Brighton: Verbruggen, Webster, Dunk, Estupinan, Milner, Gilmour, Gross, Welbeck, March, Mitoma, Ferguson
Subs: Steele, Julio, Dahoud, Joao Pedro, Lallana, Adingra, Van Hecke, Veltman, Buonanotte
West Ham: Areola, Coufal, Zouma, Ogbonna, Emerson, Ward-Prowse, Alvarez, Soucek, Paqueta, Bowen, Antonio
Subs: Fabianski, Johnson, Cresswell, Fornals, Cornet, Ings, Benrahma, Kehrer, Mubama
Just gone out on loan from Leeds to Oxford United.
Well, that moved worked out well son :o)
While most of the attention surrounding West Ham is on the much needed arrival of players since the departure of talisman Declan Rice, there is a growing acknowledgement that a 'train' of players may well depart ahead of the closing of the transfer window next week.
With only SEVEN DAYS to go Hammers recruitment drive is in full swing with D.O.F Tim Steiedten racking up his 'avios' in the private jet he currently uses to bring new signings on board. Fresh on the heels of James Ward-Prowse, Edson Alvarez and Konstantinos Mavropanos appears to be Mohammed Kudos.
However the signings don't stop there, with the club commited to finalising deals for another striker and a left back. One of the reasons a new left back is necessary is because utility defender Ben Johnson is more than likely going to join Flynn Downes at Southampton, also Aaron Cresswell wants to join Wolves which would leave only Emerson as left back.
Elsewhere Mikey Antonio or Danny Ings or BOTH players might be shipped out, with strong interest in Antonio from the Saudi Pro League and Ings being sought after by an unnamed Premier League club rumoured to be Luton Town.
The club could NOT stand in Antonio's way of one final big pay out as the wages on offer for the 34 year old would be ludicrous, Ings would be a different story because like many strikers before him he has failed to 'fit into' David Moyes' rigid counter attacking system, he just doesn't have the legs for what is required, in fact why he was ever signed is a mystery, Villa must have been clutching their four leaf clovers as 'Uncle Ingy' said his goodbyes!
It should be remembered how 'light' the squad was last season and looking at the Maths there is virtually NO difference in the numbers, however the quality has definitely 'cranked up' a level. Unfortunately the 'bedding' in of the new players, like last season, has to be done in the 'blood and thunder' of the Prem, whereas a few friendlies and a gradual introduction would have been far preferable.
Never the less, there ARE reasons to be cheerful, the average age of the squad WILL come down and hopefully a couple of the youngsters who HAVEN'T been loaned out will actually get some real game time, after all what is the point of having an Academy if all the best young players leave to join other clubs because they don't think they will have the opportunity or get a fair crack of the whip with the first team.
The train leaving Stratford will be delayed....it is the West Ham Way! - Ed
West Ham are now close to agreeing a £38 Million deal for Ajax's Mohammed Kudus, as with any deal of this magnitude there were several 'complications' that needed to be sorted out, mainly agent and club related, but the player himself has handled the situation extremely well during the negotiations.
That was until a couple of days ago when 23 year old Mohammed Kudus decided he had enough of all the shenanigans. He outrightly denied that his demands were in anyway impacting on the deal he wanted completed, he did not want to be seen as someone who didn't want the move.
Instead he cited 'greediness' on behalf of 'various' parties that was causing the delay! Fair play to the young man who will be a welcome addition to West Ham where he will also be able to link up with his former teammate Edson Alvarez who arrived in the East End last week.
It would have been much better if the deal had been concluded earlier, but Ajax played hard ball in an attempt to retain their brightest prospect. It is believed, but not confirmed, that Ajax insisted on a 10% sell on fee for the midfield maestro and that Hammers have agreed to such a figure in order to bridge the gap of £5 Million in each of the club's valuation of the player.
Expect to see 'Ze Steidten' in his familiar back seat of a private jet with Kudus sitting on the left in the front with his agent to the right as they fly in to undergo the necessary medical ahead of the signing, it is becoming quite a familiar sight and a rather welcome one at that! - Ed
First impressions welllll he's a big boy and has a lovely smile:-) can't wait to see him in the flesh...Scam who? lol
It was always a case of David Moyes having a 'meeting of minds' with new technical director Tim Steidten before Hammers could really progress in the transfer market and it appears that is exactly what has happened as Moyes and Steidten's targets seem to have 'harmonised' in recent days.
Moyes appears to have given Steidten a free hand when it comes to negotiations for players Moyes himself wants as well as those the German has highlighted and conveniently there are players on both men's wish lists! Hot on the heels of acquiring a centre back, a defensive midfielder and an offensive midfielder Hammers are now in full swing as they are attempting to sign at least one additional striker and possibly two with En-Nesyri and Ekitike firmly in their sights.
