Forum | General Discussion
Risk v Reward Day?
Key Hammers players are ALL having scans today to ascertain their availability for Thursday evening's Europa League 2nd Leg Cup tie against serial winners Sevilla, the fact that THREE vital players might be unavailable is NOT what fans want to hear, but it is what it is.
There is no respite for Moyes' footballing band of brothers, as they have to take on London rivals Tottingham three days after the Sevilla game in another crucial game that could have far reaching implications towards the end of the season. Finishing above the North London team for a second year in a row would be some achievement, it would of course be more of an achievement if Tottingham weren't such a car crash of a club though!
Irrespective of who or what was responsible for Hammers lack of recruitment during the last window and beyond, the reality is the club finds itself up a creek without a paddle, or between a rock and a hard place if you want to continue with road runner analogies.
Can any of Antonio, Bowen or Cresswell be risked? Are ALL potentially going to miss the match or be on the bench in case of emergency and if so what level of emergency is worth 'triggering' their use? The Europa League DOES represent a genuine opportunity to reach the Champions League, however with a 1-0 goal difference to overturn West Ham will need a massive slice of luck to proceed ANY further.
Likewise the Premier League offers the club European qualification through a top six finish, a position that is tantalisingly close, although ANY thoughts of a top four finish have already been consigned to the 'what might have been' scrap heap. **it or bust is the order of the day, being able to say "I told you so" cuts little credence with real, fans who will be there at a sold out Stratford Stadium to urge their team on, European football under the lights? That was what fans were promised, somehow by hook or by crook that is what they have got, so come on be a Hammer and believe in the unbelievable! - Ed
Doesn't Look Good For A-B Or-C
Injuries were always going to take their toll sooner or later on Hammers wafer thin squad, the fact that it has stumbled through thus far is testimony to the huge amount of work put in on the training ground and the high levels of fitness instilled in this current David Moyes West Ham United team.
Unfortunately much like busses and police station closures, injuries tend to come in their three's when it comes to West Ham, as is the case ahead of one of the club's most important fixtures for over 40 YEARS! Forwards Michail Antonio AND Jarrod Bowen are BOTH doubtful ahead of Thursday evening's 2nd leg Europa League Cup tie against Sevilla in London.
Aaron Cresswell is ALSO highly doubtful following a reccurance of the ankle injury he had been sidelined with recently, he will be a HUGE loss as will that of Antonio and Bowen. They would all have to happen at the same time wouldn't they, the cupboard is well and truly bare, down to the bare bones as 'Arry used to say. - Ed
Live West Ham v Villa Line Ups
West Ham: Fabianski, Johnson, Zouma, Dawson, Cresswell, Soucek, Rice, Lanzini, Benrahma, Antonio, Fornals. Subs: Areola, Yarmolenko, Noble, Diop, Fredericks, Masuaku, Kral, Oko-Flex, Perkins.
Villa: Martinez, Cash, Chambers, Mings, Digne, Luiz, McGinn, Ramsey, Coutinho, Ings, Watkins. Subs: Olsen, Konsa, Sanson, Buendia, Traore, Young, Bailey, Chukwuemeka, Iroegbunam.
Moyes Almost Out Of Options
The fact that Jarrod Bowen has become an essential cog in David Moyes' West Ham machine is testimony as to the benefit of due diligence when it come to player acquisitions, then he first arrived from Hull Bowen was far from the finished article he is today.
Fans bemoaned how infrequently Moyes used his new signing and questioned why the club had signed him if the manager didn't want to play him. Bowen is now one of the first names on the manager's starting line up, so the policy of 'drip feeding' him into the team bit by bit worked eventually.
New signings, at least in West Ham parlance, Säid Benrahma AND Nikola Vlasic have both been undergoing the Moyes integration process with mixed results. Benrahma was flying at the beginning of the season but failed to track back enough defensively to keep his place, whereas Vlasic seems a player who tries hard but is completely devoid of 'good luck' at this moment in his career.
When Bowen was fit it masked the issues with Benrahma and Vlasic, unfortunately the paucity of Hammers squad means there is NOWHERE TO HIDE! Benny needs to grab his opportunity and remember that he DOES have Golden feet!- Ed
Moyes Has No Idea!
Football managers at an elite level get paid handsomely and therefore have to partake in their media duties whether they want to or not, so after seeing his team miss out on the opportunity to take advantage of playing an under strength Sevilla, it was understandable that he was 'curt' when asked about Jarrod Bowen's availability for the all important 2nd leg in London next week, instead of how the actual game went.
Losing 1-0 in Sevilla's back yard was NOT a bad result, however given the golden opportunities wasted by a continuously profligate front line, it was not a GOOD result. On another day Hammers could have scored a couple of goals early on, IF Bowen had been playing they might well have.
Thin squad skating on ice, Bowen has become such an important provider AND scorer that the team look 'lethargic' or lacking the final outlet without him, his runs behind opposition defenders are vital for Hammers counter attacking game, particularly since Michail Antonio has been switched to being an out and out winger again.
David Moyes' reply to will Bowen be available for next Thursday was "I have no idea" and with a smile he turned away. It is to be hoped that David Moyes DOES have an idea ahead of the game, hopefully he and Benrahma have buried the hatchet, because when the Algerian came on to replace Vlasic he was the mustard.
Plenty to ponder, could have been better, but could have been a lot worse! - Ed
Live Sevilla v West Ham Team Line Ups
Sevilla: Bono, Jesús Navas ©, Gudelj, Koundé, Acuña, Jordán, Rakitić, Óliver Torres, Corona, Ocampos, En-Nesyri Subs: Dmitrović (GK), Pastor (GK), Augustinsson, Munir, Rafa Mir, Martial, Luismi, Carmona, Juanlu, Iván Romero, Kike Salas
West Ham: Areola, Johnson, Dawson, Zouma, Cresswell, Rice ©, Souček, Lanzini, Fornals, Vlašić, Antonio Subs: Fabiański (GK), Randolph (GK), Fredericks, Diop, Alese, Masuaku, Král, Noble, Potts, Chesters, Benrahma, Perkins
Sevilla v West Ham
We'll have the team sheets around 4pm UK time and will upload them as soon as they are available. Declan Rice WILL captain the team as he has made sufficient recovery from his mystery illness, unfortunately the game comes just a bit too soon for Jarrod Bowen.
David Moyes will have to decide who will fill the forward's berth, Nikola Vlasic and Säid Benrahma are his main choices and given Moyes' recent comments regarding Benrahma it looks as if the Croatian Vlasib will be in the starting line up. - LN
Lets spare a thought for chelski fans
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Naa Fu*k*m who cares been a long time coming with there dirty money....lets hope that house of cards falls.....
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