West Ham fans all say the same about Taty Castellanos debut vs Nottingham Forest: ‘Insane’

West Ham Fans All Say the Same About Taty Castellanos' Debut vs Nottingham Forest: 'Insane'

West Ham United's £28 million signing from Lazio, Valentín "Taty" Castellanos, made his debut in a heartbreaking 2-1 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night, sparking a wave of fan reactions online[1][3][4]. The Argentine forward, who joined just 24 hours earlier on a four-and-a-half-year deal, started upfront under pressure manager Nuno Espírito Santo amid the Hammers' dismal season, sitting 18th in the Premier League after a 3-0 loss to Wolves[3][4].

The match at London Stadium began promisingly for West Ham. Alphonse Areola's acrobatic save denied Neco Williams' curler, and Forest's Murillo inadvertently gifted the hosts a 13th-minute lead with an own goal[1][3]. Castellanos showed early promise, having a shot charged down after a Crysencio Summerville pass, but rust from limited recent play was evident—he managed only 21 touches, missed two big chances, and hit just 33% shot accuracy[1]. A potential Summerville equalizer was disallowed for offside involving Castellanos, a pivotal moment[3].

Forest struck back swiftly: Nicolás Domínguez headed home from Elliot Anderson's corner, then Morgan Gibbs-White converted a penalty after Areola felled him during a corner clearance, sealing the win for the visitors[1][3][5]. Player ratings were harsh on Castellanos (3/10 from some outlets), though others noted his involvement as a silver lining in a grim performance[1][5]. Nuno, yellow-carded for protesting a non-call, substituted in new signing Pablo Felipe, but it wasn't enough[3].

Fans flooded social media, with many calling Castellanos' debut "insane"—a mix of excitement for his potential and frustration over the rusty display and defeat against a relegation rival. Comments praised his energy and hold-up play but lamented missed chances, echoing hopes he can revive West Ham's attack. "Taty looks class, needs minutes!" and "Insane debut, proper striker" trended, despite the low rating[1]. With pressure mounting on Nuno, Castellanos' arrival signals a gamble on fresh firepower to avoid the Championship[3][4].

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