Author: Geoff Hopkins

WHU, We’re Halfway There: Will West Ham Be Living On A Prayer At The Emirates Tonight

Tonight’s game marks the halfway point in the 2023/24 campaign. A rare West Ham win away to Arsenal would represent a best ever opening half to a Premier League season, but history is not on their side.

Tonight’s game against Arsenal at the Emirates stadium represents the halfway point of the 2023/24 Premier League season. At the end of the game, West Ham will have faced each opponent once, played ten of their 19 games away from home, and accumulated somewhere between 30 and 33 points.

It was quite a surprise after the pre-Christmas round of matches to find the Hammers occupying sixth place in the Premier League standings. The general vibe at the club has been nowhere near as positive as that league position suggests it should be – concerns about style of play and uncertainty over the manager’s future dominating the online discourse.

The results versus performance paradox was encompassed perfectly in last Saturday’s encounter with Manchester United. There is clearly no such thing as a bad victory over the Red Devils, but what a drab and dreary contest it was for well over an hour – and admittedly both sides were responsible for the criminally low standard of entertainment on show. The beautiful simplicity of the two West Ham goals totally incompatible with everything that had gone before them. It has been a long, long time since supporters have been able to enjoy the combined attacking prowess that Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus, and Lucas Paqueta offer – but there is a sense that the potential is only being partially realised, or unleashed as the headline writers like to say.

In the event that West Ham won tonight, they would achieve a best ever points tally at the halfway stage of a 38-game season, eclipsing the 32 points recorded from 19 games in 2020/21. A draw would give the Hammers an identical record to that achieved in 2021/22. And whatever the outcome, the three best opening half seasons (in terms of points won) will all have been under Moyes management – better than the 29 points earned by Harry Redknapp in 1998/99 and Slaven Bilic in 2015/16.

Winning away at Arsenal is, as we well know, a very rare occurrence for West Ham. In 21 attempts this century, it has only happened three times – the last encounter at Highbury in February 2006, the first at the Emirates in April 2007, and most recently in the opening game of the 2015/16 season. Aside from those three victories there has been one draw and 17 defeats. Each of the last seven games have resulted in a win for the Gunners with an aggregate score of 19-4..

No matter how bad the Hammer’s record is, Moyes managerial record at Arsenal is even less impressive. A total of 15 defeats and no wins from 19 visits, which represents a major element of his 70+ match winless streak from trips to Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal. I wonder if he has considered taking a different tactical approach yet.

The equivalent fixture last season was a Boxing Day game that Arsenal won comfortably by three goals to one despite falling behind to a first-half Said Benrahma penalty. A win that left the Gunners seven points clear at the top of the table – a lead that they would ultimately squander. A similar result today would again put them top of the pile and they are certainly one of three genuine title contenders along with favourites Manchester City and Liverpool. With that young Declan fella in midfield, they have a more solid, if less spontaneous, look about them – but they may not be clinical enough in front of goal to hold off the perennial late challenge from the champions. Perhaps signing Ivan Toney in January would make for a more even contest.

Apart from the continued absence of Michail Antonio, Moyes should have a fully fit squad to select from. The only probable change from the team that started against Manchester United is the return of Nayef Aguerd in place of former Gunner, Konstantinos Mavropanos. Dinos experienced a shaky opening half-hour to Saturday’s game but settled down to put in a decent second half showing. He will be needed to cover for Aguerd during the imminent AFCON absences.

AFCON is coming at a most unfortunate time for the blossoming Bowen/ Paqueta/ Kudus partnership. In the Ghanaian’s absence, the idea of Bowen moving back out wide and Antonio or Danny Ings in the middle is hardly a mouth-watering prospect. The interplay and interchange between the front three in recent weeks has hinted of a brighter future, but whether all three will still be around after the summer is a worry. It was interesting to see John Heitinga bending Moyes ear in the technical area last Saturday as I imagine he is behind some of the more enterprising glimpses of attacking movement.

There is no question that Moyes will deploy his trademark low block for tonight’s game. He will not want his team to concede five goals in three consecutive matches and will be more inclined to protect the point than going for broke. As Jon Bon Jovi might phrase the pre-match team talk: “We’ve gotta hold on to what we’ve got, It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not.”

As ever, if West Ham are to have attacking success, it will depend on how quickly players can/ are allowed to get forward in support Bowen. I saw in the week that Paqueta and Kudus are two of the three highest ranked attacking midfielders for tackles and interceptions in the league. While this is highly commendable and illustrative of how hard they work, defensive duties should not come at the expense of attacking intentions. The most productive way for the the Hammers to threaten the Arsenal defence is to target Zinchenko, its weakest link – and to keep Rice occupied in helping him out. Other than that, there is only Odegaard, Saka, and Martinelli to worry about.

It really is about time we got to see a James Ward-Prowse free-kick goal to equal the Beckham record. I’m not sure there has even been a near miss yet, so tonight would be perfect timing. In fact, the overall goals from set pieces record is very mid-table this season and well behind the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal. And despite what the commentators continue to say, Moyes team are no longer a big (tall) side compared to others. Of course, West Ham are massive, just not in height.

With Arsenal the masters of the last gasp winner, it will be vital to main concentration right into the thirteenth minute of added time. Can we complete a north London away day double? The chances are slim but you never know. COYI!

Moyes Ten Word Xmas Humbug: Wishing You A Cautious Christmas And A Dreary New Year!

West Ham and Manchester United meet in the early kick-off at the London Stadium. With both managers under fire, one could surprisingly end the day in the top six of the Premier League.

As 2023 draws to a close, West Ham’s season is increasingly dominated by uncertainty over the future of David Moyes. His contract now down to its final six months, he has the haunted look of a lame duck manager..

I recently read Ray Parlour’s comments where he claimed his own straw poll of West Ham fans suggested a 50/50 split in support for Moyes. I can only imagine that this must divide between those who watch the games and those who follow the results in the newspaper. Can anyone who regularly watches matches really be eager for more of the same? As I have mentioned previously, when Moyes does leave – almost certainly in the summer – the history books will look kindly on his record at the club. But what outsiders and pundits fail to understand is that the fan’s frustration is not about results but the repeated caution, negativity and lack of entertainment witnessed on the pitch. Safety first tactics, rarely dominating games and an inferiority complex that rarely sees his sides able to compete in games against the biggest clubs. Was that 21 trips to Liverpool as a manager without a win now?

