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Live West Ham v Palace Line Ups

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Submitted by nevillenixon on Wed, 16/12/2020 - 19:03

West Ham: Fabianski, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Coufal, Rice, Soucek, Fornals, Benrahma, Bowen, Haller Subs: Randolph, Yarmolenko, Lanzini, Snodgrass, Dawson, Noble, Fredericks
Palace: Guaita, Ward, Van Aanholt, Dann, Kouyate, McArthur, Townsend, Milivojevic, Eze, Zaha, Benteke Subs: Butland, Tomkins, Ayew, Schlupp, Batshuayi, Mitchell, Riedewald

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Slav Sacked!

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Submitted by nevillenixon on Wed, 16/12/2020 - 12:48

Ex-Hammers manager Slaven Billic has been sacked by West Bromwich Albion, after 18 months in charge, with the club 19th in the Premier League. The Baggies have only gathered seven points from 13 league games, with eight defeats, though they earned a surprise 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Tuesday. Billic is the first coach to be sacked so far in the Barclays Premier League this season.

Assistant coaches Dean Racunica and Danilo Butorovic also depart, as does first-team coach Julian Dicks. Tuesday's match was the Bilic's 100th Premier League game as a manager. He led The Irons from June 2015 to November 2017, taking the club into a Europe as they finished seventh in his final full season, recording their highest placing since 2002. Prior to that, he had led Croatia to two European Championships, with a quarter-final appearance in 2008 coming after they had knocked England out in the qualifiers.

What on earth do the board at West Brom think a miserly transfer budget was ever going to do except end up with relegation flirtation? Billic is still immensly popular with Hammers fans, he can consider himself harshly dealt with when you look at say, Sheffield United! We wish 'super' slav all the best, as do almost all West Ham fans.

Big Sam is heading the list of the 'usual suspects' to take over at the Hawthorns. - Ed

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Moyes Ready For French Kiss!

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Submitted by nevillenixon on Wed, 16/12/2020 - 10:41

One man's loss, another's gain, after being starved of success, French clubs had hoped they would be revitalised by an unprecedented TV rights deal worth more than €1.15bn per year (€814m a year from Mediapro and €330m from BeIN Sports). It was the second largest TV deal in Europe, but hopes finally disappeared this week, pushing French football to the brink of financial ruin.

As with every situation of this sort there are winners and losers, in this instance West Ham, along with a host of other Barclays Premier League teams, will be looking at the French market to pick up bargains! To put the circumstances in perspective, the numbers were huge, with clubs bringing in 60% more money in TV rights, the price was completely unreasonable, making it impossible to work unless there was a massive take up in viewing subscriptions. The first instalment was paid, however, when their second instalment was due in October, Mediapro asked to defer the payment and their CEO, Jaume Roures, admitted that they were trying to renegotiate the deal. “It’s obvious that Covid is affecting a lot of aspects of our being able to exploit our rights.” said Roures. “We want to renegotiate the contract for this season. We are not questioning the project as it is, but the bars and restaurants are closed, advertising is down.” L’Équipe reported that Mediapro wanted a 25% discount for the season, while RTL claimed that the LFP were hoping to replace Mediapro.

The surprise cancellation of the Ligue 1 season seemed to have arisen due to a misunderstanding by the French government. In October, multiple Ligue 1 club presidents told Get French Football News that one of their main motivations for not finishing the 2019-20 campaign was to protect the new Mediapro deal, harming their relationship with Canal Plus in the process. Canal Plus are now negotiating to take over the rights, but they intend to offer a sum below €700m per season – less than they paid before the arrival of Mediapro. French football’s crisis is far from over, Canal are playing hardball over the deal, leaving some clubs worried about going bankrupt.
One other ramification of the financial losses French football is currently experiencing, is that any hope of selling Sebastien Haller to Monaco or Rennes, as had been mooted, are now extinguished! Of course the flip side is that there are now bargains to be had, problem is most English clubs are broke and in debt, but not as broke and in debt as those in France!

This January the transfers taking place will be like those of no other season, with some clubs who are really close to the wall having to accept offers for their players that they would have considered 'insulting' just 12 months ago! Hammers' glaring need for a striker must be addressed, as should the need for an additional full back and an additional midfielder.

