Read today’s Official Matchday Programme as women’s team face Bristol City
West Ham United’s women’s squad face Bristol City in a pre-season friendly on Sunday, September 10 – and you can read our Official16-page digital programme for free right now!
This issue has the first column from manager Rehanne Skinner ahead of the friendly match. The new Hammers manager discusses her staffing changes as well as how the first few weeks of her tenure have gone!
There are also updates from our Supporter Services staff, as well as information about our opponents on Sunday, the Robins, who have returned to the top flight after a two-year sabbatical.
Abbey-Leigh Stringer answers 20 of our random questions, while Izzy Atkinson discusses her World Cup experience. Below is today’s Official Matchday Programme!
READ MORE:
‘Not Happy’ – Int’l press reacts to West Ham player incident on int’l duty last night
International media responds to Edson Alvarez’s performance for Mexico vs. Australia.
Edson Alvarez of West Ham United was involved in a heated confrontation during Mexico’s 2-2 tie with Australia.
In the early hours of Sunday morning (10 September), Alvarez was caught by a high boot from Mitch Duke in the entertaining friendly at AT&T Stadium in Texas.
The ferocious midfielder, who played the entire game, clashed with his opponent shortly before halftime.
“It was supposed to be a friendly game, but there was nothing cordial about the exchange between Socceroos striker Mitch Duke and Mexico defender Edson Alvarez on the stroke of half-time,” Marco Monteverde said in his match review [10 September].
“Alvarez, who plays for West Ham in the English Premier League, took issue with the no-nonsense Duke raising his foot high when tackling him.”
Fox Sports outlined in their review of the match [10 September] that “tension rose” as a result of the coming together, which led to “the pair again butting heads as they matched off the field for half-time.”
As Jonathan Howcroft put it in The Guardian‘s live match blog [10 September]: “The West Ham midfielder was not happy at all with the challenge and leaned his head in Duke’s direction to remonstrate.”
Alvarez was used in a less familiar central-defensive position and put in a good shift overall, even if Mexico did concede a couple of goals.
Spanish outlet AS reported [10 September]: “There have not been too many impressive performances for Mexico so far, but Edson Alvarez has looked good in his less familiar role in the heart of defence.
“He’s looked calm on the ball and hasn’t let Australia catch them on the break.”
Versatile
Alvarez has played in central defence previously, and it is encouraging that he can slot into that area for West Ham should he be needed as the season goes on.
The 25-year-old is best utilized as a back-four protector, which is what he will do against Manchester City next Saturday [16 September] when the Hammers return to play.
That is, assuming Alvarez returns from overseas duty in one piece!
The former Club America star seemed to have been his typical fiery self when representing Mexico, making a joke of the reality that this was simply a friendly on neutral – to some extent – soil.
Mexico will face Uzbekistan in another friendly in the early hours of Wednesday, this time in Atlanta, so fingers crossed Alvarez pulls through unhurt and is ready to go back to face City.
