Forum | General Discussion
Wingless Wonders Or Winless Numbers?
Alf Ramsey's World Cup winning team were labelled as 'Wingless Wonders' by the press at the time as the England team did not have traditional wingers playing, of course Ramsey had introduced the usage of wing backs, something ALL elite teams utilise now.
So in a way 'Alf' was way ahead of the game at the time, West Ham manager David Moyes has 'made his bones' moulding wingers into out and out strikers with SOME degree of success, however his 'obsession' in doing so has blinded him from the need blatant and obvious need the club has for at least one, preferably two out and out strikers!
Moyes has 'bounced' two really decent strikers from the club who have gone on to great things and he has NOT replaced them! Anyone calling Danny Ings a suitable replacement for either Sebastien Haller or Gianluca Scamacca needs a quick visit to specsavers followed by a lengthy consultation with a psychotherapist!
A Team that possesses the quality that Hammers currently have shouldn't be scraping narrow victories, it should be DOMINATING lesser clubs and giving the 'big boys' a bloody nose, but the players can't because they are shackled by Moyesball.
We know Moyes is an easy 'hit' but he makes himself such a target by some astonishingly trait comments and ludicrous team formations and selections, it is little wonder that many fans cannot WAIT until the 60 year old Scot departs.
Too much water has flowed under the bridge for armchair fans across the globe, but for those who attend the as yet unnamed London Stadium on a regular basis even more so, for any changes made to work, enough seems to be enough.
Anyone who attended the Palace game will testify as to how bad the atmosphere was, but fans are not automatons who can cheer and clap on a whim, they need something to get them going! Without Lucas Paqueta and his often over indulgent play and play acting many fans wouldn't even bother to turn up!
Unless 'Pacman' has been given assurances that Moyes is going to be off at the season's end there is absolutely NO WAY he will stay at the club and neither will a few others either. Put simply the club will stagnate and continue to do so until Moyes and his stubbornness is a thing of the past, until then fans are just going to have to suck up a brand of football that makes that of Sam Allardyce look positively exciting! -LN
F.A. Enquiry Into West Ham
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After yesterdays F.A. Cup draw it is being looked into how West Ham got a home draw against a lower league opponent when drawing Manure/Citeh/Bindippers away is the norm.....events suggest heads could role at the F.A. after such a cock up and rumours of a redraw arise!
Watching Paint Dry More Exciting Than Moyesball!
Fans enduring the wet and miserable journey back from today's disappointing draw against Palace that felt so much like a defeat were heard consoling themselves with the idea that next season the 'Moyes Ball' that they had just witnessed will be a thing of the past, or will it?
Statistically David Moyes IS West Ham United's most successful manager of all time, but matches like the drab draw against Palace make watching paint dry a far superior way of spending time and far less expensive!
The journey home got even worse as news of the scouse gits 'wonderful fight back' against Fulham was eventually compounded by Hammers next opponents Tottinham's 'wonder' recovery to draw 3-3 with City!
The only consolation of what was a truly grim day for Hammers fans was the FA Cup draw which saw a home tie against Bristol City being drawn out of the 'hat'. The rarity of a home tie NOT against Liverpool, City or United won't have gone unnoticed for those clutching at straws to cheer themselves up.
The fact that Hammers were in control for much of the game against `palace is what hurts so much....until 'Stan the Man', making his first premier League start for the club should hand the visitors the opportunity to score rankles, but what rankles even more is the LSD inspired idea to play Lucas Paqueta on the wing, why?
Part of 'Pacman's' game is his link up play with Emerson and his distribution across the pitch, from a position where he can see what is going on, pushing him right out on the wing detracted from his game and his performance showed!
This game should have yielded three points, but it didn't, the only positive was that Alavarez DIDN'T get booked! A bad day at the frozen office which will probably be matched by an equally awful display against arch rivals Tottingham who are currently leaps and bounds above the Irons in ALL ways, on and off the pitch!
