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Although both players are due to have a late and final fitness test, it appears Hammers most expensive signing, Sebastian Haller, will make the starting line up against 'Bogey' team Brighton at the Amex Stadium this afternoon. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the club's second most expensive signing Felipe Anderson, apparently the medical team feel that the Brazilian needs to be rested for the Seagulls match, and that Pablo Fornals will fill the void.

It would take a rather cruel hearted West Ham fan to not enjoy ex-Keeper Adrian San Miguel's moment in the spotlight, unless he is psychic there is no way the shot stopper would ever have envisaged playing in the 'Super Cup' final between Liverpool and Chelsea.

Now the dust has settled on what was a wholly unagreeable start to the season, West Ham fans are asking pertinent questions about the squad assembled for the coming campaign. One of the main sources of confusion is what plans are realistically in place for Winston Reid, it is easy to forget that not that long ago Reid's name was one of the first that managers put on their team sheets, not only that but the powerful New Zealander was coveted by various clubs, including Arsenal and their neighbours!

The opening fixture of the Barclays Premier League is the one day when hope springs eternal, before reality comes crashing down. In Hammers case the team are generally beaten by at least four goals, so Saturday's drubbing didn't come as too much of a surprise.

West Ham Utd: Fabianski, Fredericks, Balbuena, Diop, Cresswell, Rice, Wilshere, Anderson, Antonio, Lanzini, Haller. Subs: Roberto, Zabaleta, Ogbonna, Sanchez, Snodgrass, , Fornals, Hernandez.
Manchester City: Edison, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko, David Silva, Hernandez, De Bruyne, Sterling, Jesus, Mahrez, Subs: Aguero, Bravo, Otamendi, Gündogan, Bernardo, Cancelo, Foden

West Ham Utd: Fabianski, Fredericks, Balbuena, Diop, Cresswell, Rice, Wilshere, Anderson, Antonio, Lanzini, Haller. Subs: Roberto, Zabaleta, Ogbonna, Sanchez, Snodgrass, , Fornals, Hernandez.
Manchester City: Edison, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko, David Silva, Hernandez, De Bruyne, Sterling, Jesus, Mahrez, Subs: Aguero, Bravo, Otamendi, Gündogan, Bernardo, Cancelo, Foden

Ahead of the first fixture of this season's Barclays Premier League, Skipper Mark Noble used his Evening Standard Column to state that he has a muscle injury, not a dead leg! There is an enormous difference between both injuries, generally a dead leg lasts for one or two games at the most, muscle injuries are entirely dependant on how much damage was done to the muscle before it was treated, if the original injury was misdiagnosed then Mark might be looking at another MONTH off!

Whilst the UK transfer window closes, the transfer activity hasn't exactly finished yet. Players can be transferred to Europe from the UK until the 2nd of September, in addition players who are out of contract with their clubs can be signed both in Europe and the UK at anytime, before during or after the start of the Barclays Premier League, so in essence the transfer window hasn't (sic) slammed shut!

It was perhaps inevitable following the appointment of Slaven Bilic as West Bromwich Albion's new manager, that the Baggies would be 'linked' with loan deals involving players from West Ham United. So it comes as no shock to see Bilic wants to sign young Hammers Academy centre back Ajobola Alese on loan as he looks to put the finishing touches to his squad.

Having completed the signing of Portuguese centre back Goncalo Cardoso, who passed his medical late last night and is expected to be announced officially today, Hammers are trying to tidy up their last bit of business of this transfer window by attempting to sign Basel's 22 year old Swiss International forward Albian Ajeti who would bcome the club's sixth and final signing of the summer.