West Ham United

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 11 he takes on Mylee and Tate from CBBC football drama Jamie Johnson FC (JJFC).

Sutton's prediction: 2-2

West Ham are in trouble. As I said on the Monday Night Club, they don't really have an identity under Julen Lopetegui.

He has always been a pragmatic manager in my eyes but they want to be a more expansive side and he is stuck somewhere in between at the moment.

There is a lot of uncertainty around them at present, and I am certainly not convinced by them at home. They beat Manchester United there a couple of weeks ago, but they were lucky to win that one.

While the Hammers are still above Everton in the table, the Toffees’ had been in better form, but then they lost at struggling Southampton last week, which is a disappointing defeat whichever way you look at it.

The only team Everton have beaten away this season is Ipswich, so I would not feel confident backing them to bounce back with a win here.

I don't want to pick another draw, but this has got one written all over it.

Mylee's prediction: 2-0

I am definitely backing my team here!

Tate's prediction: 1-2

I played for West Ham but they have had a few defeats recently so Everton might edge this.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has spoken about his side giving the opposition an "advantage" when they have players sent off.

Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez have both been shown red cards in the league this season and both matches ended in defeat for the Hammers, who are 14th with three wins from 10 games.

Kudus is serving a five-game ban after being given an extra two matches by the Football Association for his conduct following his dismissal against Tottenham last month.

Lopetegui said: "We have to try not to give the opponent different advantages that we can avoid - for example, the red cards.

"We can do better in a lot of moments of the match. If you want to compete in the Premier League, the first step is to try to be consistent.

"We need to have better answers in the moments- more calm, better decisions. This [Kudus' red card] was unacceptable, and we have to try to avoid this kind of action. He knows. But this is part of the past.

"These two players are not going to play Saturday. I prefer to focus on the players who are going to be ready to face Everton."

Alvarez begins a two-match ban after he was shown his second red card of the season during last weekend's defeat at Nottingham Forest.

The Mexico midfielder has been sent off twice in his past three starts for the Hammers and is the first player to be dismissed two times for West Ham in a season since Aaron Cresswell in the 2021-22 campaign.

"Of course, both talked and apologised to me and to the team. Both know that they were wrong. This is clear - but it is done," Lopetegui continued.

"We have to learn and to change the future. The past you can never change. You have to focus on changing the future.”

West Ham believe technical director Tim Steidten may come under consideration by Arsenal as a replacement for Edu. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

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

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West Ham have conceded at least once in each of their past 14 Premier League home games, the longest ongoing run of any side, and the Hammers' longest ever in the competition. They last failed to keep a clean sheet in more consecutive top-flight home games between December 1964 and October 1965 (16).

West Ham have conceded 15 goals in the opening 15 minutes of Premier League games so far in 2024, the most any side have conceded in a single calendar year in the competition. Five of those have come so far this season, a joint-league high, along with Ipswich.

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport Researcher

West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Everton (kick-off 15:00)

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Loptegui confirmed that Niclas Fullkrug is still unavailable for selection: "Fullkrug isn't ready. He isn't working with us and is going to be out for more time unfortunately. We have to check other issues tomorrow."

• He gave more detail on the recovery process: "He has a little injury that step by step is more complicated. With the new treatment, he has to be out for the next two or three weeks but I don't know exactly. It depends how he responds to the treatment."

• He did not want to dwell on the extended ban for forward Mohammed Kudus: "It's not good news but we have to accept it. I prefer to focus on the players who will play on Saturday."

• On whether he has had conversations with the West Ham hierarchy about the club's poor form: "I don't need to. I know that we are going to improve in a lot of things and overcome. We have the commitment of the players."

• On his messages to his players: "We talk a lot and they know we have to put the focus on competing better. We have big trust and confidence in the players. We don't want to put the focus on [unavailable] players like Fullkrug, Kudus and Edson [Alvarez].

• On his opponents: "I have seen a very good team when I look at them. They look better than last year in my opinion. They have a good team and a coach who knows the Premier League very well. It's a very balanced and complete team."

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

Image source, PA Media

We asked for one thing involving West Ham that people are not talking about but should be.

Here are some of your comments:

Brendan: I honestly don't think that Julen Lopetegui and West Ham are a good fit. Lopetegui will probably go on to have success, but not at West Ham. Some things can't be communicated or forced, they simply need to flow, especially at a club like West Ham. Find a way to tweak tradition and you'll find the key to West Ham's evolution.

