Tag: #COYI

Experts Are Baffled As Half Decent Football Team Are Spotted At The London Stadium

A third win on the bounce and a more attacking philosophy has raised spirits around West Ham. It shouldn’t have taken this long to get here, but hope has been given a new lease of life.

It had been a spluttering start in Saturday’s early kick-off but once the Hammers got into their stride it transformed into their most adventurous and accomplished performance of the season. A third consecutive win in all competitions has served to lift the mood at the club and, although the situation remains desperate, there is hope that an outside chance of safety remains possible. Despite the known gaps, there is now more quality in the squad than results have led us to believe.

For a pleasant and welcome change, Nuno resisted meddling with either personnel or formation for the visit of Sunderland. Returning AFCON winner, Malick Diouf, had to settle for a berth on the bench where there was also a surprise return for the estranged James Ward-Prowse. JWP taking over the seat recently vacated by the departing Guido Rodriguez.

Witnessing West Ham attack in numbers might take some getting used to. While the introduction of Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe may not have glut of goals written all over it – they are no McAvennie and Cottee – their presence does occupy defenders and make space for others to exploit. Both are prepared to work hard with or without the ball and will hopefully to contribute more in front of goal as they become acclimatised to English football.

It was amusing to hear Nuno talking post-match about the importance of getting more bodies into box – as if it was a genius tactical revelation known only to him. I would ask why it has taken so long to realise this, when fans (including myself) have railed against the lack of penalty box action for the last three or four managers. Perhaps it is Paco Jemez who must be given the credit for the uncharacteristic change of direction.

The opening goal was a perfect example of its benefits. When Jarrod Bowen crossed the ball, he was one of five West Ham shirts in the area. While Sunderland defenders are distracted by the presence of Pablo, Castellanos and Tomas Soucek, space is created for the salmon-like leap of Jimmy ‘The Fish’ Summerville to thunder home his header.

In real time, the penalty looked a little soft to me, although Ollie Scarles was definitely caught as he jinked his way into the box. Bowen neatly dispatched the resultant penalty but the icing on the cake of an excellent, high energy first half ame when Mateus Fernandes long range cracker fizzed into the net. His first ever goal from outside the box.

Fernandes was excellent throughout. He runs all day, tackles hard and has an added creative spark that is lacking elsewhere in the squad. With Lucas Paqueta out of the way, it gives him extra opportunity to sparkle. I suspect he is one of those players who is only passing through at West Ham and we must enjoy him while we can.

If anything, his second long range effort in the dying seconds was even better than the first – but was unfortunately thwarted by the woodwork. The shot initiated a comedy phase of play which saw a handbags, face-off between Dinos Mavropanos and Alderete of Sunderland, and the ball crossing the line after bouncing in off Soucek’s shoulder blade. No-one seemed to know for sure what was going on or why it was eventually disallowed. If Soucek fouled the keeper, it was only because he was shoved by a defender. I did wonder whether Soucek was offside but don’t have any evidence whether this was checked.

The second half was not the usual Nuno retreat into low defensive shape, but they did take their foot off the pedal as an attacking force. The high hopes for a first London Stadium clean sheet of the season disappeared midway through the half when, for the third game in a row, a cross from the right was headed firmly past Alphonse Areola.

It was a goal out of nowhere really. Jean-Clair Todibo had been drawn out of position, Scarles went to ground too easily when he might easily have put the ball into touch, Fernandes didn’t track the runner, Mavropanos was drawn towards the ball and Soucek was slow getting back to cover. It was a team goal but not of the type we love to see.

Overall, Sunderland were disappointing. Without the injured Xhaka (who was busy starting an argument in the stands) they lacked authority and organisation; and were exposed as the strong, athletic but technically limited outfit they are. Good luck to them. It is a strategy that will see them comfortably survive their first season and is indicative of the direction that Premier League football is taking. Where athleticism has become the most important player attribute.

The buoyancy of the West Ham mood was somewhat dampened by Nottingham Forest’s victory at Brentford last night. Their five point advantage over the Hammers disappointingly restored. Closing the gap a little over the weekend would have been a welcome and timeley boost to morale. Tonight, we should all be rooting for Moyesie as his team take on Leeds United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

With a perfect sense of timing, the Ironcast podcast this week featured an interview with Alan Curbishley where among other things he talked through the Great Escape of 2006/07. It’s worth a watch/ listen. As a crumb of comfort, here is the league table at the equivalent stage of that season.

And here we are, six games later, just the one point better off and ten points adrift from safety.

So, remember, it is not yet a lost cause. Impossible is Nunothing. We must remain positive while we can. Embrace optimism, overcome those worrying limitations that we see, and believe that rediscovered potential will turn our dreams into reality. We can survive. COYI!

Can West Ham fix the leaky roof or will Sunderland rain on our parade?

Desperation meets ambition at the London Stadium in the early Saturday kick-off as West Ham fight for survival and Sunderland chase European dreams. The match is crucial for both sides; West Ham are fighting to escape the relegation zone, while Sunderland, newly promoted, are pushing for European qualification.

West Ham sit in 18th place in the league on 17 points, five points adrift of safety, which effectively could be six with our inferior goal difference. With just 16 games of the season left, closing the gap on 17th place quickly is important if we are to have any chance of avoiding the drop.

We ended a 10-game winless run with a 2-1 victory at Tottenham last weekend and also won against QPR in the FA Cup. But we have only one win in the last six home games; and we have conceded in 16 consecutive league home matches (going back into last season) and have no clean sheet in the last 19 Premier League games, conceding 44 goals this season, the worst defensive record in the Premier League.

In fact if you had visited the London Stadium to watch every game for the last one and a half seasons you would have only seen two games where the opposition failed to score a goal, a 0-0 draw against Everton in November 2024 and a 2-0 win over Leicester in February 2025 (our last home league clean sheet!). Surely we cannot go a whole year without keeping a clean sheet at home!

