Palace: Henderson, Clyne, Richards, Andersen ©, Mitchell, Muñoz, Wharton, Hughes, Olise, Eze, Mateta Subs: Matthews (GK), Ward, Holding, Tomkins, Schlupp, Riedewald, Ahamada, Ayew, Édouard
West Ham: Fabiański, Coufal, Zouma ©, Ogbonna, Emerson, Ward-Prowse, Álvarez, Souček, Kudus, Paquetá, Antonio Subs: Areola (GK), Johnson, Cresswell, Phillips, Cornet, Ings, Casey, Mubama, Orford
Just read this article, have we found a jourelist that appreciates the West Ham supporters problems with Moyes?
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/apr/20/careful-what-you-wish-f...
David Moyes takes his battle weary troops across London to Selhurst Park to face a Palace team rejuvenated by the arrival of manager Oliver Glasner who replaced the ageing Roy Hodgon mid season.
Austrian Glasner was most recently in charge of Eintracht Frankfurt before leaving the Bundesliga club last summer so he and Moyes have already clashed in European competition. Their encounter was 'feisty' to say the least, so perhaps there will be a little more passion shown by the dour Scot on the touch line!
Palace have a humongous injury list but will be buoyed up by their recent win over all conquering Liverpoolat Anfield, a fixture Moyes has always all but written off when Hammers travelled there. So in one respect Glasner represents the new whereas Moyes the Old.
Glasner did not show Liverpool the respect their baying fans demand and was rewarded with the win. It is a simple ideology, if you send your team out hoping for a draw then they will probably lose!
Moyes has a full, albeit tired squad to choose from. Will he send them out to be on the front foot from the get go, or will he adopt his tried and tested men behind the ball and hit them on the counter attack?
The problem is teams know all too well about Hammers counter attacking strengths and are able to set up accordingly, if only Moyes could 'mix it up' a little bit he has the players to destroy the opposition.
Will the Leopard change his spots? We doubt it! - Ed
Sammie Szmodics the Blackburn Rovers player doing really well in a struggling side in Championship a life long West Ham fan and he would love to play for us.
Sounds good doesn't it and whilst it is a massive step up to the premier league players have done it before and it shows you do not have to trawl foreign leagues to unearth a gem that just needs a polishing up....of course where it all falls down is with the man himself Moyes.
Downes many say was not good enough did not show enough etc but was he given a chance? a decent run of games? of course not and "he only cost £10million" another excuse banded about like the amount paid will decide how good a player they are.....Leverkusen do not have a team of superstars that cost the earth no they have a good team with a great work ethic and have picked up players here and there for next to nothing with the odd exception and showed that the near £100million spent by Bayern/Gooners/Chelski cannot guarantee success.
So i would not turn my nose up at Downes returning or a bid for Szmodics or Clarke from championship as it takes many parts to create a team not overhyped overpaid individuals who only turn it on when the cameras are there.
So this summer there are going to be many comings and goings at the club and i so hope that Moyes is the first out the door......but if we sign one or two from the championship as long as we have a coach who is prepared to work with them and help them become part of the team i will not be complaining.
Sammie Szmodics the Blackburn Rovers player doing really well in a struggling side in Championship a life long West Ham fan and he would love to play for us.
Sounds good doesn't it and whilst it is a massive step up to the premier league players have done it before and it shows you do not have to trawl foreign leagues to unearth a gem that just needs a polishing up....of course where it all falls down is with the man himself Moyes.
Downes many say was not good enough did not show enough etc but was he given a chance? a decent run of games? of course not and "he only cost £10million" another excuse banded about like the amount paid will decide how good a player they are.....Leverkusen do not have a team of superstars that cost the earth no they have a good team with a great work ethic and have picked up players here and there for next to nothing with the odd exception and showed that the near £100million spent by Bayern/Gooners/Chelski cannot guarantee success.
So i would not turn my nose up at Downes returning or a bid for Szmodics or Clarke from championship as it takes many parts to create a team not overhyped overpaid individuals who only turn it on when the cameras are there.
So this summer there are going to be many comings and goings at the club and i so hope that Moyes is the first out the door......but if we sign one or two from the championship as long as we have a coach who is prepared to work with them and help them become part of the team i will not be complaining.
You can see why Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten champions
We witnessed a masterclass from Scabby Alonso.
Could see the centre back was being bullied and made a change after 20 odd minutes.
I guess the half time break was a hairdryer. Came out with more vigour and purpose, kept the ball for long periods of time, kept a high push with a work rate that at times looked like they had 15 on the pitch.
Second half changes all attack minded.
Its obvious that he has taken some "good" players but build a GREAT side. You can see why they are champs.
If he could do this with a shoestring budget how good would he have been at West Ham?
