So apprantly because zoo is coming back there's no need to panic eh. Plus cress no need to panic eh ? What if both don't perform as before and what if oggy is never going to be the same again next season? Centre back asp what's wrong with moyes again waiting for what. Left back too needed before even cress got injured. Make your mind up with Newman targets pls ffs. No wonder moyes has never won fa . We need these players asp plus another striker for one year ago .
News emenating via Hammers 'unofficial' portal C&H, is that Kurt Zouma has made a remarkable recovery from his injury sustained in the 3-2 victory over his former club Chelsea back in November. Zouma elected to NOT have surgery which would have involved a 'significant' amount of recovery time, consequently he has been able to return to training considerably earlier than had been anticipated.
Indeed, Zouma might have been available for selection against Norwich in the rearranged Premeir League fixture but had unfortunately had to islolate due to Covid, it is not clear at this time whether he had contracted Covid or whether he was isolating due to close contact with an infected person.
The game against Leeds this weekend might be just a little too early to reintroduce Zouma, however there is every chance he WILL be available to play in the away fixture against Ronaldo United at Old Trafford on the 22nd of January. Zouma's return is incredibly significant and represents a massive boost to the club's top six chances and even it's top four aspirations, he has been hugely missed as has been shown by how many goals a once airtight defence has conceded in his absence.
Issa Diop and 'Les' Dawson have come in for a lot of stick since having to step into the void left by not only Zouma, also but the incredibly reliable Angelo Ogbonna. The former in particular having received scathing comments from 'fans', the latter having played through injury for the last few games.
As we have mentioned in our previous article, 'Les' Dawson is Moyes' preferred choice ahead of Issa Diop, but surely NOW is the time to give Diop ONE last chance to play alongside defensive royalty in the form of Kurt Zouma, while Les recovers from injury?
Not rushing in to buy a new centre back is another example of how VERY astute David Moyes is in the transfer market, he KNEW all along, or at least he found out relatively quickly, that Kurt Zouma was going to return to fitness WAY ahead of schedule, but chose to keep his cards close to his chest instead of going public.
IF Zouma DOES return in time for the Mancs, Hammers will have managed to negotiate their way through an injury crisis that threatened to totally derail the club's top six aspirations, never mind the top four! The other GOOD news is that Aaron 'he of the immaculate hair' Cresswell is due to return for the Old Trafford game AND possibly the home tie against Leeds, although the Wednesday evening game against Norwich is being viewed as a little too soon for the left back who's superb crossing has been sorely missed, ALL of Hammers forward line will be licking their lips in anticipation of his return and his 'succulent' set piece deliveries.
The return of Zouma AND Cresswell is incredibly good news and comes just at the right time, potential 'panic purchases have been avoided, thus leaving the road open to 'proper' long term purchases to be made during the summer window when better deals are to be had.
It is often said that only the needy and the greedy do their business during the January transfer window, Hammers are nether at this moment in time, that is not to say that extra recruits aren't necessary, Cresswell's injury clearly illustrated the need for an additional TOP CLASS left back, a position that needs filling almost as much as the much publicised need for an additional striker.
It will probably really annoy fans to hear this, but UNLESS a player that Moyes wants becomes available, there is every possibility that NO deals will be done, absolutely NONE. Of course behind the scenes might be completely different, but ever so quietly the club has gone about renewing or reopening negotiations for valued players who are already at the club, the days of West Ham being a selling club are most definitely over and long may it continue.
By his own admission, David Moyes can be a miserable bas**rd, but as he says, he hopes he has become accustomed to smiling a little more thanks in no small measure to the 'brilliant' players he has at his disposal. Are Hammers now a 'massive' club? Just ask the people who run Kidderminster Harriers, their fans and their players just how big they think the Irons are ahead of the FA Cup 4th round! - Ed
David Moyes surprised many onlookers with his team selection for yesterday's FA Cup tie against Leeds United, many expected Moyes to select a team comprising of youth players aided and abetted by a few senior players, but Moyes went 'full on' by selecting an almost a full strength team!
Moyes's decision proved to be correct as Hammers only just managed to overcome the visitors, despite them being without NINE first team players, HAD Moyes elected to play an under strength team the result would almost definitely gone the other way.
