West Ham United

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Jarrod Bowen had told his dad this "could be my time to score for England" before getting his first Three Lions goal on Sunday.

The West Ham forward scored England's fourth in their 5-0 romp over the Republic of Ireland that saw them promoted from their Nations League group.

Bowen's strike came from his first touch of the ball, just seconds after entering the pitch as a substitute.

The 27-year-old only came into the squad late having been called up following a number of withdrawals.

"It is an honour to play for England every time I get the opportunity so to score that first goal was always on my mind," Bowen said after the match.

"I wasn't meant to be in the squad, I knew when the manager called me and asked me if I was willing to come in it was a no-brainer. It's an honour to come in.

"I said to my dad this could be my time. You need a little bit of luck and I got that.

"For me it was a different situation to one that I have been in before but I thought this could be an opportunity for me to score and it paid off."

West Ham and Southampton are both chasing 16-year-old twins Cole and Dylan Williams, with the Scottish midfield pair currently at Airdrie. (Sun), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

West Ham are looking at a move for 22-year-old Manchester City midfielder James McAtee in January, as they fear losing Lucas Paqueta. (Sun), external

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

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There has been some pressure on players carrying an injury going into international breaks with their national side because you are contracted to these clubs and that is where your income is.

But, for me, as a player I had a similar mindset to Harry Kane that I would always be available - injured or not injured. I would have injections when I was on international duty just so I could represent my country because it meant that much.

It is difficult, however. If you look at Jack Grealish and Pep Guardiola's comments, he has a point because the forward has not been able to play for Manchester City because of injuries. So if you have been sidelined for three or four games, I would agree that you are then not fit and available to go on international duty.

But when you look at some of the other players, ones who have been playing and being managed by their club, then I do not see it being different to being played and managed by your country.

From the club's side, when they are competing at such high levels in the Premier League, you can understand why they would want their players to be rested and get fully fit again over the two weeks, rather than having to come back straight into a hectic period of fixtures.

I kind of get it from both points of view but, as a player, if I am half fit and being played by my club, I would be fully available for my national team.

It is really difficult with the pressure that is on the players, though. I would not look at it as a decision players have made solely.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

West Ham are closely monitoring Brighton right-back Tariq Lamptey, 24, and are well placed to beat Everton and sign the Ghana international on a free transfer in the summer. (Football Insider), external

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

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Earlier, we asked you who scored West Ham's first Premier League goal of the 2024-25 season.

The answer is Lucas Paqueta, who netted in the 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa on 17 August.

Who scored West Ham's first Premier League goal of the 2024-25 season?

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 GMT

West Ham are set to stand firm on attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus' £85m release clause, with Liverpool and Arsenal both monitoring the 24-year-old. (Mail - subscription required), external

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

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We asked for your views on whether the lack of playing time for summer signings is an issue Julen Lopetegui needs to sort or whether the reason for the Hammers' poor start to the season lies elsewhere.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Hooli: Niclas Fullkrug's injury certainly skews the situation a bit, but Crysencio Summerville not playing earlier was daft. Carlos Soler hasn't shown anything in the minutes he's had and he doesn't have much pace. My problem is that Lucas Paqueta, Michail Antonio and Emerson Palmieri are all off it. Is Lopetegui developing any of our younger players? Also, we need to play Danny Ings!

Joe: I do not rate Guido Rodriguez at all. I don't understand how he's playing almost every game. He is too slow for the Premier League and he doesn't cover half the ground Tomas Soucek would. Keep him and Antonio on the bench this season - give the younger boys a chance!

Mike: It is clear that we are unclear on how we want to play. I can't tell if Lopetegui is chopping and changing to find the right formation, or if he is trying to mix things up for each opponent. Either way, the players seem to be unsettled and confused with no clear pattern of play evident.

Dave: We spent a lot of money in the transfer window but some of those players haven't been given an opportunity to play. I really feel Lopetegui doesn't know his best starting XI. It seems really strange that we spent £125m on players but spent zero on signing a manager. Manchester United did and they got ours. Sorry, Lopetegui out.