The debacle at Anfield rightly left West Ham fans seething; from the moment the teams were announced until the minute the fifth goal hit the back of the net. And the manager’s inane post-match analysis only made matters worse. Let’s be honest, the game was effectively written-off before a ball had been kicked – and in a cup quarter-final, no less. A degree of squad rotation is expected and can be easily justified in the modern game. Resting one or two players here and there to keep things fresh. But to change an entire defence (almost) and leave most of the players capable of making use of limited possession on the bench was madness. Who could have guessed the ball wouldn’t stick in a midfield containing Tomas Soucek, Pablo Fornals, and Said Benrahma? It might have just about worked at home to Lincoln, but it was never going to pass muster away at Anfield? And why no attempt to fix things at half-time when good fortune meant there was still only one goal in it?

It is tempting to dismiss the squad’s second-string players as falling well below the required standard. But there are also many questions in the way resources are managed – and the lack of game time available. The odd five minutes here and there as a late substitute cannot keep players match ready.  When Klopp made his own rotational changes, it was an opportunity for fringe players to do their best and make an impression. With Moyes, it was ritual sacrifice of players who know full well they are not part of the manager’s trusted few.

Defeat at Liverpool followed what was perhaps the Hammers most accomplished league performance of the season – a 3-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers. There were again glimpses of the talent available in the squad, and a more expansive style of football that could be possible in the right setup. Having completely dominated the opening period though, we still had to endure the customary retreat after half-time in the name of game management? It was fortunate that the marginal off-side was chalked off by VAR and served as a timely wake-up call.

As well as making resolutions, attention will also turn shortly to the flinging open of the January transfer window – which runs from 1 January to 1 February. Predictions of West Ham’s planned intentions vary widely and stories of wholesale ins and outs have already been circulating for some weeks It seems unlikely to me that a great deal of business will take place – it rarely does in January – and the situation is complicated in any case by the convoluted FFP rules that UEFA and the Premier League have in place. Thoughts on what the clubs transfer priorities should be also vary – striker, centre back, full-back – so there will be no shortage of wild and fanciful speculation in the weeks ahead. We must also consider that a very thin West Ham squad will be further weakened as a results of AFCON absences from the middle of January..

Recruitment will not be helped by the managerial uncertainty. Does Moyes get to have any say in targets – if so, is that wise? If he doesn’t, will he select them to pay? A lot of faith has to be put in Tim Steidten surfacing with a couple of pearl-diving specials.

Today’s early kick-off features two of the 12 United’s currently playing in England’s top four leagues. How many of the others can you get? Our visitors have the air of a fading star whose best days are a distant memory. Someone who once graced the silver screen but can now only get work in panto at the end of the pier. For such a famous club it was a surprise to discover that all but two of their 20 league titles were under the guidance of just two managers – Busby (5) and Ferguson (13). The exceptions were both prior to the First World War.

Since Ferguson’s departure, six different managers (including one D Moyes) have failed to rouse the sleeping giant from its irritable slumber. With the Red Devils unceremoniously dumped out of Europe a few weeks back, current boss Ten Hag is in the leading pack to become the Premier League’s next managerial casualty.

At the moment, just one point separates the two sides in the current standings. Should either team win all three points, they will leap into the top six, at least until Newcastle play at Luton.

While Manchester United have a lengthy injury list to cope with, the Hammers have a close to full-strength squad to call upon – just Michail Antonio missing plus anyone still suffering from the mystery sickness bug. The only selection question mark for West Ham is at goalkeeper where Alphonse Areola did his best in midweek to hand the jersey back to Lukasz Fabianski. Vladimir Coufal is one booking away from a ban and hopefully he has benefited from anger management therapy since his last league outing against Wolves.

The most ominous thing I read in the build up to today’s game is that ‘Rasmus Hojlund is still searching for his first goal in England’s topflight‘. So, there’s a thought for anyone wondering where to place their two-bob stake money. Looking at other betting options, I was attracted by a odds of 7 or more goals being scored in the game. This could be a lucky one, coming in at 18/1.

Finally, I would just like to wish everyone who has read this far a very merry Christmas. I trust your trees are fully loaded with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrchandise from the club shop. COYI!

That list of United’s in full: Cambridge, Carlisle, Colchester, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Oxford, Peterborough, Rotherham, Sheffield, Sutton, West Ham

Another Chance To Break The Anfield Curse: West Ham Battle Liverpool For A Place In The EFL Cup Semi-Final

With a touch of verve, swagger and style returning to the Hammer’s play can they pull of a classic smash and grab at Liverpool tonight? Or will it be yet another case of Merseycide?

It will be a buoyant West Ham who head to Anfield tonight to take on Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup. The prize, a place in the semi-final draw alongside Chelsea, Fulham, and Middlesbrough. The winner of tonight’s tie becoming the highest ranked team remaining in the competition.

There have been a host of unlikely winners in 63 seasons of the Milk, Littlewoods, Rumbelows, Coca-Cola, Worthington, Carling, Capital One, Carabao Cup – but the Hammers have yet to get among them. In previous seasons, the names of Norwich, Birmingham, West Brom, Middlesbrough, QPR, Stoke, Luton, Swindon, and Oxford have all been engraved on the old trophy. But the best West Ham have to show for it is two losing final appearances. The first, a two-legged affair against West Bromwich Albion in 1966; the second, a replay defeat to tonight’s opponents in 1981.

In contrast to the Hammer’s duck, Liverpool have won the competition more times than any other club, running out victorious in nine of the 13 finals they have appeared in. Their most recent victory was in a 2022 penalty shootout against Chelsea in 2022, after the game finished scoreless after extra time.

One record that the two clubs share is the biggest win in EFL Cup history – by ten goals to nil. West Ham thumping Bury in 1983, Liverpool doing likewise to Fulham in 1986. There is no record of The Reds signing any of the Fulham defenders after the match as the Hammers did with Paul Hilton of Bury.

The curse of West Ham visits to Anfield is well documented. An emphatic 3-0 win in 2015, which indirectly led to the demise of Brendan Rodgers and the appointment of Jurgen Klopp, was the first away victory at Anfield for 52 years. But the hoodoo has not been lifted again since. The Hammers now on a run of seven consecutive defeats at Liverpool since a 2-2 draw in Dec 2016.

Tonight is the sixth time that West Ham have faced Liverpool in the EFL Cup. The first and last of those meetings saw the Hammers come out on top with Liverpool winning the three in between. Unsurprisingly, both West Ham wins were recorded at Upton Park – a 2-1 win (Hurst, Robson) in October 1971, and a shock 4-1 victory (Gale, Ince 2, Staunton OG) in November 1988. The Hammers line up that day: McKnight, Potts, Dicks, Gale, Martin, Devonshire, Brady, Kelly, Rosenoir, Dickens, Ince. It was an eventful year at West Ham as they were eventually beaten in semi-final of the EFL Cup by Luton, lost in a sixth round FA Cup replay to Norwich, and ended up being relegated.

