Forum | Non-Football Related

Well, who'd have thought that? Many people, including ourselves, didn't give Hammers a prayer for tonight's game against Manchester United at a packed Old Trafford. Hammers 'glorified' B team, as Mark Noble described it in his post match presser, was totally outclassed by that of Utd's on paper, but as the old saying goes "football is not played on paper, it is played on the field" and so it proved.

The team David Moyes selected was a good blend of youth and experience with two debutantes, Alex Kral and Alphonse Areola, both were superb on the night and appear to be extremely shrewd loan signings with the right to buy enshrined in their deals.

Hammers took it to the home side from the off and were rewarded when Ryan Fredericks outpaced the home side's lethargic back line before cutting back an excellent cross that Manu Lanzini calmly place into the net, unfortunately Fredericks fell down the 'moat' surrounding the pitch and was unable to carry on past the 1/4 hour mark.

The entire team hustled and bustled to put Utd of their stride, with Bowen doing his best Antonio impersonation by making a real nuisance of himself all over the pitch. The defence was resolute and it had to be as the home team, roared on by 72,000 people, through everything they could at Areola's goal. Apart from one dodgy missed attempt at a high ball into the area which he quickly atoned for by superbly tipping the resulting shot over the bar, that set the trend for what was to be a really good debut.

Likewise Kral took to the big stage showing no nerves and NO mercy in midfield, any fears that he might find it hard to adjust to the English game were quickly dispelled as he made much of the midfield his own, determined in the tackle and not bad on the ball either.

Johnson put in a 1st team level performance, which is where he is destined to be, but special mention must go to Les Dawson and the Monster that is Diop, between them they snuffed out a phenomenal array of talent with a thoroughly professional display.

As the game got stretched towards the end and the home team had sent in their cavalry Hammers carved out two guilt edged chances to put the game to bed, Yarmolenko somehow hit the post from three yards out, and then Mark Noble raced forward "the furthest up the pitch I had been for years" he said, unfortunately his tame attempt did not provide total redemption for last Sunday, but winning at Old Trafford came close.

However, this is of course WEst Ham we are talking about, so just as those extra pints ordered were being delivered the draw was held in some weird place in Barnet with Old H sat the helm. Ball number 14 west ham, home....drum roll..against Manchester City....just like my dreams heh?

They're only four times in a row serial winners, but at least some form of satisfaction will have been gained by the 1st victory at Old Trafford for 14 long years, even if it was in the essentiality useless Moose Cup. One real bonus is that it showed anyone who doubted the resolve of David Moyes's team to bounce back from a major setback, this is a new West Ham we are seeing, crafted with care by David Moyes and his back room staff.

It's a pity that the reward for beating Manchester United had to be a game against Manchester City of all clubs, but it is what it is. Try spreading gloom and doom with all the happy hammers travelling supporters on their way back home, you will receive short shrift! Enjoy tonight for what it was, an exceptional performance that won't be forgotten, irrespective of the team's future progress in the competition, savor the flavour while it lasts. - Ed

Having trod nearly every Declan Rice to 'name your club' path available and exhausted every aspect of his contract negotiations to the max, the football press and media have changed tack and are now focusing on Jarrod Bowen instead. Suddenly the Hammers left footed forward has become the subject of intense scrutiny, with speculation rife that this organisation and that are 'seriously interested' in bringing the 24 year old to their clubs, Tottingham and Liverpool are among his current suitors according to those 'in the know'.

The arrogance of some clubs' supporters is beyond belief, fed on a diet of financially driven success they have become unable to grasp the fact that yes, they can afford to buy whoever they want, and that they will get their target eventually, but no they can no longer hold 'little' clubs to ransom.

Hammers public stance regarding Declan Rice has probably reset people's opinion about West Ham dropping their trousers for a pound, there is no good reason a young footballer would choose to go to sit on the bench of a club as opposed to do what he is supposed to do, and that is PLAY, unless they are only in it for the money!

One of the reasons West Ham have done so well over the last eighteen months is that David Moyes has built a TEAM, not just a group of individuals and that bond equates to the sum being greater than the content. It is clear to see how the players play for each other and their manager and of course the fans.

The only weapon Hammers have to counter the fiscal vultures is to place a substantial price tag on players that 'are of interest', the club have been reluctant to add release clauses to players contracts in the past but that was then and this is now. Aston Villa learned to their cost, although also to their benefit about release clauses, thinking their £100 Million valuation of Jack Grealish would never be met they were non nonplussed when City stumped up the cash.