If you go back to the campaign before last (2023-24) we actually kept four clean sheets in the season! If you are looking for any kind of omen in that season we kept three clean sheets in a row either side of Christmas at the London Stadium just a few days after a 2-1 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Do you think we can do it again? No, nor do I. But can our defence finally lock the door, or will Sunderland find the spare key?

Sunderland have defied pre-season expectations and currently sit in 9th place on 33 points. They beat Crystal Palace 2-1 last weekend, ending a five-match winless run, and also progressed in the FA Cup. However they are winless in their last six away games and have struggled to score on the road. They have been solid defensively with the third-fewest goals conceded in the league, but they have not kept a clean sheet in four games.

We are desperate for points to escape the relegation zone. Our recent last minute win at Spurs has lifted spirits, but defensive frailties remain a major concern. Newly promoted Sunderland have exceeded expectations and are pushing for European qualification. However, their away form is a worry for them.

We can expect a tense, hard-fought encounter with goals at both ends. The most likely outcomes are a draw or a narrow win for either side, with Sunderland’s away struggles and West Ham’s defensive issues perhaps balancing the scales. Head to head we have lost just one of our last 12 Premier League home games against Sunderland, winning nine and drawing two, going down 3-0 in May 2011. We’ve won our last three all by the same 1-0 scoreline. But a fourth in a row would seem unlikely as we don’t keep clean sheets. But I’m hoping …. I’ve made a big play on our inability to not concede in this article and I’m desperately hoping to be proved wrong.

Sunderland are looking to complete the Premier League double over us for just the second time, previously doing so in 2010-11 when we were relegated. But our record at the London Stadium against promoted sides is very good, winning 16 of the last 21, drawing four. We haven’t actually lost at home to a promoted side for over four years, the last one was a 2-1 loss to Brentford in October 2021.

I’ve just got a feeling that maybe, just maybe, we are going to pick up three points again with a 1-0 or 2-0 victory. What are the chances of a Black Cat-astrophe for our visitors?

West Ham Midweek Briefing: Late Joy in N17, All Kicking Off at Corners and the Customary Transfer Mayhem

Winning at Tottenham with last minute scrambles, Laughing out loud cos the Spuds are a shambles, Buying defenders but not Tyrone Mings, These are a few of my favourite things!

Last Gasp Jubilation at the Tottenham Stadium

Any win against Tottenham carries with it an extra layer of smug satisfaction. Winning away makes it doubly so. Four-goal David Cross in 1981, the 1984 Easter massacre, Dani’s header in 1996, Ravel Morrison’s 2013 solo effort, and that first defeat at their new stadium in 2019. They are all part of West Ham folklore.

Whether Saturday’s game will live as long in the memory will depend more on what happens from here on in than events in the match itself. Will it kickstart another great escape or be just a momentary highlight in an otherwise miserable season. Like Kenny Brown scoring the winner against Manchester United in 1992.

With none of the bottom six teams losing at the weekend, it was a crucial time to get a result. Critical, in fact, to return home with three points rather than just the one. At least some ground was made up even if the size of the challenge remains daunting for a team whose resting state defaults to caution.  

Whether it was inspired or not by the arrival of new coach and fellow countrymen, Paco Jemez, Nuno announced a surprisingly attacking line-up to face Spurs. A retro 4-4-2 formation that featured both Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe up front supported by Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville on the flanks. There was no place for either Freddie Potts or Soungoutou Magassa with Tomas Soucek preferred to partner Mateus Fernandes in central midfield. The adventurous selection adding a sense of ‘Make or Break’ to the afternoon.

As we have come to expect though, it was a game of two halves from the Hammers. Or more accurately, given the amount of added time we get these days, a game of two nine-sixteenths. It’s either, an adventurous first 45 followed by ultra caution should we take the lead. Or a lethargic opener, followed by a burst of second half energy as the result of multiple half-time substitutions.

West Ham were easily the better side before the break with goalscorer Summerville and the impressive Fernandes as standout players. With only one goal to show for their efforts, however, it was always going to be a fragile lead if the intention was to defend it in the second half. Which is exactly the tactic that Nuno employed.

As for Spurs, they were dreadful in the first period but came out with more purpose in the second. Even then, despite bossing possession, their threat came mainly from hopeful long shots. But with the West Ham game plan a senseless combination of low blocking and panicked clearances, the hosts only needed one clearcut chance to draw level. Any pretence by the Hammers of rapid counterattacks or holding the ball up to ease the pressure on the defence had been left on the dressing room whiteboard. Win possession then immediately give the ball back to Spurs was the accepted modus operandi.

The goal when it came was almost a carbon copy of the one conceded to QPR in the previous weekend’s cup game. A cross from the right bypassed the centre backs who had been drawn to the near post, and the scorer stole in front of Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s token challenge to head home.

At that point, if felt that the home side were sure to go on to win the game. So, the sucker punch, when it came was completely out of the blue. Let’s not kid ourselves that introducing Callum Wilson was an inspired tactical masterstroke. The purpose was solely to waste a few more precious seconds of added time. The change should have been made 20 minutes earlier, especially with Taty on a yellow card.

The goal itself was a scrappy affair just after Wilson might have scored anyway with a decent opportunity. The resultant corner kick from Ollie Scarles was a typically benign floaty affair but Vicario flapped, the ball bounced loose and Wilson demonstrated his predatory striking skills. Amazing what a striker with an eye for goal can come up with.

I was convinced that after the wild celebrations had died down, VAR would find a way to disallow it. But this time they couldn’t, and we could all sleep soundly in our beds for a change.

All Kicking Off At The Corners

Set piece goals – and goals from corners in particular – are becoming increasingly significant in Premier League games as the antidote to the tactical stalemate of open play. More attention is paid towards their execution by (most) coaches, and teams take far longer to set up for corner kicks and throw-ins than ever before.

West Ham were once a feared set piece outfit but now, without anyone to fearlessly attack the ball in the opposition box, they have slipped down the rankings. Equally, they have no long throw exponent and have yet to score direct from a free lick this season. A set piece winner was therefore most welcome.

