westhamfans.org

Maybe it is because it is Panto season, but for some reason there has been a media groundswell as to whether Roberto JIminez Gago will be at West Ham by the time the transfer window closes at the end of January. The Hapless Hammers '2nd' choice keeper has had an inordinate amount of criticism dumped on him for his 'terrible' stint between the sticks that saw the club go from being Champions League contenders, to being in the battle to avoid the Championship!

Back in the day when we relaunched the Org, James Mad Hammer and I wanted wanted to have 21st century schizoid man to sound off as soon as you logged in, unfortunately dear old Bob Fripp, a distant colleague is fiercely protective over the rights to the track and we were unable to use it, however even dear old Bob won't mind us paraphrasing some of the lyrics*.

Southampton: McCarthy, Cedric, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Djenepo, Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Ings, Long. Subs: Gunn, Yoshida, Vestergaard, Adams, Romeu, Armstrong, Obafemi.
West Ham: Martin, Fredericks, Ogbonna, Balbuena, Cresswell, Rice, Noble, Antonio, Fornals, Snodgrass, Haller. Subs: Roberto, Zabaleta, Diop, Masuaku, Yarmolenko, Sanchez, Ajeti.

When West Ham United signed Jack Wilshere there were those who thought it was a wonderful bit of business, although eyebrows were raised at the terms of his contract, three years on £100,000 per week for a player with a hideous injury record? The management team, especially the medical people, have almost run out of reasons as to why Jack Wilshere will not be playing each week.

“I am delighted to welcome Manuel Pellegrini to West Ham United. He is one of the world’s most respected football coaches and we look forward to working with him," joint-chairman David Sullivan told the club's official website. “It was important that we appointed someone with knowledge and experience of the Premier League, who already has an understanding – not only of the teams and players we face – but of West Ham United and our ambitions." What could possibly go wrong?

West Ham: Martin, Cresswell, Fredericks, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Rice, Noble, Fornals, Anderson, Snodgrass, Antonio. Subs: Roberto, Zabaleta, Sanchez, Haller, Diop, Masuaku, Holland.
Arsenal: Leno, Bellerin, Tierney, Sokratis, Chambers, Torreira, Xhaka, Ozil, Pepe, Martinelli, Aubameyang. Subs: Martinez, Luiz, Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Nelson, Saka, Lacazette.

Despite having been sacked as Bayern Munich manager, Niko Kovac is a man in demand, and as such has been 'linked' with the vacant managerial job at Hammers Monday night opponents Arsenal. Some wishful thinkers are hoping that his previously announced attendance at the London Stadium could possibly be a portent of him replacing Manuel Pellegrini instead!

Renowned for giving struggling teams a helping hand, West Ham face Arsenal on Monday night in a fixture that threatens to continue the visitors worst run in their modern day history, a terrible run of results that culminated in the sacking of Unai Emery. Traditionally West Ham will flatter to deceive before Arsenal, guided by former Hammer Freddy Lungberg, finally steal the points in a smash and grab raid.

Wolves: Patricio; Dendoncker, Coady, Saiss, Doherty, Neves, Moutinho, Jonny, Traore, Jimenez, Jota. Subs: Ruddy, Bennett, Kilman, Vinagre, Neto, Cutrone, Ashley-Seal.
West Ham: Martin; Fredericks, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Noble, Snodgrass, Fornals, Anderson, Haller. Subs: Roberto, Zabaleta, Sanchez, Yarmolenko, Masuaku, Ajeti, Holland.

Crikey Mikey, Hammers fans prayed for David Martin, son of West Ham and England legend Alvin Martin, to start in goal to replace 'Calamity Jiminez', lo and behold the 'grey one' acquiesced and started the ex-Millwall stopper with a baptism of fire at the Bridge against high flying Chelsea.