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I struggle to find reasons why it is not seeming to click for Julen Lopetegui at West Ham.

If you look at their fixtures and the teams they have lost against – the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, Aston Villa – it has been a lot of the top teams. The only team outside of that that they lost to was Nottingham Forest, but Forest were in the top three at the time. Other sides that you might expect them to beat or get a result against, generally speaking, they have done that.

It always takes time for a new manager and players to adapt. What West Ham fans wanted was a manager that plays with expansive, possession-based, easy-on-the-eye football and I do not think that is what Lopetegui is.

You have to be careful what you wish for. What David Moyes did with West Ham in terms of taking them into Europe and winning that Conference League trophy, they were probably punching above their weight a little bit.

It will take time but they certainly have a good enough squad. When you look at the players they have and the quality of those players, they should be getting better results. With the next few fixtures and into December, you would expect results to pick up and if they don't, that is when the questions should start to be asked.

But talk of sacking him in this international break is way too soon. He has only just stepped into the role, but the expectations were a lot higher. Ultimately for West Ham it is about staying in the Premier League, then if they can get into those European spots they will be doing great.

Management is about time. The players have to do better, but the manager needs to be given a bit time to get that together. I do not think sacking him and trying to rebuild with someone else with the players he has brought in is the right answer right now.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

We recently asked you to tell us something that nobody is talking about at West Ham, but should be. A few of you got in touch to raise concerns about Julen Lopetegui not giving enough minutes to his summer signings.

So we asked Holly Turbutt from West Ham Network, external to give her thoughts on the situation.

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport journalist

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When the summer transfer window closed, it seemed West Ham had enjoyed one of the strongest in the division. From the outside, it seemed they had recruited quantity and quality, leaving many Hammers fans optimistic about the season.

However, last week, some readers suggested boss Julen Lopetegui is not giving enough minutes to the players that West Ham signed in the summer transfer window. How true is this claim?

Centre-back Max Kilman, who Lopetegui previously worked with at Wolves, has played every minute this season. Fellow defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka is another to enjoy a fair share of playing time since arriving from Manchester United in August.

Midfield enforcer Guido Rodriguez has also featured regularly, playing in almost every game since his switch from Real Betis.

However, the lack of minutes for Crysencio Summerville is a genuine frustration. Last season's Championship player of the season at Leeds has only played more than 45 minutes in two Premier League matches, and would surely add some firepower to a West Ham attack that has outscored just four teams in the Premier League.

Carlos Soler's lack of game time seems puzzling too. Lopetegui's fellow Spainard has won trophies in two countries and has almost 20 Champions League matches under his belt. He could add much needed experience.

One frustration Hammers fans tell us regularly is that Michail Antonio is still the club's main striker despite so much money being spent on centre-forwards in the past decade. It is not Lopetegui's fault that summer arrival Niclas Fullkrug has been injured, but it has not helped matters.

We want to hear from you, West Ham fans.

Is the lack of playing time for summer signings a major issue for Lopetegui or does the reason for the poor start lie elsewhere?

Let us know, external

West Ham United are looking at 23-year-old Botafogo and Brazil forward Igor Jesus, as they aim to strengthen their attacking options. (Football Insider), external

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

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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It is fair to say Julen Lopetegui's tenure at West Ham is very much in the balance.

While David Moyes' time as manager had run its course by the end of last season, the arrival of Lopetegui was supposed to herald a new era at London Stadium, with technical director Tim Steidten allowed more of an input into transfers.

The result was a summer spend of almost £125m on new players amid an expectation of more expansive tactics and a place among the European contenders.

But star striker Niclas Fullkrug is yet to start a league game since his £27m arrival from Borussia Dortmund and is currently sidelined with an Achilles injury that could keep him out for a while yet.

