Forum | General Discussion

Sunday's 'offering' was well below par as Hammers struggled to break down a resolute Burnley defence in the totally uninspiring 0-0 draw up at Turf Moor, profligacy in front of goal didn't help matters as chance after chance was squandered. The hectic schedule ALL clubs are facing is having the effect many feared would happen, namely that the large clubs with huge squads would cope much better, so it has proved.

The lack lustre performance from Moyes' boys was simply as a result of playing too many games, in too short a period of time, the upshot being that chances that would have been tucked away last season are being missed by the narrowest of margins.

The need for additional fire power up front was starkly highlighted against Sean Dyche's relegation battlers, looking at the bench and seeing only Andriy Yarmolenko as a replacement striker was hardly going to strike fear in to Burnley's defenders, including Hammers transfer target James Tarkowski, was it?

Hopefully Aaron Cresswell will be passed as fit for the crucial away game against Arsenal this WEDNESDAY, as Michail Antonio is currently drifting to the left of the pitch to try and pick up lose balls in the absence of Cress's superb deliveries from the flank.

Missing out on the services of Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma has been 'massive' for the club, losing out on Cresswells crosses and set piece deliveries has just been a player missing too far! Only consolation for fans is that Cress is rumoured to be available on Wednesday and that Issa Diop has stepped into the void left by Ogbonna and Zouma. - Ed

Hammers fans looking at the Premier League table should be wary of adding a further three points to the club's current tally of twenty seven as a matter of fact, Sunday's opponents Burnley are already embroiled in a relegation dog fight and will be looking to get themselves out of a hole by getting a positive result.

Speaking of 'positive results', Burnley's players will have benefited from NOT having played their game with Tottingham last week due to a Covid outbreak among Conti's players and staff, as well as NOT being involved in any other competition.

Aaron Cresswell is due to have a late fitness test, the result of which could have a massive impact on the game, already without Ogbonna and Zouma, Hammers simply cannot afford to operate without Cresswell's surging runs and pinpoint crosses.

Injuries were always going to be a factor as clubs negotiate the ludicrous December fixture lists, other clubs have suffered far more than West Ham, unfortunately the strength in depth is now being severely tested for David Moyes. With the transfer window still SEVEN games away, the squad will HAVE to be supplemented from within.

Tomorrow's line up will hopefully include Aaron Cresswell, one thing that is guaranteed is that there will be more than a sprinkling of U-23 players on the bench. Jamal Baptiste will definitely be included, as will Harrison Ashby. Burnley are going to be as tough as Sean Dyche's voice, so David Moyes will have to set a plan to soak up what will inevitably be a full blooded onslaught. LN

Ever the thorough manager, David Moyes watched Brentford play Watford in last night's Premier League fixture that was dramatically won by the home team in the closing minutes of added time. The fact that there was in excess of five minutes of injury time was indicative of the way both sets of players approached the game!

Another one bites the dust

Players from BOTH sides were dropping like flies at the slightest contact to such an extent that it would not have been amiss for the Stadium DJ to have had Queen's 'Another one bites the dust' blasting out over the PA system. Hammers fans will be only too aware as to how Brentford go about their 'game management' or gamesmanship as it used to be called in old money!

Perhaps this should be Brentford's anthem?

Albinoni Adagio in g minor

You could argue that newly promoted teams are entitled to try every trick in the book in order to maintain their top flight status, last night's spectacle was interesting in that BOTH teams whined, bickered, fell down as if they had been hit by a sniper's bullet and were generally in the ear of the referee from the moment the game kicked off.

Moyes doesn't like Deep Seas

David Moyes is known to be a strict disciplinarian, part of his ethos is that players SHOULDN'T dive or waste time, it may be old school, but that's what he tries to instill in his players. Often one of the reasons it takes 'dithering Dave' so much time to integrate new players is that he has to 'remove' the diving element from newly acquired players' games.

So in the future when you see a West Ham player get up and dust himself down without rolling over three times followed by a pike, you will possibly appreciate why. It might be football, but not as WE know it, Deep Sea Divers? NO thank you! - ED