Even though they were given yet another head start, Brentford couldn't hold on to record a win against Lopetegui's unbeaten away from home (in the league) Hammers. Here's what the west London cognoscenti made of it all...
"I was worried that this might be the game where the new signings begin to flourish and it all comes together for WH. Fortunately that was not the case. Solid at the back although with three CBs in the second half often with nobody to mark that was easier for them than it should have been. Lacking in any real inspiration apart from Kudus in brief moments."
- Wise old Bee
"A bit like Eze for Palace, Kudus stands out as performing beyond the team. Considering Bowen’s numbers and Paqueta being tipped for City move, fairly uninspiring. Antonio’s legs have gone. Looks unlikely to find them again. Given the fans pushed so hard for Moyes out, Lopetegui may not survive till January."
- BuzzingBee95
"We were a bit fortunate that Bowen had an off day and Kudus was injured, but we are far from lucky with injuries ourselves. They are a very average team besides those two. Wan Bissaka is one of the best one-on-one defenders in the league, and absolutely useless at everything else. Bizarre player."
- JosephBFC
"I thought they were sh*t. Technically, we are miles ahead of them."
- rebus
"They were dazzled by the words 'Real Madrid' on Lopetegui's CV and ballsed up the Moyes replacement. They won't be troubling the top half."
- jbee
"Lopetegui was proactive at half time and changed their approach by playing a much higher defensive line, thus condensing the play and denying us the midfield space we enjoyed in the first half. They were also much more aggressive in the press. This is how they took a point."
- Lionel Bart-At
"Am I missing something, is there a reason Kilman was never considered for England by Southgate at the Euros? Always looks good to me."
- upnorthbee
"An even game against a virtually second string Bees XI. Kudos threatened a few times. Bowen was the quietest I’ve seen him. Paqueta a shadow of the player that interested Man City since the betting charges. Antonio all bish bash bosh but no finesse or creativity. Lumbering lumps at the back who can defend ok but can‘t do anything remotely progressive. All this for about £400m."
- cheshirebee
"Mavrapanos looked better at RB than ever at CB. Very ordinary side. Bowen decent but often too greedy."
- Gee Bee
"They were pretty clueless, until they basically went for an all out physical attack in the second half and more or less bullied the ball into the goal. At that point it seemed like Bowen was their smallest player and he isn't small. But after the goal we were the better team again and just missed having that focal point up front."
- jbee
"We scored the third sub-one minute goal but by half-way through the first half we ran out of ideas and there seemed to be no leadership on the pitch and a gulf between the defensive group and the attacking group. We just played it around at the back… slowly… until a defender could find a pass to Damsgaard, or occasionally to Lewis-Potter, to try to make something happen. Half time clearly gave Lopetegui the opportunity to make changes and give instructions to get at us a bit more and we eventually handed them sufficient chances to equalise. This was followed by a spell of pressure as the game fizzled out. We got away with a point as West Ham turned out to be as disjointed as we were."
- jlove
"Came away feeling disappointed. Our poor second half allowed them to get a point. I recall feeling comfortable and relaxed that WHU would never score this afternoon and I believe the Bees did too until they switched off for the equaliser. No attacking options to carry it through till the end so we pay the price once again for failing to hold onto a lead. Squad is already stretched and nothing is going to change in the weeks ahead until improved luck and the healing process takes its course. Two points dropped at home today."
- HMDBFC
"Both teams looked really poor. If one took hold of the game, they would have won. Only plus side, we are missing players - and West Ham, we'll they are West Ham."
- BEEB4
"Such mixed feelings. Just so bloody frustrated that with just three of our injured eight or nine on the pitch today we absolutely cruise to three points against very recent European champions. Proud that we still have enough to put out an eleven that more than merited a point. Excited that our bench, though not Premier League ready just yet and not offering enough game changing options right now, is full of incredible potential for the years ahead."
- cheshirebee
"Just got home, what a magnificent performance. Everyone was good today, just a shame without a recognised striker that we're reduced to putting hopeful balls into the box. Thought West Ham defended quite well."
- Zeeco
"Good point with 11 players and the kids, still have same issue as last season the midfield can't score. Only Mbeumo has scored in the 20 players listed today. Gutted as we would of won that with less injuries."
