West Ham United

James Jones
Fan writer

The Julen Lopetegui era is under way at West Ham and, while many will have viewed the 2-1 home defeat by Aston Villa last weekend as more of the same, there were some huge positives to take.

Much of the complaints about style of play towards the end of David Moyes' tenure centred around possession, namely the fact we never really seemed that concerned about having it. It was often a defence first approach to style. That's evident in the fact West Ham averaged 41% possession in the Premier League last season. Against the previous season's top four, that slipped to 35%.

But on Saturday, West Ham enjoyed 52% possession against Champions League opposition. We had just one fewer shot than Aston Villa, had the same number of shots on target, took more corners and completed 29 more passes. Our total completed passes was 377. We managed more than that in only 11 league games last season. Five of those were against teams who were relegated.

We more than matched Villa and, while it was admittedly frustrating at times, a 2-1 defeat doesn't really tell the whole story.

That should give us reason to be optimistic that Lopetegui's ideas are already getting through. Five of the club's eight new signings featured and only two started. It was always going to take time to adapt and get up to speed, while the entire squad has had to get used to a very different way of playing.

So while starting the season in defeat isn't ideal, it's by no means an indicator of what's to come. Once the new players have fully adapted and Edson Alvarez returns from injury, we should then be in a position to make judgment. Until then, we still need to be patient and trust the process.

Find more from James Jones at We Are West Ham, external

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between West Ham and Aston Villa.

Here are some of your comments:

West Ham fans

Admeus: Pretty much what I expected. New manager, new players, different style of play. It will take a couple of games to establish and gel into a team. At least there was a lot less 'Chuckle Brothers' football (left/right, to you/to me, back) and we were defending higher and looking to attack more. Signs are good for improvement.

Jimbo: Disappointing performance. The biggest disappointment was the starting XI and formation. It might have been Moyes in charge. I hoped for something better and different, but it was the same old dross.

Dave: It's too easy to be critical but this is a new team, a new manager and new tactics - so it's going to take some time to get things right. However, it was a poor first-half performance and, though there were flashes of individual brilliance, we are still not playing as a team. Patience is the word. But that is something that is in short supply these days.

Aston Villa fans

Sam: Some of Villa's play was as good as the way we outplayed Manchester City last season but Emery and the coaches need to find a way to make us more clinical finishers. Hats off to Onana for a great debut. No worries about Watkins - he needs a bit of match fitness and that will come.

Elias: Brilliant performance from the Villa squad. They passed well, found lots of space on the field and managed to contain West Ham during the spells of the game where they had a bit more possession - notably after the penalty and at the start of the second half. Villa could have been more clinical but managed to see it through.

Paul: It was a deserved victory and great to see six players aged 22 and under on the pitch at the final whistle. With seven or eight players still to get up to speed or come back from injury, it shows how much hard work has been done over the summer. West Ham will not lose many at home. We will look back on this as a great result.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's six Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Manchester United and Fulham.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 2-0 Wolves

• West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham began their Premier League campaign with defeat at the London Stadium in manager Julen Lopetegui's first game in charge.

The Hammers have now lost their opening Premier League fixture 16 times, more than any other side.

They got off to the worst possible start against Aston Villa, conceding just four minutes in when Amadou Onana rose highest after being unmarked from a corner.

West Ham were punished for defensive frailties last season when they conceded 74 league goals, the most ever by a side to end in the top half, and the Hammers’ highest total since 1967.

Having got back into the game in the first half through Lucas Paqueta's penalty, they were then stung late on by Jhon Duran's finish as Villa sealed a well-earned three points.

Conceding preventable goals is a bad habit they will have to break as they go deeper into the campaign under Lopetegui.

Image source, Getty Images

Julen Lopetegui spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live after West Ham's defeat to Aston Villa: "We took some good chances and we deserved to win.

"I think that is football and sometimes these chances go in and sometimes not. We kept creating chances and pushing. We are very happy.

"The substitutes made a massive difference. I think we had a bit of a dip at that point and the manager made the changes at the right time. The three off them combined for that goal. We have some great players and we are ready to perform."

On season ambitions: "We will have to wait and see because it is only the first game. We have a lot of ambition and we want to build on that. We want to be the best we can be."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

West Ham fans, send us your thoughts, external

What did you make of it, Villa supporters?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Follow reaction and read the match report

There are six games on the opening Saturday of the 2024-25 Premier League and BBC Sport will bring you all the action and reaction throughout the day.

*All times are BST

Follow live here

A new season, and a new challenge for BBC Sport's prediction expert Chris Sutton.

Sutton faced off against a guest for each of the 38 game weeks in 2023-24 and triumphed 21-10 (with seven draws) to secure his second predictions title in a row.

He will have a guest each week this time too, but now you can find out if you can do any better.

Sutton's opponent for the opening round of games is The Courteeners frontman Liam Fray.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

I like what West Ham have done in the transfer market this summer and I am really excited about seeing Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug in the Premier League.

Fullkrug is an old-fashioned, throwback type of striker but he can finish.

Style-wise, the Hammers will be back to the 'West Ham way' under new boss Julen Lopetegui, which is what their fans wanted. Expectations are high so let's see how they get on.

