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Although the victory was only in what some people refer to as the 'useless cup', Hammers defeat of the previously unbeatable holders Manchester City has had a massive global effect. It could well be co-incidence, but the buzz about West Ham cannot be dismissed as a 'one hit wonder', with every success the club has been regaining the huge amount of 'neutral' fans the club once had, only this time round the 'love' comes from fans and pundits alike!

Last season's 6th place finish was dismissed as a fluke and one that only occurred because there were no fans in attendance, there may even have been a small element of truth in that perception, but if there was that theory has now been blown out of the water. Perhaps playing behind closed doors WAS beneficial in that it enabled David Moyes and his coaching staff to fully implement their ideas WITHOUT the walls of negativity fans can generate, this applies to ALL clubs in transition.

One 'side event' from the Covid outbreak was that when David Moyes tested positive he was forced to view games from his home, in order to give him a better perspective it was decided that Stuart Pearce would go 'up top' of the Stadium to be Moyes' eyes and ears from high above the action. The result was so successful that Psycho was retained in that role even when David Moyes returned fit and healthy.

Pearce's eye in the Sky role is just one element of the 'overall overhaul' of the way the club goes about it's business, both on and off the pitch. Hammers are now being referenced as runners up to Chelsea in London's footballing hierarchy, leaving Arsenal and Tottingham in their wake, both of those clubs are currently in transition and will doubtless attempt to come back with all guns blazing.

It will be up to David Moyes and his staff and players, as well as the board, to try to ensure they make hay while the sun shines in order to put as much distance as they can between them and their London rivals. The potential of having a significant investor coming on board soon can only add to the feel good factor surrounding the club.

London's 2nd best team, we'll take that (for now!) -Ed

Rarely do the sporting planets align as much as they have done for West Ham United recently, from turning the Toxic Bowl Stadium that was not fit for purpose into a glorious experience, to creating a team that is resolute and mostly pleasing on the eye.

The old adage that there is no I' in the word team is totally exemplified by the David Moyes' players on the pitch, IRRESPECTIVE of which team he selects they perform as a team whoever takes to the pitch, with possibly one exception, give their all and run their hearts out for their manager and their fans.

The transformation the club has undergone in the last nineteen months is nothing short of incredible, teams who used to see a Hammers fixture as a possible gimme have been forced to reappraise their opinion big time! With the current success comes the added bonus of players' development, especially in the form of Issa Diop.

Diop along with 'Les' Dawson was imperious in defence and continued along on his rich vein of form that has seen him return to being the superb player he was when he first arrived at the club. Then signing of Kurt Zouma from Chelsea could have signalled the end for Diop, with many fans wanting the ex-Toulouse player sold to the highest bidder, thank the big man upstairs that he wasn't. Because far from pushing Diop out the door, Zouma;'s arrival has helped Diop enormously, having a fellow french speaker who is also one of the best centre backs around to learn from has proved to be a fundamental part of Diop's 'rebirth'.

During the City game Diop repeatedly got his body on the line, but he also carried the ball out of defence with confidence and aplomb, not an easy task when you consider he was up against DeBruyne, Sterling and most of the City 1st team all stars.

Les and the Og are both in their thirties and realistically cannot have many seasons left in them, mind you trying to tell either of them that at the moment probably risks a crunching tackle in response, but eventually they will have to cede to the next generation of players, and what better pairing than Diop and Zouma? Those two players, along with the superb Alphonse Areola, could be Hammers back line for the next FIVE years at least!

Diop is back, now he can start being the 'monster' that Mourinho always said he was! LN

West Ham brought to an end League Cup serial winners' Manchester City's five year reign, actually it had been 1,827 since they were last defeated in the competition, ironically by Manchester United, who were of course the team Hammers beat at Old Trafford in order to face city in the next round, and ultimately to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals!

As you would expect Pep was gracious in defeat, unlike others. Guardiola in his post match presser said: "They are doing well in the Premier League, the Europa League and now they are in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup. A fantastic team, a fantastic manager."

Moyes made eight changes against City but his side dug deep to frustrate the visitors and have now kept four successive clean sheets. It wasn't ALL backs to the wall, Moyes' boys did create several chances of their own in normal time before the 'dreaded' penalties. To be totally honest, most fans were just amazed to have got to penalties, seeing that achievement as a victory in it's self, the atmosphere was tremendous, not as raucious as a normal game, but nevertheless a far cry from the doom laden atmosphere during most of the Pellegrini era.

Substitute Phil Foden missed the first penalty for City and Said Benrahma converted the final kick to give the Hammers victory in what is becoming an excellent season for Moyes Marauders. Stuartm Pearce came down from what has now become his permanent position in the 'eves' of the Stadium to say “You win some you lose some but with the resilience and the honesty we showed, we deserved to get over the line.”
It was rather fitting that official club captain Mark Noble took the first of Hammers penalties, the 34 year old sent his spot kick straight down the middle, to a thunderous reception from a rammed London Bowl, swiftly followed by pens from Jarrod Bowen, Craig Dawson, Aaron Cresswell and finally substitute Said Benrahma to smash home what was an incredibly high pressure kick.

The Stadium went MENTAL, there were a huge amount of youngsters in attendance but they were still able to generate an awful lot of noise, albeit rather more politely than say during the Tottingham game. Potentially a whole new generation of fans will have 'got the bug' as for many it will have been their very first live experience of a Hammers game, something they may forget initially as they play on their mobile phones, but you can guarantee that one day they will say "I was there", NOTHING and NO ONe can ever take that away from them!

Hammers fans celebrated the memorable victory with a rousing rendition of Bubbles, followed by Twist & Shout before the inevitable Sweet Caroline, which is in danger of being hijacked from the England International team by the burgeoning Irons. Whisper it quietly, but someone, somewhere in Theydon Bois would be running round saying "I told you so!", well they would if they weren't still in the isolation room that was specially constructed for them at the behest of manager David Moyes, AKA the Moyesiah!

Good times never seemed so good -ED

West Ham: Areola, Johnson, Diop, Dawson, Cresswell, Noble ©, Souček, Vlašić, Lanzini, Masuaku, Yarmolenko
Subs: Randolph (GK), Coufal, Ashby, Baptiste, Zouma, Chesters, Fornals, Benrahma, Bowen

Man City: Steffen, Walker, Stones, Ake, Zinchenko, Fernandinho (C), Gundogan, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Sterling, Palmer
Subs: Carson, Dias, Jesus, Grealish, Laporte, Rodrigo, Cancelo, Foden, Edozie