With City's ex-head of recruitment now officially on board as director of football at West Ham, expect to see much more 'proaction' when it comes to player contracts and that includes adding realistic release clauses that suit both player and club. Winston Reid has just left the club as part of a 'player reality' clause instigated by Rob Newman during his first week in charge following his enforced gardening leave from City, it is anticipated he will oversee future contract negotiations in conjunction with David Moyes, although technically deals, or at least certain aspects of them, will still need the OK from David Sullivan initially.

There is talk that Newman sees Bowen's value as North of £60 Million, big money for a player signed for £24 Million you may say. It was West Ham who took the risk of bringing Bowen from the championship, for what was a tidy sum, it could have all gone belly up a la Jordan Hugill! Therefore the club deserves to place whatever value they and the player feel he is worth, be it £60 Million or whatever.

Anyways, how much would it cost the club, even if they could find them, to buy two players of the same quality as Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen? We are talking about top players here and don't forget, the club cannot guarantee to keep finding lower league or foreign 'bargains', or on bringing another 'genius' youth player through the ranks.

The answer is they are irreplaceable, of course money talks and if massive offers are received the club have to listen, they are also obligated to keep the players informed of potential 'serious' interest. IF a bid of £100 Million is put in for Declan Rice, or a £60 Million bid put in for Bowen the club would have to make a hard decision, but the longer they resist, the higher the players value will rise.

Every player has a price, but if Hammers do have to sell, it is their duty to make up for past mistakes by asking for top dollar with add ons and sell on clauses, if not the interested clubs should be told to 'jeff off' unless they can stump up the necessary. - Ed

This is what we have been told by a previously reliable source, Antonio's absence from the game against Manchester United meant the difference between the two teams, there is every possibility had he played that he would have 'feasted' on what could have become an extremely porous defence for the visitors.

Antonio was imperious against Dinamo Zagreb, making their defence look completely 2nd rate as he bossed them all over the pitch. West Ham are a different team when he isn't playing, there is still speed and guile in abundance, but no one can recreate his bustling, brawling and bullying of defenders.

The issue for David Moyes is does he cotton wool is prize attacking option for the Barclays Premier League game against Leeds on Saturday, or does he risk him for a virtually worthless competition? There is a caveat to that statement, IF Hammers were to have progressed and won the competition, then fans would have rightly celebrated winning some silver ware, albeit for a devalued Cup.

However without wishing to be pessimistic, that 'ain't gonna happen' as the club play Ronaldo fest part deaux, except it will now be Lingardfest 2:0! With the best will in the world it is hard to compare each club's B teams, David Moyes has done a magnificent job towards building a superb 1st team that can take on anybody on their day, unfortunately the gulf in the clubs' relative resources is absolutely vast beyond compare!

There is pride to play for and perhaps that goes some way to explaining Antonio's presence, whether the plan is to start him and pull him out of the fray early in the 2nd half, or if he is being earmarked s a super sub is a matter of conjecture.

Although he 'cocked up' the Noble penalty decision, Moyes generally gets things right considering the resources he has available to him, he takes advice from his medical team and staff before making selection decisions. There are two schools of thought regarding the fixture and playing Antonio, one is that he needs to at least have a run out to avoid 'burn down' ahead of the Leeds fixture, those hamstrings are high maintenance you know! If worked too hard too often they give up, paradoxically if they are not worked regularly enough, they tighten up risking injury.

We have a Poll running as to the team that should be put out, even IF Moyes does play Antonio for some part of the game he HAS to rest other key 1st team players, particularly Tomas Soucek, Declan Rice, Aaron Cresswell and Pablo Fornals, he will probably rest Vlad the impaler and Jarrod Bowen as well.

A team devoid of those players would be very hard pushed to get a result at Old Trafford, so what would be the point in playing Antonio other than to give him a 'bit of a run out'? It seems like a massive gamble to take, the very fact that there are such huge stakes resting on Antonio's fitness and availability for games firmly compounds the folly of NOT signing a back up striker during an otherwise successful transfer window, it's a decision that could possibly haunt Hammers up to January and beyond if the club doesn't manage to reinforce during the impending window.

Tomorrow's a dead rubber, apologies for the defeatism but pragmatism has to be the order of the day, it is honourable that Moyes wants to send a team out that won't embarrass the many fans who will travel up for the tie as well as the thousands who will watch on TV. The bigger picture is more important for now however, but one day the time will come when the club can really take on the 'mighty' clubs, that is of course assuming the board don't blot their copybook with their manager. LN