Haller makes you Long for Boogers return
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or Abou or Maiga or Raducioiu or Wellinton i think you get the idea
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How the squad helps each other
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During the Leeds match did anyone else notice how young Johnson whilst waiting to come on took time and care to help Nolan with his Tablet...showing that the younger generation are not so bad helping the elderly with Tech
Haller
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So I’ve neem mulling it over and put it down to a few reasons why he’s playing. 1. Moyes sees something in training we don’t. 2. It’s in his contract that if fit he has to play. 3. Moyes knows how bad he is and is playing him to prove to the owners that we need to get rid and buy someone in January. 4. Which is for me the least likely, that he’s the only striker available. You’d have thought they’d have changed formation, worked on a false 9 or something? Anyway thoughts?
Live Leeds v West Ham Line Ups
Leeds: Meslier, Ayling, Cooper, Alioski, Raphinha, Dallas, Phillips, Harrison, Klich, Rodrigo, Bamford Subs: Casilla, Poveda, Roberts, Costa, Hernandez, Strujik, Shackleton
West Ham: Fabianski, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Coufal, Rice, Soucek, Fornals, Benrahma, Bowen, Haller Subs: Randolph, Lanzini, Snodgrass, Dawson, Noble, Fredericks, Johnson
Yanks Want Black Friday Deal For Reid!
Now that their elongated domestic season is over, MLS sides have to go through a process which involves naming 'Designated' players, there are strict rules governing the amount of non-US players and clubs have to keep within very tight FFP rules. Sporting KC had acquired West Ham United's Winston Reid on loan for the season, but crucially were only paying 15% of his £70,000 per week wages, with the Irons picking up the rest of the tab.
It now transpires that Sporting KC, despite seeing Reid as a superb player with a significant voice in the dressing room and on the pitch, are unwilling to name Reid as one of their 'Designated' players, partly because they were previously committed to signing Felipe Gutierrez.
In their original press release, Sporting KC indicated they had declined the option on Winston Reid’s contract. However, it’s more complicated than that. His “option” was an option to buy from the loan he was on from West Ham, and while declining that option, SKC Head Coach and Sporting Director Peter Vermes indicated negotiations were ongoing. “We didn’t exercise the option for a very specific reason,” said Vermes. “We’ll continue to try and have some type of discussions with West Ham to see if it’s feasible to bring the player back.”
Even if Reid were made available on a free transfer, there is still the matter of his wages, the Kiwi would have to take a massive pay cut to come back to the MLS. Even if he doesn’t play in England, he’ll get his huge salary to be a squad player or go out on loan elsewhere.
Sporting are trying to get Reid back on a similar basis to last season, but West Ham and David Moyes will surely not countenance that, after all, he was sent out to the MLS to recover from the massive injury that he had sustained when nocked unconscious in the game against Swansea, nearly THREE years ago!
Reid is contracted at the London Stadium until the end of the 2022 season, with the club still paying him £70,000 per week, either they will look to sell him cheaply in order to get his wages off the books, pay off his contract or, what would seem to be the best choice, gradually reintegrate Reid back in to the match day squad, where his leadership qualities ans strength would be a bonus for certain 'demanding' games.
Moyes will definitely run his eye over Reid on his return, and who knows? Reid might just be the centre back Moyes has been looking all over for, some times you can't see the forest for the trees. - Ed
Transfers: Charting The Progress Of The Club's 2018-19 Signings
Following his appointment in May 2018, Manuel Pellegrini was handed a sizeable transfer kitty and the experienced Chilean was tasked with bringing European football back to East London. However, despite some initial promise, and a highly productive December, the former Manchester City boss could only guide the Hammers to a tenth place finish. He made several high-profile signings during the course of the campaign, and we take a look at the progress that some of these recruits have made since first arriving at the London Stadium.
Issa Diop
Despite being linked with a move away from the club this summer, Issa Diop remains a West Ham player, although he is currently fourth-choice centre-back. He's played just 207 Premier League minutes so far this campaign, although his initial impact on the Hammer's back-line was significant. The former Toulouse man, who commanded a club record fee of £22m, looked incredibly assured during his first season in the English top flight, however, a series of disappointing displays towards the end of the 2019-20 campaign has seen him usurped by Angelo Ogbonna and Fabian Balbuena. The 23-year old was very effective under the previous regime, but he appears to have lost his way, and it's difficult to see him breaking back into the XI.
