Forum | Non-Football Related

Hammers begin their Europa Cup campaign this Thursday evening against little known Serbian side FK TSC Bačka Topola, while the name is new to many the club has been around since 1913, so they are hardly novices! This could well be a tricky tie with Hammers expected to 'roll over' teams they meet in the early group stages, but make no mistake TSC as they are more commonly know will be NO pushovers!

Any complacency by the team David Moyes puts out could be severely punished, fans hoping for a goal fest in London might well be disappointed. A firm but comfortable narrow victory is all Hammers need, there is no point in throwing everything at the visitors, especially bearing in mind that Hammers have to play a midweek Moose Cup game against Lincoln swiftly followed by a visit to Anfield to face Liverpool.

Moyes does now have a much more comprehensive squad to select from, the impending fixture will give him the chance to give certain fringe players a run out as wells giving some of the new signings more game time. Moyes will be able to field an 'experimental' side but retain a lot of strength in depth on the bench should they be required.

It will be the beginning of yet another European adventure, the third in three years. it is a pity that David Gold won't be there in person to witness his beloved Hammers fulfilling the "European' dream that he used to talk about. Who knows, perhaps he will be up in the sky looking down through all the bubbles floating upwards? -Ed

For a brief moment in time on a gloriously sunny day, West Ham managed to put reining Champions Manchester City's nose out of joint! Of course things reverted to type after the interval but boy was it fun while it lasted. City are a behemoth of a team that invariably crush all their opponents asunder, but at least Hammers gave it a good go, especially in the 1st half.

Buoyed up by a vociferous and enthusiastic crowd, the home team surrendered possession but hit City on the break with new signing James Ward-Prowse adding another goal to his already impressive account! As expected, City came out all guns blazing and got their revenge, but no one had really given Hammers a prayer for the game so the disappointment was only to be expected.

Going head to head with the World's top team, at least in the first half, was no mean feat and David Moyes and his players should feel proud of their achievement, at least they didn't just roll over and capitulate like most teams do when facing the Premier League champions.

So although the eventual result was not as many had dreamed of, it was still a great showing bythe Irons and hopefully bodes well for the future.With the new signings yet to fully make their mark there are indeed reasons to be cheerful, the gulf in class might still have been obvious, but it was a far better showing than some of the past drubbings administered by Pep's team when battering previous Hammers line ups, particularly when Pellegrini was manager.

The next Premier League fixture is away to Liverpool which is always an awkward proposition, but on this showing you never know! Fortunes are always hiding, but sometimes it CAN be found! - Ed

Hammers host arguably the best team in World club football managed by the probably the best manager in existence tomorrow in London with few people giving the home team a prayer against the imperious 'Citizens'. On paper that assumption is correct and it is very likely the Irons will lose their unbeaten status in the Premier League.

That said, the 'gulf' between both teams HAS narrowed since the days when ex-City manager Manuel Pellegrini managed the Irons, then a three, four or five nil drubbing was the usual outcome! However, while tomorrow's game is still likely to end in defeat for David Moyes' team, the margin may well not be as marked as before.

Players like Lucas Paqueta, Edson Alvarez and Mohammed Kudus have NOT been mesmerised and down trodden by City repeatedly, unlike many of the 'old hands' at the club. While they acknowledge City's stunning squad, they are NOT overawed by taking on Manchester's best team, in fact they relish being up against 'top' opposition and look forward to matching up with their opponents.

Back in the day many teams were defeated before they even took to the pitch when facing Liverpool or Manchester United in their pomp, but that has ALL changed now due to the funding available for 'lesser' teams to compete in the transfer market.

Make no mistake, it will be an incredibly difficult ask for WEst Ham to get anything out of tomorrow's game, but that doesn't mean that they can't give it a damn good try! Urged on by what will be a packed Stadium there is every possibility of upsetting City's imperious form, after all, Football is played on grass, not paper.

Of course on paper City definitely have the edge, but they are vulnerable SOMETIMES, it is to be hoped that Hammers can upset the apple cart and at least get a point from the game. There are enough talented players in Moyes' squad to do some damage, IF they are all firing on ALL cylinders.

Danny Ings shouldn't feature at all, as his chronic lack of pace will be exposed, the same goes for Aaron Cresswell. Divin Mubama and Mohammed Kudus MUST be on the pitch ahead of Ings, it is the ONLY way Hammers stand a chance! Moyes has to be brave AND innovative in his team selection AND his use of substitutes, no longer does he need to have two goal keepers on the bench, there are plenty of hungry and determined players available now who can't wait to get on the field of play.

Be bold Moysie, there is absolutely NO point in handing ALL the possession to City like in the games against Brighton and Chelsea, it simply will NOT work. The Hammers manager needs to 'mix things up' a little for his team to stand any chance....as the game is considered to be a 'dead rubber' why not take a few risks?

At least he can say he tried! - Ed