A by-product of the set piece shenanigans are the frequent melees in every penalty area. A confusion of pushing, pulling, holding and shoving that referees mostly ignore but, where every so often, the music stops and a penalty is awarded. Malick Diouf experienced this to his (temporary) cost in the AFCON final. In isolation, it was a stupid piece of holding. But if all similar incidents were given, we’d have six or seven penalties per game. I am sure PGMOL are frantically working on the most implausible response to stamp it out for next season.

Semi Annual Transfer Mayhem

The West Ham transfer window is its usual muddle of too many cooks spoiling the soup in a basket. There’s Max Hahn trawling through his spreadsheets, Nuno rifling through old Panini sticker albums with super-agent Jorge Mendes and the Chairmen undermining all and sundry in cahoots with his traditional transfer connections and unveiling the latest David Sillyloan special.

Sullivan may well have had a valid point about not releasing Callum Wilson but why not keep the difference of opinion in-house rather than broadcasting it to the world. Quite what we’ll end up with by the time the window closes is anyone’s guess.

From reading various West Ham discussion boards, there are plenty of opinions as to where the transfer priorities should be. A reflection of how threadbare and unbalanced the squad has been allowed to come. It is impossible to fix or fill each and every gap in the next two weeks and so any further recruitment needs to be carefully targeted to the cause of survival. To me that means players able to make an immediate impact, not extra bodies brought in as cover. The reality is that we will have to muddle through and hope for the best in some positions.

I still feel the addition of a creative ball carrying attacking midfielder is the most significant gap. Someone to replace the ineffective Paqueta in making things happen – a Morgan Gibbs-White equivalent. Others make a strong case for an additional winger or two on the basis that we mostly attack down the flanks. But my answer to that is we attack down the wings because no-one is capable enough to go through the middle. Our attacking play needs mixing up and must become much less predictable.  

It looks like the 22-year-old Venezuelan, Keiber Lamadrid will be joining on loan in the next day or two. An inexperienced South American winger to replace the one we have just let go. Will we just leave him hanging around the training ground like Luis Guilherme. It was odd that Guilherme wasn’t sent out on loan or get at least some game time with the U21s. Good luck to Keiber. If he ever gets a game, he would be the third Venezuelan after Fernando Amorebieta and Salomon Rondon to play in the Premier League. It should be noted that both experienced relegation during their stays. COYI!

London’s Underachievers Collide. But with a gap that’s becoming too wide, and no place to hide, can West Ham turn the tide and be the better side when they visit Tottenham?

This London derby is usually a tense affair, with both clubs under immense pressure. Tottenham sit 14th in the Premier League, while West Ham are 18th and very deep in relegation trouble. Both managers, Frank for Spurs and Nuno for West Ham are under scrutiny, and defeat could have serious consequences for either side’s future, although Tottenham are not as deep in the mire as we are. Historically, Tottenham have the edge in this fixture, but both teams are struggling for form and confidence.

Tottenham are winless in 2026, with only one win in their last seven games. Their home form is poor, with just two wins in their last ten league matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They were recently knocked out of the FA Cup by Aston Villa. West Ham are winless for even longer, in our last ten Premier League matches in fact, where six have been lost and four drawn. We are seven points adrift of safety, an almost but not yet impossible position. We cannot afford to fall any further behind and need to start closing the gap on teams above us quickly if we are to have any hope of avoiding the drop. Our only recent win came in extra time against QPR in the FA Cup. Defensive frailties are a major concern, with no clean sheets in 19 matches.

Tottenham will be without Richarlison (hamstring), Kudus (thigh), Kulusevski (knee), Maddison (ACL), Bentancur (hamstring), and Sarr (AFCON). Bergvall is also a doubt.  New signing Conor Gallagher is available and could debut, Romero returns from suspension. And both Solanke and Udogie are back in the squad.

West Ham will be without Mavropanos (neck), and Diouf (AFCON). Paqueta is doubtful (back, and supposedly unsettled anyway, did I read correctly that he has only provided one assist in the last two seasons?), and Fernandes (don’t think I’ve read why). Wan-Bissaka returns from AFCON and is likely to start at right-back. Kilman will probably partner Todibo in central defence?

Tottenham have struggled to score and win at home, but (I hate to say it) have a slight edge in quality and squad depth. Six of their seven league wins have come with a clean sheet. Their defensive record is shaky, but the return of Romero could help.

Our defensive issues are glaring, especially from set pieces (most goals conceded from corners in the league, a fact that we constantly are reminded of with every corner we concede when shown on TV). We have lost all six London derbies this season and have not won away in 11 games. However, clutching at straws, Nuno has a good personal record at Spurs’ ground from previous roles.

Most experts predict a narrow Tottenham win (2-1 is a common scoreline), but a draw is also seen as plausible given both teams’ struggles. This is really based on Tottenham’s home advantage, West Ham’s defensive woes, and the psychological pressure on both managers.

There is a real sense of crisis and frustration for the fans of both clubs, but more so for us as relegation is now an odds-on probability. I can’t remember where I read of the fixture being described as “The Underachievers Derby,” but it is very true with both sets of fans desperate for a positive result but realistic about the limitations of the teams this season. There’s also the continued speculation about managerial changes and the need for squad rebuilds at both clubs. How long have we needed a squad rebuild at West Ham?

In summary we head to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium desperate to halt a winless Premier League run and close the gap on safety. With defensive frailties exposed and relegation looming, the pressure is mounting on Nuno and the squad. Injuries and absences have left the team stretched, but the return of key players may offer a glimmer of hope, especially as Tottenham are missing some key players. Despite a poor record in London derbies and away matches, we know that tightening up at the back and showing resilience could make a difference in this high-stakes clash. All of us as fans are craving a turnaround, but realism tempers expectations as we fight for survival against fellow underachievers. But unless we start to close the gap soon relegation will become an inevitability well before the end of the season, and this is the type of game where we must pick up something if we are to stand any chance of playing in the Premier League next season. It’s looking pretty hopeless isn’t it, but I try to be as optimistic as I can.