Dazza: It's pretty clear that our new manager does not yet know his first choice starting XI and therefore by definition he does not have a set strategy or plan for the team. Disaster looms

Tarquin: Although we bought so many new decent players that would improve our first team in the summer, Lopetegui just isn't giving them enough minutes. He's sticking with the same old team that struggled in the second half of the season last year. Why is he still starting Michail Antonio? He's old, slow, tired and can't take his man on anymore.

Jan: No one has said why we have loaned James Ward-Prowse out to Nottingham Forest. Ward-Prowse was one of our most influential players last season. None of the new midfield recruits have shown themselves better than Prowsey. Also Aguerd was loaned out with no replacement coming in!

Tyler: We are not talking about how we won't invest in a decent proven manager. We need that boost to get to the top six again. David Moyes was decent but we need a proven consistent trophy-winner like Jose Mourinho.

Arlo: Over recent years we've had a fantastic academy, with our under-18s even winning the FA Youth Cup in 2022-23. Despite this, I cannot think of a recent youth player bar Declan Rice getting a look in with the senior team. It's like we refuse to utilise our own talents! We even spent £25m on a youngster from Brazil who has only played four minutes!

West Ham will review the position of manager Julen Lopetegui if the struggling Hammers lose at home to Everton on Saturday. (Guardian), external

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

West Ham and manager Julen Lopetegui are under scrutiny after a difficult start to the season while star forward Mohammed Kudus has had his ban increased to five games after being sent off against Tottenham last month.

Plenty of ink has been spilled on the Hammers' struggles, but you know your club best.

What is the one thing nobody is talking about at West Ham - good or bad?

Tell us here, external

Image source, PA Media

West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus has received a further two-match suspension after admitting a Football Association charge relating to his red card in last month's Premier League defeat at Tottenham.

It was alleged Kudus "acted in an improper manner and/or used violent conduct after the offence that he was sent off for" and, in addition to his extended ban, he has been fined £60,000.

Kudus had been involved in a clash with Spurs defender Micky van de Ven, for which he was sent off following a VAR review, leading to a three-match ban.

The Hammers have also been fined £30,000 after admitting a charge of "failing to ensure their players did not behave in an improper and/or provocative and/or violent way".

West Ham said in a statement: "Whilst the club is disappointed with the outcome, it respects the process that has been undertaken."

Henry Brownsey
BBC Sport journalist

There were bits of wizardry.

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From magical players.

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There were rockets.

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And bangers.

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Landmarks.

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And clangers.

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While some Guy's like Ruud are always remembered.

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New York Times journalist Rory Smith feels West Ham fans believe the Hammers have appointed a "worse version" of former manager David Moyes in current boss Julen Lopetegui, after the side picked up 11 points from their first 10 Premier League games.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Smith said: "If they had gone and got Thiago Motta from Bologna - who was playing an exciting brand of football with a side built on a budget - and the results and performances had been exactly the same, I don't think West Ham fans would be putting him under any pressure whatsoever.

"It's the fact they can tell that they have got a worse version of what they had before, with all of the bits they didn't like about David Moyes.

"The West Ham fans were saying they didn't like the style of football in the year they won the Conference League. Their complaints about David Moyes' football were consistent. They never changed."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

James Jones
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

I have been relatively tolerant of West Ham's frustrating and inconsistent start to the season, but Saturday's 3-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest left me struggling to find any more excuses for Julen Lopetegui.

Previously I have accepted that we are in a transitional season, with many factors at play that would make a difficult start to the season understandable; a new manager, a new style of play, nine new players to be integrated and a new club captain.

There has been a lot of change, so I was accepting of the fact things were not really going the way we hoped they would. I was still hopeful that things would eventually improve if Lopetegui was given time and space to get on with the job at hand.

Some of that is still true, to an extent. It is perhaps still too early to say it is definitely not going to work. However, the last week has probably been the biggest indication yet that it might not.

In the second half against Manchester United, we were a lot better, more balanced and more threatening in front of goal. It felt like Lopetegui had stumbled across his best XI and that would be the group of players he would opt to start against Forest.

But he rang the changes again, including the formation. Against United it was a 4-2-3-1, but against Forest he went with a back five. The last time he did that we lost to Chelsea 3-0 in what was arguably the most shambolic performance of the season so far. Saturday was a repeat.

It just does not make sense. He keeps calling for consistency but fails to remain consistent in his team selection or tactics.

On top of that, the players seem to be really frustrated with it. We have had three red cards already this season, all of them coming from players either losing their heads out of frustration or making stupid, avoidable tackles.