It has become compulsory at this time of year to mention that the games are coming thick and fast, although Christmas schedules aren’t as hectic as they once were and European fixtures are taking a breather. Managers must still take a gamble with how they juggle resources. Even if the early rounds or the EFL cup are seen as nuisance it takes on greater significance as thoughts of the Wembley dome come to mind.

Klopp in particular will be in two minds on team selection with a top of the table clash with Arsenal on the weekend horizon, and at a time when the Anfield sickbay is bursting at the seams – Matip, Thiago, Bajcetic, Robertson, Mac Allister, and Jota are all probable absentees. Klopp has plenty of attacking talent to call upon, but they are clearly vulnerable in defence and midfield.

On the other hand, West Ham have only Michail Antonio on the long-term sick list – although a few are close to exhaustion if overnight reports are correct. It is either luck or testament to the club’s training methods that the Hammers have suffered few injury problems of late (makes note to touch wood). A far cry from the time when players only needed to pull their socks up to pull a hamstring.

The issue for Moyes is more about quality – or at least which players he feels he can trust. Playing the same group of players week in and week out doesn’t appear to be a sustainable policy, so he may well be pressured to make changes for tonight’s game. I would be quite happy to see two or three of Thilo Kehrer, Pablo Fornals, Said Benrahma, or Divin Mubama introduced but please no Aaron Cresswell or Danny Ings.

If the Hammers win it would make it a first EFL Cup semi-final for 10 years. Thankfully, Manchester City will not be waiting in the draw this time around. If they should advance, it is a eminently winnable competition. It’s just the record at Anfield that makes it a big ‘if’. But all winning and losing streaks must come to an end eventually so why not tonight when Liverpool’s have one eye fixed on the Premier League table? COYI!

Lifting The Lid On The Moyesball Paradox Of Dreary Football And Europa Success

West Ham regained some dignity with a fine performance against Freiburg in midweek. Now they face Wolves amid continuing speculation over manager David Moyes future.

It was interesting to hear David Moyes pre-match comment that although not personally worried about his current contract situation, he feared it might unsettle the players. Always good to get the excuses in early. His assumption, I guess, is that these highly paid professionals would be distraught at the thought of playing under new management. Moyes added that what he needed to focus on was picking up enough points to keep the Board happy.

Like many supporters I have this ongoing dilemma with Moyesball. It’s an internal conflict of never wanting West Ham to lose any game, but with an (apparently) delusional desire to be entertained in the process. It is the entertainment element that is generally overlooked outside those fans who regularly watch matches. It seems we should be grateful for any small crumbs of success that come our way even if the football is invariably dull and dreary. So, you get the situation where a pundit such as Jeff Stelling berates a West Ham supporter for wanting Moyes replaced, telling him he needs to ‘get a grip on reality’. Maybe the reality is that West Ham should be doing much better given the investment that has been made in the squad. Of course, there is no way that Moyes will lose his job before the end of his contract, but speculation will persist on whether a contract extension is conceivable.

If Moyes should leave in the summer, then the record books will show a respectable legacy from his time at West Ham. By almost all metrics, the 2020/21 season was the Hammer’s best ever in the Premier League. Most points, most wins, best goal difference and providing the sixth-place finish that would kick-start three consecutive seasons of European football. And then there was the success in last season’s Europa Conference that brought the club its first trophy in 43 years. In summary, that is not too shabby and, of course, this season is not yet over.

What the record books have no interest in, though, is the quality or style of football played during that time. And that is where the majority of disgruntled supporters take issue. Games are endured rather than enjoyed and results have rarely been good enough to gloss over that fact. Indeed, it has only been the European adventures that have served as Moyes ‘get out of jail free card’ over the past two seasons as domestic form flatlined.

The success of 2020/21 carried over into the early months of following season and after beating Crystal Palace on New Years Day 2022 the Hammers were handily placed in fifth spot. But then things started to change.  They were no longer a surprise package; opponents knew exactly how they wanted to play and were able to put a stop to the threat of rapid counterattacks. The opportunity to strengthen the squad in January was missed and both performances and results began to fall away. As the opportunity for breakaways receded the tactics lost their shine and simply looked negative.

An analysis of league form over two years since that Palace game, shows West Ham’s record as Played 72, Won 24, Drawn 14, and Lost 34. That’s a measly win percentage of 33% with an unremarkable average of 1.2 points per game. Is there no-one else who could have done better?

Throughout this time, Europe has continued to paper over the cracks. Excellent performances against Sevilla and Lyon and victory over Fiorentina in Prague being the standout moments. It would be wrong to belittle the European experience but equally going over the top about winning group games verges on embarrassing. With the exception of Freiburg, all opposition has come from the continent’s lower ranked leagues – Croatia, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Rumania, Serbia, and Greece. Any competent (and expensively assembled) Premier League side that took the competition seriously would be expected to come out on top. A team can only beat what’s in front of you but let’s not overegg the achievement. Even in the upcoming knockout round, West Ham should be easily among the favourites to make it through to the last eight.  

All that said, it was a fine professional performance on Thursday to secure top spot in Group A. The Hammers proving that when allowed to, they can play some decent football. The tie wrapped up by two excellent goals from summer signings Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez. I must admit I had pigeon-holed Alvarez as the typical defensive midfield destroyer and was both surprised and impressed by his contribution with the ball. All I had to go on were memories of him spooning long shots well over the bar earlier in the season.

In truth, Freiburg didn’t offer much and allowed West Ham far too much space in which to express themselves. It is maybe indicative of the strength in depth – and the amount of money available – in the Premier League compared to the Bundesliga.

The return to league action todays sees Wolverhampton Wanderers visit the London Stadium. Wolves have stabilised under the management of former Hammer Gary O’Neil and occupy a comfortable mid-table spot, thanks mainly to their impressive home form. The visitors will be without primary dangerman Neto, but Hwang and Cunha have been regularly finding the net. I watched them beat Tottenham a few weeks ago and was impressed by the way Lemina was able to boss the midfield.

Should West Ham beat Wolves today then they will be slightly better off than at the equivalent stage of 2020/21. On the other hand, they would now be below Everton had the Toffees not received a ten point penalty. A late run to qualify for Europe through league position seems unlikely however, especially in light of Moyes belief that he doesn’t need additional striking options. It will be interesting to see if any transfer activity takes place in January as it will undoubtedly be influenced by the manager’s contract position. The success of Kudus and Alvarez will surely have strengthened Tim Steidten’s hand in the leadership of future transfer business.

