#europaleague – Under The Hammers

The curse of Thursday / Sunday fixtures strikes once again and leaves West Ham with only a slim chance of qualifying for European competition next season.

Defeat in Leverkusen followed by a disappointing loss to Fulham at the London Stadium makes both routes to qualification increasingly problematic.

A few weeks have passed since I made a prediction that we would need 57 points this season to stand any chance of qualifying for European football next season via our league position. We went into last Sunday’s game at home to mid-table Fulham, who in theory don’t have a lot to play for (neither European qualification nor relegation were an issue), still with a reasonable chance of reaching that total. The fortunate win at Wolves meant we were on 48 points needing a further nine to get there. The other teams in contention have not exactly been pulling up trees, with perhaps the pick of the contenders being Newcastle who have suddenly burst into life again after the late comeback against us.

All that would be needed would be three victories from the final six games to get there. Nothing is easy as far as the Premier League and West Ham are concerned but on paper at least we had three winnable games on paper, at home to Fulham and Luton and a trip to Crystal Palace.

But once again the limitations of the squad were exposed as always seems to happen with the Thursday / Sunday fixtures. An away trip to Germany on Thursday night meant not arriving home until Friday morning (the early hours perhaps?) and played havoc with our preparation for a 2 o’clock Sunday game. That’s one of the excuses anyway. The Thursday / Sunday curse hit Liverpool too when with two defeats they perhaps have lost out in two competitions in the space of just four days.

We had the chance to move on to 51 points and sixth in the table with a win but we well and truly fluffed the opportunity with yet another game where we constantly gave the ball away, allowed the opposition freedom to create chance after chance and couldn’t hit the proverbial barn door or even find the target when we should perhaps have scored. The early chance that fell to Antonio was straightforward and it may have been a different game had he put the ball in the net as he should have done.

For the second time in two games Fabianski was probably our man of the match which, although understandable in an away game to the German champions, was very disappointing in a game at the London Stadium facing Fulham.

Once again Paqueta was booked (no surprise there), and impressive player that he is in many ways, he is also a liability far more times than you’d want to see in a player of his quality.

The swing-o-meter once again swung even further in the direction of the Moyes Out campaign. The ‘Careful what you wish for’ (Moyes In) supporters laid the blame on the players and defended the manager who said he was “gutted” with the missed opportunity to move into sixth.

A few weeks ago I gave my predictions for the final standings (below), and I have added what would now be needed to reach those points in the remaining games:

6. Manchester United – 61 points (11 points from 6 games)
7. Newcastle – 57 points (7 points from 6 games)
8. West Ham – 57 points (9 points from 5 games)
9. Wolves – 55 points (12 points from 6 games)
10. Chelsea – 54 points (7 points from 7 games)
11. Brighton – 51 points (7 points from 6 games)

How different it might have been had we held on to our 3-1 advantage in Newcastle and beaten Fulham! We would now be just three points shy of the target and big favourites for a return to the Europa League next season. But that’s what being a West Ham supporter is all about. We can still get there of course but it would take three wins from the games against Palace, Luton, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City. Do you think that will happen? It would be great but, no, I can’t see it.

At the time I admitted wearing my optimistic hat and added that my gut feeling was that we would be fortunate to do as well as eighth, and that perhaps tenth was about right. It’s closing up between Newcastle (6^th with 50 points) and Bournemouth (13^th with 42 points). More performances like the Fulham one and who knows what our final position will be? After Monday night Chelsea are now just a point below us with two games in hand so we could soon be down to ninth.

So now our season realistically comes down to overturning a two-goal deficit against unbeaten German champions Bayer Leverkusen who finally managed to shed their ‘Neverkusen’ nickname by clinching the Bundesliga with games to spare, 16 points clear of Bayern Munich. Seeing how difficult Arsenal found it against Munich showed what a seemingly impossible task we would have against Leverkusen.

Three of my favourite West Ham games have been comebacks in Europe. The game against Sevilla a couple of years ago was one, but for my all-time favourites I have to go back to the European Cup Winners Cup campaign in 1975-76. In the quarter final we found ourselves 4-0 down at half time in the first (away) leg to Den Haag (Netherlands) and finished the game losing 4-2. The game at Upton Park a fortnight later was a thriller and we went through to the semi-final (on the away goals rule) with a 3-1 win. The goals that day came from Billy Bonds with a penalty, Frank Lampard and Alan Taylor.