Hearts were in mouths when Mikey Antonio went down heavily towards the end of the first half, but fortunately he was able to carry on and was given the all clear by the medical staff during the half time break. The only real changes to the team were Alphonse Areola in goal and Ryan Fredericks at right back, the former putting in a performance that will put pressure on David Moyes to select the Keeper for ALL games sooner or later, the latter proving once again that he is a "what might have been" player.
Frederick's possesses pace to burn, he is possibly the fastest player in the Premier League, he was after all a gifted athlete as a youngster who could easily have become a sprint racer, such was his natural speed. Unfortunately Fredericks suffers from 'rabbit in the headlights syndrome', he will 'burn' down the flank with the ball beating all and sundry, then follow it up with a pass that nine times out of ten is totally useless.
Had Fredericks NOT had such a bad injury record he might have got a run of games that would have seen him 'iron' out some of his deficiencies, he always looks like a player who has absolutely NO IDEA what he is going to do with the ball at the end of his blistering runs. Perhaps some extensive sessions with a 'sports psychologist' might benefit the right back?
At the same time as booking in Fredericks, the club might wish to see if their are some slots available for Issa Diop. Never has there been more of a case of a player who needs to regrow his confidence than that of Diop, unfortunately when Kurt Zouma comes back from his injury, it will be Diop who Moyes drops as opposed to 'Les' Dawson. This is a shame, because with Zouma there to guide him, in his OWN language, the truly great player that lurks within Diop can be released again, he could go on to forge a superb partnership with Zouma for the next few years!
Moyes has trod an incredibly tight rope with regards to bringing in players and juggling those that he has, so far he has got away with it, but it seems unwise to keep relying on the footballing gods to keep smiling. Selecting such a strong team for the FA Cup tie was a signal of intent from David Moyes, it is to be hoped the next couple of weeks can be successfully navigated, as Hammers embark on the business end of the season while fighting on three fronts. -LN
West Ham: Areola, Fredericks, Dawson, Diop, Johnson, Rice ©, Soucek, Bowen, Lanzini, Vlasic, Antonio. Subs: Randolph (GK), Baptiste, Alese, Masuaku, Noble, Kral, Okoflex, Fornals, Yarmolenko.
Leeds: Meslier, Ayling ©, Kock, Hjelde, Llorente, Firpo, Bate, Klich, James, Harrison, Greenwood Subs: Klaesson (GK), Drameh, Dallas, Forshaw, Raphinha, Summerville, McCarron, Jenkins, Moore
Many Hammers fans assume now David Moyes has found his redemption' at West Ham, that he has found his Nivana and is at the summit of his career. THINK AGAIN, the 58 year old Scot in an Interview with the Scottish Record, CONFIRMED that he would like to manage the Scottish national team before he hangs up his managerial boots.
Having alluded to the fact that Celtic have come calling "on a couple of occasions", but that the timing wasn't right, Moyes then praised ex-Hammers assistant coach Steve Clark for the superb job he has done with the National team, citing the difficulties incumbent managers of Scotland have had since the 'special' generation of players like Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish.
When asked about returning to club management in his native Scotland, Moyes said “Who knows? You never know what might happen. West Ham are a good club for me at the moment, hopefully they see me as a good fit for them too as well.”
Given the wonders Moyes has managed to get his team to perform, it would be criminal of the Board NOT to back him to the hilt, thus ensuring his time in East London will be looked back as his Halcyon days. - Ed
The one thing that really annoys me about modern day football is the use of so called 2nd/3rd/4th/5th etc etc etc kits when there is no need
Colour clash you play in your away kit but everytime your team takes to the field unless you are at home god knows what they will be running out in and it Pi***s me off know end.
Nev/Ausiron mentioned they have trouble because they are colour blind with the kits whilst with me teams playing in Pink Brown eye hurting bright bright green orange and on and on it goes it is madness and unless supporters stop buying them it will go on and on.
My one wish and i am well aware it will never happen but my one wish is that the Prem and football league put a rule in that unless there is a real colour clash the traditional club shirt must be worn but like everything else nowadays it will not happen because as Jessie J sings its all about the price tag.
