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Hammers split the main squad of players available into separate teams to play at Ipswich and Borehamwood this evening, a narrow win and a draw were acceptable results as players get used to the travails of playing again, although both Hammers teams were devoid of those who had been on International duty until late on.

Manchester United's tonking of Liverpool was a classic example of a pre-season money earner rather than a pre season preparation game for both teams, but you get the feeling the Reds that will be doing the damage once the season has begun will be from Merseyside.

As expected at this time of the transfer silly season, everytime someone gets a text message 'live on air' speculation is immediate that a transfer is in the offing, or at least an agent is suggesting so.

The Express earlier reported that the Irons have held loose agent talks over Stuttgart star Sasa Kalajdzic, so that would be no surprise if he was the man who triggered the pocket wobblers.

Having 'sold' or virtually given Sebastien Haller away nearly TWO years ago, Hammers manager David Moyes has searched far and wide to find a striker that he considers 'fit for purpose'. Thus far the search has proved fruitless with more blind alleys than a Mayfair exit on a Pride day attended by over 1,000,000 people!

When Sebastien Haller was sold on to Ajax the club were asked, by ourselves as to what sort of sell on clauses had been added to the contract, we were answered "well the club would be crazy NOT to have added them given such a huge drop in value, there would have to be a 'substantial' value added factor for the numbers to make any sense!"

Perhaps a degree of realism had descended over West Ham from a fan perspective as well as an overall feeling within the club, one that has punched well above it's weight for the last two and a half seasons and now needs a thorough overhaul even just to keep on the coat tails of the top six let alone the top four!

Jesse Lingard's "gone with the wind" potential epic appearance at Hammers' 'Goose Green' training ground has had more twists and turns than a Michael Moorcock Novel, with even more expected before the on off transfer grinds to its ultimate conclusion.

It is pretty clear who likes or dislikes Jesse Lingard in the Press and Media, their opinions not based on facts or figures come to that, but merely on conjecture and some 'divine' insight into the mind of a player who is about to make the biggest decision that remains in his career!

You don't need to be a maths scholar to know that signing two new players is only a drop in the transfer ocean for David Moyes and West Ham when you consider the fact that FOUR key players have left or retired, so FOUR players are required just to get the squad back to being wafer thin!

As one of the TWO new signings was already at the club on loan, the excellent Alphonse Areola who has now been signed on a permanent deal from PSG, it is plain to see that there is much to do for Moyes and head of recruitment Rob Newman.

Not only can West Ham offer Keane Lewis-Potter a route one entry to top flight football, but they can also guarantee the Hull starlet European Football, albeit in the Euro Conference League. Lewis-Pottter and his advisors will have watched Jarrod Bowen's imperious rise through the ranks to become an England International, a feat he would probably not have achieved if he had signed for one of the Big Four English teams, and thought "we want some of that!".

Criminals are often known for wanting to return to the scene of their crimes, David Moyes had an incredibly successful spell as manager of Everton FC, but still seems to like making a return in the form of 'showing interest in' or even buying up their discarded players!

David Moyes and West Ham have finally got their man, Nayef Aguerd! Despite Eddie Howe and the Toon's best efforts to derail the process, the 26 year old Morrocan International has put pen to paper for a five year deal and is hopefully going to establish a centre back pairing with Kurt Zouma for years to come.