France's misfortune might be just the fillip West Ham were looking for, in that there is a 'clear and present' opportunity to 'paper over' the gaps in Moyes' wafer thin squad WITHOUT breaking the bank, or in other words, a realistic opportunity to claw back some of the fiscal loss caused by the profligate signings of Felipe Anderson and Sebastien Haller! - Ed

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Moyes to Celtic

Submitted by Jozi-iron on Tue, 15/12/2020 - 12:42

I see that the Celtic board have given Neil Lennon their absolute backing, which as we all know means he will be gone by Tuesday.
It looks like there are two big names in the frame, one is Eddie Howe, currently unemployed and the other is our own David Moyes.
The question is who is the bigger club? West Ham or Celtic? By the finances we are obviously bigger, but Celtic constantly challenge for trophies and are perennial participants in the Champions League. Add to that the fact that a young Moyes used to play in the famous green hoops that could prove a strong enticement .
More bad news if Moyes does go, Benny Mac has just signed a contract at Amazulu, so he is not available.

The Flying Physio Room Part LXXX

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Submitted by darrenharry on Tue, 15/12/2020 - 09:15

Tuesday 15 December. 09:06. Rush Green. Mild, damp, grey, sullen, tier 3 bound…

The mood was happy. It was an incredibly strange experience for Moyle. Players smiling (apart from Alair), laughing, working hard, encouraging each other.
Bizarre.
The strangest of years.
Signings that worked. A formation that worked. A plan that worked (hitting the woodwork as many times as possible). Moyle knew this couldn’t continue.
The Premier League were furious. The leaked memo he’d seen, stipulating that it was “not good for the country to have a southern bias in the top 6, there needs to be a focus on engineering a path for northern team as soon as possible. If that means VAR decisions going against the Easy London upstarts, so be it”.

Moyle felt certain this would begin in earnest.
Palace at home would give another chance to the famous flying Zahar, providing his challenge to Grearlish for the Chumbawunba 2020 Champion.
Failing that Chelski away would see a definite opportunity to provide the West London side 3 points.
Plus, there was always the fall-back option of Covid. Unless his captain had now formed a support bubble with a heavyweight boxing champion, the lack of social distance in congratulating his new friend should ensure a rife outbreak of 19’s finest at the League 2 standard training ground.

Wiping the remnants of haggis away from the corner of his mouth, Moyle surveyed the players, on their morning run, dodging golf balls from the errant swings of those inhabiting the driving range next door.
SueCheck and Corfal were leading from the front. Like eager Labradors, it seemed nothing could dampen their spirits…” Give them time” Moyle muttered to himself.
Captain was in close pursuit, competitive as ever, with Nobel alongside, chatting away.
Moyle was pleased his veteran club man had taken his new role so well.
Managing the car park and who got to park nearest to the entrance was a poisoned chalice and had seen off many incumbents. However, Nobels seniority and ability to hit the right spot consistently had gone down well.
Even Arfa had managed to find the right position.

Sully’s rainbow coloured roller crawled into the forecourt.
The 3-week retreat at the “Find yourself spa” had energised Sully and given him a new outlook on life.
From the beads he wore around his neck to the beard he had grown, Sully was more relaxed and open.
Upon exiting his chauffeur driven vehicle he took the knee, raising his right fist and declaring “Solidarity brother” – a ritual he now carried out whenever he arrived at a new destination.
Mrs Sully shook her head “Bleedin’ numpty” she whispered under her breath.

Moyle heard the crunch of gravel under tyres and knew he was in for his now painstaking weekly hour ritual, hearing about Sully’s new vegan lifestyle. Sully knocked and sauntered in…
” Hey man, how’s it going dude?”, Moyle rolled his eyes
“Och aye never betta pal” retorted Moyle, playing up to his stereotype.
“Man, we are just rolling and chillin’ through these games, its so far out, bring it brother, cumon’ gimme a hug” – Sully stood there with opened arms, Moyes recoiled “Erm, hands- face-space eh Jimmy?”,
Sully sagged, “Oh man yeah, what a downer. Like, can’t we just get over this thing already – then maybe love each other and our planet more, stop eating meat, y’know?”
Moyes was ready for this one “See you, I canee take too long today pal, lots on, things to do aye”
Sully clapped his hands together “My bad dude, of course. Anyway, I just wanted to bring you these tofu seaweed wraps as a token man, to say thanks n’all, y’know” Sully placed the goods on the Moyle desk. “Peace and love man, peace and love”, Sully was making a prayer gesture as he backed out of the door.
Mrs Sully looked at Moyle and shook her head, following him out.
Moyle took the “gift” and binned it.

