Forum | Non-Football Related

Spurs: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Davies, Udogie, Bissouma, Lo Celso, Johnson, Kulusevski, Hojbjerg, Son(c). Subs: Forster, Skipp, Richarlison, Gil, Royal, Sarr, Veliz, Donley, Dorrington.
West Ham: Fabianski, Coufal, Zouma (c), Aguerd, Emerson, Alvarez, Ward-Prowse, Kudus, Soucek, Paqueta, Bowen. Subs: Anang, Cresswell, Fornals, Mavropanos, Ings, Ogbonna, Benrahma, Kehrer, Mubama.

Alf Ramsey's World Cup winning team were labelled as 'Wingless Wonders' by the press at the time as the England team did not have traditional wingers playing, of course Ramsey had introduced the usage of wing backs, something ALL elite teams utilise now.

So in a way 'Alf' was way ahead of the game at the time, West Ham manager David Moyes has 'made his bones' moulding wingers into out and out strikers with SOME degree of success, however his 'obsession' in doing so has blinded him from the need blatant and obvious need the club has for at least one, preferably two out and out strikers!

Moyes has 'bounced' two really decent strikers from the club who have gone on to great things and he has NOT replaced them! Anyone calling Danny Ings a suitable replacement for either Sebastien Haller or Gianluca Scamacca needs a quick visit to specsavers followed by a lengthy consultation with a psychotherapist!

A Team that possesses the quality that Hammers currently have shouldn't be scraping narrow victories, it should be DOMINATING lesser clubs and giving the 'big boys' a bloody nose, but the players can't because they are shackled by Moyesball.

We know Moyes is an easy 'hit' but he makes himself such a target by some astonishingly trait comments and ludicrous team formations and selections, it is little wonder that many fans cannot WAIT until the 60 year old Scot departs.

Too much water has flowed under the bridge for armchair fans across the globe, but for those who attend the as yet unnamed London Stadium on a regular basis even more so, for any changes made to work, enough seems to be enough.

Anyone who attended the Palace game will testify as to how bad the atmosphere was, but fans are not automatons who can cheer and clap on a whim, they need something to get them going! Without Lucas Paqueta and his often over indulgent play and play acting many fans wouldn't even bother to turn up!

Unless 'Pacman' has been given assurances that Moyes is going to be off at the season's end there is absolutely NO WAY he will stay at the club and neither will a few others either. Put simply the club will stagnate and continue to do so until Moyes and his stubbornness is a thing of the past, until then fans are just going to have to suck up a brand of football that makes that of Sam Allardyce look positively exciting! -LN

Fans enduring the wet and miserable journey back from today's disappointing draw against Palace that felt so much like a defeat were heard consoling themselves with the idea that next season the 'Moyes Ball' that they had just witnessed will be a thing of the past, or will it?

Statistically David Moyes IS West Ham United's most successful manager of all time, but matches like the drab draw against Palace make watching paint dry a far superior way of spending time and far less expensive!

The journey home got even worse as news of the scouse gits 'wonderful fight back' against Fulham was eventually compounded by Hammers next opponents Tottinham's 'wonder' recovery to draw 3-3 with City!

The only consolation of what was a truly grim day for Hammers fans was the FA Cup draw which saw a home tie against Bristol City being drawn out of the 'hat'. The rarity of a home tie NOT against Liverpool, City or United won't have gone unnoticed for those clutching at straws to cheer themselves up.

The fact that Hammers were in control for much of the game against `palace is what hurts so much....until 'Stan the Man', making his first premier League start for the club should hand the visitors the opportunity to score rankles, but what rankles even more is the LSD inspired idea to play Lucas Paqueta on the wing, why?

Part of 'Pacman's' game is his link up play with Emerson and his distribution across the pitch, from a position where he can see what is going on, pushing him right out on the wing detracted from his game and his performance showed!

This game should have yielded three points, but it didn't, the only positive was that Alavarez DIDN'T get booked! A bad day at the frozen office which will probably be matched by an equally awful display against arch rivals Tottingham who are currently leaps and bounds above the Irons in ALL ways, on and off the pitch!

Be positive some might say, we would suggest those people weren't forced to endure today's serving of misery in person! - Ed

With a combined age in excess of 135 years to say David Moyes and Roy Hodgson were experienced would be an extreme understatement! Roy Hodgson is often mocked for not being able to pronoince his 'R's and has been nicknamed 'Woy' Hodgson, but it should be remembered that 'Woy' can drop his 'R's' in FIVE different languages, Swedish, Italian, English, French and German.

Today's London derby which Hammers host, could be labelled a 'clash of the old guard', or a 'meeting of the oldest swingers in town' Both managers have been round the block more times than they can remember and both managers are stubborn bordering on the obdurate!

Both managers are currently dealing with injury crises but then so are most other Premier League managers, some more than others! Moyes played his cards very closely to his chest when 'cross examined' about the mystery virus that struck several key players down, so it will be interesting to see who makes the starting line up and indeed who makes the match day squad.

One player in particular who could have a massive influence on the game IF he is available is Jarrod Bowen, injured while training with England during yet another 'pointless' International break. The winger come forward is vital for the Irons, his penetrating runs and exquisite finishing have been sorely missed!

One player who DOES need to up his game is James Ward-Prowse. His early impact on the team has diminished as the weeks have gone by, he REALLY needs to deliver and perhaps scoring a direct free kick is all he needs to get himself back on track while beating David ` Beckham's record at the same time.

Realistically a top six finish is probably beyond Hammers even at this stage of the season, but seventh would be enough to ensure an amazing FOURTH year in Europe on the spin. It is unlikely that Hammers will win the Europa League nor the Carabou Cup, so unless the FA Cup draw is kind a high league position is the only guarantee of a place in Europe next season.

There are those who say that playing Thursday Sunday is detrimental to the club, but that is the price of success, a success that makes the club more attractive to 'top talent' and long may it continue! Unfortunately this afternoon's game between two 'patched up' sides is unlikely to be a classic, IF Hammers can get three points or even a decent draw it will help set the team up for what is going to be a 'frenzied' pre-Christmas schedule of a game every three days!

At least the temperature won't be sub zero, it is to be hoped that the players don't play sub zero! - LN