West Ham Midweek: Claret Ribbons, Going For A Burton, Lucas-Aid and the Saturday El-Sackio

The FA Cup interlude provided a brief and welcome respite from the depressing gloom of Premier League reality. Drawn away to Burton Albion in the 4th Round may keep the Wembley dream alive a little longer. But the stormy waters of relegation remain as threatening as ever

She Wore A Claret Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree

Things that just won’t go away usually elicit negative connotations. Think bad pennies, cockroaches, unpleasant smells, nasty rashes and David Sullivan. The FA Cup is the polar opposite to this. Despite the best efforts of the money men to diminish its importance, the magic of the cup continues to resonate and conjure up memories for all true football fans. Banana skins, underdogs, the Leatherhead Lip, the sloping pitch at Yeovil, Ronnie Radford and Bob Stokoe all come to mind. Even better (at least in the early rounds) it is free from the spontaneity destroying abomination of VAR.

This season, the FA Cup is our safe space. An oasis of unburdened calm and hope that frees us from the anxieties of impending relegation. Season 2 of Avram Grant’s Unlikely Cup Runs. While the fat lady might still be preparing to sing, this time it’s an upbeat number about wearing claret ribbons in the merry month of May.

Needing extra time to see off QPR in rather unconvincing manner on Sunday, the ping pong balls bounced kindly for West Ham with a 4th Round away tie at League 1 strugglers, Burton Albion. A first ever meeting with the Staffordshire club. A terrific draw, on the face of it, provided you take the stance that past West Ham cup upsets are not indicative of future results. Sub-editors up and down the country will already have the Gone For A Burton headlines ready and waiting.   

We Beat a Mush from Shepherds Bush

I watched a video on Youtube last week explaining the tactical changes deployed by Daniel Farke to turn around Leeds United’s season. It involved switching to a back five, playing two strikers and freeing up one of his midfielders to be always available as the out-ball. I couldn’t help but wonder if Nuno had seen the same video once the Santo Wheel of Fortune dropped it’s latest team selection prior to kick-off. The returning Aaron Wan-Bissaka came in at right wing-back with Ezra Mayers preferred to Oliver Scarles on the left. The out-ball roll was assigned to Soungoutou Magassa who was either ill-equipped or ill-prepared to deal with the more advanced role, the assist for the opening goal apart. Up-front, it all got quite confusing. Rather than a Farke 3-5-2, it played out as a Nuno 3-4-3 with Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville preferring to stay wide instead of getting closer to Taty Castellanos up front. Having both wingers and wing-backs on the pitch was a very unusual tactical interpretation.

Unfortunately, fate intervened to prevent Nuno’s master plan from unfolding completely after Dinos Mavropanos was forced off with a neck injury late in the opening half. This saw the introduction of Pablo Felipe and a tactical reshuffle to a traditional back four. It was pioneer territory to see two West Ham strikers on the field at the same time, but their frequently overlapping orbits caused more confusion than it did threat. Hopefully, this is an issue that time spent working together can overcome.  

A Gun Without Bullets is Just a Hammer

With an attack minded quartet of Taty, Pablo, Bowen and Summerville on the pitch, the Hammers should have been peppering the QPR goal from all angles. That it didn’t happen was down to glacial pace of build-up play and the absence of any creative spark behind them – someone to provide the ammunition. Passes back and forth between centre-backs might look good on the possession stats but all it does is allow the opposition to recover their defensive shape.

When Declan Rice left, three things went with him – and have yet to be replaced. Leadership, athletic defensive cover in the centre of midfield, and someone capable of powering past opponents with the ball at his feet. The last point is key to my mind. As much as attacking and defensive reinforcements were sorely needed, a massive creative gap remains in the West Ham midfield. Short passing triangles are ineffective against well organised defences and can easily be countered. More often than not, passes eventually go astray, possession is conceded and an opposition counterattack launched.

Following a positive start to his West Ham career, Freddie Potts is in danger of becoming the latest to follow in the footsteps of late career Mark Noble and JWP in the society of pointless sideways passers. Stay strong and resist, Freddie.

There were, however, a couple of bright spots in the game; notably the committed performance of Summerville and Taty’s powerfully headed goal. Yet, these are caveated by the quality of the opposition – a solid but largely unspectacular mid-table Championship outfit. A glimpse of seasons yet to come perhaps.

Lucas-aid. Not Aiding Recovery

Brazilian footballers continue to have a special aura about them. Animpression that historic success and the roll call of legendary players somehow guarantees success, flair and sublime ball control to all who follow. The reality can be disappointingly different. And nowhere more so than in the West Ham career of Lucas Paqueta whose reputation largely hinges on one through ball in Prague. Sadly, as the occasional flashes of inspiration have diminished, the play-acting, inconsistency, moods, rash challenges and wayward passes have escalated. Even at his best, his contribution has been fleeting rather than as the all-round playmaker we needed and had been hoping for.

There is no sound reason not to let him leave in the January window if another club is willing to stump up the cash. Fighting to retain a Paqueta who does not want to be here and who apparently asked to be left out on Sunday is a desperate and misguided hill to die on.

Let’s just raise some funds and re-invest it on a half-proficient attacking midfielder. Someone able to provide the bullets for the strikers to fire.  

Back to Earth, Back to Reality

It’s a return to league action on Saturday with this season’s version of the El Sackio at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Both managers living under the now routine threat of n games to save their job.

Transfer window gossip moves on apace and there’s always an outside chance that new arrivals will in place for the weekend. But is it all too late? The optimistic view is that there are still 51 points to play for. The pessimistic view is the league table – 21 games played and 14 points.

