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A goal from Hammers nemesis Troy Deeney via a penalty and a late Gerard Deulofeu strike inflicted West Ham's first defeat since November in the final home game of 2018 at the London Stadium. The 'feel good' factor was there courtesy of both defences but it was a rare and potentially very costly error from 'the General' Fabian Balbuena that led to Watford's first goal.

Balbuena's challenge on Roberto Pereyra not only gifted the visitors a penalty, but more importantly saw the centre back substituted with what looks like a nasty injury. Hammers had made a strong start, with both Michail Antonio and Pablo Zabaleta finding a lot of space and time to attackdown the right, but despite being largely in control of the ball whenever the visitors found their way into the final third, things looked to go wrong and Watford began to peg West Ham back. Roberto Pereyra had a shot on target that was blocked by Mark Noble, but it was only a portent of what was to come.

Pereyra via a one-two with Deulofeu, was then subjected to a poor challenge from the usually reliable Balbuena, who collided the back of the player’s leg, conceding the pen and picking up his injury in the process. This was not what was expected but that which many of a certain age feared! Hammers nemesis Deeney stepped up and ended Lukasz Fabianski run of five consecutive penalty stops, sending him the wrong way with a shot in to the top corner. Deeney did his image little in glory as he aimed his celebration straight at the Hammers fans whose team, after a 4-2 win two years ago, he thanked for ‘showboating’ and credited them with giving his team the motivation to go on and win, he had a plastic cup thrown towards him from the stands which in the current climate will doubtless be blown out of all proportion and will hide what an odious character he really is on the pitch.

Things might have been different just before the break as Felipe Anderson swung an inch perfect cross over for Antonio, his header found Javier Hernandez but he scuffed his effort and didn't really trouble Ben Foster, who tipped the shot wide. Antonio so nearly had Hammers level just after the break as he rose to meet Snodgrass’ corner at the near post, only to see it come back off the upright on the far side, which in a way summed up the game, sooner or later some of the good luck the team has had was going to evaporate and today was the day that Hammers luck left the building.

Watford looked set fair until Andy Carroll was introduced in place of Mark Noble, they then proceeded to play a brand of anti-footbal the game had up until then not deserved, who needs a pantomime when you have so many 'fairies' falling over? Anderson who had been on the receiving end of a bit of Watford's 'physicality' supressing the recent brilliance he has shown in the last month or two, so nearly enabled Chicharito to score and the game should have been level. Andy Carroll clipped the ball towards Anderson, who trapped it with the outside of his foot and left Kiko Femenia for dead and then with a flick of his right boot squared for Hernandez who was five yards out, he spun, missed the ball and fell to the ground knowing he had just blown a golden opportunity.

Chicharito had a further chance to redeem himself after doing well to beat Christian Kabasele in the box, but he hesitated, and was denied. Doucoure, having just had a shot saved by Fabianski, took advantage of Henandez's daliance before pulling the trigger and poked the ball behind for a corner. That would be Hernandez’s last chance, he was replaced by youngster Grady Diangana moments later. Luck was not going to be on Hammers side as Snodgrass’ deflected header was pushed into the path of Michail Antonio who, with the entire goal gaping guided his headed effort on to Ben Foster’s bar.

A home goal goal was surely coming, and Hammers deserved at least a point after a far improved second half, but then Watford out muscled and out niggled Hammers once more, Pereyra passed to Deulofeu who had raced into the penalty area and slotted past Fabianski, an ugly win but three points sealed for the visitors. Manuel Pellegrini had spoken of top six ambitions ahead of the match, and the long term plan will be to reach the heights of European qualification, but Watford's agricultural approach will have reminded Hammers of their limits.

The visitors will leave happy with a job well done, but we know which style of play Hammers should aspire to, and it definitley is not that of Watford's, had Chicharito had his shooting boots on today Hammers could and should have been in sixth position in the Barclays Premier League, instead they find themselves in tweflth. - Ed Cold and miserable from the London Stadium, Happy bloody Christmas- Bah Humbug!