For Aston Villa, the question is whether they can hit the heights of last season again.

It is going to be difficult for them to combine a top-four challenge with Champions League football once that gets started, and there might be some bumps in the road.

This is a difficult one to call because there are reasons to back both teams, so I am going to go with a draw.

Liam's prediction: 1-2

I like watching Villa - I think John McGinn is brilliant - but both of these teams are going to have good seasons.

Read all of this weekend's predictions here

Image source, Reuters

Earlier, we asked you who has made the most Premier League appearances for the Hammers.

Of course, it's Mr West Ham himself Mark Noble, who chalked up 414 appearances during 17 years in East London.

He retired in May 2022 after 47 league goals in his games for the Hammers in England's top flight.

Who has made the most Premier League appearances for West Ham?

Answer will be revealed on this page at 17:00 BST

West Ham have enquired about a move for Paris St-Germain and Spain midfielder Carlos Soler, 27. (Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Aston Villa (kick-off 17:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Lopetegui confirmed West Ham "don't have bad news about the injuries" but feels he has to be aware of the varied preparations some of his players have had, adding: "Some are ready more than others".

• The manager said a decision would be made on Friday over new signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka's availability, but they are "happy with him" and that "all of the new signs are going to improve our level".

• The Hammers boss added: "Competition is very important for us. He is a player we like that will help us to improve and add a lot of things to our team. All the players that came and others that are here, the focus is always on the team. He is very happy to be here. He has a good age, very mature and has experience."

• On Kurt Zouma's future: "Kurt is a fantastic person and very good player and he is going to choose his future and we will wait. True, he is talking with other teams right now so we will see what happens. We have big respect for him."

• On his first Premier League game in charge: "We are very excited about this first match, knowing the difficult team we are going to face. But we have a big ambition to play in front of our fans knowing we are all working the pre-season for this moment. Our focus is knowing their quality, but I believe in us and us being ready for this big challenge."

• He feels the "extra energy" from the fans is important and that they still "support in the bad moments we will have in this match".

• On Jarrod Bowen's selection as club captain: "He is a respected player, he is a national team player, he has the commitment with the club to become the next captain. We are all going to help him. He is happy to double up his responsibility because as captain, he doesn’t have any privilege, but he has a big responsibility and everyone will help him with his work."

• On targets for the season: "I don't put limits on our dreams. We have to dream but the only way to achieve them is to work. We can talk about ambition but our ambition is to train here everyday, to put on our best and be better."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham have won their opening Premier League match in just one of the past eight seasons (drawn one, lost six), beating Newcastle 4-2 in 2021-22.

The Hammers have lost their opening game in the Premier League more often than any other side (15).

Image source, Getty Images

Jarrod Bowen has said being named captain of West Ham gives him "another opportunity to represent the club with honour and pride".

The England international forward, 27, joined the Hammers in January 2020 and scored the winning goal in their Europa Conference League final victory in 2023.

He will follow in the footsteps of legendary previous captains of the club, including Bobby Moore, Billy Bonds and Mark Noble.

"I don't see it as weighing heavy - I see it as another opportunity to represent this club with honour and pride," he said in a video posted on West Ham's social media channels.

"Those names will be remembered forever by West Ham fans and I'm not there yet, but I want to keeping working my way to get to there.

"I've said that I wanted to stay here for the rest of my life and I still haven't come off that page. If I can go down as a legend here in years to come, that would be great."

Long-serving full-back Aaron Cresswell has been named as vice-captain.

It's that time of the year again - the annual act of foolishness in which I try to predict the outcome of the 2024-25 season for all 20 Premier League clubs.

West Ham United - eighth

Julen Lopetegui has replaced David Moyes, whose full worth to West Ham United may yet become clear in the months ahead, and not just because he won the Europa Conference League.

Lopetegui has been keen to return to the Premier League since leaving Wolves and he now has the squad to prove his worth, backed by good transfer business in the summer.

West Ham already had plenty of class with Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus, but they have added to that with the signings of Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United and Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund. The powerful Germany striker looks a perfect Premier League fit.

Lopetegui has also been reunited with former Wolves captain Max Kilman, who will play alongside Jean-Clair Todibo at the heart of defence, a signing regarded as a real coup.

Prospects look good for the Hammers, if Lopetegui can piece it all together. They are a good bet for a cup.

Read all of Phil's predictions here

West Ham have set their sights on a deal for Roma's Tammy Abraham with the Serie A club willing to sell the 26-year-old England striker for £25m. (Gazzetta dello Sport via Football Italia), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

The draw for the second round of the Carabao Cup has been made.

Here is the list of the ties - which are split into southern and northern sections - involving Premier League clubs:

South

• AFC Wimbledon v Ipswich Town

• Brighton & Hove Albion v Crawley Town

• Birmingham City v Fulham

• Cardiff City v Southampton

• Colchester United v Brentford

• Crystal Palace v Norwich City

• West Ham United v Bournemouth

North

• Everton v Doncaster Rovers

• Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United

• Leicester City v Tranmere Rovers

• Wolverhampton Wanderers v Burnley

See the full draw

The games will take place in w/c 26 August.