So our next game is a meeting with newly promoted Bournemouth, after the debacle against Leicester of all teams, I would have hoped for a more favourable opponent ie not new to the Premiership. I watched the game at Anfield and was impressed and worried. They were unlucky to lose, a good goal ruled out by an overzealous ref and a bad decision by the officials in allowing Liverpool's winner when a Pool player was clearly offside. Bournemouth's performance certainly deserved some reward and will give them hope for their next match against us. If we play as we did against Leicester they have every chance of three points! I trust that SB has viewed Monday's game and hopefully can limit their possession and pace of play, which if not counteracted will give us a very stern test. Saturday's match proved to me that we are lacking in almost every area and new players are a must. We have a new manager who is intelligent, and, as we all know very eloquent. let's hope he can instill the very same qualities into the team although I feel that the adage "new tricks to old dogs" may apply in this instance to some of our "old dogs" and I don't mean their age.

He was brought in during Zola's tenure - erratic at the best of times, you never knew whether he would put the ball into the stands from long range drive or score a penalty by falling over... yet there was always an air excitement of excitement when Alessandro had the ball - he would try anything, always thinking outside the box but a lot of the time seemed to lack the ability to execute or perhaps communicate his plans on the pitch... Since leaving West Ham he played for a few teams and got a few caps for Italy but now at 31 he has returned to the PL and signed for Bournemouth... I for one am looking forward to his return! Welcome back Diamanti!

I didn't see the game today as I was working but was listening to Radio 5 which had plenty of updates, sounds like we didn't turn up in the first half and gave away 2 goals, just wondered what the game was like really, they said Oxford got replaced at halftime but did we play ok or did we look more like we did in pre season?

They bring a new dimension. To. Time waisting

3 year deal rumour is doing the rounds again, it seems to be an annual one that comes round but let's all hope this time it's 'proper!'

Decent player with 111 goals in 161 games in the Turkish league.

Thoughts on this one, DITM, Lenuse and Iusedtosupportspurs are welcome to have a row over this topic also........

that Chelsea doctor that seems to have gotten on the wrong side of the special one , what a little belter , think of the moral .

http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2015/08/14/sam-allardyce-says-slaven-bilic-ha…

I agree with him in many ways. Yes, he did do all that was asked of him in the face of some ridiculous criticism form some of the club's followers, and inspite of them, he left the club in a far more stable position than when he arrived and with a far better group of players than he inherited, and overall, I think he did a good job. He was the right man at the right time.

I also believe that we will not make the top 6 this term without buying at least one more striker - even if Andy Carroll regains his fitness - and strengthen the backline with one more signing to provide cover at full back.

However, what he cannot deny is that Maiga has been a huge waste of money and that Jarvis was way, way overpriced.

Carroll's injuries were not his fault and the medical team have a great deal to answer for on that.

Overall, I feel his tenure was a success, so are we ungrateful? Well, I can't speak directly for G&S, none of us can, but it's clear that a noisy section of fans were against him from day one and before criticising him should look at themselves and the way that they behaved throughout his tenure. Such was their right of course, but he also has the same right to reply as he sees fit.

Personally, if I were him I wouldn't have gone public with it, but he obviously feels strongly about it and therefore feels that it has to be said.

Thanks Sam, and good luck for the future.

Well it's the final countdown at the Boleyn Ground. After the great start against Arsenal it will be interesting to see the tactics SB applies for home matches. Leicester have had a good start. In fact it could be said both teams have lost the element of surprise. A good win tomorrow could send out a fortress UP statement. I'm always cagey about my predictions but I'm going for a 3-1 win. I think our travels around Europe have our fitness levels higher than other Premiership Clubs and this might count. Your views.

Not sure what's gone on but what a refreshing change to hear a manager (our manager) give a totally honest opinion on the Amalfitano saga. Read part of his interview in the Daily Snail ( a rag I read whilst in the takeaway, not a rag I'd buy myself unless I needed toilet paper urgently). Bilic will have highs and lows at this club, we are West Ham of course, but I am impressed by his boldness ,re.Oxford, his frankness and honesty, see above post, and his belligerence, re.squad put out in last Europa game...I wonder if at long last the fans will sing the claret and blue army song with our managers name in it again....who was the last one to get that accolade?

So, Obiang seems to be fit. Poyet I thought had an excellent pre-season and Oxford made that astonishing debut against L'Arse. Assuming we play the same formation against Leicester, which of the three do you think Bilic should go for?

If it was up to me, I would probably start off with Obiang for the first hour or so, gentle introduction into the Premier League as it were and then replace him, probably with Poyet, I think he deserves some game time after his Europa League stint.

Oxford I would probably save for another day, let the hype settle down a bit.

Then again, there is always Nolan!