It was at that moment the ball smashed through the office window, narrowly missing Moyle and bouncing off the cryogenic cabinet, which housed Guld.
After passing away in the summer, the club felt there were too much bad news. Therefore, keeping him on ice allowed the club to release the news in a time they felt were more appropriate.
“La merde!” came the scream from the training pitch.
Moyle knew without looking this was a goal attempt by Alair and shook his head.
He knew he needed a striker.
With Micky’s hamstrings as fragile as a Brexit deal, and Alair’s confidence as high as a secondary school teacher, he needed fresh blood to keep the side competitive.
With the clubs scouting network (YouTube) tool at his fingertips, Moyle logged on.
Changing the filter search to “Striker” and price range to “£0 – 15,000”. Moyle scrolled.

It was as this point that the door flew open.
No knock.
Moyle knew straight away.
The customary entrance.
Brody strolled in.
The clink of high heels and eye stinging perfume.
The Dalmatian was new a new addition but seemed quite appropriate.
The cigarette holder dangled between fingers like a menacing Harry Potter wand.
“Ciao” she bellowed, making herself comfortable in the chair opposite Moyle.
“Good morning ma’am, what can I do for ye?” countered Moyle.
“Well I was here to discuss travel arrangements for the forthcoming away fixtures. As you know the budget is zero. From today, all players will need to transport themselves. However, I’ve just had an alert from our ISP – looks as though you are browsing strikers on YouTube?!” – Brody let out a cackle.
Moyle quickly closed the link “Oh, no, y’know, these pop ups!” he replied, unconvincingly.
“Well, no point wasting time there, there is no cash, we’ll be lucky to see the end of the season. I’d suggest training one of those lumbering oafs to multi task – the Deeop chap looks strong, make him earn his wages. Anyhow, here to say the canteen will be shutting today. I’ve spoken to Doris and the staff, all very sad, tears blah blah blah. Too expensive. The players are quite capable of bringing their own lunch or there is one of those, oh what do they called them? supermarket places? around the corner I hear?”
Moyle looked on incredulously “But we’ll be alaffin stock, ye cannee ask players to bring their own lunch?! They need monitored diets, these are highly trained athletes!” the Moyle face reddened.
“Unprecedented times my dear. We’re all in the same boat. The Ritz is shutting tomorrow as we enter tier 3 so where will I lunch? Do you hear me moaning? No, one adjusts. Now, in addition I’m stopping all kit cleaning. The cost of that department is astronomical. All players have a washing machines; therefore, they will be taking their kit home from today”.
“And buying their own boots. I’ve spoken to that lovely Mr Ashlee from Toonland and he is willing to give all Premier League players a 0.1% discount on all footwear. Most generous. Now, I must dash, need to supress these damned free school meals in a House of Lords vote. Vultures left right and centre. Relay the news my good man and good luck tomorrow, who is it we’re playing?”
Moyle, crestfallen, mouth open, staring at the carpet. “Parlice” he could barely muster.
“Oh, jolly good, Uncle Woy, lovely man. Oh, let’s go easy on him dear, a point should suffice. Good day”.
As she turned and swung through the door the odour hit him immediately.
The Dalmatian, evidently not house trained, had left a most unwelcome present.
This time he stood no chance.
The ball that smashed through the other window was trained like a heat seeking missile on the hound turd.
Landing plum in the centre of the brown mess, sending the contents splattering over Moyle.
Standing there, covered in dog faeces, he heard in the distance “La merde!”

A strange old year to say the least. I hope everyone is keeping well. Here’s to a far brighter, healthier and happier 2021. And possibly a European tour – The navy can take us right?!

Thin Ice For Wafer Thin Squad

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Submitted by nevillenixon on Mon, 14/12/2020 - 15:26

Without wishing to put a dampener on fans' current 'euphoria', which has been brought about by a string of superb results, it is hard to avoid the 'Elephant in the Room' in fact a couple of them! The injuries that Michail Antonio and Authur Masuaku have sustained have exposed just how dangerously wafer thin David Moyes' squad actually is, however that is not to pour scorn over how well the manager has adapted to the loss of two key players.