There is nothing more dangerous than a limping Gordon Greenidge, a cricket commentator once said as the legendary West Indies opening batsman took to the crease at the beginning of an over, despite clearly showing signs of being 'wounded'. Of course Greenidge proceeded to absolutely destroy the opposition (England of course), who were left wondering how bad it would have been if he had been fit!
So when the Leeds United manager Marco Bielsa mentions via his interpreter that his team is 'wounded', alarm bells should ring for David Moyes ahead of the FA Cup and Premier League double header against the Yorkshire club. Bielsa cited the fact that between seven and nine players were going to be unavailable for the fixtures, leaving him with a 'patched up and wounded' team.
Don't believe a word of it, Leeds always have a constant stream of youth players on tap, an absolute necessity given Bielsa's famous 'murder ball' training methods that sees many players injured due to the 'rigorous' deployment of his tactics.
Having been 'bounced' out of the Moose Cup by Tottingham after having defeated BOTH of the Manchester clubs, it would be rather nice to go on a decent FA Cup run, but make no mistake, despite his comments to the contrary, David Moyes IS aiming for a Champions League slot.
As Moyes confirmed yesterday, Hammers are under new guidance when it comes to publicly conducting its business, preferring instead to let results do the club's talking. - LN
David Moyes has been there and done it as a manager in the Premier League and has 'endured' hundreds of Premier League 'pressers', which are an obligation for clubs as part of the broadcasting deal negotiated on their behalves by the PLA. Sometimes an innocuous question can jangle a nerve, getting a taut response and other times the reporter's question is given a 'stone wall', these responses are particularly amusing in the Press room.
Today David Moyes was not only in stone wall mode, but he also gave one reporter the full 'Gordon Strachan' Monty when repeatedly asked about player acquisitions and the renewal of player's contracts. For those too young to remember, Gordon Strachan was the absolute master of the dead pan rhetorical response, leaving old established hacks in his wake, he was particularly 'spiteful' to Geoff Shreeves when Shreeves would ask his deliberately banal trademark questions, much to the amusement of the Sky TV crews and to the chagrin of Shreeves himself.
Moyes's responses regarding impending arrivals at the club were deafening by their silence, he refused to discuss Jesse Lingard for example, citing his age old "I don't discuss players who are with other clubs" mantra. In the same vein the Hammers manager was recalcitrant when asked the specific details of Mikey Antonio's deal extension, choosing instead to say that SEVERAL players have had their contracts renewed and that the deals would be announced in the club's good time, in other words BACK OFF!
However Moyes's silence is surely an indication that he DOES have a pretty good idea who is going to arrive in East London during this transfer window, but there is NO WAY he is letting on about ANYTHING until the ink has dried and the deal(s) are sealed. During the Presser Moyes alluded to the fact that in the past, far too much of the club's business has been done in the Public domain, but that has NOW changed, before repeating his stance that the club will ANNOUNCE developments in its own good time, how refreshing is that? - LN
You can read some real garbage during the transfer window, some of it totally spurious, some with an element of truth that has been 'wanged' by the writer. Speculation regarding Hammers centre back Issa Diop has been rife since before the window opened, with several clubs 'expressing' an interest in taking the 6'4" Frenchman away from East London.
The latest in a ridiculous line of rumours is that cash laden Newcastle are offering £10 Million for Diop, who has 18 months remaining on his current deal at West Ham and cost the club £24 Million when he first arrived. Diop's early spell was full of promise as he forged a superb centre back pairing with Fabian Balbuena, his performances were so good that Sourpuss himself, Jose Mourinho the then manager of Tottingham said that Diop was a monster and there was talk of him being worth £65 Million!
There is NOT a snow ball in hell's chance that Hammers would even countenance letting Diop go during this window for £10 Million, why on earth would they? Already devoid of Angelo Ogbonna for the rest of the season and with Kurt Zouma still a month away of returning from his acute hamstring injury, David Moyes simply CANNOT afford to let Diop go, not even for £20 Million!
IF an offer more in the region of £25 Million were received AND a suitable replacement accessible, then OK sell Diop to the Toon, but they will have to play Hammers tune, which will be at least double their initial derisory bid. Diop for £10 Million? Which leg do they want for that or are they just having a big giraffe? - Ed
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