Forum | General Discussion

Manchester United have been drawn against West Ham in the Carabao Cup third round, the 'Moose' Cup game will be held at Old Trafford and will be decided via penalties if required, with no replays. The tie will be played on the midweek of September the 22nd or 23rd.

Manchester United visit West Ham in the Barclays Premier League on the Sunday the 19th, so at most there will only be 4 day gap between games. Having been beaten 3 times by the Manchester Club last season, David Moyes will be hoping his 'counter attack' specialists will be able to undo his old club this time round.
Although a periphery competition to most fans, especially those who have seen their team dumped out of it, the Moose Cup nevertheless represents the opportunity to acquire silver ware. Clubs that aren't state sponsored or funded by massive corporations, still view winning it as a worthy achievement, and fans of the eventual winners will be more than happy to accept the trophy despite it's devaluation in the last few years.

Having been 'unfairly' beaten 1-0 in the FA Cup match at Old Trafford in February, a game which went to extra-time, Hammers will be looking for their revenge, and why not? While there are many doubts as to how long West Ham's paper thin squad can cope with the demands inherent of competing in Europe, as well as the three domestic competitions, there is genuine belief that the team Moyes has developed is capable of taking on the 'big boys'.
It is hoped that last season was NOT an aberration, rather a transitional phase between a club that is used to failure or mediocrity on a regular basis to a club that is comfortable at the top table, even if it's suit is off the peg as opposed to tailor made.

Such has been the progress and continued upward trajectory of the club, that some fans have even taken to social media 'worried' that Hammers chance of achieving a treble are seriously threatened by having to 'face off' Manchester Utd so early in the competition!

While we wouldn't advocate Moyes doing 'an Allardyce' by throwing the youth players to the proverbial Wolves, the game would represents the opportunity to give some of the clubs U-23 and Academy players a serious run out, and there are plenty of them champing at the bit just waiting, they see their senior team's players doing really, really well, and want a part of it...success breeds success after all.

Then again for some fans, particularly the older ones who have been 'scarred for life' by watching West Ham, there is the fear that the wheels are going to come off the wagon sooner rather than later, beginning against Palace on Saturday.

The Palace game, the 2nd to be played at the 'Dome' in a week, will present an ideal microcosm of how far he club have 'really' progressed under David Moyes, in the past it would be almost a cert that the visitors would arrive and put the 'fancy dans' in their place, something that has happened all too often in the past. Watford's 'humbling' of the club in their 3-2 victory, after having been 2-0 down a few seasons ago, is one that painfully springs to mind in particular, but there have been plenty of other instances!

The next few games, as well as the impending Cup competition, will go a long way to show just how far the team g=has progressed AND if the team has managed to lose it's 'powder puff' exterior of the past, 'Flakey' is the word used by David Moyes to describe Hammers teams of the past, it is to be hoped that is exactly where the flakiness stays, in the past! - Ed

Hammers have done remarkably well, last season and so far this season, the bedrock of Hammers surprising surge to becoming a genuine top six club has been the club's stoic defence, as well as it's astonishing counter attacking prowess. However, the 'bedrock' while being formidable is approaching it's limit as both centre backs are in or are approaching the twilight of their careers.

Angelo Ogbonna is turning 34 at the end of the season and Craig Dawson 32, given the demands of the Barclays Premier League it is unrealistic to expect the pair to continue performing week in week out, especially when factoring in the added games as a result of the team qualifying for the group stage of the Europa league, even though they have done so WITHOUT the need to engage in any of the draining pre-qualifying matches that have been the bane of British clubs in the past.

On Friday the club's Europa League group stage opponents will be revealed, and whoever they are, the need for reinforcements will NOT go away. To this purpose, David Moyes has doggedly pursued his main targets, which have never changed since the beginning of the summer transfer window.

Kurt Zouma was Moyes' preferred centre back option, and despite initially being knocked back and 'making enquiries' about a whole host of other centre backs, it appears that Moyes has finally got his man, Zouma has been pictured travelling for his West Ham medical, with the club scheduled to announce his signing of a five year deal imminently.

For many fans the jury is still out regarding Issa Diop, he has in our opinion been unfairly judged for his apparent drop in form from when he first arrived at the club. It is easy to forget how young Diop is, and how he was embroiled in some bitter relegation fights instead of plying his trade in the upper echelons of the Barclays Premier League!

Zouma could become Diop's mentor and co-conspirator in the 'dark arts' of defending, the fact that they share the same native language and have trained together for France before cannot be underestimated and if all goes well they could form a centre back pairing for the next FIVE years! Diop certainly thinks so, that's according to his instagram account* on which he says: "J'ai hâte que mon frère rejoigne l'équipe", which means I can't wait for my brotther to join the team.

It will be interesting to see just how David Moyes (a) integrates Zouma into the current first team and (b) oversees the 'conjoining' of Zouma and Diop into becoming formidàblè - Ed

*There are several Issa Diop instagram accounts and now West Ham have officially confirmed to us, since our publishing of this article, that this 'comment' has not actually come from Issa's personal account. We are glad to make the correction, although we are sure he would agree with the sentiment.

Playing in one of Europe’s top two continental competitions is a tremendous honour, with West Ham United making their way into the Europa League by virtue of their sixth place finish last season.

However, battling it out with some of the best clubs across Europe and the cash that comes with it, can cause troubles at home. West Ham look to be playing over 50 games next season, compared to the 43 games of last season within the same timeframe. It might not seem like a tremendous increase, but when you factor in the late-week matches of the Europa League and the potential travelling, the squad will feel the burn. So, is this current Irons team ready for the challenge of competing at home and abroad, even if the European competition starts and ends in the group stage?

