Forum | General Discussion

West Ham youngster Conor Coventry has been earmarked to be an influential midfielder for the future, and perhaps now is the time for him to step up to the plate. Coventry is already a seasoned international player and surely represents a far better option in midfield to replace Declan Rice than Mark Noble, everyone loves "nobs', but he has become a liability who doesn't have the ability to influence games in the way that he used to, this is not a deliberately damning comment, just grim reality.

Coping with 'curve balls' is what a manager has to do, David Moyes MUST have had some sort of contingency planning for an injury to Rice or Soucek, or heaven forbid to the two of them. Mark Noble arguably could have 'filled in' for a game or two, but not for the rest of the season.

If Moyes doesn't deploy Coventry, his only other viable option will be to revert to a three/five at the back and push Pablo Fornals in to the middle along side of Tomas Soucek, by doing so he will prevent the midfield from being over run by the zealous attackers of Wolves this evening.

It's crap, but there is no use crying over spilt milk, it is what it is, but many fans' dreams of Europe have already begun to crash down.- Ed

What is it with West Ham and players getting crocked while on international duty? The news that every Hammers fan dreaded, but in a way anticipated, of the injury Declan Rice picked up while playing against Poland has been greeted with as much doom and gloom as can be shown.

West Ham were, or still are, on the threshold of attaining a Champions league place, but news of Rice's injury is the biggest downer fans could possibly have received, the incredibly influential midfielder is definitely out of tonight's squad facing Wolves at Molineaux, but there is a distinct possibility he may well be out for the rest of the season.

This could have a serous impact on Gareth Southgate's plans for the Euro's, but pardon our French, "bugger Southgate!" Rice is yet another Hammer to be sidelined by an injury picked up while playing for his country, he joins Manu Lanzini, and before him Dean Ashton as well as David James, as yet another casualty.

Fans are rightly proud of seeing their players on the International stage, but it comes at a cost, unfortunately the cost of Rice's injury is almost inestimable, but it probably has put to bed any chances the club had of finishing in the top four, even the top six now looks unlikely!

Moyes will probably start Mark Noble in Declan's place, and the team will inevitably go on to lose the game, as they have done in every other match that the 'captain' has started thus far in the season, it could only happen to West Ham! - Ed

It has been a long long while since Authur 'the King' Masuaku featured for West Ham, 18 games in fact, and although the team have coped admirably without him, it has missed his 'fleet of foot' contributions. Prior to his operation, the 'King' had been a key component in a side that was devastating most of the opposition by utilising a three at the back formation, by playing ahead of Aaron Cresswell he was able to utilise his unique ability to bring the ball out of defence like no other.

It is probably too much to expect Authur to start against Wolves on Monday, but he will make the bench at least, his energy and enthusiasm might well be one of crucial elements necessary to sustain Hammers push for Europe as we enter into the final nine games of this strangest of seasons.

Unless David Moyes is fully backed in the next transfer window, which is most definitely NOT a given, this season represents what might be the only opportunity that West Ham have of 'breaking through to the other side'. By reaching Europe the club's profile will go from good, to attractive, that is of course mentioned in the hope that if the club do qualify for Europe, that it is at a competition stage that doesn't require too much arduous travelling to the nether regions of far flung european locations.

At this stage of what has been an incredibly compressed season, ALL teams are suffering from injuries and losses of form, whether temporary or permanent, and so Hammers go in to the remaining nine games with as good a chance as any to progress.

Unfortunately the fixtures ahead for David Moyes and his team are rather difficult, however as a slight bonus Hammers play three classic 'six pointers' among those nine fixtures, the games against Chelsea, Everton and Leicester will go a long way to deciding this season's final outcome.

With the king back, all we need now is for the 'Angel' to return! - Ed

What is it with West Ham and centre backs? One minute there is a paucity and then the next minute a proliferation, just like London buses or in some cases London policemen, they tend to appear in threes, just as is happening at the London Stadium at this moment in time.

It should be remembered that less than 12 months ago Hammers were attempting to 'lure' Burnley's 29 year old James Tarkowski to East London for an eye watering £30 Million! Eventually even that figure wasn't enough for those in power at Turf Moor, their relative greed will probably be haunting them now.

Instead David Moyes elected to bring 'Les' Dawson to the club on loan from Watford, Dawson being 18 months older than Tarkowski was a cheaper option, however he has proved to be an astute signing who's loan deal is due to be made permanent for a bargain £3.5 Million, which includes his original loan fee.

In addition to 'Les', Hammers have the venerable 'Angel of the East' Angelo Ogbonna, soon to return from injury, a resurgent Issa Diop and the option to extend Fabian Balbuena's contract by a further two years. The encouraging news for the coming months is that youngster Jamal Baptiste, along with recent signing Frederik Alves are ear marked for greater things, meaning that Hammers are very well placed for centre backs ahead of the new season.

We nearly forgot, there is also the matter of Winston Reid, the 'warrior' who is fighting his way back to full match fitness while on loan with promotion chasing Brentford, his future may well lay elsewhere, once proven to be fit again is a useful asset to have.

One hole plugged then, now all Moyes has to do, apart from making 'Les's' deal permanent is to find q couple of strikers, an additional full back and a strong box to box midfielder to assist and compliment Hammers' midfield dynamic 'Rice & Potato Salad' combination.

Not a tall order then, and David Moyes also has to negotiate the 'tricky' transfer of Jesse Lingard now that the attacking players 'bad parent' club have finally woken up to his potential, and the fact that they have Hammers exactly where they want them when it comes to naming their price for the 28 year old who has shone so brightly since arriving in January. - Ed