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  • Further Games In Danger!

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Fri, 17/12/2021 - 12:48

    Hammers games scheduled to be played in the next fortnight are now increasingly looking as if they will be postponed, they include the League Cup Quarter Final away to Tottingham at 19:45 on Wednesday the 22nd of December and the following Premier League fixtures.

    West Ham v Southampton at 15:00 on Sunday the 26th of December, Watford v West Ham at 15:00 on Tuesday the 28th of December and Crystal Palace v West Ham at 17:30 on Saturday the 1st of Jan 2022, the FA Cup game against Leeds and the following Premier League fixture which is also at home to Leeds, are ALL in serious jeopardy of being rescheduled, we firmly advise supporters to check well in advance of making any costly plans to attend games, at least for the short term. ED

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  • The League, Europa or Both?

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Fri, 17/12/2021 - 10:22


    Does Moyes go for European glory or domestic success?

    Occasionally in football, managers are faced with problems they could only dream of having. Trying to fit three world class and in-form players into a system that only allows for two for example. Deciding on which competition to concentrate on is another and that is exactly the dilemma that David Moyes is facing.

    Getting into next season’s Champions League has to be the number one target for Moyes, and incredibly his team are fighting on two fronts to achieve it. He is unlikely to admit it publicly, but at some stage he will have to decide which basket to throw all or the majority of his eggs into, otherwise he, and West Ham, could be in danger of missing out on both fronts.

    Fixture congestion is a very real thing, something that affects the quality of the football as well as potentially derailing a team's season. The festive period, often as season defining as it is congested, could very well sway Moyes’ hand one way or the other, as when they come out of it, he will have a clearer picture of where they sit in the league and what their realistic chances are of clinching that fourth place.

    The League Picture

    There were always going to be bumps in the road, and the defeat against Arsenal was certainly that. It is essential that those bumps don’t turn into full scale poor runs of form however. Hammers’ competition for that fourth spot are Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United. Arsenal have found something resembling a decent run of late, but are always likely to struggle to maintain that. Tottenham look a slightly better proposition under Conte, but unless he can get Kane firing, and loosen Levy’s purse strings in January, they are looking like the outsiders in the race.

    That leaves Manchester United, another club with a new man at the helm. Rangnick’s biggest issue is the same one facing Moyes. They will go into the new year fighting on two fronts, having secured a place in the next stage of the Champions League. As an interim manager, plus swelled with the arrogance that comes with being the head man at Old Trafford, it is very likely he will see the Champions League as a better way to make a name for himself and to secure the role long term.

    The Europa League

    The Hammers are in a good position having been seeded for the last sixteen round of fixtures. Eyebrows were raised when Barcelona dropped into the Europa League, but they face a tough play-off against Napoli and are by no means favourites to progress. Even if they do, they are the same club as we have grown up watching in name and colours only.

    There are certainly some good teams left in the competition, but no one who West Ham – on their day – should fear. No one as good as the likes of Liverpool or even Leicester who both have been sent packing this season. The problem could be if injuries take their toll, and the depth of the squad is tested. That depth is way deeper than most people gave the club credit for, almost to a man predicting that the rigours of regular Thursday night football in far flung European destinations would wreak havoc on the team’s league performances. That has been proved to be way off the mark, but it is still a factor.

    It is likely that Moyes will see where the club are in February, the state of his squad, and then privately decide which way he will go. Of course, the season has been so unexpected so far, he may well choose to concentrate on both and pull it off. And we haven’t even mentioned the FA Cup yet…

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  • Norwich A No No-Will The Rest Be A Go Go?

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Fri, 17/12/2021 - 08:37

    Hammers Saturday home fixture. as has been widely announced, has been cancelled due to the visitors Norwich being unable to field a 'proper' team due to a surge in Covid cases at Carrow Road. Many other fixtures have already been cancelled as the full effect of the new Omicron variant of Covid takes grip at an alarming rate.

    Whether you care to admit it to yourself or not, there is a DISTINCT possibility that attending games will once again become impossible. This is not an attempt at some paranoia grabbing copy, merely a pragmatic view based on the data that is available, backed up by our own 'house professor' Jonathan Able.

    Essentially given the exponential rate of Omicron infection, there is every likelihood that the entire Premier League will be shut down for fans attending within the next couple of days! Until more data is available it would be foolhardy to risk mass gatherings of people, particularly during the holiday period.

    Where does all this leave West Ham? Well, in the very short term the postponed Norwich game buys David Moyes a few more days to have his medical staff patch up the much missed Aaron Cresswell, as well as allowing Ben Johnson more time to recover from his 'mild' hamstring injury.

    As more games get cancelled or rearranged, he added time will be at a price, because ALL of the games will have to be played at some time! There is a possibility that the entire league could be suspended for a couple of weeks, but then the broadcasters would want their 'pound of flesh, so games are more than likely to be continued, albeit with the Caveat that the amount of 'sick' players will govern the situation.

    Bonuses? Hammers International players ALL returned out of sorts and the results since their return have been absolutely appalling, with the obvious two exceptions being the 3-2 victories over Liverpool and Chelsea. Those wins came at an acute cost, so at least these current postponements of games will give the medical staff the opportunity to work their magic. Also the transfer window opens soon and as several of the games due to be played WON'T go ahead, there is every chance some fresh faces and a familiar one, in the form of Jesse Lingard, will have rocked up at the London Bowl just in the nick of time to rescue Hammers beleaguered push for a Champions League slot.

