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The UEFA Europa Conference League gets underway on Thursday night and West Ham are currently the pre-tournament favourites along with Villarreal. The Hammers looked on-course to qualify for the Europa League once again last season as they were right in the mix for a to six finish. However, a poor end to the campaign saw them narrowly miss out after finishing two points behind Man Utd in seventh place.

West Ham have endured a tough start to the 2022/23 campaign as they sit third from bottom in the Premier League table having picked up just four points from their opening six matches. Saturday’s frustrating defeat to Chelsea optimized the season so far, as West Ham played well but failed to get the points their performance deserved. Many will point to a poor decision from the officials to rule out the late equaliser, which only heightened the sense of frustration around the club right now.

Let’s take a look at West Ham’s next six fixtures:

West Ham kick off their UEFA Europa Conference League group stage campaign against Steaua Bucharest [FCSB] at the London Stadium on Thursday evening. The Irons narrowly missed out on Europa League qualification after finishing two points behind Manchester United in 7th spot in the Premier League last season.

The legend that is Darren Harry has returned with The Flying Physio Room…Ep LXXI

Monday 5 September….12:56….overcast yet muggy…a challenging wardrobe day…

The clouds of dust from the gravelled car park finally evaporated…the comings and goings of the morning dissipating…

No No No is the answer, if you need to know the question then you must have been asleep for the last 18 hours! There is being robbed which is bad enough, but being mugged by an unseen face many many miles away is as bad as it gets! Losing at newly promoted Nottingham Forest due to a dubious VSAR ruling was bad enough, but yesterday's shocker at Stamford Bridge takes the biscuit and the whole of the tin it was in.

Chelsea: Mendy, Fofana, Silva ©, Koulibaly, James, Kovačić, Gallagher, Cucurella, Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, Sterling Subs: Arrizabalaga (GK), Chalobah, Chilwell, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Mount, Ziyech, Havertz, Broja
West Ham: Fabiański, Coufal, Kehrer, Zouma, Emerson, Rice ©, Souček, Fornals, Lucas Paquetá, Bowen, Antonio Subs: Areola (GK), Randolph (GK), Benrahma, Cornet, Coventry, Downes, Lanzini, Ogbonna

Football's a funny old game full of weird anomalies and co-incidences, none more so than at West Ham United! Having spent big on centre back Nayef Aguerd, Hammers boss David Moyes was forced into a rethink following Aguerd's long term injury picked up on his debut against Rangers in a pre-season friendly. Just when Moyes thought things couldn't get any worse, stalwart Craig Dawson not only picked up an injury but also requested a transfer to the north east due to family reasons.

West Ham: Fabianski, Coufal, Zouma, Kehrer, Cresswell, Rice (c), Soucek, Fornals, Bowen, Benrahma, Antonio Subs: Areola, Randolph, Lanzini, Downes, Cornet, Ogbonna, Coventry, Paqueta, Emerson
Tottenham: Lloris, Sanchez, Dier, Davies, Royal, Bissouma, Hojbjerg, Perisic, Kulusevski, Son, Kane (c) Subs: Forster, Doherty, Richarlison, Tanganga, Sessegnon, Lenglet, Spence, Sarr, Skipp

West Ham have confirmed the "club record signing" of Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta from Lyon on a five year contract. The 25 year old Brazilian is expected to be part of the National squad at this year's World Cup.

The initial £36.5 Million deal for Paqueta could rise to more than £50 Million with add-ons, potentially £5 Million more the £45 Million paid for striker Sebastien Haller from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019. Paqueta joined Lyon for €20 Million (£17m) in 2020 after 18 months at AC Milan. 

Villa: Martinez, Cash, Chambers, Konsa, Digne, Kamara, Luiz, McGinn ©, Coutinho, Watkins, Ings Subs: Olsen (GK), Augustinsson, Young, Nakamba, Buendía, Bailey, Ramsey, Archer, Iroegbunam
West Ham: Fabiański, Johnson, Kehrer, Zouma, Cresswell, Emerson, Rice ©, Souček, Bowen, Fornals, Scamacca Subs: Areola (GK), Coufal, Ogbonna, Coventry, Downes, Lanzini, Cornet, Benrahma, Antonio