Another expensive newcomer, £25.5m Brazilian Luis Guilherme, has managed two substitute appearances despite arriving with a huge reputation, and EFL player of the year Crysensio Summerville has managed one goal in 12 appearances, most of which have been as a substitute.

Amid massive speculation about his future, club sources have told me they are still 100% behind Lopetegui but that results have to improve.

The Hammers have some tough games ahead - a trip to Newcastle immediately after the international break and a London derby against Arsenal straight after that.

The pressure is on Lopetegui to deliver.

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Referees' chief Howard Webb says West Ham should not have been awarded a penalty during Erik ten Hag's final game in charge of Manchester United.

Julen Lopetegui's side were given the decision on the recommendation of video assistant referee Michael Oliver, after reviewing the footage of Matthijs de Ligt's challenge on Danny Ings.

Jarrod Bowen scored the penalty to seal a 2-1 win for the Hammers, with United boss Erik ten Hag sacked less than 24 hours later.

"I thought it was a misread by the VAR," Webb told Sky Sports' Mic'd Up programme. "A VAR that is normally really talented and reliable but gets uber-focused, in this situation, on De Ligt's leg.

"His leg coming through onto Danny Ings, not making any contact with the ball. The ball is already past De Ligt as he makes contact with Danny Ings - and the VAR sees that as a clear foul.

"I think he was too focused on that aspect. I don't think he should have got involved.

"I think this is a situation where we would leave the on-field decision as it is, probably whichever way it is called. On balance, I don't think it is a penalty kick."

On-field referees are not required to follow the recommendations of the VAR official.

"They are told that they are absolutely within their rights to keep their decision when they go to the screen," added Webb.

James Jones
Fan writer

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I wrote last week that I was beginning to lose patience with Julen Lopetegui and what he was trying to do at West Ham.

The Nottingham Forest defeat took me from being willing to give him time to not really knowing where any improvement was going to come from. I hoped it would come on Saturday against Everton.

Put simply, it needed to. But it didn't. There was no improvement.

The fact is, we were fortunate to come up against an Everton side with their own issues. If they were a bit more organised and a bit more clinical, they would have left London Stadium with three points in the bag without much effort at all.

From West Ham's perspective, it was tepid. It was lacking of any kind of identity or of any kind urgency. Aside from Crysencio Summerville hitting the post or a Jordan Pickford 'wondersave' in the final moments, we did not really show any real desire to beat the Toffees.

That is a huge concern for me and evidence West Ham should really be using this international break as an opportunity to reset and go again with a new man in the dugout.

The quicker the decision is made, the quicker things can be sorted and someone else can get to work on getting this West Ham squad, which is packed with top talent, playing to its full potential.

Because Lopetegui is failing to do it. He has failed to do it. The bulk of this Hammers squad won a European trophy not too long ago. Some are world-class footballers when they are on form. Many are full internationals.

There is absolutely no reason why they should be struggling like they currently are, unless it is because they are not fully on board with the manager's message.

It has become strikingly obvious that is the major issue here.

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

Arsenal are ready to spend £83m (100m euros) on West Ham's Mohammed Kudus, with the forward keen to join the Gunners to play European football. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

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

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Five players have been called up to England's squad for November's Nations League internationals after eight withdrew through injury.

Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers, West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen, Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite along with Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento and Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford have also been added to interim boss Lee Carsley’s squad.

Chelsea pair Levi Colwill and Cole Palmer, Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, Manchester City midfielders Phil Foden and Jack Grealish, Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Southampton's Aaron Ramsdale have all pulled out.

England face Greece on Thursday, 14 November and the Republic of Ireland on Sunday, 17 November.

Mark Scott
Final Score reporter at London Stadium

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This was a truly dire game that really reflected the apathy around West Ham at the moment.

The first half felt like an example of what many have been saying about the Hammers' lack of identity under Julen Lopetegui, who also appeared to struggle to get his messages across to the players in-game from the dugout, as he frantically called for more urgency.

