1/10 dud truly terrible, 6/10 best of lot – West Ham player ratings v Nott’m Forest

West Ham United faced a disappointing 3-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on November 2, 2024. The match took place at the City Ground, where goals from Chris Wood, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Ola Aina led the home side to victory. West Ham struggled to find their rhythm, and the loss highlighted several issues within the team.

Manager Julen Lopetegui opted for a back five formation to bolster the defense. The lineup featured Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jean-Clair Todibo, and Max Kilman as the central defenders, while Edson Alvarez played a crucial midfield role. However, Alvarez’s performance was marred by a red card just before halftime. He received two yellow cards, the second for a foul on Anthony Elanga, which left his team at a disadvantage with the score already at 1-0.

Lukasz Fabianski, the West Ham goalkeeper, received a rating of 4. He faced a challenging match and struggled to make impactful saves. The first goal came from a close-range header by Wood, which Fabianski had little chance of stopping. His performance included some scruffy saves that failed to instill confidence in the defense. He could have done better with the second goal, which came after a deflection, but the third goal from Aina was simply unstoppable. Despite the scoreline, Fabianski did manage to make two outstanding saves late in the match, denying Forest a fourth goal.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka was rated at 6 for his performance. The former Manchester United defender made some solid tackles and helped initiate West Ham’s first significant attack after the break. Although he attempted to create opportunities, many of his crosses were blocked, limiting their effectiveness. Wan-Bissaka later switched to left-back after Andy Irving came on, demonstrating his versatility, but his overall impact was limited.

Konstantinos Mavropanos struggled throughout the match, earning a rating of 3. He was easily beaten by his opponent, who set up Wood’s opening goal. Mavropanos also had a slight deflection that allowed Hudson-Odoi to score the second goal. His overall performance left much to be desired, and he was unable to effectively contribute to the team’s defense.

Jean-Clair Todibo had a particularly poor game, receiving a rating of 2. He started relatively calm under pressure, but his performance deteriorated quickly. He allowed Wood to find space in the box, leading to the first goal. In the second half, Todibo moved into midfield but continued to struggle, giving away a foul that contributed to the second goal. He ultimately lost possession to Aina for the third goal, sealing his disappointing outing.

Max Kilman, rated at 4, was the only defender who managed to avoid major errors. He made several forward runs in the first half in an attempt to support the attack. However, he was part of a defensive unit that conceded three goals, and his efforts were overshadowed by the team’s overall poor performance.

Emerson received a rating of 5. He made some important tackles and was able to keep Elanga relatively quiet for most of the match. However, he was substituted in the 79th minute as West Ham sought a tactical change to salvage the game.

Guido Rodriguez, a World Cup winner, had an uninspiring performance, earning a rating of 3. He failed to make an impact in midfield as Nottingham Forest dominated possession. His struggles led to his substitution at halftime as the team sought to regain control.

Edson Alvarez had a disastrous game, receiving a rating of 1. He struggled with possession and picked up an early yellow card. His reckless foul on Elanga for the second yellow card before halftime not only cost him his place in the game but also put his team in a difficult position. His performance was a significant blow to West Ham’s chances.

Lucas Paqueta was rated at 5. He displayed some flair and technical ability early on, winning possession aggressively. However, he was also at fault for letting Moreno run past him, leading to the opening goal. Paqueta came close to scoring himself just before halftime, but his shot was blocked. In the second half, he struggled with possession, failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

Crysencio Summerville received a rating of 4. He managed to win some fouls early in the match but did not threaten the Forest defense effectively. He was substituted at halftime as part of a tactical adjustment.

Jarrod Bowen stood out slightly in the match, earning a rating of 6. He attempted to control the game in the opposition half and did not allow Forest to take full advantage of his mistakes. After halftime, he remained one of the few attacking threats for West Ham, trying to spark some life into the struggling team.

The substitutes, Michail Antonio and Carlos Soler, both received ratings of 4 for their contributions, while Andy Irving did not have a rating as he did not play long enough to make an impact.

After the match, Tomas Soucek offered an apology to the fans for the disappointing performance. Overall, the defeat raised concerns for West Ham United, who will need to regroup and address their shortcomings as they move forward in the season.