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  • Win Ugly And Go Top!

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Fri, 01/09/2023 - 22:51

    West Ham travelled to Luton knowing they were going to be in one hell of a game, the home team egged on by a semi-fanatical crowd did indeed give Hammers a thorough work out! Goals from Jarrod Bowen and Kurt Zouma were enough to clinch the three points necessary to put the Irons back on top of the Premier League.

    Of course things will come down with a bump after the International break with the home fixture against Man City, but just for now fans can breathe in the delight of equalling the club's best start ever to a Premier League season.

    The home side did as was expected and gave absolutely everything, but Hammers midfield was imperious with winners all over the park. The Ref somewhat unfairly struck off what looked like a perfectly good goal from Emerson, but then again the official did NOT give a penalty for the home side after the ball appeared to hit James Ward-Prowse's arm.

    All in all it was a deserved win, but as is his way David Moyes refused to make any substitutions until very late on, he then baffled most observers by bringing on 'Frankenstein's Hair Line' instead of Mubamba or Kudus. Kudus was brought on for the closing minutes but most be hoping this was NOT a sign for the future!

    Either way, being around the top of the Prem going into the International break is something to be savoured. Long may it continue. -Ed

    NB: Some of the abuse directed at Zouma and Bowen in particular was extremely borderline, but they made the 'mouth artists' pay by scoring a goal a piece!

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  • Live Luton v West Ham Line Ups

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Fri, 01/09/2023 - 19:01

    Luton: Kaminski, Andersen, Burke, Giles, Bell, Barkley, Marvelous, Chong, Doughty, Morris, Adebayo.
    Subs: Krul, Ogbene, Berry, Woodrow, Kabore, Mpanzu, Brown, Johnson, Francis-Clarke.

    West Ham: Areola, Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson, Alvarez, Ward-Prowse, Bowen, Paqueta, Benrahma, Antonio.
    Subs: Fabianski, Cresswell, Fornals, Kudus, Cornet, Ings, Ogbonna, Kehrer, Mubama.

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  • Not The Group Of Death For Europa League

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Fri, 01/09/2023 - 12:47

    Hammers were drawn in Group A of the Europa League along with Olympiacos, SC Freiburg, FK Tsc Backa Topola. Not so good for travelling fans, but one hell of a lot better than Brighton's group B which has already been labeled the group of death featuring Ajax, Marseille and AEK Athens!

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  • Ekitike Here You Go!

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Thu, 31/08/2023 - 21:18

    Hugo Ekitike the 21 year old signed by French giants PSG only last season in a big money €28.5 Million move from Stade Reims is not going to get ANY game time at PSG this coming season, with his club wanting him out on loan or preferably sold given his poor showing.

    To be fair Ekitike has been feeding on scraps as he was given very little opportunity with so many 'elite' players ahead of him, PSG just tend to 'hoover up' whatever talented players there are in France irrespective of where or how they are going to use them! Much like Chelsea, they have a huge number of young players on their books, many of which will be perpetually loaned out.

    Ekitike is definitely NOT the finished article, but what kind of finished article does David Moyes want? And what kind of situation does the player think he will be getting himself in to?

    Tim Steidten has done wonders in bringing the Ajax pair of Alvarez and Kudus to the club, but selling them a slot in a defensive minded team was a no brainer, convincing a young forward to 'run the channels' and work tirelessly for very little actual time on the ball is a much more difficult sell.

    The option of a loan to buy would obviously massively appeal to the Irons, normally it would be fairly hard to pull off, but given Aplonse Areola's successful loan to but outcome and the fact that Thilo Kherer also came from PSG there is at least a 50/50 chance that Ekitike could become Hammers 10 billionth striker! - Ed

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  • Countdown To 'Best' Window

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Thu, 31/08/2023 - 16:18

    Very little time remains until the transfer window closes in the UK, however this season the new Saudi Pro League will be throwing a spanner in the works as their cash rich government backed clubs are allowed to sign players up until the 7th of September, that is according to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF).

    The extra week available means the Saudi clubs can pick off transfers that didn't manage to get completed during the European window giving them what has been described as an unfair advantage!

    The usual European giants have been 'taken by surprise' by the sheer scale and speed of the Saudi Goverment's investment which has 'upset the apple cart' right across the board. Some say it is about time that the likes of Real Madrid and indeed Manchester City have to fight on a level playing field and there are many 'lesser' clubs who whole heartedly agree!