The perils of not reinforcing a smaller squad

Last season, Moyes only deployed 24 players in the Premier League, placing as the joint-second fewest count. Relatively few injuries helped in this regard, but more games mean more fatigue and a greater chance of injury sustained by any regular player.

Improving on the centre back corps with Craig Dawson signing permanently and releasing Fabián Balbuena was a fair move, and Alphonse Areola certainly offers competition in the goalkeeping position. However, the number of outfield options has seemingly decreased from
this time last season. Dawson was at the London Stadium on loan anyway, and even Felipe Anderson was an option for a time. Furthermore, Sébastien Haller and Robert Snodgrass were still around until January.

The club hasn’t really done anything to improve or reinforce, which is exactly what contributed to Burnley’s ill fated run in Europe. Never big spenders, Burnley had to go through Europa League qualifying after they surprisingly finished the 2017/18 season in seventh. They were skinny on numbers, as they always are, and by September of the 2018/19 campaign, Sean Dyche had already used 24 players – a one-player increase on the season prior already. Despite their European exploits ending in the Play-Off Round, Burnley felt the strain, finishing the season 15th in the league and going out in the third and fourth rounds of the EFL Cup and FA Cup, respectively.

The Europa League is tiring, and yet, looking at today's football predictions, West Ham are expected to finish seventh. The squad is of high quality, but to enable this prediction to come to fruition, reinforcements are certainly required.

West Ham’s team needs are glaringly obvious

Prior to the first game of the Premier League, West Ham had decent goalkeeping, centre-back, full-back, and attacking midfield depth. Central midfield could do with another face, as could either wing, but most importantly, the Irons are incredibly shallow up top. Makeshift striker Michail Antonio stands as the team’s main striking option. While his athleticism and aggression have scored him plenty of goals, he doesn’t have much competition there as Jarrod Bowen is better suited to the wing.

Several names have been thrown around in the transfer rumours, but it’d be safe to say that getting Martin Braithwaite would not do anything close to solving the problem. At all his previous clubs, his goals per game ratio has been subpar at best: it doesn’t matter if
Barcelona thought it a good idea to sign the Dane. Instead, a prime target should be the towering Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu. Standing at 6’7’’, the 2020/21 Jupiler Pro League Player of the Year and top goalscorer Onuachu scored a massive 29 goals and two assists in 33 league games last season. While useful, it’s even better that only six of those were down as headers.

At 27-years-old, Onuachu is entering his prime and shouldn’t be too expensive as he plays for KRC Genk. Given West Ham’s preference for crossing and Moyes’ historic love of big-men in the box, he seems like the smart choice. If West Ham wants to reach the same heights as last season, if not exceed them, the squad needs some reinforcements. -LN

Over 580 days in the waiting and a whole world of events had been and gone ahead of last night's game against Leicester City, while fans had been absent David Moyes and his staff oversaw the metamorphosis of a team of relegation battlers into a slick top six of the table club.

Much had been made in the media relating to the fact that West Ham had done well last season, because there were NO home fans in attendance, citing the toxic atmosphere that precluded the Covid Pandemic. Ironically from the moment of project restart Hammers were on fire and with the exception of the 'blip' in form that coincided with Declan Rice's injury sustained during a pointless friendly for England, could have made the Champions League only missing out by 2 points.

Fears that there would be a negative atmosphere on Monday night, particularly in light of the ill thought out and ill timed aggressive take over bid by PAI(n), were quickly dispelled as the inside of the Stadium was absolutely buzzing, IF you had managed to get in on time!

As expected there was chaos at the entry points, so many people were having download issues or were in possession of poorly printed out tickets that the queues were massive, despite the best efforts of the stewards on hand. Footnote from editorial team...'SOMEONE' was in such a hurry to print out tickets having installed fresh ink in order to print out 'perfect' tickets that HE didn't bother to actually check what had been printed, so bright and clear were the tickets! On presenting the tickets it transpired HE had made duplicate copies of the same ticket! All this necessitated having to sprint for entrance J to the ticket office, the attendee promptly checked the system and printed out the new tickets, just like that!

There were many others who had difficulties getting into the packed to the rafters stadium, but they were rewarded by what they saw as a dominant Hammers team 'out Leicestered' Leicester! Of course the visitors had their moments, as was to be expected from a quality team with a quality manager AND quality travelling fans supporting them.

The first half sending off, which looked harsh initially was the turning point in the game, but it should be remembered that West Ham were already a goal ahead from a superb Benrahma and Formals constructed goal, finished with aplomb by the latter. A goal then followed for Said Benrahma as Hammers took advantage of Leicester being down to ten men.

The visitors did pull one back to set up a 'nervy' period, before the Michail Antonio show stepped up a gear! Covered from pillar to post by a slightly 'umble pie media that were anticipating an entirely different outcome, particularly as the vistors had humbled Man City in the Charity Shield.

Michail Antonio will get all the attention as a result of his brace scored late in the 2nd half, but Benrahma and especially Fornals did so much, as did the rest of the team, to ensure the Foxes left London with their tails between their legs.

Both players just keep getting better and better, FORNALS is emerging as a crucial player for Moyes, his ability to outrun a duracell bunny is both useful and inspirational for his team mates who hold him in high esteem. During his time with the club he has developed into a really, really good player.

Everyone knows the club's current home is a stadium not built for football, it has many deficiencies, but under the lights with a full house roaring? Come on the old 'Boleyn Roar' was there in spirit as fans tentatively begin to embrace their not fit for purpose home,
IF the team keep performing in a similar fashion then the ground's 'issues' will start to be on a par with trying to get a tube train from UptonPark back in the day, a real pain but a necessary evil! - Ed