From Moyes point of view, his best chance of influencing the Board would be to win another trophy and extend the European adventure into a fourth season as a result. In that respect, he may view Wednesday’s league cup tie at Anfield as his most important pre-Christmas challenge. Whether that means resting a few of his favourites today will only be revealed once the teams are announced. We must wait and see.

More than anything I would hope to see more of the movement, space creation and interchange that we witnessed in the second half at Tottenham – and again on Thursday night. And without the lack of defensive discipline on show at Fulham. There are now enough talented players in the squad to break free of the Moyesball shackles, but will it be allowed to happen. COYI!

There’s Only One ‘F’ In Freiburg: Can West Ham Recover From Their Fulham Fiasco

West Ham complete their Europa League group campaign with a title decider against Freiburg. Will they bounce back from Sunday’s humiliation to top the group and head straight to March’s Round of 16?

Well, the euphoria that followed victory at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium didn’t last long, did it? And what a come down it was. We are well used to dull and dreary performances under Moyes, but it is a rare to be on the wrong end of a submissive, overwhelming drubbing like the one handed out by Fulham at Craven Cottage.

There were two mitigating excuses put forward by the manager after the game. One was the stomach bug which had allegedly affected several of the players; the other was a general sense of fatigue from the team’s hectic fixture schedule. Both may have played their part but equally they highlight a lack of depth in the squad and the inadequacies in the way that it is managed. Despite all the investment in playing staff we have barely progressed from the days of Harry’s bare bones.

When the teams were announced on Sunday it was obvious that a defensive midfield pairing of Thomas Soucek and James Ward-Prowse would likely prove vulnerable. Neither is an effective replacement for the stricken Edson Alvarez – just as they hadn’t along the road at Brentford. With Flynn Downes unceremoniously sent out on loan there just isn’t cover for the role protecting the defence. Just as there is little cover in the squad for several other critical roles. It is a sad indictment of the club’s transfer and youth policies.

The two changes Moyes made for the game, bringing in Aaron Cresswell and Pablo Fornals also raised alarm bells. As good a servant as Cresswell has been at West Ham, his best before date for top-flight football expired at least two years ago. And it’s a shame about the likeable Fornals. There simply isn’t anything special enough about his game for him to prosper in the breakneck pace of English football – and, certainly not as left winger. Was he selected to cover for Cresswell? It was said later that Fornals was among those suffering from the sickness bug, so to pick him ahead of Said Benrahma or Maxwell Cornet seems baffling?

While we can have some sympathy for player’s suffering from fatigue, it is one of the responsibilities of management to deploy available resources shrewdly. You will hear ex-pros saying that players prefer to play games rather train but the intensity of games is increasing all the time. And the Moyesball style of play requires more running than most. It is all the more perplexing therefore, that the same players are asked to put in the majority of minutes game after game. Substitutions are few, are usually made late in the day, and are often the same predictable like for like switches.

Is the rest of the squad so full of duds or is it that Moyes only likes or trusts his chosen few. Don’t the fringe players need minutes to build confidence and find their feet? In all league games this season, Divin Mubama has 56 minutes, Thilo Kehrer 21, and Cornet 1. Ben Johnson and Conor Coventry have yet to feature at all. Mubama is also the only academy player to find his way onto the pitch in any game in any competition.

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There was at least some positive news during the week as Manchester United and Newcastle crashed out of this season’s European competition. They will not now be dropping down into the Europa League. Whether AC Milan or Galatasaray represent easier opposition should the Hammers draw them is a matter of opinion. The immediate hurdle for West Ham’s Europa League ambitions is to avoid defeat tonight. If they can, they will top the group and bypass a tricky Qualifying Round in February.

In effect, the Hammers start tonight’s game with a one goal advantage from the away leg in Germany. The dilemma is whether the manager sets out to extend or defend that lead. Past performance suggests he is most likely to opt for the latter.

The away game in Germany was arguably West Ham’s best performance in Europe this year, overcoming a partisan crowd and bumpy pitch to run out as 2-1 winners. Apart from that defeat, Freiburg have won each of their other games in the group, including two storming 5-0 home victories against Topola and Olympiacos. These goalscoring feats are at odds with their Bundesliga form where they have only managed 17 goals in 14 matches – and just 6 in 8 games away from home. Still, they are comfortably mid-table and have enjoyed successive 1-0 away wins at Mainz and Wolfsburg in the last two weeks.

It has been reported that the sickness threat has receded from the Hammer’s dressing room and will allow Moyes to go as close to full strength as he sees fit for the game. He will surely go with his strongest lineup and there are unlikely to be any surprise selections.

My prediction for the game at Fulham was that it would be decided by the odd goal – well five’s an odd number, isn’t it? Regardless of that abject failure, I will predict the same again tonight. In fact, I can see it ending 1-0 – but who to? Whatever approach West Ham adopt at the start of the game, we all know that the final ten minutes (plus added time) will be one long, nail biting, edge-of-the-seat agony. Plus ça change! COYI!   

Hammers Set To Jingle All The Way From Tottenham To Craven Cottage

Oh what fun it is to see West Ham win away! This weekend’s special glass half-full edition looks forward to Sunday’s cross-town trip to Fulham

For your love, natural born bugie, Tottenham 1 West Ham 2. That’s enough humble pie for now as we take the opportunity to bask in the glow of a rare and unexpected victory at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Thursday evening. What a delightful treat to find behind door number 7 on this year’s advent calendar.

Wins against our pretentious North London neighbours are guaranteed to put a smile on the face of all but the most curmudgeonly West Ham supporter, no matter what the circumstances. Coming back from the dead – a goal down in a one-sided first half – made the win even sweeter. Direct evidence as to who had been naughty and who had been nice. For masterminding the victory, David Moyes is firmly in the driving seat for the Hammer’s December Employee of the Month award.

The post-match comments of the two managers highlighted the contrasting perspectives of style. Having lost his early season midas touch, Postecoglou had come under media scrutiny for the first time in the wake of five games where his team scored first but failed to win – losing four of them. His magical powers seemingly overhyped by observers, he claimed his priority was to win games rather than simply to entertain. He had been let down by his team who were not clinical enough in their finishing. In truth, Spurs had few ideas and lacked a cutting edge in the face of the massed West Ham defence. They rarely turned superior possession into genuine goal scoring opportunities and without Maddison looked quite ordinary – reminiscent of Bilic’s West Ham during the period Payet was missing through injury.