West Ham: Fabiański, Coufal, Zouma ©, Aguerd, Cresswell, Álvarez, Ward-Prowse, Souček, Kudus, Bowen, Antonio Subs: Anang (GK), Knightbridge (GK), Ogbonna, Ings, Johnson, Cornet, Mubama, Orford, Casey, Swyer
Leverkusen: Kovář, Tah ©, Kossounou, Stanišić, Hincapié, Palacios, Xhaka, Tella, Grimaldo, Wirtz, Schick Subs: Hradecky (GK), Lomb (GK), Hofmann, Andrich, Tapsoba, Arthur, Adli, Boniface, Frimpong, Puerta, Izekor
Recently every time West Ham have had the chance to 'nail on' a European place for next season via the club's Premier League placement, fate and ineffectuality have conspired to blow the situation, none more so than Sunday's inept showing against London rivals Fulham.
There are those who would argue that the travails of playing Leverkusen on the preceding Thursday evening were just too much for what is a wafer thin squad, in a way they would be correct, but why is the squad so limited?
The last transfer window was an absolute disaster with the only significant arrival being a vastly over paid and extremely unfit Kalvin Phillips. Thank the heavens that the 'Steidtman' insisted that there be no obligation to buy as part of the loan deal!
Thursday's impending home clash against the German Champions is viewed by many as a dead rubber, with Jarrod Bowen doubtful, Lucas Paqueta and Emerson both suspended. The fact that Leverkusen have only just been confirmed as champions might mean they take their foot of the gas slightly, but you wouldn't bet you 'Ivan Toney' on it!
Sunday represented a genuine chance to firm up a place in Europe with other teams achieving poor results, but yet as before, HAMMERS CONSPIRED TO BE THEIR OWN WORST ENEMIES with a mixture of poor placement and profligate finishing in front of goal.
Big Mikey Antonio brings plenty to the table during matches, but a finisher he is not as was demonstrated by his inexplicable blazing over the bar when scoring would have been easier. It wasn't just Mikey, Vlad Coufal has NEVER scored in a league match and on Sunday he showed why as he too missed an absolute sitter.
It is quite obviously apparent that the entire squad need an extreme overhaul, Lucas Paqueta played like a man who has been 'turned' and was almost completely ineffectual, his buddy Emerson was also off his game and so were the rest of the team. The fact that Lukasz Fabianski was the best player on the pitch says it all!
Where does the team go from here? Unfortunatley the brutal answer is probably nowhere! Under fire manager David Moyes sent out a strong team, on paper but Fulham were able to 'pick player's pockets' with consumate ease and then exploit the vast tracts between Hammers attack and defence, they looked as if they were going to score EVERY time they went forward!
Next up are Leverkusen followed by Palace who shocked Liverpool at Anfield and will be buoyed up by their showing there. It will take a miracle or two to prevent Hammers ending up on a road to nowhere when there had been genuine hope of a positive progression and a fourth year of European competition on the spin.
As mentioned earlier, January's dreadful transfer window has come back to bite the club with vengeance. This is what happens when you have to 'appease' the manager in charge. Hopefully Moyes will move on at the end of the season and perhaps a manager who concentrates on the footballing side takes over. We live in hope, but fear the worst! - LN
West Ham: Fabianski, Coufal, Mavropanos, Aguerd, Emerson Palmieri, Ward-Prowse, Alvarez, Kudus, Ings, Lucas Paqueta, Antonio Subs: Johnson, Cresswell, Zouma, Cornet, Ogbonna, Soucek, Earthy, Mubama, Anang
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Adarabioyo, Bassey, Robinson, Joao Palhinha, Lukic, Iwobi, Andreas Pereira, Willian, Rodrigo Muniz Subs: Rodak, Reed, Jimenez, Wilson, Broja, Cairney, Traore, De Cordova-Reid, Diop
Should West Ham fail to qualify for any European competition next season. Only one person is to blame. Manager David Moyes.
Moyes is quick to tell everyone how due to him that we are no longer relegation fodder. Have competed in Europe successfully for 3 seasons and culminating in with a European trophy.
But when it has mattered the same Moyes has come up short due to his fear of defeat and his negative tactics. 3 games stand out. Liverpool away in the Carabo Cup. Conceding the tie before a ball was kicked. Choosing to rest first teamers and select a team not fit for the bench. Newcastle away. 3-1 up and coasting. Rather than keeping the same tactics and keeping the Geordies at arms length. He takes off a striker and replace him with a out of form and low on confidence holding midfielder. Thus allowing a capitulation of mega proportions. This result alone is probably the most significant in damaging another foray into Europe. A victory would have put a further 6 points between us and Newcastle. Who now sit above us in the league.
Then Moyes complete bottle job against Leverkusen. Playing ultra defensive and not allowing the likes of Kudus & Paqueta to do what they do best. Our backs are firmly against the wall. With suspensions and no strength in depth which is soley Moyes doing our chances of kicking on have been severely hampered.
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