Forum | Non-Football Related

Everton arrived in London on a mission to turn around a dreadful sequence of away results, they have the worst record in the Premier League. Managed by ex-youth and young pro Hammer Frank Lampard Jnr, the visitors were arguably the better side for quite a lot of the game, had it not been for their profligacy in front of goal they may well have left with at least a point.

A peach of a free kick from Aaron Cresswell and a well taken goal by Jarrod Bowen who slotted in the rebound of a Michail Antonio shot, were sandwiched between an Everton equaliser which was the result of the ball taking a wicked deflection past Fabianski.

Hammers could and should have had more goals, but the game was managed well bearing in mind the important midweek Europa League Cup fixture coming up. Jarrod Bowen was 'risked' by David Moyes, but it was a necessary risk because he probably made the difference before being replaced by Mark Noble later in the 2nd half.

There were several players in the visiting team that have previously been 'linked' with West Ham in one way or another, NONE of them impressed, neither did any of them look like players who have arrived with hefty price tags and on big money, possibly food for thought for those who think the best way to progress a club is to chuck a load of money at it WITHOUT a sense of direction or purpose.

Thursday will be a massive day for the club, as will ALL the days the club plays between now and season's end, nobody knows where things will end up, but it will certainly a better destination than David Moyes' ex-club, now managed by an ex-Hammer! ED

In Disney's 'Never Ending Story' as Bastian makes his wishes, he ensures that all the friendships made before the Nothing's rampage remained intact. Now West Ham fans know all about a 'tall story', after all they have been on the receiving end of so many 'smoke and mirror' transfer stories that they could ALL write a book about the shenanigans at the club!

There WAS genuine hope that the club would use the 'Kretin in the Sky's' new money to bankroll a squad overhaul during the 1st transfer window since the Czech billionaire's arrival, but in reality that was NEVER going to happen. YES the club did sling a couple of 'see if it sticks' offer for high value players but that was just an exercise in fan appeasement, it takes an awful long time for a Leopard to change it's spots!

With the business end of the season in full flow, Hammers manager David Moyes took to the club's official website ahead of the game against his former club Everton to say the following regarding future recruitment for his ageing squad: "I’m hoping I can do something in a similar fashion here at West Ham (to his Everton dynasty), trying to build the club up and get them (West Ham fans) a side who are regularly contending for Europe and being at the top end of the Premier League. Having lots of international players and boys who are improving, and from clubs from lower leagues who keep improving. I see us being much further on here at West Ham than we were at the (equivalent) time, for example, when I first went to Everton. It took me longer there.”

Everton's expensively assembled squad is a classic example of throwing good money after bad for 'big name' imports who care more about their bank balances than their new club's heritage, they have become a disparate and desperate group of players.

That said Hammers have been the 'building block' for out of form teams to kick start their seasons in the past, it will be interesting to see if they are able to ruthless against the manager's former club and to see if HE is able to 'put the boot in' on his old team! - Ed

Ahead of Sunday's clash between West Ham and Everton, Toffees boss and ex-Hammer Frank Lampard has been 'talking up' his time with the irons before his departure to Chelsea where he went on to establish himself as one of the top midfielders in the Premier League.

The relationship between Lampard, son of Frank Lampard Snr who made over 550 appearances for the club, and Hammers supporters has always had a bit of needle attached, dating back from accusations of nepotism when he was at the club and recriminations from both sides when he left the club.

A few ill chosen words can go a long way, especially in Frank's case, where he took it upon himself to regularly 'mock' Hammers lack of achievement compared to Chelsea's Abramovich financed success. The bad feeling continued when Frank Jnr did a bit of media work, regularly depicting West Ham as a selling club that lacked direction.

So hearing Frank 'bigging up' David Moyes' achievements at the club ahead of a crucial game, fans should take his comments with more than a pinch of salt! He just wants to WIN, Everton are in deep trouble and are facing the genuine prospect of relegation from the top flight for the first time in their history.

Complimenting the opposition's manager is something Alex Ferguson did regularly ahead of games, it is surprising how many were 'suckered in' by his ploy. Hopefully David Moyes will pay no heed to 'young' Frank's comments and concentrate on getting the three points essential if Hammers are to keep chasing a top six slot, if it sends his old club deeper into a relegation dog fight, then so be it, there is NO room for sentiment in the Premier League. - LN

Shareholders and stakeholders have agreed to change the rules, meaning Premier League clubs will be able to make five substitutions each game from next season onwards. Substitutions can be made on three occasions during a match, and at half time, up to nine substitutes can be named on the team sheet.

The original five substitute ruling was introduced across the game in May 2020 after the shutdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Clubs then voted against continuing the rule for the congested 2020-21 season, which had a catastrophic effect across the board.

The Premier League was the only major competition to abandon the rule, because some clubs felt it gave those with bigger squads an unfair advantage. This may have been the case, but even those with smaller squads now recognise the benefits of having five Subs and have embraced the opportunity to re-instate it now.
Hammers Boss David Moyes, was a firm supporter of the change back and had championed the benefit for smaller clubs, believing that the extra player availability gave managers of 'smaller' clubs greater flexibility for game planning, ironically especially those against the 'bigger' clubs.

It is common knowledge to every man, woman and their dog, that Hammers have the smallest squad in the Premier League, with the possible exception of Leeds United and would not necessarily benefit as much as other teams. However, bearing in mind Hammers have a whole 'raft' of players out of contract at the end of the season and have one of the League's oldest average age squads, it is also common knowledge that David Moyes has a MASSIVE rebuilding job to do in order for the club to continue its aspirational top six advancement.

Their has been much criticism over the apparent lack of activity of Rob Numan who is head of recruitment, but as we understand it has been David Moyes who has insisted that the club start with virtually a blank canvas for next season. Apparently the emphasis will be on acquiring several top class players who are about to become available on 'Bosmans' and then supplement that 'experience' with some of the very promising youth players coming through the ranks. This modus operandi. will be a 'stop gap' to cover the next couple of years before the club can really 'push the boat out' in the transfer market, with a clear intention of at least %)% of NEWB players coming from within the club.

That is the dream, it worked out for Alex Ferguson at Manchester United when he introduced the 'kids', Beckham, Giggs and Scholes, much to the derision of the public and the media, we all know that move worked out a dream, hopefully a similar strategy won't turn out to be a nightmare for Moyes and all Hammer fans. - Ed