    This will be the LAST transfer window that isn't massively impacted by the 'new kids on the block', when the window re opens the entire transfer lanscape will have changed, UNLESS UEAFA of FIFA intervene, the Saudi Pro League will ask why should they?

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  • Irons Away To Lincoln In Moose Cup

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Thu, 31/08/2023 - 10:08

    League One side Lincoln will face West Ham in the 3rd round of the EFL Cup after narrowly beating Sheffield United on penalties last night. Hammers local rivals Fulham, who beat Tottenham on penalties in the second round, host Championship side Norwich while Chelsea scraped though against AFC Wimbledon.

    The third round ties will take place in the week commencing 25th of September and it will most likely be a rainy day as are most of the days in Lincoln 'the home of the potato', for anyone who hasn't been there before it is one hell of a trek and a journey that should NOT be undertaken lightly!

    The EFL, Moose Cup or Carabou Cup is one trophy that has constantly eluded Hammers in all it's various formats and although commonly derided is still a trophy worth winning, but NOT at the expense of European competition so expect Moyes to put out a relatively strong team but also one that features players who don't generally get enough game time. - ED

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  • Bowen contract

    hammergirl's picture
    Submitted by hammergirl on Wed, 30/08/2023 - 20:17

    Forums:

    Just read an article that says the club yet to reach agreement with him and his advisors over new contract the current one runs out in 2025 so plenty of time you think but then you read the negotiations have been going on for 6 months you have to think what is going on? yes the bindipper rumour always raises its ugly head and a bargaining tool for his agent no doubt but if the players not pushing for a move then pay him the money as he is clearly worth it he always gives it 100% and the amount of times he is hacked down he is rarely seen on side lines injured so i hope the club are not going to pussyfoot around another 6 months get the deal done.

  • Any Old Iron-Ings?

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Wed, 30/08/2023 - 19:46

    Hammers very own 'Hairline Frankenstein' Danny Ings wants to "stay and fight for his place" at West Ham, well he must be the only one! Because the general concencus is that he is entirely unsuited to David Moyes's style of play and would have been far better off linking up with Sean Dyche at Everton, the two enjoyed a 'fruitful' partnership while they were both at Burnley.

    There is definitely a good player somewhere in Ings, but that good player will NEVER flourish under Moyes which does rather beg the question as to why the forward was signed in the first place and by whom?

    Hammers desperately need an additional striker, even more so since the sale of Gianluca Scamacca but Ings IS a stalling block. Unless Ings is 'bounced' Hammers will be stuck with him and with very little prospect of off loading him without subsidising the move considerably, he could become Hammers own Maguire!

    Everton have now apparently shifted their focus on to another Hammers player Maxwell Cornet, he has also worked with Sean Dyche and would represent far better value, but David Moyes would like to keep Cornet and get rid off Ings.

    Neither player has had any success at West Ham for various reasons, but given the option fans would rather have Cornet on the bench rather than 'Uncle Ingy'. - Ed

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  • The Kitty Is Nearly Empty-Not Zouma's

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Wed, 30/08/2023 - 06:47

    Tim Steidten may have been 'burning the book at both candles' with his globe trotting private jet exploits, but even he cannot make something from nothing! So talks of him 'slinging in' vast bids for players are entirely unsubstantiated due to the fact that the kitty is nearly empty.

    ALL the Declan Rice money has been used up, as has virtually ALL the Gianluca Scamacca money, so any trading now will be based on money brought in by players leaving or loan deals. Hugo Ekitiké of PSG is one such 'realistic' target, the French club would ideally prefer to sell the player straight off, but may be tempted into a loan to buy deal similar to the one that saw Alphonse Areola join Hammers from the Ligue 1 perennial champions.

    Ekitiké is unproven at senior level so a loan to buy deal could suit Hammers perfectly and might well suit PSG as the player could return at an increased value should he have a successful time in the Premier League, as it is he looks highly unlikely to get much game time in France and at 21 years of age he would surely rather be playing than bench warming.

    Unfortunately the 'hard sell' for acquiring the player is how much game time he would receive under the managership of David Moyes who is legendarily cautious when it comes to introducing strikers, his cautious approach might put the mockers on this one!

    With under three days to go before the window closes there WILL be a final push to get a couple of deals over the line, expect the 'Steid' plane to be zig zagging continents as the fast becoming cult hero weaves his magic. - Ed

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