A character in Ernest Hemingway’s novel The Sun Also Rises is asked how he went bankrupt. “Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly” was the reply. This is the West Ham story, and I doubt there is any way back this time. As supporters, we have seen and predicted the steady decline for many months. But the owners chose not to see it. No strategy, no way forward and nothing being built for the future. The sole objective of survival ruined by the promoted clubs refusing to be useless. The luck has run out. COYI!

Margins, magic and misery; lines, laws and lost causes; offside, out of luck and out of time? West Ham’s fight for survival and the FA Cup’s fading romance

I’ll start by looking back at the Forest game in the week. West Ham thought they had doubled their lead early in the second half when Crysencio Summerville scored, but VAR intervened and ruled the goal out for offside. The controversy centred on Taty Castellanos, who was deemed offside in the build-up. The confusion for fans and pundits was heightened because the ball reached Castellanos after a block tackle by Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic. According to current offside law, a defender’s block or tackle does not reset the offside phase unless it’s a “deliberate play” (i.e., a controlled pass or clearance). In this case, Milenkovic’s intervention was not considered deliberate, so Castellanos remained offside, and the goal was disallowed. I would disagree. I believe that the intervention was deliberate (if it wasn’t deliberate then why was he trying to win the ball?) and that the goal should have stood.

Former referees and experts have criticised this interpretation, arguing that the law is too technical and fails to reflect the spirit of the game. The exact moment the ball is played is also notoriously difficult to judge, especially with frame-by-frame video, and the difference of a split second can mean a player is onside or offside by millimetres. The interpretation of deliberate or uncontrolled intervention is also impossible to judge. Surely it is deliberate if the defender is trying to win the ball?

The offside law was originally introduced in the 19th century to prevent “goal hanging”—players loitering near the opposition’s goal waiting for a pass. Over the years, the law has been revised several times (notably in 1925 and 1990) to encourage attacking play and make the game more exciting. However, the law now hinges on technical definitions of “deliberate play” and “active involvement,” which can be difficult to interpret even with video technology. Many (including me) have argued that it should be amended even further to the attacking team’s advantage. This could easily be done by introducing the clear daylight rule in that there has to be a gap between the attacker and defender before offside decisions are given. Let’s do away with this nonsense about parts of the body that can legitimately play the ball.

Many argue that the law is out of date and does not reflect the modern game, where split-second decisions and marginal offsides are decided by technology rather than the naked eye. The spirit of the law, to prevent unfair advantage, has been lost in a sea of technicalities.

Late in the match, Nottingham Forest were awarded a penalty after Alphonse Areola caught Morgan Gibbs-White in the face while attempting to punch clear a set-piece. VAR advised the referee to review the incident, and the penalty was given. West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek labelled the decision “a joke,” arguing that such incidents happen frequently and that goalkeepers should be given more leeway when challenging for the ball. Former referee Mark Clattenburg, however, said the decision was correct because Areola failed to make contact with the ball and caught the player instead. I have always argued that penalties should only be awarded when an obvious goal scoring opportunity is denied which is not the case when so many penalties are awarded in football games.

Is VAR ruining football? VAR was introduced to eliminate clear and obvious errors, but its use has become far more pervasive. Instead of correcting blatant mistakes, VAR now scrutinises marginal offsides and subjective fouls, often leading to long delays and confusion. Fans and players complain that the flow of the game is disrupted, celebrations are muted, and the joy of football is diminished.

Should VAR only be used for clear and obvious errors? According to IFAB, the game’s law-makers, VAR should only intervene for “clear and obvious errors” or “serious missed incidents” in four match-changing situations: goals, penalties, direct red cards, and mistaken identity. However, in practice, VAR is often used for marginal decisions that require multiple replays. Many (including me) argue that if a decision needs to be viewed more than once, it cannot be “clear and obvious,” and the original on-field decision should stand. We shouldn’t have to wait so long for a decision to be made. These delays ruin the spontaneity of the game.

If the decisions had not gone against us the gap to Forest might now be just one point or perhaps four points. But our defeat to Forest leaves us seven points adrift of safety, with relegation odds now as short as 8/11 or even 1/5 with some bookmakers. The team is winless in ten matches, and the pressure on manager Nuno Espirito Santo is mounting. While mathematically possible, survival looks increasingly unlikely unless there is a dramatic turnaround in form, which is hard to see at the moment.

There have probably been games this season when controversial decisions have gone in our favour although I cannot recall any important ones. But these are not the reasons behind why we are very likely to be relegated. So often we put ourselves in situations where marginal calls become decisive, but a whole book could be written to describe why we are in the position we are where Championship football next season is probable. We’ve written about them all through this miserable season and I won’t return to them now!

West Ham host QPR in the FA Cup third round at the London Stadium on Sunday. I can remember when I was young there was magic and romance attached to the FA Cup competition right from the early rounds when local non-league clubs took part in the qualifying rounds, then when West Ham entered in Round 3 and all 32 games kicked off at 3 o’clock on an early January Saturday, and right up to Cup Final day itself in May. But has the magic and romance disappeared from the FA Cup?

The Premier League and UEFA Champions League now overshadow the FA Cup in terms of prestige, financial reward, and global attention. Top clubs often prioritise these competitions, fielding weakened teams in the FA Cup’s early rounds, which can diminish its importance and allure. The crowded football calendar means the FA Cup sometimes feels like an afterthought. Kick-off times are often dictated by TV schedules rather than tradition, making it harder for match-going fans to attend and reducing the sense of occasion.

The financial gap between Premier League and lower-league clubs has widened. The FA Cup’s prize money is modest compared to league placements or European qualification, reducing its incentive for bigger clubs. Having said that the big clubs are almost always the winners in the end.

Changes such as the abolition of replays and the moving of the final from its traditional Saturday 3pm slot have eroded some of the competition’s unique traditions, making it feel less special to some supporters.