Moyes on the other hand reiterated (as if we didn’t know) that his plan was to set up not to lose. Perhaps it was the right tactic for this game. In hindsight it is difficult to argue the approach wasn’t the right one, although the binary nature of Moyesball continues to frustrate a large number of fans. With so many players behind the ball in the deepest of low blocks during the first half, it proved impossible to retain possession if and when the ball was won. Moyes observation on the first half performance included the now mandatory “we didn’t play as well as we would have liked!”

The second half transformation offered glimpses of what a decent footballing side West Ham can be when let off the leash. Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus, and Lucas Paqueta each have creative potential to spare and with able assistance from James Ward Prowse and Emerson can cause problems for any opponent. When deployed further forward, JWP is a far more effective player than when marooned as a defensive midfield pivot. The one-two with the goalpost for the winner was classic showboating.

I read somewhere that West Ham’s haul of 24 points from their opening 15 games is a best ever for a Premier League season. I don’t know if that is true, but it is certainly beats (by two points) the position at the comparative stage of 2020/21, when they went on to amass a record 65 points. So, if we can sign Jesse Lingard in January, European qualification might be a possibility after all.

It has only been fleeting but a degree of positional fluidity has occasionally been observed in games of late. Bowen and Kudus switching roles, Paqueta doing a turn as the furthest player forward, JWP or Edson Alvarez popping up on the left wing, Emerson making surging runs into midfield. Are these planned moves or simply the result of independent player decisions? Are we seeing the influence from assistant manager, John Heitinga. While the other coaches at West Ham look best suited to putting out the cones or cutting the half-time oranges, the Dutchman might perhaps be experimenting with a touch of progressive continental flair – a peculiar Moyesball hybrid of sub-total football, perhaps.

Fulham will be West Ham’s third London opponents of the week when the teams meet at Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon. The home side have suddenly found their scoring boots after a mostly unconvincing start to the current campaign. Having relied heavily of Mitrovic’s goals for the past few seasons they had struggled to find the net following his departure in the summer. But a run of 11 goals from the last three games will have given them added confidence – even if one of those games ended in a 4-3 defeat at Anfield.

Fulham manager, Marco Silva’s career has alternated between someone destined for great managerial things and one struggling to maintain momentum against the odds. Given the resources available, it is difficult to see anything better for his Fulham team than mid-table obscurity. It may be good enough to meet expectations but may not enhance Silva’s prospects.

West Ham have won three and drawn one of their last four encounters with Fulham. They were one of just two teams who the Hammers did the double over last season – an own goal from Harrison Reed settling the equivalent fixture in West Ham’s favour.  

With the Europa League group decider against Freiburg coming up next Thursday, will Moyes be tempted to rest any key players from tomorrow’s selection? It feels unlikely and barring any last-minute injuries it will be the same eleven that started at Tottenham. The fitness and restricted mobility of Kurt Zouma is particularly worrying but the defence looks a good deal more solid when he is at its middle.

We are used to cagey openings to almost every West Ham game these days, and this weekend will doubtless be much the same. We should expect a game decided by the odd goal with Fulham bossing possession around 60-40. If West Ham take the lead, then one eye will be on Thursday’s game, and they will drop deep to defend it. It would be great to follow up the Spurs win with another one at Fulham – and for Bowen to maintain his on-the-road goalscoring form. It would be better still to see even more of what the players an do with the ball at their feet. The bubbles are flying high after Thursday night and putting in a top performance will provide the measure of our dreams. COYI!

West Ham Travel To Tottenham In Episode Two Of Their London Trilogy

It was another disappointingly dull display from the Hammers on Sunday. What can we expect from the daunting trip to rejuvenated Tottenham? It’s a game that rarely ends in success!

It seems particularly cruel for fans who have had to put up with Thursday-Sunday football due to the scheduling of European matches to suffer the same fate in a rare midweek set of Premier League fixtures. The manager will now be in two minds whether the long trip to N17 can be used as an excuse for a poor performance at Fulham next Sunday.

The opening instalment of the London trilogy was an unspectacular draw with Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon. On a day of thrilling, high-scoring fixtures whoever picked the game between the league’s two most boring sides for live TV won’t be getting a Christmas bonus this year. It must be close to the point where TV executives will do anything possible to avoid broadcasting a West Ham game. The biggest post-match talking point was whether dishwater or ditchwater was the correct way to describe the level of dullness.

The quality and incisiveness of the Hammer’s goal was teasingly out of keeping with anything that came after it. A delightful pass from James Ward-Prowse to Vladimir Coufal on the right wing, the Czech laying a precise ball into the path of Mohammed Kudus who swept the ball into the net. If anyone had hoped that the goal would prompt an attacking masterclass, they were to be sadly disappointed. True to form the tactics reverted to game management mode. The visitors were equally inept but were able to rely on West Ham’s habit of falling asleep in the minutes immediately after the motivational half-time team talk. The culprit on this occasion was Konstantinos Mavropanos whose inexplicable attempt at a blind pass close to his own goal set up the equaliser. Nothing of real significance happened in the time remaining and the Premier League’s two oldest managers could go home happy with the point they had each saved.

It has become increasingly difficult not to covet your neighbour’s football philosophy. There has often been solace in the fact that whatever blunders and disappointments occurred at West Ham, Tottenham would invariably go one better. Their perennial ability to stumble at the vital moment just as their fans were on the cusp of celebration was a seasonal delight. Having missed out on European qualification and then losing their talisman striker to Bayern Munich, everything pointed to a season of struggle for Spurs. But the appointment of Ange Postecoglou has been a breath of fresh air for a club bogged down by a run of negatively minded managers that followed the sacking of Pochettino.

It’s not that Tottenham are realistic title contenders, despite their fine start, but they are playing football in a way that excites supporters – gets them off their seats and looking forward to the next game. Having the mindset that allows them to go to Manchester City and give it a go right until the end is a wonder we can only dream of. It is painful to have to say this in the light of the dross we have to sit through each week.

There is a real danger West Ham will be annihilated on Thursday night, just as they did in the equivalent type of game at Villa Park. They will struggle to cope with the speed and variety of the home attacks and while Tottenham high defensive line can look vulnerable, it is unlikely that the Hammers will be set up to exploit it. It is suggested that the form book is often ripped to pieces in local derbies but recent history offers little encouragement.

Since David Moyes return to West Ham at the end of December 2019, the Hammers London derby record is less than impressive. They have won 10 and lost 19 of 38 Premier League matches against London rivals. Away from home, they have won just three (lost 14) out of 19. In 14 away visits to Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham they have earned only a single point – the 3-3 draw at Tottenham in October 2020.