Danny Ings has failed to impress although he hasn't been givemn much game time and despite giving 100% in both matches so far this season, there is a distinct possibility that 34 year old Mikey Antonio could accept one of several lucrative offers he has received from the massively spending 'Arab League'.
In addition to Antonio's possible departure, Aaron Cresswell looks done and dusted as an outgoing despite being on the bench for the Chelsea game and there is also a possibility that Pablo Fornals might be used as a part exchange for En-Nesyri, although Hammers have valued Fornals at around €20 Million which may well be a bit rich for En-Nesyri's cash strapped club Sevilla.
We may even send someone out from the Org to Goose Green on transfer deadline day because the journey might actually be worth it as this transfer window 'slams' shut. There are plenty of reasons to be cheerful, unfortunately Brighton will probably put the mockers on the current 'happiness' surrounding the club as they will be tough opposition as is in keeping with the club that is top of the Premier League, neither 'Bubble Boy' nor Alvarez will be ready to start the game but they will BOTH be available for the away fixture against Luton on the following Friday night. - Ed
It's like the old East End these days....everyone wants to fight each other then after the tear up we hug & kiss each other & that's just the men!
The Women are tough as old boots,ten times more scary than the meanest geezer.
The filth ( old bill) are you allowed to say that nowadays? Well tough titty! Are camped outside,drug dens,old time villains but a real sense of community is coming back on the manor,people that have lived here donkeys years are saying "shit innit" then we laugh with it!!
Covid...we shit it,London on sea,the beach,the Airport...now a bloody city fgs...a vision from an incredibly passionate,caring man...an Eastender & Hammer of course! The only way is up gang,yazz & the plastic population...
Or is it just me?? COYI
West Ham are hoping to strengthen their frontline with the signing of Hugo Etikite from PSG. The 21-year-old rose to stardom at Reims in 2020 and turned down the chance to join Newcastle in January 2022 as the club faced a relegation battle.
The French youngster has struggled to establish himself as a first team regular in Paris since joining last summer and West Ham could table a bid for the player in the coming days. According to sources close to Tim Steidten any deal proposed by the Irons would be a loan to buy deal, similar to the deal the club had with PSG for Alphonse Areola, or maybe even a stright purchase as was the case with Thilo Kherer.
The fact that PSG and West Ham have already successfully conducted the Areola and Kherer deals puts Hammers in good stead for a deal for Etikite, if the clubs can reach a mutually convenient deal then there is a real chance of the French starlet arriving in East London.
The Hammers current back line already has Areola, Zouma, and Aguerd who are French speakers, as are Said Benrahma, Lucas Paqueta, Emerson and Thilo Kehrer, so the new arrival would feel relatively at home.
If Ze German can pull this one off the club can realistically look forward to competing on all levels, it remains to be seen if Hammers can head off interest from Everton among many suitors, but in the Steidtman we can trust! - Ed
West Ham have finally added 'bubble' born defender Konstantinos Mavropanos from Stuttgart for a fee of €21 Million excluding add ons. Mavropanos has signed a five-year contract with the Irons and has taken the number 15 shirt. The 25-year-old was Arsene Wenger's last signing at Arsenal but endured a torrid time between 2018 and 2022 where he made just seven Premier League appearances.
Standing at 6'5" tall Mavropanos is lethal in the air at both ends of the pitch and must be licking his lips at being on the end of James Ward-Prowse spot kicks, he will undoubtedly add strength in depth to Hammers back line, especially bearing in mind Nayef Aguerd's Morrocon commitment for the Africa Cup Of Nations competition which could see him away from the club for up to 2 months.
Konstantinos Mavropanos does have a point to prove and will relish measuring himself against the Premier League's best. It is not as if he hasn't experienced the hustle and bustle of the World's most frenetically paced league, but he is older and wiser now and possesses the physicality to endure all that is thrown at him.
Make no mistake, Konstantinos Mavropanos is not quite the finished article, but he represents such better value than the deal for Harry Maguire that nearly happened! at 25 years of age he is not even at his peak yet and would have a very useful sell on value if he was moved on in a few years.
Yet another good addition to the squad, it is a pity the deal was not concluded sooner, with so much time wasted pursuing Maguire, but it IS over the line now.
What new arrival has the 'Pearl Diver' next got up his sleeve? Expect plenty of action now the cuffs have finally been taken off of Tim Steidten, he has many 'irons in the fire' and a bulging black book of contacts waiting to be exploited, don't be surprised to see at least two more major signings before the window closes, possibly three!
OK so the victory over Chelsea might have been a bit of a false dawn, but you can bet your Paqueta that Steidten would have done a little bit better than Chelsea's recruitment team had he been given even half the resources they have squandered - Ed
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