton Athletic game paint a picture of a side that was organised and dominant, with 77.6% possession and a total of 43 touches inside the opposition box. Despite these flattering figures, the 2-1 loss and the reaction from fans provided a very different picture.

Unfortunately, many of our 665 passes were played safe, meaning we were unable to break through Charlton's lines. From the stands, we watched as the ball was played in a U-shape between our defenders for long periods of time, alongside very little movement off the ball.

The departure of Mateus Fernandes was one we thought would cost us creativity and, unfortunately, our start to life in the Championship has shown we are definitely missing players who want to carry the ball and catch teams quickly on the break.

But this is not the first time we have seen this pattern. Since the David Moyes days, we have received criticism around our inability to play well on the ball. Instead, playing on the break has often been our best way to pick up points.

One of the biggest frustrations from fans so far this season has been the lack of urgency when we do have the ball, particularly in the first 70 minutes against Charlton, it felt as though players passed the ball back and forth, with no intention to deliver it into the box or cause trouble for defenders.

This is something we have to fix urgently. In the Championship we are going to see more of the ball than previous seasons, so we must find a way to break down teams and get points from effective build-up play.

The biggest takeaway so far has been that the division will not be straightforward to navigate and we have a lot of work to do. With 25 shots against Charlton and nine on target, as well as a missed penalty, it is clear we need to be less wasteful with the chances we get.

As well as needing more urgency in attack, we also have work to do defensively, giving two goals away far more easily than we should have.

There is hope. We have a long season ahead but unfortunately for head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, our early results this season have piled on the pressure, but all is not lost.

The goal is simple - we have to fix these issues before we drop any more points.

Image source, Shutterstock

Despite being title favourites in pre-season, West Ham have failed to win either of their opening Championship games and it has got fans wondering if the club is in decline.

"We are very consistent, just consistently bad," Rachael MacFectrick from the Intrepid Irons, external told BBC Radio London.

"We've sort of lost our way a bit and it's not something that's happened since we've got in the Championship, it's been happening for a long time.

"We are not in a good position at all, mentally and physically. We do have to adjust and I feel our players haven't cottoned on to that. There's a lot of physicality in the league and I think our players are expecting more time on the ball.

"We are a one-trick pony and that's worrying. We might need a period of adjustment but I don't think we have long before we need to look seriously at where things have unravelled."

Listen to the full fan analysis below or on BBC Sounds here.

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We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Carabao Cup match between Southampton and West Ham.

Here are some of your comments:

Southampton fans

Philip: This was very disappointing. It shows that West Ham are miles ahead of us. We urgently need more defenders and another forward. A result like this suggests mid-table, or worse.

Malcolm: We are nowhere up to standard. Wood played well but Stephens had a horrendous game, responsible for two of West Ham's goals. I hope they turn it round against Millwall.

Philip: Terrible. Looked like they met in the car park for the first time, folded like a broken deckchair in second half.

Anthony: Terrible, incoherent team display. If there was a plan or strategy it wasn't on display. Lack of firepower, lack of midfield creation, lack of coherent press, inability to clear lines safely. Last season's fight appears to be missing. Promotion will elude a team that plays like this.

Phil: So disappointed, not with losing but how we are being let down by the mediocre effort the side is giving us. It's not just the players that lost out last season. Yes, they lost money but the fans lost more than that and I know it's not the player's fault but the club owe us, and the players represent the club.

They need to put this right and the way they are going about it is less than satisfactory!

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham fans

Joe: Both sides put out youthful teams, can't judge this result too much but still a good win. Young lads proved they deserve a chance in the league, hope Nuno gives them one.

Dave: First half was poor again, but better in the second half especially after the four substitutions.

The real big problem is they have, and are still doing so, sold off the good players and either getting in some rubbish or none at all, this club is in a real mess.

On top of this the manager doesn't have a clue.

Simon: Much better tonight, why aren't we playing like that in the league? Still don't think Nuno will be manager much longer. Ajala, Orford, Mayers and Veltman all deserve a start at the weekend.

Paul: It seemed impressive when I read the result but when I watched the highlights it was full of mistakes that basically the second tier would make. I'm really worried that West Ham will not live up to all the pre-season hype, here's hoping!

Rob: Such an important result and it really couldn't have gone any better. Strong performances from a number of the youth players and much needed goals for key players to give everyone a much needed lift after a tough start.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has said he is "very proud" of his side after they thumped Southampton 4-1 in the Carabao Cup.

The head coach fielded eight changes from the XI that started their Championship match against Charlton on the weekend, including seven players aged 20 or under.

"Having such young lads playing in a tough place and showing this character and this belief makes you positive," Espirito Santo told BBC Radio London.

"I don't think it's a gamble [to make so many changes]. We took it with respect for the game, respect for the competition.

"It was not the best of the start to the game, we got lucky with the set piece. It changed the dynamic at half-time, it gave the boys belief."

Listen to the full interview above or on BBC Sounds here.

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

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Brentford have opened talks to sign West Ham full-back El Hadji Malick Diouf.

The Senegal international, 21, was left out of the Hammers' squad for their home defeat by London rivals Charlton Athletic at the weekend.

The left-back was the subject of talks between the two clubs earlier in the transfer window, and those discussions have resumed this week.

However, a deal remains a work in progress for the west London club.

Olympiacos have made an offer to take West Ham United midfielder Edson Alvarez. The Hammers have already reportedly reached an agreement with Real Sociedad for the 28-year-old but the Greek side are keen on the Mexico captain. (Sport 24 - English translation available), external

Find more of Tuesday's EFL gossip here.

