Jamie Redknapp says new signing really struggled on his West Ham debut. West Ham started the Julen Lopetegui era with a 2-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa and only two of their eight new signings started.
It’s been all change for West Ham this summer but an all too familiar end result in the first game – defeat. There was much to be positive about for the Hammers given the circumstances.
Aston Villa were always going to be a tough task to start the season. But there was little between the two sides and a draw would have been a fair result.
The biggest surprise of the day was perhaps Julen Lopetegui’s team selection for his first competitive game. The Hammers have been lauded for their transfer window business this summer.
Yet only two of West Ham’s eight summer signings started against Villa. New boys get first taste of Hammers action. Max Kilman and Guido Rodriguez made their Hammers bows at the London Stadium.
Kilman, whose £40m price tag had raised eyebrows among many, was excellent at the back.
Fellow new boys Jean-Clair Todibo, Crysencio Summerville and Niclas Fullkrug all came on in the second half and also impressed.
With Aaron Wan-Bissaka a cert to take Vladimir Coufal’s place in the coming weeks, West Ham have the makings of a good side. That’s not to mention that Lopetegui will have key midfielder Edson Alvarez back in the not-too-distant future too.
One player failed to impress Sky Sports’ main pundit for the match, though. Jamie Redknapp says a new signing really struggled on his West Ham debut.
Redknapp says Rodriguez really struggled on his West Ham debut
Analysing the performance of Argentina midfielder Rodriguez, Redknapp says the game flashed him by. “Rodriguez today, he struggled in the first half,” Redknapp said on Sky Sports after the game.
“But again, it’s so early.
“He is going to need a little bit of time because I am sure in the first half he is looking at everything, flashing so quickly around him, his experience of the Premier League.”
Those comments seem a touch harsh. Rodriguez will of course need time to adapt to a new country, league and team. But he showed some nice touches and passing range and put himself about. The Hammers have definitely got themselves a player there.
It is now just a case of the 30-year-old free signing getting up to Premier League speed as quickly as possible. Criticism seems harsh after glimpses of class. What will be interesting to see is how Lopetegui lines up once Alvarez is back.
That may be a few weeks away yet, though.
In the meantime Rodriguez just needs games and his class will shine through. He was always available for the ball as he took up some excellent positions.
The World Cup winner was clearly very comfortable in possession and was surprisingly fit given he has barely had a pre-season after leaving Real Betis.
Come the end of the season, free signing Rodriguez could yet prove to be the smartest bit of business West Ham have done. But like most things with the Hammers at the start of this new era, he will need time and patience.
What do the stats say about Rodriguez’s West Ham debut?
➜ 2nd in tackles made [3/3]
➜ 2nd in interceptions [1]
➜ 87% effectiveness in accurate passes [39/45]
➜ 57% effectiveness in ground duels [4/7]
➜ Touches [55]
➜ Defensive actions [6]
➜ Recoveries [3]