My favourite ever West Ham game came in the semi final when we overcame a 2-1 deficit to Eintracht Frankfurt from the first leg in Germany to win 3-1 at Upton Park in the pouring rain. Trevor Brooking was brilliant that night scoring two goals in an imperious display and for good measure Keith Robson hit a screamer too.

The chances of overcoming Bayer Leverkusen in similar fashion would seem remote given the first leg result and the current form of both teams. It would take a miracle is one phrase I’ve seen, and perhaps that is about right. We have enjoyed a number of special European nights and this would be the greatest yet if it were to happen.

The Germans are little more than even money to lift the trophy in Dublin on 22^nd May. Even Liverpool who have history in coming back from a three goal deficit in Europe have only a remote chance of progressing further. If you like a silly bet then the odds on a West Ham v Liverpool final are around 250/1.

The odds on us reaching the semi-final by any means (on aggregate in normal time, extra time or on penalties) are a measly 11/1. That’s not very generous is it? It would have to be on aggregate surely as Germans always win penalty shoot-outs don’t they? Here’s hoping for a miracle. COYI!

Is There Any Hope For West Ham Against Das Invincibles?

It feels like mission impossible for West Ham as they attempt to do what no other team has done this season and get the better of Bayer Leverkusen. Can they do enough to keep the tie alive in the second leg?

Your mission, West Ham, should you wish to accept it, is to come away from the Bay Arena tonight with the quarter final tie still live. Expectations are set no higher than that. On the face of it, this would have been an uphill task at the best of times. With key players, in Jarrod Bowen and Edson Alvarez missing, the challenge is all the more formidable.

Leverkusen have been a revelation this season – arguably European club football’s team of the season. Unbeaten in 41 matches across all competitions and their sights firmly set on a historic treble. A first ever Bundesliga title is all but done, ending Bayern Munich’s eleven season run as champions – bad luck, Harry! A German Cup Final appointment at the end of May against second tier strugglers, FC Kaiserslautern, should be a formality. And then there is the Europa League where they stand as second favourites behind Liverpool.

For the Hammers, it is a game where the pragmatism of Moyesball may well have a valid place, at least in theory. In reality, the approach doesn’t have the greatest track record on its travels against the very top teams. And in all honesty, there have been very few stand-out defensive displays – and even fewer clean sheets – from David Moyes team over the past couple of seasons.

There is little comfort to be taken from claims that West Ham are now seasoned Euro campaigners who have a record of showing up in big games. If teels like clutching at straws. The former might be helpful across a campaign but is tempered by most opponents having hailed from the continent’s second tier leagues; the latter has only been seen on rare occasions. It is not a side with a positive big game mentality. Euro wins against Freiburg and Lyon were exciting but they were games we should be winning. Beating Sevilla was arguably the only true example of overcming the odds.

It is not easy to gauge exactly where Leverkusen would sit in a Premier League context; it is surely top three or four on this year’s evidence. The odds are stacked against the Hammers, especially for an away leg. What is needed is one of those extraordinary resilient displays where the footballing gods, officials, VAR, inspired goalkeeping and poor opposition finishing align to deliver an unexpected miracle.

It will be a fascinating contrast in styles. Moyes set in his ways, rigid formation, narrow defence, low block, ambivalent about possession, hoping for a breakaway or set piece to snatch a goal. Alonso, innovative, focused on flexible roles rather than formations, dominating possession, probing, and with multiple options to breakdown opponents. The threat down the flanks by Frimpong and Grimaldo is a huge danger to a cumbersome backline. It promises to be a long night and it is perhaps appropriate that the city is famous for its pharmaceutical industry – we may all need strong medication by the end of the night.

West Ham have a mixed record against German sides in Europe with six wins, six defeats and one draw. Three of those wins came against Freiburg this season with the others against TSV Munich (1965), FC Magdeburg (1966), and Eintracht Frankfurt (1976). Against that, the Hammers have lost to Eintracht Frankfurt three times, Borussia Dortmund twice, and Freiburg once. This will be a first ever competitive meeting with Leverkusen who themselves have an indifferent record against English clubs – having won just four and lost 12 in 21 attempts.