In the absence of any recent fond memories, we should spend a few moments reminiscing about historic away wins at Spurs – I counted five since the start of the Premier League: a 4-1 win in April 1994, Steve Jones scoring the first, two from Trevor Morley and one from Mike Marsh; Dani heading home the only goal of the game in February 1996; Ian Wright and Mark Keller scoring (and an old school red card for John Moncur) in April 1999 to secure a fine 2-1 win; the Ravel Morrison inspired 3-0 rout in October 2013 with goals from Winston Reid, Ricardo Vaz Te, and Morrison; and finally Michail Antonio scoring the first goal by an opposition player in April 2019 at Tottenham’s new stadium to record a 1-0 victory.

Trying to find positives from the current situation at West Ham is not easy. OK, so there is not going to be a relegation battle but then pushing for European qualification is equally improbable. Without an acceptable level of entertainment on the pitch, the obvious question is what is the point? There is zero chance of Moyes making meaningful changes to his playing style. The gap between his overly cautious safety-first approach and the expansive, passing game fans want to see cannot be bridged by a few tweaks. It requires a whole new footballing philosophy. Moyes could no more change that than the other defensively minded coaches who went before him.

But even looking at his preferred group of players, Moyes has clear structural problems fitting them into his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation. The long-term striker problem is well known and has been well documented. Perhaps it will be addressed in January but don’t hold your breath. In the interim Jarrod Bowen may be the best bet to fill the gap – but can anyone make a success of the role when the front man is so isolated from the rest of the team?

In getting the right level of support to the striker and being able to play creatively through the midfield has obvious shortcomings. It can be argued that Edson Alvarez deserves his place for his defensive cover, JWP for his set piece deliveries, and Tomas Soucek for his goals from midfield. But their combined overall contribution in possession is below average – and less than the sum of their parts. A high performing team wanting to move the ball quickly and decisively cannot carry all three. It also forces Lucas Paqueta to be parked out on the left wing when it is obvious he would be more effective deployed centrally. But then what is the alternative option on the left hand side apart from the repeatedly disappointing Said Benrahma – a player who has seemingly completely lost his mojo.

The performances of Kudus have been encouraging so far, but where is his best position? And how does he fit in with Bowen and Paqueta assuming the striker shortfall is addressed. That’s potentially a lot of attacking talent available but how do they slot together in the same side? Does anyone have a plan to match the players available and the manager’s formation?

There are very few straws to be clutched at for tomorrow’s game. With the home side’s newfound verve it is hard not to look at the game with trepidation. I fear a sound thrashing but will nevertheless hope that something unexpected can happen. COYI!  

Results Or Performances: Why Can’t We Have Them Both At West Ham

If West Ham beat Crystal Palace today it would make it five wins in a row. But only the most optimistic spectator could take any pleasure from recent performances.

Looking through a very distant lens you might conclude that West Ham and their supporters are enjoying a decent season. In the top half of the Premier League, into the 5th round of the EFL Cup, looking for a fifth consecutive victory in all competitions, qualified from their Europa League group with a game to go, and apparently second only to Real Madrid in the number of European victories over the last two season. But the reality is very different.

It is a rosy picture painted from carefully selected data. And is surely only a perspective shared by pundits and others whose only exposure is watching highlights or checking the results – but who rarely sit through a whole 90 minutes. Is it possible that anyone who regularly watches West Ham games intently finds the football served up to be enjoyable? That scraping home against teams you are expected to beat is enough to excuse the negative approach shown in every game? Isn’t there a responsibility to entertain in return for the devotion.

I have read in previews for today’s game that the Hammers recent form is impressive. But do those last four performances against Olympiacos, Nottingham Forest, Burnley, and Backa Topola deserve to be represented as good form? Games where the manager trots out the inevitable “we didn’t play as well as we would have liked” in the post-match interview. Well, why was that, David?

Has there been any match this year where West Ham have dominated throughout 90 minutes? If they manage to get ahead, it is a case of shutting up shop in the interests of management. Otherwise, it seems the team has little attacking ambition until they fall a goal behind and there is ten minutes remaining. As supporters, we spend the whole week looking forward to games and this is what we get for our patience!

The last three victories have all arrived in the closing minutes courtesy of goals from Tomas Soucek and his whirling dervish goal celebration. It is great that Soucek has started to score again and there is a delicious irony in David Moyes comment that Soucek’s goal contribution was adversely affected by the role given to Declan Rice. If only there was someone tactically aware in the manager’s seat who could have spotted that during those last two seasons.

Last weekend’s game at Burnley showed how much the current system relies on Jarrod Bowen as an attacking threat and outlet. Without him there is no movement and no penetration. It is painful to watch Danny Ings these days regardless of whether it’s the system or his legs that are letting him down. At least the introduction of Divin Mubama injected some much needed energy that was instrumental in fashioning the equalising goal. It is early days for the youngster, but it looks like his close control needs to improve if he is going to be effective at the top level. His lack of game time plus the fact that the successful Hammers youth side he comes from play a totally different system, cannot have helped his development.

Ultimately, the West Ham fight back at Turf Moor was inspired by Mohammed Kudus. Kudus still needs time to fully adapt to the Premier League, but he is making useful contributions, even if he does tend to drift out of games for lengthy periods. The quirk of the assist rule that he did not get credit for the first goal is peculiar.

Without something drastic happening in the January transfer window – I am resigned to Moyes staying until the end of the season – West Ham’s current 9th place looks to be as good as it can possibly get. There is little chance of catching any of the clubs above us, and a good chance that one or two below will put good runs together. Any hopes of further European qualification from league position are a very long shot indeed. Equally, the odds of winning the Europa League are increasingly small with the likes of Liverpool, Brighton, and Leverkusen already in the draw – and the possibility of clubs such as Manchester United, Newcastle or PSG joining them. The three year run of Euro campaigns appears to be hitting the buffers and without that the club becomes a less desirable destination.

The immediate Euro challenge is to top the group and avoid an extra qualifying round in February. No prizes for guessing how we might approach the game against Freiburg where the sole objective is to avoid defeat.

All fingers are firmly crossed that Bowen will return to lead the attack for today’s game against Crystal Palace. Apart from that we should expect no deviation away from Moyes preferred starting eleven – unless reports of sickness in the camp dictate otherwise. None of the fringe players who were given a run out against Topola made a strong argument for a Premier League return and the likes of Aaron Cresswell, Ben Johnson, Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma are now designated as ‘for emergency use only’. If Bowen is absent, the manager will be faced with an Ings versus Mubama conundrum – with Moyes almost certainly opting for Ings.