    An announcement is expected on Monday that will confirm games are to be played only behind closed doors, it is best that the club is pro active in this situation rather than reactive. - ED

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  • Coufal Sees Red As Irons Crash Out Of Top 4

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Thu, 16/12/2021 - 08:32

    On a night to forget, West Ham's defensive options took a further hit as a very crowd influenced Anthony Taylor proceeded to give Hammers right back Vladimi Coufal TWO yellow cards meaning he will miss the next game which is against Norwich this Saturday.

    The 2-0 defeat sees Hammers drop out of the top four of the Premier League, being replaced by last night's winners Arsenal, a team who have taken diving and whining to a new high or low depending on your view point, Mikail Arteta is swiftly becoming our least liked opposition manager!

    Harrison Ashby will step out in front of a full house on Saturday afternoon, the only question will be who occupies the opposite full back position because quite frankly Authur Masuaku is a complete liability as a defender. Said Benrahma did little to smooth his already 'fractious' relationship with David Moyes, so don't be surprised to see the Algerian International being moved on IF a suitable bid were received from say, Newcastle?

    The impending winter transfer window represents an opportunity to help redress the squad's balance, unfortunately that might come just a little bit too late to repair the damage to the unlikely Champions League push that Moyes had been aiming for.

    Sooner or later the paucity of Hammers squad was always going to bite, only at the moment it seems more like a huge chunk rather than a little nibble! - ED

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  • Live Arsenal v West Ham Line Ups

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Wed, 15/12/2021 - 19:04

    Arsenal: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Ødegaard, Martinelli, Lacazette © Subs: Okonkwa (GK), Holding, Maitland-Niles, Tavares, Lokonga, Elneny, Pepé, Smith Rowe, Nketiah
    West Ham: Fabiański, Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Masuaku, Rice ©, Souček, Bowen, Lanzini, Fornals, Antonio Subs: Areola (GK), Ashby, Alese, Noble, Král, Vlašić, Benrahma, Okoflex, Yarmolenko

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  • Left Back In The Lurch!

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Wed, 15/12/2021 - 18:33

    Injuries, injuries and more injuries is not the sort of information fans want to hear as the club wades in to the 'fixture frenzy' that has been set for them by people more interested in money than player welfare. It can be argued that the obscene wages they receive justifies them playing until they drop, but despite being elite sportspeople, they are still human and there are limits even for individuals who are looked after well by a comprehensive medical team.

    Aaron Cresswell is due to have a late fitness test ahead of the crucial, game against Arsenal this evening, it is never a good sign for a player's fitness to be decided 'on the wire' so David Moyes will probably have to implement his plan B with regards to the left back berth.

    Already shorn of his two preferred centre backs, the Hammers manager now has to contend with the prospect of using Authur Masuaku as an out and out full back! Now we really like 'King Authur', but a proper left back he is NOT, the problem for Moysie is that the ready made left back replacement for Aaron Cresswell, Ben Johnson is also injured.

    Emmanuel Longelo is the only viable option other than Masuaku, the 20 year old didn't look out of place against Zagreb and while Arsenal represent far sterner opposition it might be worth giving him a crack at it, he was omitted from the U-23's recent game which is usually a sure sign of being elevated to the match day squad.

    A youngster who might get nervy, or a flyer who is a defensive accident waiting to happen? That is the choice David Moyes has to make if Cresswell fails his late fitness test as he is expected to do, we'll know soon anyhow. - Ed

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  • Brendan Rogers calls it as it is

    mcbikeman's picture
    Submitted by mcbikeman on Wed, 15/12/2021 - 16:09

    Forums:

    Leicester asked for game to be postponed against spuds because of covid but as they are not a "BIG" club they got told nope....and as he said he is pretty sure those who have the games postponed don't have as many players out as they do...like the penalty situation its one rule for some the others shut up get on with it.

    Whilst not making light of the situation as most here no i had a rather nasty time with covid myself but i do think certain clubs are taking advantage of the situation for sure

  • Moyes-"Time To Make Amends"

    Submitted by Louis Nixon on Wed, 15/12/2021 - 12:42

    West Ham travel the short distance from East to North London this evening to take on Premier League rivals Arsenal, as we publish the fixture is set to go ahead, although there is a possibility the game might be postponed as a result of Covid positives at the Emirates, IF there are no further updates, the fixture which is being broadcast on BT Sport, WILL go ahead.

    Hammers have a relatively good record against most London clubs, but Arsenal are the exception. The last few encounters have seen Mikail Arteta's team emerge as undeserving winners, a situation that David Moyes desperately wants to put right.

    The problem for Moyes is that his side have been massively underperforming since the restart following the last International break, what momentum that had accumulated was dissipated on the players' return from all over the globe. Fortunately for West Ham Declan Rice managed to have an enforced break due to illness and his recent performances show just how much good a decent break can do!

    There has been a lot of Brouhaha regarding Arsenal stripping Aubameyang of his captaincy, but that will probably only serve to spur the Gooners players on, rather than hold them back. That said, Moyes' boys really do OWE Arsenal a metaphorical kicking and a decent result this evening would go a long way to making amends.

    Hammers HAVE hit a rocky spell in their quest to battle it out with the Premier League's 'elite' clubs, tonight offers the opportunity to put things right, the players won't need motivating other than to use the recent defeats suffered against Arsenal to give them a little bit of extra 'needle' in their performances. - LN

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