Moyes has few options to play with from his tiny squad for the game. There must be a good chance that he goes with three at the back in a 3-4-2-1 formation that would match up in a way with the hosts. The issue is that none of the ‘possibles’ to play alongside Kurt Zouma and Dinos at the back has played much football in 2024. Moyes will most likely opt for Aaron Cresswell rather than Nayef Aguerd or Angelo Ogbonna although Aguerd’s pace might represent a more sensible choice.

No question that Emerson plays at left wing-back but it is a toss up on the right between Vladimir Coufal and Ben Johnson. Coufal has been quite flaky in recent weeks. I think Johnson shades it in a wing-back role but guess Moyes will stick with the Czech. By default, the middle of the second row has to be filled by Tomas Soucek and James Ward-Prowse. This a huge worry for me as a pairing – lacking in pace and mobility. The only remaining alternative would be out-of-sorts Kalvin Phillips, but he has, reportedly, not travelled to Germany.

This leaves a front three of Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus, and Michail Antonio. Plenty of attacking potential but the deeper two may spend most of their time defending leaving Antonio isolated. It is possible that Leverkusen will find Antonio’s muscle hard to handle but he rarely has 90 minutes in him these days.

Leverkusen did have a scare in the Europa League Round of 16 when they went two goals down at home in the second leg to Qarabag. The game followed a 2-2 draw in Azerbaijan. They eventually won the game with two goals in added time. Alonso had rotated his squad for that tie but is unlikely to do so against Premier League opposition. Other than that, the hosts have an impressive home record of 19 wins, 2 draws and no defeats in all competitions.

Minimum requirement from tonight is to be no more than a goal down in the tie. Anything worse feels irretrievable against a team so adept at exploiting space. A win or draw would, of course, be incredible – but just seems so improbable. A secondary objective would be for Paqueta and Emerson to avoid the yellow card that would see them miss the second leg. Wirtz from Leverkusen is similarly at risk.

The best suggestion for tonight is a collective appeal to St Jude, the patron saint of desperate situations and lost causes – mixed with a healthy dose of Motes much vaunted resilience. It’s a long shot but it might just work. COYI!

One Man, One Goal, One Mission: Is Ings The Key To Overturning Freiburg Deficit

West Ham have enough firepower to come through the Europa League tie with Freiburg. But winning games by more than one goal has not been a Moyes speciality.

West Ham’s last two games – defeat at Freiburg and the draw against Burnley – had the Moyesiah’s cautious fingerprints all over them. The brief barnstorming opening against Brentford now just a rounding error in the history of the season. A season which any sane West Ham supporter would want to end with the manager’s final farewell.

A point I have laboured at length on these pages is that the problem with Moyes is not about results but with performances – the way he approaches game. The trip to Freiburg was the perfect example. An unspectacular, mid-table opponent who had been beaten twice in the group stage and the overriding priority was to avoid defeat. This wasn’t a first leg away at the Nou Camp. And even after going a goal down, the response was to bring on another defensive midfielder. Never mind looking for an equaliser, let’s make sure we don’t concede again. The master tactician’s only attacking change was to introduce Michail Antonio in the 91^st minute.

Anyone baffled by events in Germany would have been close to a breakdown when the teams were announced for Sunday’s league game. The cunning plan for what should have been a routine win against basement dwelling opposition was to set up with a bank of three slow defensive midfielders. Who could have guessed that it would allow Burnley to give us a footballing lesson in the opening 45 minutes. The resting of Edson Alvarez given his yellow card position was understandable but what was in the manager’s mind.

The half-time changes needed were obvious and completely changed the urgency on the pitch and the atmosphere in the stadium. And the later introduction of Danny Ings almost won it for the Hammers. It is fair to say that Ings time at West Ham has been disastrous in the role that he has been asked to play. And after putting in a good performance at Sheffield United he was immediately sidelined and rarely seen again. You’re either one of Moyes boys or you’re not.

From the body language at the break, I had a sneaking feeling that it was John Heitinga’s work behind the early substitutions. It just seemed too revolutionary for Moyes who was slumped in his seat.