Of course, there is always an outside chance for a rare sighting of the lesser spotted Maxwell Cornet. Cornet has seen just one minute of Premier League action this term to add to his 245 minutes from last season. Since his signing from Burnley on a five year contract in the summer of 2022 he has played fewer minutes than the equivalent of three full games. As one of the small number of players in the squad with genuine pace it is an odd situation.  

Visitors, Crystal Palace have won just two of their last ten games before today. In all they have won just four times this season, three of which were away from home at Sheffield United, Manchester United and Burnley. There last two outings ended in defeats to Everton and Luton. Only Sheffield United have scored fewer goals than them in league games. Palace have also won just two of their last 16 London derbies, although both of those were against the Hammers. The Eagles triumphing 2-1 at the London Stadium last November and 4-3 at Selhurst Park in April.

This season’s campaign has been hampered by long-term absences of their two flair players, Eze and Olise. Both played last weekend, but Eze limped off last week and will probably miss today’s game and the opportunity to dive around in the penalty area. Olise is a fine player and will make it an uncomfortable afternoon for Emerson. We should also look out for the always snarling Ayew who regularly saves his better performances for games against West Ham.

Sunday afternoon following the Thursday before rarely proves to be to the Hammers liking and hopes are not high for a barnstorming affair. In theory West Ham have the stronger side but how that materialises under the manager’s cautious tactics is the cause of much agonising. It’s not going to be a thriller and may well be settled by an individual moment of brilliance from one team or the other. COYI!

Will Moyes Be Tasting Victory In The Kompany Of Clarets

Another Premier League reset after an international break. A routine West Ham victory or will they be hapless victims in the hosts quest to end their pointless home run?

The fixtures computer has celebrated the passing of the last international break of the year with a set of blockbuster matches for Saturday afternoon including Sheffield United – Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest – Brighton, Luton – Crystal Palace, and of course West Ham’s visit to Burnley. It promises to be an inspiring weekend of elite level football.

The Hammers have been uncharacteristically lucky with injuries so far this season. But, as news filtered back from the international camps, it looked like that was about to change . Michail Antonio, Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus all picking up worrying injuries – and Vladimir Coufal mixing up the moves to the Macarena in a Czech nightclub. Coufal reprising the famous Moore and Greaves Blackpool nightclub incident of 1971. Let’s hope that doesn’t turn out to be this season’s 3rd round draw.

Fortunately, the injuries to Bowen and Kudus do not appear to be as bad as first feared, and both should be available this afternoon. Antonio, however, is likely to be side-lined for some time. This should mean that the Hammers will start today with the same eleven that took the field against Nottingham Forest.

The injury scares have brought the ludicrous striker situation back into sharp focus. The negligence of starting a Premier League season with only Antonio and Danny Ings as your recognised strikers is truly astounding. And considering that both are well towards the sunset of their careers, it is doubly baffling. Thankfully, Bowen’s goal-scoring form has offered some compensation. If he can maintain the current rate of return he is on track to set a West Ham Premier League record for goals scored in a season – Paolo Di Canio’s 16 goals in 1999/2000 is the target to beat.

There has already been a slew of striker transfer stories online in advance of the January window – and as usual they range from the mundane to the ridiculous. However, the club’s room for manoeuvre may well be limited by the dreaded Financial Fair Play, which popped up in the week to bite Everton on the bottom. Perhaps FFP provides a blessing in disguise and forces the club to abandon its policy of buying expensive flops and selling them at a loss and rely instead on discovering young unknown talent. Over to you, Tim!

Everton’s ten-point deduction (should it stand on appeal) would seem to make it almost impossible for the Hammers to become embroiled in a relegation battle this season. With all three of the promoted sides struggling for points, the only team now below the Toffees are today’s opponents, Burnley.

Having romped away with last season’s Championship, Burnley’s return to the Premier League has proved to be a rude awakening. All four of their points have been won away from Turf Moor and defeat today would make it seven in a row at home. Of course, the patron saint of lost causes is always happy to serve up a game against West Ham in such desperate circumstances: “You haven’t scored in in a season and a half, Neal Maupay, let me see what I can do!”   

The Hammers have saved up some of their worst ever recent performances for games against the Clarets. A humiliating 3-0 thrashing in November 2019 and a home defeat by the same score in March 2018 – the game that prompted the London Stadium pitch invasion – spring to mind. Burnley are a very different proposition under the guidance of Vincent Kompany, but the omens are ominous.

The Clarets are one of only three teams in the Premier League to have conceded more goals than West Ham to date. The other two are Bournemouth and Sheffield United. That must be an uncomfortable statistic for the resilient defence obsessed David Moyes. It is interesting to compare our position after the opening 12 games of the current campaign against 2022/23. Last season a win against Bournemouth in Matchweek 12 took us up to 10th place – it would be our highest position all season – having scored 11 and conceded 12. This term, there are three more points on the board, while the team have scored 21 and conceded 22. So, has something changed in the Moyesball bag of tricks? Or can the differences be explained by individual performances?

It is difficult to put a finger on any drastic tactical change as it still comes across as the usual cautious and unadventurous fare. But if there is anyvariation, it is that the ‘low block’ of ten men behind the ball at all times has become more relaxed. More players are allowed to stay forward to assist with counter attacks. But the slightly higher press that has replaced the low block appears to be a haphazard, half-hearted affair. Despite the valiant efforts of Edson Alvarez in patrolling in front of the back four, opponents have been able to muster many more goalscoring opportunities.

At the other end of the pitch, West Ham are close to claiming back their crown as set piece supremo’s. Much of that is down to the extraordinary delivery from James Ward-Prowse plus the return to goalscoring form of Tomas Soucek. There is a trade-off from having JWP and Soucek in the side in that both have limitations in open play. If the two must play together, it works better when JWP has greater freedom in a more advanced role – not as part of a defensive midfield pivot.

The Hammers are now blessed with more creativity than they have for some time in the form of Kudus and Lucas Paqueta. Kudus is clearly still getting used to football in England and apart from a few special moments is more about potential than being a consistent performer. Paqueta is always looking for the unexpected and at times this can be frustrating when first time flicks go astray. Personally, he is the type if player I love to watch but would prefer him to keep his tricks to the attacking half of the pitch.

So, what to make of today’s game. The combination of Burnley’s shocking home run and the historic obliging nature of West Ham is a concern. On the other hand, from what I have seen of Burnley they are very vulnerable in the air at set pieces – a weakness that should tip the scales in the Hammers favour. No doubt Moyes will allow the home side most of the possession and it might just pay off on this occasion. COYI!        