Be positive some might say, we would suggest those people weren't forced to endure today's serving of misery in person! - Ed
Live Now West Ham v Palace Line Ups
West Ham: Areola, Coufal, Mavropanos, Aguerd, Emerson, Alvarez, Ward-Prowse, Kudus, Soucek, Bowen, Paqueta. Subs: Fabianski, Cresswell, Fornals, Cornet, Ings, Ogbonna, Benrahma, Kehrer, Mubama.
Palace: Johnstone, Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Hughes, Lerma, Olise, Ayew, Richards, Edouard. Subs: Matthews, Whitworth, Tomkins, Oliviera, Mateta, Clyne, Ebiowei, Ahamada, Riedewald.
Moyes & Hodgson-The Oldest Swingers In Town!
With a combined age in excess of 135 years to say David Moyes and Roy Hodgson were experienced would be an extreme understatement! Roy Hodgson is often mocked for not being able to pronoince his 'R's and has been nicknamed 'Woy' Hodgson, but it should be remembered that 'Woy' can drop his 'R's' in FIVE different languages, Swedish, Italian, English, French and German.
Today's London derby which Hammers host, could be labelled a 'clash of the old guard', or a 'meeting of the oldest swingers in town' Both managers have been round the block more times than they can remember and both managers are stubborn bordering on the obdurate!
Both managers are currently dealing with injury crises but then so are most other Premier League managers, some more than others! Moyes played his cards very closely to his chest when 'cross examined' about the mystery virus that struck several key players down, so it will be interesting to see who makes the starting line up and indeed who makes the match day squad.
One player in particular who could have a massive influence on the game IF he is available is Jarrod Bowen, injured while training with England during yet another 'pointless' International break. The winger come forward is vital for the Irons, his penetrating runs and exquisite finishing have been sorely missed!
One player who DOES need to up his game is James Ward-Prowse. His early impact on the team has diminished as the weeks have gone by, he REALLY needs to deliver and perhaps scoring a direct free kick is all he needs to get himself back on track while beating David ` Beckham's record at the same time.
Realistically a top six finish is probably beyond Hammers even at this stage of the season, but seventh would be enough to ensure an amazing FOURTH year in Europe on the spin. It is unlikely that Hammers will win the Europa League nor the Carabou Cup, so unless the FA Cup draw is kind a high league position is the only guarantee of a place in Europe next season.
There are those who say that playing Thursday Sunday is detrimental to the club, but that is the price of success, a success that makes the club more attractive to 'top talent' and long may it continue! Unfortunately this afternoon's game between two 'patched up' sides is unlikely to be a classic, IF Hammers can get three points or even a decent draw it will help set the team up for what is going to be a 'frenzied' pre-Christmas schedule of a game every three days!
At least the temperature won't be sub zero, it is to be hoped that the players don't play sub zero! - LN
No Covid At West Ham!
Rumours circulating in some European media outlets suggesting Hammers are in the middle of a Covid outbreak are way off the mark. We have had it confirmed to us that there are definitely NO cases of Covid at the club, but that the club is ever vigilant. The 'flu like' bug that is currently raging through the squad is debilitating but recovery is quick so it is to be hoped that some of those afflicted will be OK to make the squad for the game against Palace on Sunday.
Palace themselves have got plenty of problems with their lengthy injury list but as yet have not succumbed to any similar virus.
It is not uncommon to be struck down with a virus during this time of year and despite taking all sorts of precautions for the trip to Serbia it will doubtless have seen some team members be exposed to 'Euro' flu! You are damned if you do and damned if you don't.
Hammers really struggled against Topola, a similar display will get severely punished by Palace. Their manager Roy Hodgson has been 'round the block' and will have noted how lack lustre Hammers were on Thursday, he will definitely 'drill' his team to exploit Hammers' weaknesses so Moyes needs to get a better tune out of his players this Sunday.
A win could see Hammers move up to 8th in the table, swapping places with Brighton, but if the team play as they did on Thursday then a load of teams will be on their shirt tales. Palace have become a bit of a 'Bogey' team for West Ham of late, perhaps it is time to put that one away?
It will be brass monkeys at the 'Bowl' on Sunday, hopefully the crowd can be inspired by some decent football to keep the temperature up! - Ed
Live Now TSC v West Ham Line Ups
TSC: Simic, Cvetkovic, Antonic (c), Dordevic, Petrovic, M Radin, Dakovac, N Stojic, Kuveljic, Stanic,Jovanovic.