- magicbees
"Frank played his best available eleven and we held, kept and used the ball so well at times. We lacked penetration which wasn’t surprising given what we had available but overall this was an excellent performance which showed just how far we’ve come as a Premier League team. It’s galling that fate is conspiring against us yet again and costing us points. I certainly think we’re in far better shape than West Ham."
- North London Bee
"Fairly happy with the point. I thought before the game that this formation was the right one to nullify West Ham like Chelsea used to good effect. I think it worked well and we got a point that could even have been more. Keeps us in a decent position in the table just waiting for the reinforcements to return."
- LongLostBee
"Annoying not to get the three points because we were the much better side. Not sure either of the shouts at the end were pens though."
- JosephBFC
"With so many players injured, a draw is ok, if disappointing. First half, maybe first half hour, we looked really good and should/could have put the game to bed - frustrating that we didn't. Good competitive play, lots of tough (but fair) tackling; if only more players knew where the goal is. West Ham's goal, a few moments of bonkers play/lack of concentration/bad luck, but it did rather wake the Hammers up. Disappointed by the result but encouraged by the performance. Imagine if we ever managed to get back to full fitness..."
- lalalalalalalalalaBooker
"Who won the toss today? Did they think about the sun? Not saying this influenced the result , but it could easily be a factor one day soon. It was blinding second half. At home again next week v Wolves, the captain needs to think about this if the sky is (likely to be) clear. You very rarely see teams change ends before KO these days. Why not? (Maybe the laws have changed?) Is it dependant on the positioning of the dugouts or something like that? On a Sunday morning, whoever runs out first, randomly chooses whichever goal they fancy smashing the ball into for the next five minutes. I ask because if we warmed up at the other end, the likelihood is that West Ham would have been battling the falling sun in the second half, rather than us."
- Lionel Bart-At
"On the subject of the sun, it was surprising that Flekken came out without a cap for the second half and had to call to have one brought to him. A bit unprofessional, I thought. I was in the East stand today as a one off and right behind him. It was hard work looking into the sun for most of the game, second half in particular."
- pompeybee
"Average game between two average sides. Us being average because of injuries. Need some senior squad back."
- kendo
"Didn't do enough to win and rather missed the opportunity to force home and advantage against a team whose fans looked ready to turn on the manager at half time. The goal we conceded followed about 10 seconds of consecutive shanks by both teams' players. Scrappy doesn't do it justice. So frustrating. For all our effort late on we didn't make their keeper work. Can't comment on the penalty shouts as I was down the other end. Overall a fair point as West Ham didn't really trouble our goal. Not sure what has happened to their frontline. Does not look as potent as last season. They can't still be relying on Antonio - which is something their fans have been saying for at least the last three years."
- BaildonBee
"Thought with our limited resources we did well and a welcome point. Neither goalie had much to do but gutting their goal was so avoidable. Says it all that the West Ham fans on the train back are most upset that they were not allowed to take the corner at the end, they had little else to cheer."
- thanetbee
"What an incredibly frustrating game. I wouldn’t say we were brilliant but I thought West Ham were one of the worst teams I’ve seen at the GTECH, just a load of units bumbling about. They scored the only type of goal they were ever going to score against us today, scrappy as f**k."
- Deanos196
"Our squad is undoubtedly top half but our injury count (and rising) is worrying . If we’d have had a striker today, we win! Today, I couldn’t fault the effort of the players and again Damsgaard was the best player on the pitch. However, there’s too many missing to cause teams too much problem. Talking to West Ham fans on the way back, they’re really peed off with things and reckon a lot of their players are just going through the motions. They were very complimentary about the Bees even so."
- cromerbee
"Bet Simon Hooper will sleep well knowing he’s been awful at his job but will once again have a game next weekend. Clueless."
- Hampshire Bee 2018
"Absolutely blatant penalty against Pinnock."
- Holysmit
"Context. We were missing our captain, our vice captain, our right back, our left back, our centre forward Thiago and our replacement centre forward Wissa. We didn’t beat West Ham, but we probably should have. We’ll be fine."
- sonofabee
* Comments originally published at griffinpark.org/forums/.
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