Julen Lopetegui has work to do on the training ground, Mohammed Kudus is key for the Hammers and it's a mystery why this game was played in Florida: FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED as West Ham lose 3-1 to Wolves

West Ham were beaten 3-1 by Wolves as new boss Julen Lopetegui suffered defeat in his first reunion with his former side.

There had been doubt over whether this pre-season game would go ahead, with torrential rain and thunderstorms causing a two-hour delay to kick-off in Jacksonville, Florida.

But ground staff worked hard to remove standing water from the pitch and, once the severe weather warning was lifted, the game was able to take place.

Here, Mail Sport takes you through five things we learned…

Lopetegui’s new style suits some better than others

The style of football Lopetegui wants to play at West Ham was evident in the opening seconds, with his team pressing Wolves high up the pitch from the first whistle.

The Spaniard wants his team to play with intensity and they looked fit and energised in the early parts of the game, despite going behind in the 18th minute.

However, it is clear that Lopetegui’s new system will suit some players better than others. Tomas Soucek struggled in possession and was at fault for Wolves’ opening goal when he gave the ball away in front of his own goal. Youngster Freddie Potts, who had a successful loan spell with Wycome last season, looked to be more comfortable in the system.

While the midfielder would probably have liked to have seen more of the ball, he was positive in possession and tried to drive his team up the pitch.

The Hammers did not seem to press quite as high in the second half, with Michail Antonio putting Wolves’ defenders under less pressure than Danny Ings had done in the opening 45 minutes.

Lopetegui still has a number of weeks to drill his system into his players, with the likes of Lucas Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen and Edson Alvarez (currently injured), set to join the squad in Tampa next week.

Kudus holds the keys

It is no surprise Mohammed Kudus is a player attracting interest from other clubs and the forward showed why he will be so key for Lopetegui this season.

He was the Hammers’ best player in the first half and scored a well-taken solo goal to bring his team level before the break.

Kudus was West Ham’s best attacking outlet and he tried to make things happen in the first half, before his withdrawal at the break. It was no surprise that the Hammers looked less dangerous in front of goal once the forward had gone off.

Keeping hold of the 23-year-old, whose £85million release clause will be active in the summer of 2025, is paramount if the club are going to continue to compete for the European places.

Striker still needed

It is no secret that signing a new centre forward is one of the main priorities for West Ham this summer and this performance only emphasised the need for reinforcements.

Danny Ings started in the No 9 position and, to his credit, looked sharp in the first half as he tried to initiate the press from the front - but his service was limited. The future of Ings, who has been linked with a return to Southampton, is uncertain but he showed he can still be a useful member of the squad.

Maxwel Cornet, who had limited opportunities last season, failed to make a mark on the game and it seems unlikely he will play more of a prominent role under Lopetegui.

Technical director Tim Steidten, who is leading on transfers, was at the game this evening and will recognise that the need for a prolific striker is still evident.

Jhon Duran has been a long-term target but the club have been unable to reach an agreement with Aston Villa. Steidten is exploring other options but will know that the clock is ticking before the start of the new season.

Defence still looks shaky

West Ham’s defensive issues were evident in the second half of last season, with the club failing to keep a clean sheet for a run of 17 games.

The signing of Max Kilman, who came on to face his former club at half-time, was much needed but Lopetegui may feel he needs to further strengthen his backline before the start of the new season.

The Hammers were cut open too often in the second half and were twice punished for allowing crosses into their box.

The lack of pace in the backline was also exposed by Wolves’ wingers. Right back is a position where West Ham are looking to strengthen, with Manchester United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka a top target after talks with Bayern Munich’s Noussair Mazraoui broke down.

The lack of options at right back was emphasised by youngster Kaelan Casey, whose primary position is centre back, filling in on that side mid-way through the second half.

Weather warnings

While the torrential rain may have been a unique experience for some of the players, locals describe July as ‘flood season’ in Florida - which perhaps raises the question of the decision to play here.

Similar weather is forecast for Wolves’ fixture with Crystal Palace in Annapolis on Wednesday, while rain and thunderstorms are also expected in Tampa, where West Ham play the Eagles on Saturday.

It is unclear how close organisers came to postponing Saturday’s fixture but the two-hour delay to kick-off, which subsequently pushed back both teams’ travel plans after the game, was less than ideal.

The insistence to ensure the match went ahead, despite the extreme weather, also shows how lucrative these games across the pond are.