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Observers clearly lacking in knowledge about what pre-season football is supposed to be for, ie bringing a team to full fitness and full preparation ahead of the new season, as opposed to the friendlies being a cash cow, have been quick to condemn West Ham United's performance against a Man City team that had recently trounced Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur.

One thing most observers would say is that the once famed but recently under performing West Ham United Academy has finally come through with a new bunch of youngsters who are genuinely contenders for a first team place. To some sending Reece Burke and Josh Cullen out on loan to Bolton Wanderers might seem a negative step with regards to the player's development, but they are going to work with a manager they already know, and more importantly are guaranteed playing time.

Altona 93: Du Preez, Aniteye, Correia Ca, Yilmaz, Wachowski, Hosseini, Lechler, Hinze, Sachs, Brisevac, Kunter, Holz, Rettstadt, Dogan, Novotny, Grundmann, Cayir, Schultz, Siebert, Edeling, Matthai, Thiessen, Grubba, Buzhala
West Ham United: Adrian, Hart, Matrevics, Byram, Zabaleta, Cresswell, Masuaku, Collins, Ogbonna, Fonte, Reid, Burke, Rice, Makasi, Lanzini, Snodgrass, Obiang, Fernandes, Cullen, Holland, Arnautovic, Ayew, Martinez, Chicharito

In a laughingly 'fishing' article from those bastions of truth the Daily Mail, Everton are weighing up a £9million move for West Ham defender Winston Reid. Apparently Manager Ronald Koeman wants cover for the injured Ramiro Funes Mori and is considering a bid for the 29 year old, who has just returned to training following surgery on a long standing shin injury.

Werder Bremen: Pavlenka, Caldirola, Sane, Bauer, Augustinsson, Delaney, M.Eggestein, Bartels, Kainz, Kruse, Zhang
West Ham United: Hart, Zabaleta, Fonte, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Obiang (c), Cullen, Fernandes, Arnautovic, Snodgrass, Ayew
Subs: Adrian (GK), Byram, Burke, Collins, Cresswell, Rice, Makasi, Holland, Martinez
Match Kicks off at 14:30 and is being shown on Premier Sports TV

West Ham United: Adrian, Byram, Burke, Collins, Cresswell, Rice, Noble ( c ), Cullen, Holland, Makasi, Martinez Subs: Hart (GK), Zabaleta, Masuaku, Fonte, Ogbonna, Obiang, Snodgrass, Arnautovic, Fernandes, Ayew
Hammers 1-0 down after 11 minutes, Mark Noble off injured on the half hour! Replaced by Pedro Obiang, James Collins went of with a calf strain right at the death.

Those Hammers fans of a certain age will remember that before the internet and Sky the only news source for sports was the back page of newspapers, in those papers there were cartoons.

The arrival of Javier Fernandez has raised West Ham United's profile by a disproportionate amount, and so getting to actually see him live will be the preserve of those lucky enough to have season tickets or those who manage to get tickets via ticket exchange or are lucky enough to obtain one of the few tickets allocated via the members list.

Just like watching the last few home games last season, there had been some degree of stress with regards the impending arrival of Javier Hernandez at the magnificent London Stadium. Until the official site www.whufc.com had actually confirmed the signing there are those of certain years with long memories who would not believe the signing until it was thoroughly and irrefutably done and dusted! Even if the official site confirms it (remember Yossi Benayoun).

Not to put a downer on West Ham United's prolific recent transfer activity, but being West Ham, the fact that the club have already announced that there was a transfer agreement in place despite the player not having passed a medical nor more importantly having agreed personal terms is more than worrying! Having seen victory snatched from the club's clutches with regard to numerous other transfer activities in the past, the West Ham United hierarchy will be on baited breath when Hernandez flies in to London on tuesday, but will their hands be tied?