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Well the commentators had to get used to not getting too excited when pronouncing ex-Leicester City, now Chelsea midfielders name Konte, Sebastian Fuchs was another that was a live banana skin lurking to catch the unaware! Step forward West Ham United's newest recruit, Date of birth: Nov 7, 1993. Place of birth: Lille France. Age: 22. Height: 1,79 m. Nationality: France Congo DR, Name in home country: Fuka Arthur Masuaku!

So it came, it happened, and it passed.
No, not my morning ritual, but the OS/LS or whatever it will be called this week.
So how was it for you dear? I’m really not too sure to be honest. Maybe erring on the positive side. For now.
“Mutton dressed as lamb” I heard one comment. “Wow, un-be-lievable” was another. I guess I was somewhere in the middle. Depending on the photographic angle and agenda you were coming from, they were varying photos of the stadium that made it look either ridiculously ramshackle or stunning.

West Ham United have been drawn against Astra Giurgiu for the final qualifying round of the Europa League Cup, the ties to be played on the 18th and 25th of August with the first leg away in Romania. Astra Giurgiu knocked West Ham out of the same competition last year, the 2nd of the ties saw Slaven Billic sent off, which is why he was unable to be on the touchline for the first match against MK Donzale, it can be safely assumed that he will have a particular interest in gaining revenge for last season's defeat and what he considered to be an unfair red card.

West Ham: Randolph, Antonio Oxford, Nordvelt, Reid, Byram, , Kayoute, Feghouli, Noble ( c ) Valencia, Carroll Oxford. Subs:Adrian,obiang Burke, page, , Cullen, Quina, Fletcher.Cullen

Tomorrow's match is obviously a keenly anticipated event, despite the 'Sword of Damocles' 2-1 negative aggregate score against NK Domzale, defeat would see Hammers fail at their first hurdle of European footballing competition, not something the co-owners, players or fans would wish. To Thursday's game, there will be a huge amount of media attention, disproportionate to the importance of actual match itself, a loss would be damaging but not necessarily catastrophic and the match is a sell out .

There is plenty of interest around the Globe, and closer to home, in West Ham United's inaugural match at the London Olympic Stadium on Thursday evening, the 2nd leg of their UEFA Europa League cup tie against NK Domzale. Media coverage of the event is bound to be wide spread given the magnitude of the event and the timing being so close to the 50th anniversary of England's 1966 World Cup victory, famously engineered by the Hammer's triumvirate of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters.

Jealousy and inaccuracy seem to be behind the City AM article that has been published referring to possible sell on revenues of the Olympic stadium. Someone spent a lot of time adding 2+2 and getting 5! The poorly researched misinformation spouted by Frank Dalleres and Oliver Gill bears all the hallmarks of 'space filling', probably to offset the lack of a 'proper' lead story.

Ahead of the Europa Cup tie at the Olympic Stadium on Thursday, many West Ham fans are feeling less than buoyant, and in fact trepidation and anxiety seem to be the order of the day for many. Season's usually begin full of hope, but then a lack of recruitment/funding usually kicks in followed by relative mediocrity, last season was an exception, but perhaps it is the 36 years since winning a trophy or the 30 years since finishing 3rd in the top flight that fills supporters with dread!

West Ham: Adrian, Antonio, Nordvelt, Reid, Byram, Obiang, Kayoute, Feghouli, Noble ( c ) Valencia, Carroll. Subs: Randolph, Burke, Oxford, Page, Cullen, Quina, Fletcher.
NK Domzale: Maraval, Brachi, Horic, Dobrovoljc, Balkovec, Alvir, Horvat, Majer, Morel, Crnic, Mance

Tonight's 1st leg of the Europa cup adventure for West Ham begins at the Stadion Stozice in Slovakia, the venue has been twice re-arranged, with Hammers unable to have the Olympic Stadium ready in time for the original home tie which is now being played on August the 4th, but also the venue has changed from NK Domzale's own ground to the Stadion Stozice in order to allow for a larger attendance.