There is an amusing moment on the TV commentary where Tony Gale was asked by the commentator if the West Ham fans were justified in wanting Moyes out. You could sense him squirming and sweating like a small-time villain under oath in the witness box as he ummed, ahhed and waffled in search of a diplomatic answer. Finally admitting that with the players available it might be possible to take more risks.

Each of the recent games involved the now customary VAR talking points. Both potential handball penalty appeals that were not awarded to West Ham. It is extremely rare to see a referee go across to the pitch-side monitor and then stick with his original decision in the Freiburg game, but no surprise it happened in a Hammer’s game. With the Burnley incident I’m convinced VAR are under orders not to spend any time looking at incidents so close to the final whistle, especially where the ball is still in play.

I don’t have any sense that VAR is getting better with age and experience. Trying to think back to the golden pre-technology days, I don’t recall many being up in arms because a striker’s shoulder blade was offside or that the ball had brushed someone’s knuckle immediately before a goal was scored. The pain points (as I remember them) were around penalty calls (inside or outside the box) and the more obvious offside decisions that had been missed. The authorities have made up a whole new set of rules as an excuse to use the technology. As a believer in the adage that the best referee is the one you don’t notice, I can’t help thinking that VAR has gone to their heads – believing they are part and parcel of the entertainment. It won’t be long before Howard Webb appears in the stands at big games to reveal VAR decisions with a Caeser like thumbs-up/ thumbs-down signal.

It is blatantly obvious that the team to face Freiburg in the second leg needs to be similar to the one that started the second half against Burnley. Lukasz Fabianski in goal perhaps, Jarrod Bowen back out on the right, Lucas Paqueta in the middle behind the striker and Mohammed Kudus on the left. The dilemma is whether to start with Ings or Antonio in the striker role. With Freiburg likely to be sitting back the predatory skills of Ings might be preferably, as long as he is not left isolated. I am sure we will see them both at some point of the evening. I’ve a feeling Ings will be the evening’s unlikely hero, assuming Moyes makes the correct call.

The unfortunate Kudus draws the short straw in this lineup as the person picked to play out of position. The left-wing berth preventing him from cutting inside and shoot on goal.

It is difficult to see any circumstances where it is a good idea for Tomas Soucek and JWP to start in the same midfield. Although both have specific skills their overall contribution in open play is poor. Perhaps a team can carry one, but not both.

Picking the defensive lineup is also problematical on current form and injuries. If Emerson is out injured the only alternative seems to be Aaron Creswell who too easily loses concentration these days. In the centre, Zouma is crocked, Aguerd has lost all confidence, and Oggy has mysteriously disappeared – after two clean sheet appearances against Arsenal and Brighton he has played just one minute of football. Personally, I would opt for Oggy and Dinos in the following line-up:

Fabianski, Coufal, Mavropanos, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Alvarez, Soucek, Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus, Ings

If Moyes team-sheet doesn’t reflect this, he should be given his bus fare and sent home before kick-off.

Occasionally, there are fleeting thoughts entering my head that it wouldn’t be so bad if we lost this one. Not if it means getting rid of the manager. But once the game starts, I only want victory, no matter what. The reality is that the Europa League is all that’s left of the season and hope has to be kept alive for as long as possible. I’m confident we can beat Freiburg but winning games by more than one goal has not been a core competency in recent times. Let’s make it an exception tonight and, please, try to get it done without extra time and penalties. COYI!

Moyesball Über Alles: West Ham Return To European Action In Germany

After two consecutive Premier League wins, West Ham will be hoping to take their improved fortunes into the business end of the Europa League at Freiburg

Nothing says missing the point better than the pundits who write off disgruntled supporters as ‘moany’ because they dare to see style of play as important (if not more so) than grinding out results. If as supporters all we did was check the score at the end of the game, then maybe we would arrive at the same superficial conclusion as radio talking heads such as Stelling and Sutton. But many of us have more invested in the action than that – and expect more.

If the win against Brentford had hinted at a new spirit of adventure, then the performance at Everton was quick to dispel the idea. It was a return to safe space of caution and negativity that has become the club’s trademark in recent years. Moyesball above all else! Some said that Goodison Park is a difficult place to go and get a result, yet the Toffees have managed to lose half of their home league games this season.

