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Manuel Pellegrini is a serial winner and despite his mild demeanor the Hammers manager could barely conceal his anger following the club's loss to Tottenham on Wednesday evening, it wasn't so much the loss but the manner of it that so irked the 65 year old Chilean. Pellegrini's thinly veiled comments were directed fairly and squarely at Felipe Anderson among others who were culpable.

Jose Mourinho has generally always been at clubs with deep pockets and expects the Manchester United board to reinforce their central defence in the January transfer window after their failure to clinch a defensive signing in the summer, Mourinho has continued to discuss the centre-back issue in front of colleagues after United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward was unable to conclude a deal for one in the last window.

West Ham United: Adrian, Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Obiang, Rice, Anderson, Antonio, Diangana, Hernandez. Subs: Fabianski, Balbuena, Coventry, Snodgrass, Powell, Arnautovic, Perez.
Tottenham Hotspur: Gazzaniga, Aurier, Sanchez, Foyth, Walker-Peters, Wanyama, Winks, Eriksen (C), Son, Dele, Llorente. Subs: Vorm, Eyoma, Marsh, Skipp, Sissoko, Nkoudou, Lucas.

Starved of success for too many years, the fans of both West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur are guilty of a serious case of denial this season. In the case of West Ham new manager Manuel Pellegrini the levels of expectancy went through the roof when the 'world class' man arrived and splashed out more money than Hammers fans and just about everyone else in football could ever have imagined.

The tragic events of the last few hours really do put things into perspective when it comes to lamenting the conceding of an injury time equaliser away to Leicester City, we had planned to do an article criticising the actions on the pitch of Hammers captain Mark Noble by comparing his approach and style of football to that of the old victor character Alf Tupper,

Leicester City: Schmeichel, Amartey, Soyuncu, Maguire, Chilwell, Ghezzal, Iborra, Ndidi, Maddison, Iheanacho, Albrighton. Subs: Ward, Evans, Gray, Okazaki, Vardy, Mendy, Pereira.
West Ham United:Fabianski, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Diop, Noble, Masuaku, Anderson, Rice, Snodgrass, Diangana, Chicharito. Subs: Adrian, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Fredericks, Antonio, Powell, Coventry

Irrespective of who is in charge of West Ham United's medical team, and they've tried a few, the results still seem to be the same. Perpetually injured players have become part of the club's DNA but who is to blame? There are several choices as to who or what is responsible, the Rush Green training facility has come under close scrutiny with many believing that it is not fit for purpose despite it being a major upgrade from the old Chadwell Heath site.

One of two players who had successful loan spells at West Ham United but currently find themselves out of favour with their own teams could potentially make a return to the club.

Despite the obvious disappointment of losing 1-0 to much disliked London Rivals Tottenham at the London Stadium, many Hammers fans are relishing the 'bigger picture' and confirmation that at last the club has a centre back pairing every bit as good as the Ginger Pele and Winston Reid when in their pomp.

West Ham United: Fabianski, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Diop, Cresswell, Rice, Noble, Snodgrass, Yarmolenko, Arnautovic, Anderson. Subs: Adrian, Fredericks, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Dianang, Antonio, Perez.
Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies, Dier, Winks; Son, Eriksen, Moura, Kane. Subs: Lamela, Wanyama, Walker-Peters, Llorente, Gazzaniga, Davies, Skipp.