One minute fans hear that West Ham United are close to financial fair play limits, the next they hear that the club are pursuing various exotic players ahead of the January transfer window opening. One of the latest stories to do the rounds relates to Inter Milan forward Gabriel Barbosa, who following a lengthy chat with fellow Brazilian Felipe Anderson is supposedly interested in joining West Ham on loan in January .

According to various Italian media outlets, Barbosa is ready to fly to England to discuss a move to the London Stadium from Inter, a club that Hammers have a good relationship with. Gabriel joined Inter for €30m in 2016 but failed to make an impact in Italy and was consequently loaned out to Santos in Brazil, where he has rediscovered his shooting boots and has scored 29 goals already this season. Barbosa is due to return to Inter from Santos in a few days time as his loan expires on December 31st, the 22-year-old has been capped four times by Brazil at international level, scoring twice for his country, he has scored 87 goals so far in his career.

Hammers face stiff competition from Crystal Palace and Everton for Barbosa's signature, however it is believed that the prospect of linking up with Anderson might be the decider. It should not be forgotten that there is another Inter player well known to Hammers fans who might end up back at the London Stadium and that is João Mário, if the money was available Mário would be a perfect fit, unfortunately it appears that Samir Nasri will be the cut priced alternative.

Manuel Pellegrini is not adverse to shaking up the owners back pockets where ever he has managed, if he thinks a player is required he will 'quietly' go about making it happen, he is too much of a wiley old fox to believe 'number crunchers and bean counters' when they say the cupboard is bare. There's always a way, it just requires sensible planning, a trait that is engrained in El Pel. - Ed

When West Ham United moved from the Boleyn Ground to the London Stadium hopes were high following a seventh place finish in the Barclays Premier League, the season got off to a rocky start with a narrow 1-0 victory over Bournemouth. Not long after Watford were the visitors and for the first 25 minutes Hammers and in particular Dimitri Payet were in their pomp, racing to a 2-0 lead courtesey of more flicks and Rabonna's than a Ronaldo birthday party, jubilant fans couldn't believe what they were seeing, and then it all went wrong!

Watford scored twice before half time and then went on to win the game 4-2, the match proved a turning point and thr beginning of the end of Payet's relationship with the club. The manner of the collapse is something that Slaven Billic never recovered from, and from that day on he looked a shadow of the touch line 'prowling bear' that he once was. Disillusion quickly spread throughout the squad, one that had been appaulingly recruited during the summer but also one lacking direction, some of the performances were atrocious, every time a ball was lobbed over the top the pitch at the London Stadium looked enormous further exposing what was already a shaky defence.

Fast forward to now and the club and players do have direction and more importantly a team spirit that is infectious, despite a ridiculous injury list the squad have coped and come through the short and long term loss of two talismanic players in Marko Arnoutovic and Manuel Lanzini. Players have stepped up to the plate and performed above and beyond all expectations, so when it comes to team selection for Saturday's game against Watford manager Manuel Pellegrini might well elect to select the same starting line up, and indeed the same squad with the possible inclusion of Lucas Perez, essentially 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.

Of course being West Ham, the club is bound to suffer when Dominos Quina, sold to Watford for an insanely low £1 Million, returns playing for the visitors. What is the betting that he scores against his old club? We at the Org are using one of those new account deals that are always being offered in order to 'lump on' Quina scoring, if he doesn't all well and good, if he does we make some Christmas drink money. It is not uncommon for fans to do this, it is a sort of Karmic insurance policy and betting on the opposition hoping that they will fail is an old school technique.

Hammers have the chance to 'reach for the stars' this weekend, however they have just as much chance of being brought down to earth with a bump by a Watford side that blows hot and cold but on their day can be dominant, they are also a very physical side so a certain Mr Anderson had better be careful because you can guarantee that he will be targeted by Troy Deeny and Co, particularly Deeney who has an extreme aversion to flair players. Watford will definitely try and 'Bully' West Ham, but in Issa Diop and the General Fabian Balbuena they will find the situation a lot more difficult than when they were facing Ginge Collins and an unfit Winston Reid.

If the players can keep their heads and the fans can stay on board, the Sky is the limit. - Ed