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Having seen their team get well and truly battered on the opening day of the season, many Hammers fans were hoping to see their players 'chip in' with some flair play and a few goals against 'bogey team' Brighton & Hove. When the team sheets were released that optimism instantly evaporated , Manuel Pellegrini would be deprived of nearly £90 Million worth of players in the form of record signings Seb Haller and 'Pepe' Andersson.

Brighton: Mathew Ryan; Martin Montoya, Shane Duffy, Lewis Dunk, Dan Burn, Solly March, Pascal Groß, Davy Propper, Dale Stephens, Glenn Murray, Leandro Trossard Subs: David Button, Neal Maupay, Jurgen Locadia, Florin Andone, Adam Webster, Aaron Mooy, Bernardo
West Ham: Lukasz Fabianski, Ryan Fredericks, Pablo Fornals, Robert Snodgrass, Issa Diop, Jack Wilshere, Declan Rice, Manuel Lanzini, Angelo Ogbonna, Arthur Masuaku, Chicharito Subs: Roberto Jiménez, Fabián Balbuena, Pablo Zabaleta, Andriy Yarmolenko, Carlos Sanchez, Albian Ajeti, Antonio

Although both players are due to have a late and final fitness test, it appears Hammers most expensive signing, Sebastian Haller, will make the starting line up against 'Bogey' team Brighton at the Amex Stadium this afternoon. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the club's second most expensive signing Felipe Anderson, apparently the medical team feel that the Brazilian needs to be rested for the Seagulls match, and that Pablo Fornals will fill the void.

It would take a rather cruel hearted West Ham fan to not enjoy ex-Keeper Adrian San Miguel's moment in the spotlight, unless he is psychic there is no way the shot stopper would ever have envisaged playing in the 'Super Cup' final between Liverpool and Chelsea.

Now the dust has settled on what was a wholly unagreeable start to the season, West Ham fans are asking pertinent questions about the squad assembled for the coming campaign. One of the main sources of confusion is what plans are realistically in place for Winston Reid, it is easy to forget that not that long ago Reid's name was one of the first that managers put on their team sheets, not only that but the powerful New Zealander was coveted by various clubs, including Arsenal and their neighbours!

The opening fixture of the Barclays Premier League is the one day when hope springs eternal, before reality comes crashing down. In Hammers case the team are generally beaten by at least four goals, so Saturday's drubbing didn't come as too much of a surprise.

West Ham Utd: Fabianski, Fredericks, Balbuena, Diop, Cresswell, Rice, Wilshere, Anderson, Antonio, Lanzini, Haller. Subs: Roberto, Zabaleta, Ogbonna, Sanchez, Snodgrass, , Fornals, Hernandez.
Manchester City: Edison, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko, David Silva, Hernandez, De Bruyne, Sterling, Jesus, Mahrez, Subs: Aguero, Bravo, Otamendi, Gündogan, Bernardo, Cancelo, Foden

West Ham Utd: Fabianski, Fredericks, Balbuena, Diop, Cresswell, Rice, Wilshere, Anderson, Antonio, Lanzini, Haller. Subs: Roberto, Zabaleta, Ogbonna, Sanchez, Snodgrass, , Fornals, Hernandez.
Manchester City: Edison, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko, David Silva, Hernandez, De Bruyne, Sterling, Jesus, Mahrez, Subs: Aguero, Bravo, Otamendi, Gündogan, Bernardo, Cancelo, Foden

Ahead of the first fixture of this season's Barclays Premier League, Skipper Mark Noble used his Evening Standard Column to state that he has a muscle injury, not a dead leg! There is an enormous difference between both injuries, generally a dead leg lasts for one or two games at the most, muscle injuries are entirely dependant on how much damage was done to the muscle before it was treated, if the original injury was misdiagnosed then Mark might be looking at another MONTH off!

Whilst the UK transfer window closes, the transfer activity hasn't exactly finished yet. Players can be transferred to Europe from the UK until the 2nd of September, in addition players who are out of contract with their clubs can be signed both in Europe and the UK at anytime, before during or after the start of the Barclays Premier League, so in essence the transfer window hasn't (sic) slammed shut!