West Ham: Fabiański (C), Johnson, Mavropanos, Aguerd, Cresswell, Fornals, Ward-Prowse, Souček, Paquetá, Benrahma, Mubama
Subs: Areola, Anang, Kehrer, Emerson, Zouma, Ogbonna, Chesters, Scarles, Earthy, Coventry, Cornet, Ings
Mainoo/Garnacho/Ferguson
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Just three young players all given a go in the Premier league and all doing well the first name made his debut for Manure and he looked right at home.....Never heard of the Lad before but you can tell when his fellow pros were patting him on the back as he went off subbed late on that he had made a fine impression in that cauldron of an atmosphere and the other two players what can you say they are Stars for years to come but meanwhile according to Mogadon you have to take time to blood youngsters not throw them in do not put pressure on them blah blah blah.....all that says to me is he's more worried being shown up for the Dinosaur that he is by holding players back than giving them a proper run.
He is in a win win right now because of injuries he can give the Boy a run of games and if it proves to be a step to far right now then he will be shown to be right about easing him in and the Lads eyes open as to just how different Prem football is compared to the u23's etc but to be stubborn and come up with lame excuses shows you how limited the Managers vision is.
Bowen can play there but loses a lot to his game than when playing wide and cutting inside thats his best position so when fit play him there Play Mubama upfront and see what unfolds because against a dreadful side that we made look very good Ings was still in bed and never made it to the races! he tried for 10 mins or so then as we all new he just might as well of not been on the pitch and probably thinks ffs i need a partner not be a lone wolf.
Other clubs give there Youth a go but Moyes holds a grudge and if he feels you have gone against him then you will not appear in the first team.....Fornals/Cornet to name but two but who does he get from the youth to try and bridge the gap if he is not going to play those players answer is nobody of course he cannot take the blnkers off...
More Sandy Than Benny!
There has been a 'sudden' media spotlight thrown on Saïd Benrahma's future at West Ham, with news that his recently appointed agent who has strong connnnections with the Saudi Pro League is pushing for a January exit for his client.
'Benny' finds himself in the unenviable position of being well down the pecking order of Hammers' creative midfielders and when given the odd chance to shine has fallen well short of expectations, however just like Gianluca Scamacca, Sebastien Haller and Felipe Anderson, the Algerian has had the creative life sucked out of his game by David Moyes ever since his £25 Million transfer from Brentford.
Some players CAN just come off the bench and perform, others can't. A quick look at how outward bound Pablo Fornals has performed since being ostracised by Moyes is a classic example. Some players need a kick up the backside to get the best out of them, some DO NOT!
Realistically the only reason the Irons hierarchy would countenance selling Benrahma is to raise much needed funds to acquire a striker and a covering left back during the January transfer window. With the sceptre of a UEFA FFP investigation hovering over the club there needs to be some VERY creative accounting involved to avoid punitive sanctions.
Unfortunately the gross waste of money spent during the last January transfer window on bringing Danny Ings to the club, which was rubber stamped by David Moyes has come back to bite the club in the proverbial. Imagine what Tim Steidten would have done with a £15 Million lump sum payment and wages of over £100,000 per week available to sign a striker?
The fact is there is a small escape clause known as player amortisation and IF it can be proved that Danny Ings is a massive loss leader, as his stats clearly bear out, there is a vague possibility that some of the extreme costs involved in his pointless transfer can be written off!
Villa must still be laughing that they managed to fleece West Ham for such a massive amount of money, as they stare down on Hammers from their lofty Champions League spot they must be chortling as they see 'Uncle' Ingy flummox around the pitch. Crikey Mikey, even Joe from Family Guy ( The modern day equivalent to Sandy from Crossroads) exhibits more mobility than Ings, perhaps there might be some club that is in need of an immobile past it overpaid has been, but even the most crazy of clubs wouldn't pay even a fraction of Hammers wasted outlay.
When it come to the club's January transfer dealings, Moyes needs to be locked in a secure room and told comprehensively to STAY AWAY from any of the decision making! - Ed
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