As West Ham played out a 1-1 draw with Fulham, first team players sent out on loan made their debuts for their new clubs.
West Ham’s Premier League clash with Fulham was obviously at the forefront of supporters’ minds this weekend.
There were high hopes for the Hammers heading into the game.
But West Ham were poor and somehow managed to get away with a 1-1 draw thanks to a Danny Ings goal at the death.
Much focus has been on Julen Lopetegui’s team selection for the match.
Tomas Soucek played in place of Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus was pushed out on the left again where many feel he is wasted.
There was also frustration that Michail Antonio started up front and Konstantinos Mavropanos at the back.
And both did little to prove disprove claims they should be benched with Mavropanos at fault for Fulham’s goal and Antonio hauled off at half-time following another poor display.
It’s been an inauspicious start to life at West Ham for Lopetegui with two wins, two defeats and a draw.
Judgement is also constantly being cast over the club’s transfer decisions with every passing week.
West Ham sent Nayef Aguerd on loan to Real Sociedad for the season.
The Irons also loaned James Ward-Prowse to Nottingham Forest and Maxwel Cornet to Southampton.
West Ham loan watch: Aguerd subbed and Ward-Prowse shines
As things stand there are no purchase options in those deals. But that is expected to change if things go well for the players at their respective clubs.
Aguerd has certainly made it clear he has no intention of coming back to West Ham.
So how did the trio get on as they made their bows for their new teams.
West Ham loan watch as Aguerd is subbed off and Ward-Prowse shines on debut.
Aguerd started in central defence for Sociedad as they took on an injury-hit Real Madrid.
The error-prone £30m West Ham signing looked rusty but managed to keep Kylian Mbappe and co quiet for almost an hour.
Vinicius Junior scored a penalty on 58 minutes after a harsh handball call. Then Mbappe converted a second penalty on 75 minutes after a foul.
Aguerd wasn’t directly at fault for either goal and was given a 6.4/10 rating for his performance.
But he was subbed off on 75 minutes when Real made it 2-0. Whether that was down to fatigue or his performance will become clearer in the coming weeks.
Forgotten man Cornet finally gets some game time
Some West Ham fans are not happy the club let Ward-Prowse go to Nottingham Forest.
Carlos Soler has replaced him and got his first minutes for West Ham at Fulham without doing too much.
Ward-Prowse was ranked Forest’s best player outside the back five with a 6.9/10 rating as they pulled off a famous 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield.
Ward-Prowse played the full game as Callum Hudson-Odoi scored the winner.
Nottingham Forest News went one better, rating the West Ham loanee’s display worthy of an 8/10 score.
“After signing on loan in the final hours of the window, James Ward-Prowse was handed his Forest debut and offered a solid showing,” the report states.
“Forest did just about everything right tactics wise and Ward-Prowse certainly played his part in that.”
Elsewhere, Cornet finally got back on the football pitch as he came on in the second half for Southampton against Man United.
WhoScored gave Cornet a 6.2/10 rating for his 30-minute showing in a 3-0 defeat. Although 90Min gave him just 5/10, he was also booked.
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