Forum | General Discussion

Ahead of Hammers penultimate game of the season, much has been made of visitors to the game Manchester City's centre back woes, with apparently only one fit to play for the fixture. However before getting too excited home fans must appreciate that City play at such a level that they hardly need centre backs!

Yes they will be exposed defensively, but realistically City play a style of 'total' football similar in a way to the great Ajax team of the seventies, so any hopes and thoughts of over running them should be tempered with the knowledge of just how good they are in attack.

The way City carved open Wolves the other night should be a salient lesson for David Moyes and his staff as they prepare their players to try and deal with such an explosive forward line, trying to outplay the visitors will only result in the type of scoreline that occurred when the Irons were managed by Manuel Pellegrini, ie: FIVE goal drubbings.

There WILL be a 'carnival' atmosphere as it will be Marky Noble's last chance to say goodbye to a packed Olympic Stadium, however IF the players go gung-ho they will surely have their arses kicked, so Moyes and his 'boys' will expect t6he payers to show caution especially early on, not easy when there will be roared on by the crowd!

A draw would be more than a decent result, but City will have other ideas knowing that a win will guarantee them yet another Premier League title over rivals Liverpool. So long as the West Ham players put a shift in and don't embarrass themselves it will be a great afternoon, you never know Hammers just might spring a surprise, highly unlikely but stranger things have happened. - Ed

Man City's devastation of Wolves last night all but guaranteed West Ham a place in European competition next season, unless the midlanders manage to beat already relegated Norwich and title contenders Liverpool. Unfortunately City's demolition job will likely serve as a portent of as to how Manchester's leading club will approach their game at the Stratford Stadium on Sunday, a game which of course is Hammers final home game of the season and which will be 'Mr West Ham' Mark Noble's final home involvement as a squad player.

After Sunday David Moyes will need to muster his troops for one final effort as they take on a newly resurgent Brighton at the Amex, for the final game of the Premier League season. A Europa League spot is up for grabs as well as a place in the Europa Conference League, Manchester United HAVE to beat Palace at Selhurst Park on the final game of the season in order to qualify for the Europa, it they lose they face not even being in Europe at all!

As much as fans have belittled the newly created, but ill advisedly named Conference Cup, it IS European football and the fact that Hammers might deny the Old Trafford team their place shows just what an incredible job David Moyes, his staff and the players have done in the last couple of seasons to be able to 'dine at the top table' albeit at the end which is next to the toilets!

Whatever happens it has been a memorable season, one which has probably convinced Declan Rice to stay on for one more year before departing for pastures and fortunes new. Who knows, if Hammers could do well in Europe again AND more importantly use the club's new found wealth to bring in top players and to fund the necessary wages required, Decs might even decide to stay.

Sunday will be emotional, but having been on the receiving end of a host of drubbings from the visitors in the past, it is to be hoped that the day will end well, without a severe tonking! It is going to be bright and Sunny on Sunday which will contribute to a carnival like atmosphere, if you have a ticket and want to take in Marky's last game at home, we would suggest you get to the game early, because most of the added entertainment including a pre-recorded Video from Carlos Tevez is scheduled to take place well ahead of the actual game. - LN

Norwich: Krul, Aarons, Hanley (c), Williams, Byram, Gilmour, Sørensen, Rashica, Dowell, Lees-Melou, Pukki Subs: Gunn, Gibson, Rupp, Placheta, Tzolis, Giannoulis, Gibbs, Springett, Rowe
West Ham: Fabiański, Coufal, Zouma, Dawson, Cresswell, Rice (c), Lanzini, Fornals, Benrahma, Bowen, Antonio Subs: Areola, Johnson, Fredericks, Masuaku, Noble, Král, Souček, Vlašić, Yarmolenko