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There are many annoying aspects to modern life, including those generated by the 'policing' of sports clubs, particular the governance of elite football teams. Much like the ever changing off side rules, the definition of 'tapping up' is open to various interpretations and is NOT fit for purpose.

With all the build up to Thursday evening's game focusing on David Moyes' 1000 game as a manager, it was perhaps easy to overlook how determined Genk would be to put right their 3-0 defeat at the London Bowl earlier on in the competition.

Genk: Vandevoordt, Munoz, Sadick, Lucumi, Arteaga, Heynen (c), Thorstvedt, Ito, Hrosovsky, Paintsil, Onuachu Subs: Chambaere (GK), Leysen (GK), McKenzie, Bongonda, Tresor, Tomas, Eiting, Ugbo, Oyen, Preciado
West Ham: Areola, Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Cresswell, Noble (c), Rice, Benrahma, Lanzini, Masuaku, Antonio Subs: Fabiański (GK), Randolph (GK), Fredericks, Johnson, Zouma, Ogbonna, Baptiste, Souček, Král, Chesters, Fornals, Bowen

When he first arrived at the London Bowl, David Moyes was there to ensure West Ham's Premier League survival which he did, he was rewarded by promptly being informed that his services wee no longer required as the board decided to have a bromance with a 'sexy' Chilean rather than the dour Scot, and we all know how that ended don't we?

Unusually the club chose to include Vlad 'the impaler' Coufal along with David Moyes in it's pre-match presser ahead of the tie away to Genk tomorrow evening, clearly Vlad has done his English homework as he responded to questions without an interpreter or a prompt sheet, his presence couldn't have had anything to do with a certain Czech investor could it?

West Ham United's Carabao, or Moose Cup as it is also known, quarter final away to Tottingham will be played on Wednesday the 22nd of December, kicking off at 7.45pm. Hammers have NEVER won the competition in any of it's guises, they have reached the final and lost, but that was when the final was replayed if it was a draw*.

Having acquired three straight victories in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League Cup so far, David Moyes knows a win or a draw would see his team sitting top of the group with two games still remaining to play. Hammers travel to Genk for their return leg of the fixture while actively pursuing success in the League and in the League Cup, in addition there is the FA Cup to come as well!

Hammers recent rise to the higher echelons of football's top table has been comprehensively covered and surprisingly endorsed by the media in general, however there are still many* who 'just don't understand' that Declan Rice IS a West Ham United player through and through.

Hammers 'destroyed' fellow claret & blue wearers Aston Villa on what was David Moyes' 999th games as a manager, although the final score line rather flatters the Irons, it was still a comprehensive clinical victory over what was ten men for the bulk of the 2nd half at Villa Park, we'll get to the 'ten men' later!

Villa: Martinez, Cash, Hause, Konsa, Targett, Nakamba, McGinn (c), J.Ramsey, Buendia, Bailey, Watkins Subs: Steer (GK), Mings, Tuanzebe, Young, El Ghazi, Chukwuemeka, Archer, Davis, A.Ramsey
West Ham: Fabiański, Johnson, Zouma, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice (c), Souček, Bowen, Benrahma, Fornals, Antonio Subs: Subs: Areola (GK), Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Lanzini, Masuaku, Noble, Vlašić, Yarmolenko