The main takeaways from West Ham’s draw with Rangers exposed familiar problems within Nuno Espírito Santo’s squad.
The Hammers defended well at Ibrox, but their lack of midfield control, creativity and pace prevented them from threatening regularly.
Rangers entered the match further into their preparations and played with greater intensity during the opening stages. West Ham eventually matched their physical approach, yet James Ward-Prowse’s free-kick was their only notable first-half attempt.
Mads Hermansen helped preserve the clean sheet as Rangers continued to create the clearer opportunities. West Ham’s official match report confirmed that the goalkeeper produced several important stops during the goalless draw.
Rangers 0-0 West Ham takeaways expose midfield weakness
West Ham struggled whenever Rangers pressed Mohamadou Kanté and Keiber Lamadrid. Neither player consistently retained possession or connected the defence with the attack.
That left Ward-Prowse operating without enough support. Jarrod Bowen and Taty Castellanos received the ball in isolated positions, while West Ham could not establish sustained possession around the Rangers penalty area.
Claret & Hugh’s analysis also identified the absence of a midfielder capable of holding the ball and linking West Ham’s play.
The concern was evident before kick-off. The ReadWestHam match preview highlighted midfield protection as a key area following Mateus Fernandes’ departure.
Nuno needs a player who can receive under pressure, turn away from a challenge and move West Ham up the pitch. Kanté may eventually provide some of those qualities, but the Rangers performance suggested he requires help.
West Ham desperately need more pace
West Ham’s lack of speed was equally difficult to ignore. The starting side contained few players capable of beating an opponent or attacking space behind the defence.
Bowen remains the most dangerous forward, but opponents can focus heavily on stopping him. Castellanos competed well without receiving enough service, while Pablo struggled to influence attacks from his position.
The late introductions of Josh Ajala, George Earthy, Lewis Orford and Freddie Potts increased West Ham’s energy. Their movement helped the Hammers play with greater urgency, although they could not produce a winning goal.
The departure of Crysencio Summerville has removed the squad’s strongest natural ball-carrier. His pace and dribbling created unpredictability from the left, as explained in ReadWestHam’s report on Summerville’s farewell.
West Ham must replace those qualities before the Championship campaign begins. A left winger and an attacking midfielder should now sit near the top of the recruitment list.
Hermansen provides one clear positive
Hermansen produced the most encouraging individual performance. He claimed crosses confidently and reacted sharply when Rangers found space around the penalty area.
His second-half saves prevented a frustrating performance from becoming a defeat. Max Kilman and Konstantinos Mavropanos also handled several difficult periods without losing their organisation.
The clean sheet gives Nuno a reliable defensive base. However, Championship promotion cannot depend on grinding through matches while creating little at the other end.
The Rangers 0-0 West Ham takeaways provide Nuno with a clear transfer message. His squad needs more control in midfield and considerably more speed across the attack.