Does the magic and romance still endure in any way? The FA Cup remains famous for “giant-killings”, when smaller clubs defeat Premier League giants, it still makes news. Recent years have still produced memorable upsets, such as Stevenage beating Aston Villa, Crawley Town thrashing Leeds, Plymouth Argyle’s shock win over Liverpool, and even yesterday when statistically we had the biggest upset of all time with sixth tier Macclesfield deservedly knocking out the holders Crystal Palace. These moments capture the essence of the competition and keep the romance alive. As West Ham fans we’ve been on the receiving end of so many of these giant killings in my lifetime!

As the world’s oldest national football competition, the FA Cup still carries a unique historical and cultural significance. For most fans and clubs, winning the FA Cup is still a dream and a source of immense pride. How we’d love to repeat 1964, 1975 and 1980!

For lower-league and non-league teams, the FA Cup offers a rare chance to play on a big stage, secure financial windfalls, and create lifelong memories for their fans. These stories, like non-league teams reaching the later rounds, are the heart of the FA Cup’s enduring appeal. The competition still inspires passion, especially in local derbies or when underdog teams are involved. For many, the “magic” is now more selective, shining brightest in these moments rather than universally.

Some fans and commentators argue that the FA Cup’s “magic” is now a cliché, used to paper over the reality that the competition has lost some of its former glory. Others point out that the romance is still there, but it’s harder to find amid the dominance of elite clubs and commercial pressures. There is nostalgia for the days when the FA Cup final was the highlight of the football calendar, but also recognition that the competition still produces drama, upsets, and moments of pure football joy.

The FA Cup may not hold the universal magic and romance it once did, especially for top clubs and younger fans raised on the Premier League and Champions League. However, for smaller clubs, traditionalists, and those who cherish football’s unpredictability, the FA Cup still provides unforgettable moments and upsets that keep its spirit alive. The “magic” hasn’t disappeared, it’s just harder to find, and perhaps more precious when it appears.

There was a time when I was young when I would have been really excited by this third round game against Queens Park Rangers and hoping that we would still be in the draw for the fourth round that I would listen to on the radio on the following Monday lunchtime, another tradition that has disappeared. But this season has been such a miserable one that my interest is much diminished. In times gone by there was always a hope that we could win a few games and reach Wembley. This time around I would love us to do this but I reckon there is less chance of us going to Wembley than escaping relegation. But it is so long since we won a game that it would be good to beat QPR (even a weakened QPR with several players out injured and chasing a play-off position in the Championship) and perhaps give some of our fringe players a run out to show what they can do (or not!). I remain hopeful!  

Lost In The Wilderness: West Ham’s Hopes of Survival Hang By The Thinnest of Threads

Following Saturday’s pathetic effort in Wolverhampton, West Ham face a last chance saloon moment with the visit of fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest to the London Stadium. Is there any way back?

Imagine the scene, a climber slips while scaling a lonely mountainside. The safety of a ledge above is tantalisingly beyond reach. He looks down. A mocking wind howls while the drop into the abyss below is dizzying. The fibres of his rope have started to unravel. One strand, then another. He scrambles for a foothold causing pebbles to break free, rattling into the cavernous void beneath. He grabs desperately at the solitary plant that clings to the cliff face. Momentary relief. A trickle of dirt rains down onto his face and into his eyes. Slowly the earth around it creaks, cracks, and finally crumbles. Weak, fibrous roots are exposed. Small rocks begin to tumble as a prelude to the plant breaking loose entirely. Spinning away in pursuit of the falling stones.

The rope snaps taut with a vicious jolt. His body swinging helplessly against the cliff face. The only sound now is the strain of his exhausted lifeline. The more he struggles, the weaker it becomes. The situation is wretched. “Hang on a minute” he thinks, “I’ve got a great idea!”

Tune in again after Tuesday evening to see if our hero can survive.

***

West Ham’s supposed run of four winnable games over the festive period is not quite going to plan, is it? Where some of us imagined a season turning haul of seven to nine points, there is only one with the final match left to play – the ultimate six-pointer against Nottingham Forest. In fact, from a West Ham perspective, the game could be seen as a forty pointer. Failure to win pretty much guaranteeing that mythical survival threshold will not be reached.

Last week I wrote an obituary for West Ham even though I’d hoped it was recklessly premature. But Saturday at Wolverhampton served to underline that a miraculous rising from the dead was unlikely. All vital signs appeared to be extinguished. Relegation looks close to certain and who knows how many years in the wilderness that will lead to under our current stewardship.

The Hammer’s demise is no overnight incident. A situation I had previously described as a slow-motion car crash. But which was described far more succinctly by a comment on a previous post as a club built on shaky foundations on a cliff that was being slowly eroded from beneath. No-one had bothered to plan for the long term and now it was about to fall into the sea. It is a story with multiple villains.

From Moyes’ negligent insistence on maintaining a small, slow and ageing squad. Through Loppy’s whack-a-mole summer transfer window and unfathomable tactics. To Potter’s purging of any characters from the squad and his belief that strikers were surplus to requirements in his soporific style of play. Each constrained and controlled in the background by the invisible hand of puppet master, Dr Evil from Theydon Bois.

To some degree, Nuno is an innocent victim of this calamity. His was an inherited squad and was brought on board without being allowed his own coaching staff. Yet after 15 games in charge, he has failed to satisfy the basic mandate of a head coach: to make the best of what he’s got and mould a team which approaches every game with energy, spirit and determination. To add insult to injury, bizarre team selections and overly cautious substitutions have frittered away precious points that were ready and waiting to be banked.

The game at Molineux should have been approached as if it were a cup final. With Forest already beaten in the early kick-off, a win would have reduced the deficit to one point ahead of Tuesday’s showdown. Up against a side without a win all season, what greater motivation could there have been to register a statement performance?

But it didn’t happen. From the first of several early misplaced passes from Bowen, a sense of effortless lethargy engulfed the team. No spark, no effort, no conviction. The resilience that had been seen in coming from behind in earlier games went completely missing. At no time did there appear to be a way back into the game once the first goal went in.   