Like I said, I think it is probably still too early to pull the trigger but at the same time, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the reasons why the club (and fans) should remain patient.

Things have to change and Lopetegui making fewer changes each week might just be the way he achieves more success. If not, it will be him being replaced next.

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

David Moyes believes his successor as West Ham manager, Julen Lopetegui, needs to be given time to "settle things down" after some difficult results in the early part of his spell in charge.

In their past four Premier League games, the Hammers have beaten Ipswich and Manchester United at home, but have lost away games 4-1 and 3-0 to Tottenham and Nottingham Forest respectively.

"I had a few defeats where we lost heavily at different times, so it happens for all managers," Moyes told the BBC's Football Daily podcast.

"I think the new manager coming in needs time and to be given that opportunity to set things the way he wants them to happen.

"They look as if they're a bit more open than they've been before and more liable possibly to concede. But they're desperately trying to score more goals as well.

"This time last year, I think we'd played about five or six more games than what they have just now, because we had the European competition to compete with as well. So the players there should be much fresher, bigger energy, showing that.

"But I just think that the manager needs to be given an opportunity, a bit of time to settle things down. Sometimes players need to perform as well, they need to step up and show what they're about. I'm sure a few of them can play better and show the manager exactly what they can do."

Listen to more analysis of the weekend's action on BBC Sounds

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

Here are some of your comments:

Nottingham Forest fans:

Luke: Without question the best win of our time in the Premier League. So much freedom and confidence in the team, it’s hard to not get carried away with where this season may take us. Must be tempered with the reality that West Ham were awful, but maybe it was us that made them look that bad? Can’t wait until the next game!

Matt: We’re a totally transformed team from our first 2 seasons back in the Premier League. Cohesion at the back, a threat at going forward. Still early days but to be third from top instead of third from bottom is something else! Nuno has worked extremely hard with these players and is getting the rewards! Three wins on the bounce!

Kris: Forest were irresistible, the back four immense with Moreno and Aina creating and scoring goals. Wood is thriving under Nuno and Anderson came on to show everyone why losing MGW wasn’t the blow it could have been. Third in the league…it’s like the Clough years are back on Trentside!

Ken: Contenders. City, and Arsenal definitely beatable and we've already beaten Liverpool on their own pitch and drawn with Chelsea. We have one of the most talented squads in the league, with excellent quality cover for every position and a truly superb coach at long last. If Leicester can do it, why can't we? Let's see how far we go! No fear.

West Ham fans:

Liam: I was there. We were hopeless. The body language of the players said it all. No communication, no pace, no plan and no desire. Manager will soon run out of time. Forest were everything we were not so fair play to them. Ten men or not, I suspect the result would have been the same.

Joe: The rhetoric will be the mistake was to get rid of Moyes. Wrong, the mistake was hiring Lopetegui. It's 12 competitive games now and I am still no clearer on what his style of play is or what his strongest team is. He’s clueless and the players are clearly not playing for him - Alvarez red and our constant capitulations when going behind are clear examples.

Matthew: Same old West Ham. No energy, no desire to get the ball forward and a real lack of cohesion appearing in the increasing cracks within our squad. Paqueta looks like he doesn't want to play for us anymore, we'll never get a goal at the City Ground and Chris Wood will keep on scoring against us till he's 49!

Roger: After 10 games there has been no discerning improvement. The strategy is lacking as is an absence of in-match tactics. The team are vulnerable at the back and the midfield absent at critical phases of the game. I can’t see that things are going to improve while Lopetegui remains.

Arsenal are lining up 24-year-old West Ham United and Ghana winger Mohammed Kudus as a £90m replacement for 29-year-old Belgium forward Leandro Trossard, who is being targeted by Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad. (Mirror), external

West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui is under increasing pressure of an early exit, after being told by the club that results must improve. (Times - subscription required), external

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

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven 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:

• Liverpool 2-1 Brighton

• Wolves 2-2 Crystal Palace

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West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui has been speaking about Edson Alvarez's red card in today's loss to Nottingham Forest: "It was one contact we felt was not dangerous because we had a lot of players in our box.

"The little details in the Premier League are key, the big details are much more key, we have to improve in this kind of decision for sure. He knows.

"It is not a moment to talk about one player. I am responsible in front of all of them, we have to use this bad moment in the dressing room to push us forward, looking at the next challenge.

"It's not a moment to say, 'your fault, your fault', it is a moment to stay together. The players know they can choose better and they have to do better in this moment."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Nottingham Forest’s performance, external

What did you make of West Ham’s display?, external

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