You are here

Home

Forum | General Discussion

Coufal Update Bad News

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Tue, 19/10/2021 - 21:42

The news regarding Vladimir Coufal's injury is bad news for David Moyes, He is quoted as saying: “Vladimir has taken an injection, he had a bit of discomfort in his pubis. He has had an injection in there, he got the injury in the Man United cup game, and he has been carrying it for a few weeks.”

This update is extremely worrying as the injury is relatively non specific, Coufal is a key member of the first team and although Ben Johnson has deputised admirably, the sheer weight of impending fixtures risks burning the youngster out. Hopefully Ryan Fredericks can be fit enough, but with games coming up against Tottingham and Man City in quick succession Hammers normally tight defence will really be put to the test!

As we have repeatedly mentioned, Harrison Ashby is going to have to be drafted in to the squad as a back up sooner rather than later. Players of Ashby's age are regularly 'bloodied' on the continent, so why not utilise his undoubted talent, possibly beginning on Thursday evening against Genk? - Ed

Share

Genk's 'Looking forward' Message

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Tue, 19/10/2021 - 11:28

Genk visit West Ham on Thursday evening for their Europa League group match off the back of some recent poor performances, however their players are really looking forward to playing the Irons ahead of the game according to their manager.

This game is by no means a gimme, and David Moyes will be only too aware of how an underdog can bite, after all he has been in charge of underdogs for most of his managerial career!

Genk do have some players to watch out for, including Kristian Thorstvedt, Norwegian international and son of the former Tottingham keeper Erik. They also have former Chelsea player Iké Ugbo, he is used as backup for Hammers previous transfer target Paul Onuachu.

Genk signed Onuachu up for a further three years early in the summer, before slapping a hefty £20 Million price tag on his head, a valuation that proved too rich for Moyes. However it is believed that the Hammers manager is still interested in bringing the 6'7" colossus to the London Bowl.

The injury sustained by Tomas Soucek, which was 'delivered' by Everton's Rondon who has escaped any punishment although it appeared to be deliberate, means that there is a mini crisis in midfield. Alex Kral who would normally have replaced Soucek for the Europa match is unavailable having contracted Covid despite having been double vaccinated.

With Mark Noble currently sidelined with what has been described as a minor injury, Jamal Baptiste might get a surprise call up, because David Moyes would be highly unwilling to play Declan Rice given the impending game against Tottingham on Sunday.

Defensively, Ryan Fredericks will get a late fitness test to see if he can play, if not much will depend on whether Vladimir Coufal is sufficiently recovered from his injury, failing that, Young Harrison Ashby might find himself drafted in as right back, which would see Johnson switching flanks.

Moyes can still put out a highly effective team though, possibly: Areola, Johnson, Fredericks/Ashby/Coufal, Diop, Dawson, Masuaku, Baptiste, Lanzini, Vlasic, Yarmolenko, Bowen. There are NO easy fixtures, neither Domestically nor European, but Moyes will definitely have his eye on Sunday's crucial tie and be mindful that Thursdays game is a group match, so a draw or loss won't be the end of the World. - LN

Share

Who starts against Genk?

mcbikeman's picture
Submitted by mcbikeman on Mon, 18/10/2021 - 11:58

Forums:

Spuds sunday so i hope Moyes does rotate the squad...pretty sure it will be Areola in goal Dawson/Diop if fredericks not fit then Johnson and as shocking as it may sound if fit enough lets give cressy a rest and let Arthur play.....Kral and noble in middle Yarma wide Vlasic up front! then if not a couple of kids give forcandles/bowen/benny some game time but not the whole match...Ants i would leave on bench unless something disastrous happens...i want our best fit and healthy so we can put Guppy/odbod and co in there place again COYI

Live Everton v West Ham Line Ups

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Sun, 17/10/2021 - 13:06

Everton: Pickford, Coleman (c), Godfrey, Keane, Digne, Allan, Doucoure, Gray, Townsend, Iwobi, Rondon Subs: Begovic (GK), Tyrer (GK), Kenny, Holgate, Mina, Gordon, Gbamin, Davies, Dobbin
West Ham: Fabiański, Johnson, Zouma, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice (c), Souček, Bowen, Fornals, Benrahma, Antonio Subs: Areola (GK), Ashby, Masuaku, Dawson, Diop, Baptiste, Lanzini, Vlašić, Yarmolenko

Share

Ex Irons Clash Over Rice Transfer Advice

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Sun, 17/10/2021 - 10:33

Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand came through the ranks at West Ham before earning what was a record transfer for a defender when he moved from the club to Leeds United in an £18 Million transfer, he later moved on to Old Trafford for £30 Million. Under Alex Ferguson Fredinand became a top player, with some suggesting he was the best player in his position in all of Europe.

Since retiring Ferdinand has carved out a successful media career and is never short of giving advice to anyone who wants to listen, he has had to overcome personal tragedy during the journey and is to be recommended for how he has coped with life's travails. However, when it comes to loyalty his colours are truly nailed to the mast, and those colours are blatantly Red and White, not Claret & Blue!