Leadership is clearly an issue at the club. Both in the dugout where Nuno looked a stunned and bewildered figure for much of the game; and on the pitch where team spirit was next to non-existent. Most of us know that Bowen only wears the armband through seniority, but leadership doesn’t have to start and end with the skipper. Everyone must have licence to stand up to inspire and motivate others either by words or deeds. It takes more than occasional high-fives whenever someone makes a last-minute tackle or interception. Unfortunately, the squad has been shorn of outspoken characters. There was a brief moment where we imagined leadership was a part of the big fee thrown at the Kilman transfer. Until it turned out these qualities were as flaky as his defending.

There have been too many ‘worst performances of the season’ to know whether Saturday truly represented a new all-time ‘low’. It was certainly a podium finish and a return to the team of strangers of early season where few came out with any credit – with the exception of Areola, who prevented the score from being even more embarrassing.

Summerville and Magassa had at least looked interested in the first half, but Summerville was again all sizzle and no sausage while Magassa was implicated in all three goals conceded. Fernandes looked confused and uninterested by his first half role and although he improved after the break, Wolves had already settled for their three-goal lead by then.

Scarles and Mayers both did OK. Both are in the early stages of their careers and hopefully there will be better times ahead for them. My main questionmark over our academy graduates is whether there is enough variety to their game. They are competent enough to receive the ball, control it and play a short onward pass the way they are facing. But does that cut it at the top level?

In truth, it is a deficiency that extends throughout the squad. Since the departure of Declan Rice, no-one has been capable of marauding forward with the ball at their feet. It adds unpredictability to attacks, creates space for others and commits defenders to rash challenges. A team which relies solely on passing is more easily countered by denying the space in front of them.

This brings me to a brief list of observed West Ham limitations when compared to more successful Premier League teams. Our main striker is always isolated with no-one close enough to feed from knockdowns or lay-offs. The front three themselves are too far apart and too few midfielders get into the penalty areas in support. The spaces between our banks of players are too great and too rigid – as if they are a table football team connected by metal rods. The backline drops too deep too quickly due to the absence of recovery pace – especially if Todibo is absent – allowing opponents to exploit the gaps that are left. Delivery from free-kicks, corners and throw-ins is poor. There is minimal threat from central defenders at set pieces who do attack the ball decisively enough in either box. Apart from that, everything is rosy.

I was one of the few who wasn’t too concerned by Nuno’s decision not to turn to Jesus (or Pablo Felipe) as the game progressed. Would it have made sense for a player who hadn’t trained and had just returned from injury to run around on his own for 15 minutes watching Tomas Soucek point at things?

I’m also not convinced that changing the manager again now will have any material effect on the season’s outcome. Having said that I am similarly unconvinced that Nuno would be the right man to bring us back up again. The right appointment in the summer – maybe Thomas Frank when he is sacked by Spurs – would be a more sensible way forward.

I wish I had enough belief left in the bank to expect the mother of all turnarounds tomorrow night. I know I shouldn’t venture into cynicism, but my big concern is the nature of Nuno’s deranged response to Saturday’s performance. I’m already imagining the groan that will be heard from space when Kilman and Soucek are announced in the starting eleven. COYI!

Relegation Showdown: Will Wolves Whip Up A Win or Will the Hammers Happily Hammer Home the Headlines and Head Home With The Precious Points

At Molineux’s ground, the tension will rise
Wolves and West Ham, both chasing the prize
The table looks grim for the Old Gold pack
Winless at home, with defenders pulled back.

Rob Edwards’ Wolves, at the foot of the league
Have struggled for points, they’ve shown their fatigue
Injuries, suspensions their squad’s looking thin
But hope springs anew when the Hammers roll in.

West Ham aren’t flying, we’re gasping for air
Away days bring trouble, our victories are rare
Nuno’s men, hungry, will look to attack
Who will join Bowen leading the pack?

Both teams have struggled to keep the back tight
Goals at both ends could light up the night
A draw seems likely, with goals at each end
But a single bright moment could see fortunes bend.

So gather your scarves and ready your beer
For Wolves v West Ham is so nearly here
A battle for points, for hope and for pride
Who’ll climb from the bottom? There’s no place to hide.

A few years ago Wolves won four on the spin
But just three from the last ten, they’re desperate to win
Last April Wolves triumphed, a one-nil delight
Can they light up the stands on this Saturday night?

West Ham at Molineux have found it quite tough
Five losses from seven; those fixtures were rough!
But two April victories (2021 and 2024),
just two wins that’s right!
Can the Hammers strike gold on this Saturday night?

West Ham United 1895 – 2025: An Obituary

With relegation this season now looking a virtual certainty, our obituary correspondent considers the cultural passing of this beloved east London old club.

With the quiet inevitability of a retreating Thames tide, West Ham United football club passed peacefully away this weekend following a long and debilitating 15-year battle with greed, negligence and incompetence.

The symbolic death of a club whose myth regularly exceeded its league position has been widely mourned across east London. This is no mere sporting matter. It represents a cultural moment: the disappearance of a footballing identity which, for over 130 years, had been rooted in place, community, and memory. Memories that were occasionally beautiful, more often shambolic, but which invariably expressed personality.

Few clubs were so thoroughly shaped by their geography and working-class roots as the Hammers. From the shipyards of their origin to the terraced streets spreading across east London and Essex. West Ham was never just about football. It reflected community bonds, the collective memory of labourers, dockers, craftsmen, families, and post-war optimism. It stood for ideals that transcended sport: perseverance without arrogance, creativity without conceit, and humour in disappointment’s familiar face. For generations, West Ham offered a reminder that loyalty could be an end in itself.

The great paradox of West Ham was their ability to demand a cultural authority far exceeding their minimal collection of silverware. Where other clubs had trophy counts, West Ham’s legacy was one of intangible spirit. Where the value of a match lay not solely in its outcome but in its experience. The purest explanation of the West Ham way was football as craft and entertainment, not as a commodity.

