What to expect from West Ham’s first preseason matchup vs. Dundee

It only feels like last night that West Ham finished their season, but alas, they’re back! They will take on Dundee today in their first preseason match.

It could be the fact that West Ham finished on a high, making it into Europe, or that the Euros are still going on, but whatever the case, preseason football is back, and we at the GSH are ready for it. It’s only preseason, so it’s certainly not an area of real concern, but it is a good starting point for how the Hammers could progress into the 2021 campaign.

Normally you would expect the Hammers to be on a big preseason tour boasting their new first-team signings. However, it has been quiet on all fronts (kind of), and nothing has happened yet. Four of the Hammers starting XI are still on holiday or at the Euros due to playing late into the competition. Although it may seem a bit lackluster, there is still a lot to show in today’s match.

Besides the likes of Rice, Soucek, Coufal, and Fabianski (see above), Andriy Yarmolenko, Said Benrahma, and Pablo Fornals are still out on holiday after some lengthy international duty. Today could be a great opportunity to see how some youngsters play against the Scottish PL side with a vast majority of the senior squad absent.

What to expect from West Ham’s first preseason matchup vs. Dundee

If you have been keeping up with West Ham’s official accounts, then you’ll know that there are a few senior players still getting ready at St. Andrews. Players like Antonio, Noble, Lanzini, Bowen, Ogbonna, and Cresswell have all been in action and featured a lot on their official stories.

It’s unclear which way Moyes will go today, but he will also have much youth to choose from to include some more ‘veteran youth’ like Nathan Holland, Conor Coventry, and Ben Johnson. Familiar Academy names like Longelo, Baptiste, Alese, Alves, Corbett, Ashby, Odubeko, and Trott are also preparing in Scotland, and you should expect to see them feature today if not soon.

Out of the youth, however, the most exciting names might be Levi Laing, Pierre Ekwah Elimby, Thierry Nevers, and Armstrong Oko-Flex. All three have recently signed with the club looking to push for first-team slots. This will be their time to show what they have and earn the trust of David Moyes.

Prediction time: In true preseason and David Moyes fashion, expect to see him throw out two different sides with a good mix of youth and knowledge for both and switching at the 45′ mark. Last preseason didn’t go as planned for the Hammers, and it bled into their first two matches. They will not want that to happen today, as the club will need to continue last season’s success.