Masuaku has been replaced by new signing Said Benrahma, the ex-Brentford player did well for his first start, albeit a little selfish when it came to his final decisions, however Antonio's replacement Sebastien Haller has really struggled to fill the big man's boots. Previously it would be fair to say Haller's work rate was questionable to say the least, but against Leeds he did try, but his luck was truly out, and he looked like a player burdened by the massive price tag attached to his transfer.

Haller could never be another Antonio, but he can try and start 'bullying' the opposition, he falls over far too easily and needs to 'put himself about' more, especially during the opening exchanges of games when there is less likelyhood of picking up a booking. 'Big' strikers have adopted this 'leaving a mark' principle ever since the beginning of the Barclays Premier League, and way before that as well, if it is not done the opposition 'sense blood' and will walk all over the recipient.

Irrespective of whether Haller 'comes good, there is an obvious need for an additional striker, with Josh King being a nailed on cert, finances permitting. Masuaku is in one way irreplaceable, his unique skill at bringing the ball out of defence is sometimes beguilling, he is a big miss for Moyes.

The point is, both injured players were vital parts of a well oiled machine, a machine that has just about managed to keep going despite their absence, the problem is if another 'key' member of the first team gets injured, there could be major repurcussions. Heaven forbid if Declan Rice or Tomas Soucek were ruled out for any length of time, the club would be up the creek without a paddle, and it is for this very reason that Moyes has to squeeze the cash from the club's hierarchy in order to strengthen in the vital areas neccessary.

This season is being played out under unique circumstances, and represents the best chance the Irons have of reaching Europe since the Dimitri Payet inspired 2015 season, it is the prospect of European money that might help prise open the 'privy purse' located behind the sofa at Theydon Bois! - Ed

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weekend just got better

Submitted by elthammer on Sun, 13/12/2020 - 21:24

the weekend just got better just thinking how nice it is to look at the league and start at the top to see where we are and how relaxing it makes me feel, and the news comes through that lucky Arsenals luck has just run out, player sent off (not for the first time) and been beaten by burnley and drop to16th its almost like we have swapped places with them well lets see how they deal with it C.O.Y.I

Bayern Munich want Soucek

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Submitted by mcbikeman on Sun, 13/12/2020 - 16:28

Moyes says no way the club go how much? lol and the end is nigh if it happens...ahh well the price of having a decent player or two

'Authurscopic' Surgery Is Key!

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Submitted by nevillenixon on Sun, 13/12/2020 - 11:43

Many Hammers fans were aghast when news of Authur Masuaku's knee operation became known, incidentally the news first broke on this site fully half an hour before fellow fans' site KUMB.com, whereas Sullivan's pet site C&H as usual got their facts wrong and stated that the news had first appeared on Graham Howlett's wonderful site.

Masuaku has undergone successful Arthroscopic surgery , a procedure that involves inserting a small camera inside the knee joint. Through other small incisions, instruments can be inserted to repair or remove damaged structures. Arthroscopic knee surgery is often called "scoping the knee" or knee arthroscopy.

Many different surgical procedures are commonly performed arthroscopically were once performed through much larger incisions. The advantage of arthroscopy is being able to perform those surgical procedures without damaging normal structures around the joint. By being less invasive, the hope is there will be less pain and a faster recovery, however, arthroscopic surgery is still a major surgical procedure, involves risks, and requires appropriate postoperative rehabilitation.
It is important to understand the postoperative recovery that will be necessary to achieve a successful result can be lengthy, and as such it is highly unlikely fans will see Masuaku playing again before the beginning of February. Rushing the DR Cogo International back ahead will be counter productive, so David Moyes is really going to have to work things out in 'King Authur's absence, much like he had to during his first tenure as manager when 'The King' was suspended for six games because of 'spittlegate'.

The team coped without him the, and will do so now, but it is generally acknowledged that playing three at the back suits the personal available and as such is the formation that will help keep the club in the top half of the table, Palace on Wednesday night represents another banana skin' fixture that the Irons would most definitely have lost in the past, it will be a measure of just how far Moyes has brought the club on if a positive result can be achieved.

We hope the 'King' can be back alongside the 'General' and all the other 'horsemen of the defendordome' as soon as is practically possible, and wish him a speedy recovery. - Ed

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