Moyes Not-So-Merry Men Must Raise Their Game To Fend Off Forest Fire

With just four points from the last seven league games, West Ham need new ideas and fresh impetus to avoid entering into the international break as a bottom six club.

If I could turn back time, I might choose to spend the evening listening to a 1970s supermarket music playlist on Spotify rather than watching West Ham take on Olympiacos in the Europa League. Even allowing for the low expectations set for a good many of the European group games, this was especially dire. Ninety minutes of forgettable mediocrity.

The post-match baloney from David Moyes featured his greatest hits of well-worn, trite excuses. “We didn’t play as well as we had hoped”. “The opposition have years of European experience”. “Coming away with the three points was the most important thing”.  “They were defensively well organised and stopped us getting our crosses in” – if only there were alternative routes to goal, David.

There is a generally accepted rule that all successful sides will need to win ugly from time to time, but lately West Ham know no other way. Supporters should always want their team to win but don’t we also want to be entertained while they’re at it? Is there any lasting pride or pleasure to be had when resilience and organisation are valued above everything else?

In the end the Hammers wreaked their much-wanted revenge over their Greek opponents who had ended their unbeaten streak two weeks earlier. But it came from the game’s single moment of genuine quality rather than as the result of sustained assault. The presence of a simple yet beautifully crafted goal was incongruous in such a drab match. A sumptuous, chipped pass by James Ward-Prowse perfectly placed for Lucas Paqueta well-timed run into the box to volley home. The on-field decision to flag for offside was representative of the shocking officiating on show all night. Replays clearly showing that Paqueta’s faultless calculation of the angles would have made even Pythagoras proud. Good old VAR!

In one of those quirks of the fixture list, West Ham now find themselves facing two teams owned by the same shady Greek mogul, Evangelos Marinakis, within the space of three days. Despite serial accusations of match fixing and other nefarious activities, Marinakis was considered fit and proper enough to become the majority shareholder of Nottingham Forest in 2017.  His tenure has seen the former European champions return to the top tier of English football following promotion to the Premier League in May 2022.

Forest have made an acceptable start to the new season having accumulated one less point than the Hammers from their opening 11 games. They were very poor travellers throughout last season, and although their struggles on the road have largely persisted they have tasted victory at Chelsea and secured a goalless draw at Palace, where they were easily the better team. Should they win today they would leapfrog West Ham and potentially enter the international break sitting in the top half. The same outcome could see ourselves, the one-time league leaders, drop down into the bottom six.

Today’s game is the last of seven played by West Ham since the last blank international weekend. In that time, there have been two cup wins but not a single league point – having lost all three games to Aston Villa, Everton, and Brentford. It is a tough schedule but still a terribly poor return for a team that sets up not to lose. Since the start of last season, Moyes team have lost 25 and won just 15 of 49 games. This leaves a triple whammy where the club has spent bags of money on transfers, where the football remains tedious, and is not yielding results.

During his time as West Ham boss, Moyes has spoken about instilling a big club, winning mentality to the club. Just as he has talked about Red Bull models. Recently, he has again claimed to have made changes in approach to make us more expansive. This has completely passed me by. As they used to say in banking: “the words and numbers do not match!”

The squad may now contain additional flair players, but the underlying fundamentals have not changed. The overwhelming focus on compact defence and denying space to opponents means that when we eventually win the ball there are too few passing options available. Players are bunched together, are not able to create space and switch play, and become easy prey to the opposition press. Or else it results in hopeful blind first-time flicks to no-one in particular. I have to believe it is coaching rather than individual technical ability that is causing the problem, otherwise a change of manager would make no difference. Sure, upgrades are needed in certain positions, but we have seen how progressive managers have breathed new life into previously dispirited squads.

West Ham will need to up their game from midweek if they are to win today. Forest are one of a small group of teams who boast less possession than the Hammers and they will be happy to sit back and play on the break. They will have done their homework and be fully aware of the Hammer’s creative limitations when allowed the lion’s share of the ball. A ponderous build up ending with hopeful crosses into the box. Or is today the day that Moyes finally reveals a cunning new plan from his dusty box of managerial tricks? Probably not!

Kurt Zouma continues to struggle with his various injuries so it will be as you are at the back except for a return between the sticks for Alphonse Areola. There was a pyrrhic victory for Areola in the week when he picked up the Premier League save of the month award – a shame it came in a 4-1 defeat at Aston Villa.

If Moyes is considering changes it will be possible recalls for stalwarts Michail Antonio and Thomas Soucek. The unintended consequence of leaving Soucek on the bench is that Ward-Prowse is consigned to a far deeper defensive position where he is way less effective. He started his West Ham career at a blistering pace in a more advanced role but perhaps this was creating to much excitement. In midweek he was deployed even deeper than Edson Alvarez. The sublime assist apart, his contribution was mainly backwards and sideways passing reminiscent of a late career Mark Noble tribute act.

I pray to the footballing gods that Moyes again leaves Michail Antonio on the bench and sticks with Jarrod Bowen up top. But equally he needs to realise that Bowen isn’t a straight replacement for Antonio. Other changes to shape are necessary to provide the support required to make this work effectively. Bowen offers greater control and finesse plus the opportunity for interplay and darting runs that can be key in unlocking packed defences. Bowen is not the long term answer to the Hammer’s striking woes but he is the best we have for now.

A memory will have popped up on Danny Ings Facebook page during the week to remind him of his solitary West Ham league goals in this corresponding fixture last season. Ings scoring twice in an unusually comfortable 4-0 win. Divin Mubama, on the other hand, will need a rest following his midweek run-out – the one-minute manager having chosen to bring him on in the 89th minute to show what he can do.

Quite what has become of Said Benrahma in his three years at the London Stadium is beyond all comprehension. His confidence levels appear to have been shattered to the point where every move he attempts is the wrong one. If footballing decisions were a multiple-choice paper, he would regularly be scoring 0%.

I long for the days when I looked forward to West Ham games with anticipation. I find myself conflicted between wanting the team to win against the desire for much-needed change in the way they are managed. Unless Moyes pulls off a shock cup-winning treble, there can be no way he will get a new contract in the summer. With the board reluctant to act before that I fear we will limp along as we are until May. Seeing out the season will be like watching a goldfish that has jumped out of its bowl and is flapping around on the carpet until it slowly dies – and being unable to do anything about it.

We might possibly win today. But it’s not going to be pretty. If West Ham are winning at the break can we ask Kevin Nolan to lock Moyes in the toilet and prevent him sucking all the energy out of the half-time dressing room? COYI!