Felipe Anderson
There was plenty of excitement surrounding Felipe Anderson's arrival, with the Hammers hierarchy shelling out £34m for the talented wide-man. He shone during his first season in the capital, netting ten goals and registering four assists. However, his form has subsequently dipped, and he managed just a solitary goal throughout the course of 2019-20 campaign. The Brazilian joined FC Porto on a season-long loan at the beginning of October, however, he's barely featured, and has been largely restricted to outings in domestic cup competitions. He is currently suffering from a chronic lack of confidence, and it's hard to see him being given a second chance in the Premier League.
Lukasz Fabianski
Former Swansea stopper Lukasz Fabianski has proved to be an extremely savvy bit of business, and he has been superb since arriving at the London Stadium. He's played in every single Premier League game this season, and has four clean sheets to his name so far. He was instrumental in helping the Hammers to remain unbeaten throughout November, and although the recent defeat to Manchester United was a minor setback, Moyes' men can still be backed at 11/10 in the outright Premier League betting markets to finish in the top half this season.
Andriy Yarmolenko
The experienced winger has endured a frustrating time since arriving from Borussia Dortmund. He took a while to find his feet at this level, featuring just nine times during his maiden Premier League campaign. Last season, he played a pivotal role, and scored five times in 23 appearances. However, he's been kept out of the side by Jarrod Bowen, and has clocked up just 97 minutes so far.
Fabian Balbuena
Unlike Diop, Balbuena has largely managed to retain his form across the last two and a half seasons. Only eight West Ham players have accumulated more minutes this season than the former Corinthians man, and he has to be considered a bargain at just £3.6m.
It's been a complete mixed bag for the 2018-19 arrivals and whilst the likes of Jack Wilshire and Xande Silva failed to make an impact, the likes of Fabianski and Balbuena still have a hugely important role to play, and continue to prove their worth at the highest level. - Ed
Moyes Annoyed By 'Noise'
Hammers' wing back Authur Masuaku's now deleted instagram message, detailing how he had just had corrective surgery on his knee that had caused him to be in acute pain for the last TWO years, was as a result of 'miscommunication'. When David Moyes did his Press conference ahead of tonight's eagerly anticipated clash with Leeds United at Elland Road, he made no mention at all regarding Masuaku's operation, which has left many observers baffled.
Moyes' "stop the leaks" mandate had held as firm as a 'Tenna Pad' until yesterday, indeed there had been substantial media coverage of Leeds' manager Marcello Bielsa's early announcement of his team for the upcoming match against the Irons, so why did Moyes hand Bielsa the bonus of knowing Masuaku would not be included in sufficient time for the Argentine manager to make 'suitable' adjustments to how his team sets up for the match?
The answer is quite simple, it was a complete 'cock up', anyone who left a mistakenly drunken message back in the days when everyone used 'static' answerphones only to find out they left a suggestive message to one of their relatives or definitely someone who shouldn't have been the recipient, will know just how easy it is do make a colossal error of judgement.
With all the technology available now, it is little wonder that 'news' gets into the Mainstream in an instant, it only takes one click of a button and the sender can enter in to a whole world of pain and embarrassment! Apparently such was the case with 'King Authur', he was supposed to send the message 'just ahead' of the match, in fact ONE hour ahead not one day! Unfortunately once you hit the send button that's it, and that is exactly what Authur did, doubtless the anaesthetic probably didn't help, but clubs really do need to look at their players' various media platforms.
Surley if you are paying players between ££50-100,000 per week you are entitled to 'oversee' their media 'snippets'? Why not ban them completely? Is it against their human rights? Most 'ordinary' people would be happy to sign a non-disclosure contract as part of getting paid so handsomely, but players are so powerful now that they seem to be able to have their cake, and eat it!
It is not as if Masuaku 'snuck off' to have the operation is it? The club would have sanctioned and overseen the details of the surgery, and anticipated the repercussions of such an important player's lack of availability, possibly up to three months, following the operation.