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West Ham United went down 2-1 to Charlton in their first home game back in the Championship on Saturday.

A debut goal from Joel Piroe gave them hope after falling 2-0 behind but a stoppage-time penalty miss from Valentin Castellanos ensured Nuno Espirito Santo's side remain winless in the second tier.

Thank you to all the Hammers fans who sent us their views on the result and performance at a sold-out London Stadium. Here is a selection of their thoughts:

Ian - Absolutely abysmal. League One here we come.

Mark - Lack hunger and passion. [Max] Kilman is simply not fit to wear the shirt. [Oliver] Scarles not strong enough, so defensively we are weak. Need a powerful centre-half and now. Early days but sideways passes don't win games. Also we need a leader and [Jarrod] Bowen is not that, get a leader in.

RJ - We will be every team's cup final match at the London Stadium. Will be a hard season. We will dominate teams here but will have to convert more of our chances.

Stephen - West Ham seem to be lacking in confidence, currently they are playing walking football, taking too many touches and playing safe. Jarrod Bowen is nowhere near his best. In the first half he didn't try to go past his full-back once. He hasn't been the same since losing his England place. On current form we will struggle in the Championship.

Chris - Poor again. Manager needs to move away from 4-4-1-1 and start three midfielders. Losing initiative in every game.

Image source, Getty Images

Robert - Woeful. Too slow. Too many missed passes. Too many mistakes. Too many half-taken chances. Someone has to take charge - both on and off the field - before this season gets out of hand. I am embarrassed as a long-time supporter.

Carl - There is so much to fix and with a sold-out stadium the fan base is proving they're behind the team. It's about time the club put together a performance that matched it. No passion whatsoever.

Bob - I can't see any way that the Hammers will be promoted based upon what I have seen in the first two games. I thought that we would be better than this but it's the same painful experience as we had last season.

Mary - Did anyone really think it would be different? Entitled millionaires with the wrong attitude and likely the wrong coach. Endless possession but no threat. I love Bowen but we need a backside-kicking captain in midfield. The team needs leaders but we have only losers. It's been like it for years really. We won't go down, but we won't go up either.

Mark W - Absolutely dreadful, Nuno should have gone last season. He's utterly clueless.

A Barnes - We looked like strangers out there at times, but [Lewis] Orford almost rescued the game with an excellent display of metronomic passing in the second half. When he and [Divine] Mukasa click it will be magic. Without two stupid mistakes (gifting them a second goal and spurning the penalty) we would have won. Despite the boos at full-time, there's no reason to panic yet.

West Ham skipper Jarrod Bowen, 29, is reportedly a £50m target for Crystal Palace, despite pledging to remain with the Hammers after relegation. (The Sun, external)

The Hammers are also braced for an improved offer of £37m bid from Brentford for Senegal right-back El Hadji Malick Diouf, 21. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.

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Nuno Espirito Santo is confident Joel Piroe can make a major impact for West Ham following the striker's arrival on a season-long loan from Leeds.

Piroe, 27, is available to make his debut in Saturday's London derby against Charlton.

"He's a different profile from the strikers we have," Hammers boss Nuno told BBC Radio London.

"He's a very good player - a talented player with experience in the league - and we are positive that he can help us.

"We are positive about all our players, but definitely Joel has a huge contribution (to make)."

Piroe has significant Championship experience, first with Swansea City before a move to Leeds, where he was the club's top scorer in the 2024-25 season, helping them win the title.

At Leeds he played alongside another recent West Ham signing, Manor Solomon, who had a spell on loan at the Yorkshire club.

Nuno, who has been keen to overhaul his side's attacking options this summer, hopes his new arrivals' experience of playing together gives them a head start.

"They were previously at Leeds, so there is a starting point already made," he said.

"Things are improving, clearly. We are happy with the players who have joined."

West Ham United are keen on Sunderland winger Jocelin Ta Bi. The 21-year-old Ivorian only joined the Black Cats from Maccabi Netanya in January but has made just two appearances so far. (Sebastien Denis - footmercato), external

Read more of Thursday's EFL gossip here.

This is a first home game in the Championship for West Ham United since August 2011 when they lost 1-0 to Cardiff City.

Charlton head across the capital on the back of an opening-day 2-1 victory over Derby County.

• This will be the first league meeting between West Ham United and Charlton Athletic since February 2007 in the Premier League, with the Addicks recording a 4-0 home win.

• Charlton Athletic have won four of their past six league games against West Ham (D1 L1), though their only defeat came in their last away match against the Hammers – a 3-1 defeat in August 2006.

• West Ham United are winless in each of their past nine London derbies at home in the league (D1 L8), losing all six last season – they are both their worst ever such runs in the Football League.

• Last season, Charlton remained unbeaten across their three away games against sides who had been relegated from the Premier League the season prior (W2 D1), conceding just one goal in the process.

• West Ham have lost their home opener in six of the past eight seasons (W2), conceding 2.5 goals per match across that time.

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham United striker Niclas Fullkrug has moved to Werder Bremen on a season-long loan.

The 33-year-old, who joined the Hammers for £27m from Borussia Dortmund in August 2024, scored three goals in 11 Premier League starts but spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan.

Fullkrug, a German international, returns to Werder for a third spell having also started his career with the Bundesliga club.

West Ham drew 2-2 at Burnley in their opening Championship game of the season on Sunday and host Charlton Athletic on Saturday, 22 August (15:00 BST).