Having backed the failed PAI(N) bid to take over West Ham, Ferdinand has reverted to type by constantly insisting that Declan Rice should move to Old Trafford if he wants his career to progress. As can be imagined, his stance has gone down like a lead balloon with Hammers fans who see his constant sniping as offensive and ungrateful.

So it comes as somewhat of a surprise that another ex-Hammer, Jack Wilshere, has advised Declan Rice NOT to leave the club in the foreseeable future. Wilshere will be remembered as the 'player who never was' at West Ham, some of his parting comments were disrespectful and inaccurate, but his comments about Rice's future are right on the button.

“I’ve always said - and I’ve said this to Dec too - why would he leave West Ham now?” he told talkSPORT . “He’s the captain, he’s the main man, and he’s playing week-in week-out in the Premier League. They are going in a good direction. There will probably come a time when he will want to leave and win a Title and play in the Champions League, maybe West Ham will play in the Champions League, but I don’t think they’ll win the title. But, for now, he’s doing well, and he’s playing week-in week-out.”

Conflicting advice from two ex-England Internationals who both wore the Claret & Blue, both players owe the club in different ways, but only one is constantly seeking to disrupt the club. That player is NOT Jack Wilshere! - Ed

Share

Time For Moyes To Switcheroo Rice & Potatoes!

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Sat, 16/10/2021 - 09:09

Watching Declan Rice it is hard to believe he is only 22 years old, he plays with a composure and ability way beyond his years but perhaps needs to be reined back. Rice's more recent advanced role may be pleasing on the eye but there is a growing opinion that the team suffers as a consequence.

Much of last season's success was based on a midfield that could not be bettered, it relied on Rice holding the defence allowing Tomas Soucek to make his trademark runs into the box, more often than not with devastating effect! Rice's managers both domestically and Internationally have decided 'Decs' is well suited to bring the ball out of defence and continue on from there.

The problem Hammers are facing is that while Rice might enjoy going forward his main role as a midfield destroyer who snuffs out the opposition's attacks, whereas Soucek is an out and out box to box player and is not ideally suited to the holding midfield role.

Perhaps Moyes might want to take heed of the old adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and do a switcheroo with their current roles. - Ed

Share

Moyes Has 'Tough calls' Ahead Of Everton Game

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Thu, 14/10/2021 - 16:28

Hammers boss David Moyes has described the fitness and fatigue issues regarding his players returning from International duties as "better than could be expected", this statement is a well needed boost coming ahead of the crucial Barclays Premier League fixture away to Everton at Goodison Park this Sunday.

Moyes will hope his players can overturn the recent unanticipated loss to Brentford in order to get things back on track, returning back to his spiritual home hasn't always been easy for the former Toffees manager, especially as he now has to cross swords with a manager with equal experience, in the form of ex-Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez.

News that Everton's 'walking wounded' WILL be available for the fixture will be greeted with trepidation, because on their day Everton can beat anyone meaning Hammers will have to be at their electric best to get a positive result. David Moyes is known to resist changes unless HE decides to make them in his line up, but he will undoubtedly have given thought to his defensive line up, given it's porous nature of late.

It isn't just that the defence has not reached the heights of last season, it is in set pieces where the club has fallen down the order. Last season the club topped the league for goals from set pieces, this season they are closer to the bottom! Is this partly to do with Craig Dawson's omission from Moyes' current starting line up?

Kurt Zouma is an obvious improvement on Craig Dawson, but he lacks Dawson's ability to run from distance and get his head on the ball. 'Les's' aerial ability is sorely missed and although we can hardly believe it, we are suggesting that Moyes might wish to replace Angelo Ogbonna with 'Les'.

Ogbonna has been the rock on which the foundations of Moyes defence was based, but he has been unusually error prone since the start of the season, and while he was injured for a while, he was supposed to have been fully recovered but his performances don't reflect that. We'll discuss Lukasz Fabianski as opposed to Alphonse Areola in our next article AND whether Vladimir Coufal should be risked, or replaced by Ben Johnson with promising youngster Harrison Ashby brought in as back up. -Ed

Share

Sutton Utd

mcbikeman's picture
Submitted by mcbikeman on Thu, 14/10/2021 - 13:04

Forums:

My local team and they are doing marvelously in there first league campaign...last weekend i went and saw them play a tremendous game of football against Port vale a real humdinger of a game that Sutton won 4-3 with literally the last kick of the game.

After a week where the barcodes were taken over and are now the Richest club in the world and will buy anything that moves it was refreshing to see two sides play a great game of football where small budgets and living by your means are a must and so you see sides getting the most out of the players they have because they cannot go for and instant fix...4000 souls saw a game that would put a lot of the prem/championship matches to shame.

David Brookes Bournemouth

boogerscaravan's picture
Submitted by boogerscaravan on Wed, 13/10/2021 - 19:24

Forums:

What a shame this lad is 24 a Welsh International and a regular in my fantasy football team before relegation. Diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkinsons Lymphoma cancer. I hope he beats it.....

Pages

Next Fixture(s)

Subscribe to Forum | General Discussion