Masuaku definitely didn't look the same player in his last game, he was clearly troubled, and unfortunately the role that he has been playing means he was far more likely to be on the receiving end of some 'industrial' tackles, defenders and midfielders don't like being dance past by 'fleet of foot' players, and a such generally find a way of taking their 'retribution'.
In the last few games Masuaku has been 'fouled' high up the pitch relentlessly, it is frankly astonishing that no further action was taken on at least a couple of occasions, if Masuaku had adopted Mo Salah's way of showing he was being repeatedly fouled he might not have needed the surgery quite so soon.
One door closes and another opens, Masuaku's unavailability means David Moyes will be able to 'unleash' Said Benrahma, but the ex-Brentford player will have to be disciplined in his approach, and will have to play in a position that is out of his comfort zone.
It would be catastrophic to alter from the three men at the back system that has served the club so well, if Moyes were to revert to four at the back, Aaron Cresswell, who has played with a new lease of life since moving to a back three, would be cruelly exposed risking the undoing of all the early work from this season.
Stick to a Three Moysie, you know it makes sense! - Ed Jnr
Authur Masuaku Out For Weeks!
Hammers wing back Authur Mauaku has just undergone surgery on his troublesome knee, having played through the pain barrier in recent weeks "King Authur' finally decided to go under the knife. Masuaku had been forced to withdraw from his International duties during the break, and it had been hoped that the injury could be managed, unfortunately the troublesome knee was the recipient of a 'robust' tackle from a Manchester player during last week's 1-3 home defeat.
Make no mistake about it, losing Masuaku is a major blow for David Moyes ahead of the important game against Leeds on Friday night, it will however mean that new signing Said Benrahma might get a first start for the club. Mauaku's performances have been one of the key elements in Hammers recent fine run of form.
No wonder David Moyes was keeping his cardsclose to his chest durng his 'Pressy' this afternoon! - Ed
Moyes Not Taken In By Bielsa
Irrespective of whether the team he announced actually is the one that takes to the field on Friday, Leeds manager Marcello Bielsa's mind games don't seem to have had their desired effect on David Moyes as he prepares to take his Hammers team up to Elland Road.
Although being aware of the opposition's capabilities is important, paying too much attention can have a detrimental effect, so a balance of awareness and pragmatism is required. Moyes has already said that Bielsa mght be bluffing, that naming teams well in advance is quite common place in Europe and finally knowing another team's line up doesn't really make much difference!
Well, Moyes might be telling porkies to a similar degree as Bielsa, of course knowing how a team are going to line up days ahead of a fixture is indispensable knowledge, he will however be mindful of Bielsa doing the 'old switcheroo' just ahead of the actual game.
The only element involved ahead of the game that Moyes really needs to prepare his team for is Leeds United's impressive attack minded midfield and a very mobile forward line, concentrating on who is there or not in Leeds' defence
could literally result in taking 'eyes of the ball' collectively.
The Irons need to treat Leeds with respect for this fixture, but not too much respect! -Ed
Be Wary Of Argentinian Bearing Gift!
Now there is no way that we would wish to walk in to some kind of top gear offend an entire nation situation, hence the article title being in the singular, rather than what would have been an offensive plural. You see it is fine lines that can have long term implications, fine lines along with accurate timings.
So when Marcelo 'El Loco' Bielsa, maverick manager of Leeds United, Hammers' next Barclays Premier League opponents, appeared to have served Iron's manager David Moyes an early Christmas present by announcing his team selection more than 48 hours ahead of the fixture, suspicions must have been aroused, because managers only have to adhere to the League's mandate of announcing team's right up to one hour ahead of the fixture.
Now why would a manager, who by his own admission has authorised members of his own staff to 'spy' on opponents' training ahead of their upcoming fixtures, want to 'gift' David Moyes with such a massive amount of information? Is the Wiley Argentine trying to outfox the equally wirey Scot? Is he trying a double bluff? Or is he so confident in his team's ability that he doesn't mind the opposition knowing their line up ahead of the game, in fact he positively encourages
it in order to build up some kind of myth?
Possibly it is a combination of all variables, the late great Brian Clough used to say it doesn't matter about the opposition, it only matters what you do on the pitch, which is probably what David Moyes will say to his players ahead of the game, while taking Bielsa's 'gift' with a large pinch of salt! - Ed
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