While there was an improvement in that aspect after the break, I do not think it was the kind of performance that will quell the whispers about his position being in a fair amount of peril.

Based on Saturday's struggles at home to an Everton not exactly cooking on gas themselves, the exasperation among the fans might turn to worry with games against Newcastle and Arsenal coming next.

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BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

Joe asked: West Ham were woeful again this weekend. Despite spending over £100m in the summer, they are worse than they were last season (which wasn’t great!). Do you think Julen Lopetegui will be sacked this week?

Phil answered: No, I don't think Lopetegui will be sacked this week. West Ham’s owners are not known for being trigger happy when it comes to managers - and you suspect he might also need a hefty pay-off having only been there a matter of months.

There is no doubt, though, that there has not been any sort of improvement on David Moyes despite that big summer outlay and the West Ham natives are already restless. He needs to improve and fast.

What I never got was the notion that Lopetegui would be producing his own version of 'heavy metal football' after the perceived pragmatism of Moyes. He never has and he never will.

It was almost a case of anyone but Moyes by the end. I agree Moyes' time at West Ham had run its natural course - never forget he won a European trophy in that time - but I was never convinced Lopetegui would be a serious upgrade.

So far, those suspicions have been confirmed.

Follow Phil's Q&A and the rest of Monday's football news here

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

Here are some of your comments:

West Ham fans

Jayden: First half - once again so, so poor. They must start better. The performance was criminally bad. The changes certainly helped, but the clumsy and tepid play must stop. No ideas and no pace. Bowen and Somerville can be excused. He should start Ings and use Antonio as the late joker. Ings can't do any worse. Long, hard season ahead of us.

Graza: One of the worst games of football I've ever watched. I've seen worse performances from individual teams, but rarely two together to produce such a spineless, insipid, waste of time. For West Ham's part, no-one wanted the ball. Several times, at throw-ins or when we were up the pitch, everyone was hiding behind a defender trying not to get involved. Gutless.

Mark: One of the dullest games I've ever watched and I'm a season ticket-holder so have watched a few. Manager has to go. He has had zero impact. We have no shape, pass sideways and players are always picking up the ball standing still.

Everton fans

Tony: Dire and lacking any cohesion, Calvert-Lewin and Doucoure are past their sell-by date. Lindstrom is Championship standard. Dyche has no idea what to do any more. Hope the ownership is settled soon so we can get some fresh blood in at the top.

Gladys: The headlines will be that it was a good point away from home but, yet again, Dyche continues to show how out of his depth he is. This was a good opportunity to go and fight for a win, but it seems like Dyche only ever sets up for 0-0 draws. Time to go.

Gary: Hard-fought point with Pickford saving our blushes. West Ham substitutions definitely made them more threatening and thanks to Jordan's great saves we did not lose. As for our substitutes, too late and same old, same old. Sorry, Mr Dyche, but tactically you just don't have it.

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's six Premier League fixtures.

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

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Wolves 2-0 Southampton

• Brighton 2-1 Man City

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

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West Ham fans of a more generous disposition may view a goalless draw at home to Everton as a step in the right direction - particularly after the Hammers' debacle at Nottingham Forest last weekend.

For much of the first half at London Stadium, though, Julen Lopetegui's team looked in real danger of slipping to a sixth league defeat of the campaign.

Everton - hardly world-beaters themselves - carried much more of a threat in the final third, but other than efforts from Iliman Ndiaye and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski had little to do.

The Hammers' first attempt of the afternoon came in the 44th minute, when Jarrod Bowen's powerful drive was tipped past the near post by Jordan Pickford.

It was the first of five smart saves by the England international goalkeeper, who denied the home side a last-gasp victory by keeping out Danny Ings' deflected drive deep into second-half stoppage time.

The full-time whistle was met by boos by the West Ham fans, who can be forgiven for questioning where the next three points are going to come from.

Lopetegui's side travel to Newcastle after the international break before hosting Arsenal in their final game of November.