Forum | General Discussion

Despite losing 1-0 on the night, West Ham United reached the next round of the Europa League qualifiers where they will meet Astra Giurgiu courtesy of a 5-3 penalty shoot out against plucky FC Birkirkara, but they were made to pay. James Tomkins became the latest West Ham player to be red carded as the wheels nearly came of the club's 'European adventure' before it had started properly. Quite what Tomkins thought he was doing only he knows, but it plain to see that Hammer's are totally naive when it comes to European competition. Having been made to look like mugs in the previous round, and picking up a red card, it would have been assumed that lessons were going to be learned, apparently not! One 'lesson' that was plainly obvious was that Kevin Nolan needs to be shipped out and fast, the club need to move on, even if it means supplementing his wages at another club. Nolan has lost his legs, he was never that fast but has an agile brain that ensured he could be in the right place a lot of the time, unfortunately now that he has lost the yard that he never had in the first place, Nolan has become a snarling, frustrated and essentially inefficient player. He has had his day, four years in to his five year contract it is obvious why Newcastle were not prepared to offer him the five year deal he craved. He was a good player initially, and a great servant, but things have to move on, and also, Mark Noble needs to look in the mirror, at the same time as looking over his shoulder, better players are treading on his heels! -Ed

West Ham have completed the signing of Argentinean attacking midfielder Manuel Lanzini from Al Jazira, he has already undergone a medical at Hammer's private medical facility, and is hoped to be a replacement for Stewart Downing. David Gold confirmed the move today, tweeting that the midfielder – nicknamed ‘the jewel’ – has signed for the club from Al Jazira. The move has been confirmed on the O/S as well. Lanzini arrives on a season's loan, with a view to a permanent move should his stay with West Ham be successful, he signed for Al Jazira from River Plate for a fee in excess of £5 Million, but it is believed the move was always seen as a 'stepping stone' for what is a very gifted footballer. Lanzini is the seventh player to arrive this summer, and with only one out so far, expect a few more departures within the next week- Ed

Colchester:Parish, Briggs, Edwards, Wynter, Wright, Gllbey, Porter, Moncur, Massey, Eastman, Vincent-Young subs Lewington, James, Olufemi, Kent, Lawrence, Szmodics, Bonne, Lapslie, Sembie-Ferris, Curtis, Holman
West Ham: Spiegel (GK), Westley, Page, Cullen, Pask, Oxford, Mavila, Nasha, Cole (son of Andy Cole), Brown, Makasi. Subs: Knoyle, Howes (GK), Onariase, Neufville, Browne, Hector-Ingram, Powell