Such values became increasingly fragile in the face of modern football’s relentless monetisation. In an era shaped by digital analytics – expected goals, passes per defensive action, heatmaps, algorithmic scouting – West Ham remained defiantly analogue for far too long under their current owners. An ownership concerned exclusively with power and outside appearances. Who ignored the club’s underlying health, failed to plan strategically, and payed lip service to its heritage. Always opting for the cheapest and easiest option when appointing coaches, planning player recruitment and upgrading training facilities. A deliberate policy of short-term thinking and managed decline.

While it would be simplistic to blame the 2016 stadium move for all the club’s deep structural ailments, the move represented a watershed moment in accelerating the dilution of local allegiances in favour of commercial interests. The departure from Upton Park was not merely a relocation; it was a dislocation. The Boleyn Ground, compact and emotionally resonant, was a theatre built for intimacy. The London Stadium, by contrast, is a monument to hubris and penny pinching.

The opportunity of a new stadium may have tempted any owner but negotiating a deal which prioritised cost savings and surrendered operational control proved to be disastrous. The stadium was a shelter, and never a home.

To declare West Ham United “dead” is, of course, a rhetorical gesture. The team will play again next Saturday, the Saturday after that, and most probably in the Championship next season. The obituary tone points to something subtler. A recognition that a much loved version of the club, and the culture that produced it, has slipped beyond reach and beyond redemption. The grief expressed by supporters is notable becasue of its volatility but because of its depth of feeling. It is not the outrage of fans denied success; it is the mourning of the club’s cultural passing.

So, farewell West Ham United. The memories will linger on; romantic, nostalgic, impulsive and profoundly human. A tapestry of glorious highs and disappointing character-building lows, faded images of every father and child making their first pilgrimage along Green Street filled with anticipation. The electric atmosphere of the Boleyn under lights, of Moore’s poised authority, of Brooking gliding across the mud, of Bonds’ swashbuckling determination and Di Canio’s impossible volley. The pride, emotion and goosebumps that a rousing rendition of Bubbles never failed to trigger.

In remembering West Ham, we honour the possibility that, one day, football may again be more than a business. That it can be a story, a heritage, and a home. COYI!

From Promises to Peril: West Ham’s Premier League Future Hangs In The Balance

Can we turn our season around or is relegation now inevitable?

Saturday’s clash at the London Stadium is more than just another fixture—it’s a pivotal moment in West Ham’s season. The Hammers are mired in a relegation battle, sitting 18th in the table as we head into our 18th game of the season, and there’s no getting away from it, form and morale are at a worrying low. Forget all the talk about resurgence under Nuno, we are now six points adrift (if you take goal difference into account) and how many games have we won recently? Our last six league games have failed to produce a single win and just three points from three draws. That’s relegation form.

Fulham, meanwhile, arrive in better shape, unbeaten in their last ten London derbies and with a more balanced squad. They’ve won four of their last six league games, but in a tight division, although they are 13th in the table, they are just four points away from sixth place. Recent meetings have favoured Fulham, with West Ham winless in the last three encounters and suffering heavy defeats in previous derbies.

Predictions from analysts and betting sites suggest Fulham are favourites, with West Ham’s defensive frailties and lack of attacking threat making a home win unlikely. The Hammers have conceded in every home game this season and have one of the worst home records in the league.

Our struggles are rooted in a combination of poor recruitment, tactical confusion, and a lack of clear direction from the top. The club has cycled through managers—Julen Lopetegui, Graham Potter, and now Nuno Espirito Santo—without finding stability or a coherent playing style. The squad has been reshuffled, but new signings have failed to make a significant impact, and key departures (such as Declan Rice) have left a leadership void.

On the pitch, the problems are clear, defensive lapses, especially at set pieces and in aerial duels, players out of position leading to a lack of cohesion, poor discipline with a high number of fouls and cards and a worrying inability to convert chances into goals. The atmosphere at the London Stadium has also suffered, with fans feeling disconnected and apathetic, further compounding the team’s lack of confidence.

Who is to blame? While managers have taken much of the criticism, expert analysis and fan sentiment increasingly point to the board, particularly David Sullivan and Karen Brady, as the root cause. Poor decisions in the transfer market, questionable managerial appointments, and a lack of long-term strategy have left the club adrift. The recruitment failures and boardroom mismanagement are more to blame than the managers themselves. The club’s identity has been eroded since the move to the London Stadium and promises of a “world-class team” have not materialised.

There’s also blame to be shared among the players, who have not performed to their potential, and the managers, who have struggled to impose a clear tactical identity. However, the underlying structural issues mean that even talented individuals have been unable to thrive.

The importance of retaining Premier League status and the financial and sporting consequences cannot be underestimated. Relegation would be catastrophic for West Ham. The club stands to lose up to £120 million in revenue from TV rights, ticket sales, and sponsorships if we drop to the Championship. This would not only impact the ability to attract and retain top players but could also lead to further instability and decline.

The Premier League’s financial gap with the Championship is ever-widening, and survival is essential for maintaining the club’s profile, competitiveness, and future prospects. The new financial regulations (Squad Cost Ratio) will also make it harder for clubs to recover from relegation, increasing the stakes for West Ham.

Historically, teams in 18th place at Christmas have survived two-thirds of the time, but the odds are against those in the bottom three. Our situation is precarious, but not yet hopeless; recent seasons have seen dramatic escapes, but only with decisive action and improved performances.

Saturday’s game is beginning to look like a must-win for West Ham. Unless we turn recent results around in the next six games (which are as winnable as it gets in the Premier League) then we can start to prepare for trips to Blackburn, Swansea and Wrexham and, dare I say it, Millwall (that’s if they don’t change places with us!). The team needs to show resilience, tactical discipline, and attacking intent to have any hope of climbing out of the relegation zone. The board must act decisively in the January transfer window, addressing squad weaknesses and supporting the manager. Above all, the club needs unity—between fans, players, and leadership—to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and secure our Premier League future.

If West Ham fail to turn things around, the consequences will be severe—not just for this season, but for the club’s long-term health and identity.

Merry Christmas everyone!