Had it not been for the extraordinary events of added time, the game would have been instantly forgettable. The first 45 minutes was as drab as expected and although it did liven up after the break, it was largely down to the hosts smelling blood. Entering the closing stages, Everton looked to be the only team likely to break the deadlock. But unconvincing finishing and a man-of-the-match display from Alphonse Areola had contrived to keep the scores level. Areola is really up there with the best of keepers when it comes to shot-stopping and instinctive saves. If only he were more commanding in the air!

The Hammers had played their brightest football midway through the first half before apparently losing interest. In the second period they simply dropped deeper and rarely threatened even on the counter. Lucas Paqueta had one of those days which make you question whether the links to Manchester City are real or imaginary. Are the flicks, tricks and first-time passes what Guardiola is looking for in a play-maker? Particularly as a replacement for Bernardo Silva who is all about keeping possession and recycling the ball? And when JWP is dragged deeper and deeper into defensive midfield he becomes largely anonymous. No surprise that both were later withdrawn.

As the game approached added time the best hope was the Hammers holding on for a point. What happened next was way beyond expectations. As the wayward cross from Mohammed Kudus floated behind Tomas Soucek who would have imagined a deft one touch control and the ball being lashed into the net with the outside of the boot. It was an exquisite finish that even the Czech’s peculiar goal celebration could not dampen.

By now it was a case of thinking at least we won’t lose – but the third goal put the icing firmly on the cake. It was the classic counterattack from an opponents mistake in the attacking third. A strong run from Jarrod Bowen and a perfectly timed pass into the path of Edson Alvarez’s gut-busting run was finished with aplomb by the Mexican. Alvarez was the pick of the outfield players all afternoon for me while Soucek made two major game-changing contributions which encapsulated his value to Moyes – one stunning goal and a desperate goal line clearance.

The performance was quintessential Moyesball. And despite everything it was impossible not to rejoice in the last gasp nature of the victory, even allowing for what had gone before. Like a substandard movie rescued by a jaw dropping finale – the third in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, for example.

With just two months of the season remaining the future of David Moyes at the London Stadium continues to teeter on the brink. It could go either way. At one extreme, we finish 6^th and win the Europa League and he has to be given the chance to stay. At the other, we finish 10^th or 11^th and bow out of Europe in or before the quarter-final and he packs his bags. It leaves plenty of room for dithering in between and an extended period of uncertainty. I’d wager we’ve not heard the last of the results versus performances predicament.

This week sees the return of Thursday/ Sunday football with tonight’s visit to Freiburg followed by a home Premier League encounter with Burnley. Being drawn against a side who had been in the same qualification group was a huge disappointment – for Freiburg as well as the Hammers. But it will give the army of away fans the opportunity to visit the Black Forest which was denied to them previously by a UEFA ban.

The biggest concern is one of the unwritten laws of football which states that any team who came out on top in the group stage will always have the tables turned on them during the knockout. I have no evidence to back this up other than paranoia. Much will depend on what the Freiburg coach learned from the two-legged experience of playing against a Moyes side. We are not the most difficult team to work out and frustrate.

Since the last meeting, Freiburg have stumbled along in mid-table Bundesliga obscurity, the lowest scorers in the top half of the table and without a league win in their last seven outings. They did, however, manage a 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich last weekend and had earlier beaten Lens of France over two legs in the Europa League qualifying round.

We are past the stage now where fringe players are given a chance to shine in European games, and I expect Moyes to go close to full strength tonight. The only anticipated changes are Lukasz Fabianski replacing Areola in goal and Nayef Aguerd coming in the fragile Kurt Zouma. Apart from that, it will be as you were.

There is no doubting that nights of European action under the floodlights provide an added gloss to the season. Three consecutive years has been unprecedented – a fourth would be dreamland, but possibly out of reach. Do two consecutive league wins mean we are suddenly a team in form who have turned a corner? Or were they simply hard-won wins against struggling sides that we should expect to beat? The Hammers should be favourites to get through this particular tie but it is difficult to see past Liverpool or Leverkusen as eventual winners.

On Sunday we can look forward to the visit of relegants-elect Burnley to the London Stadium. Did you know that only Burnley and Sheffield United have had fewer touches in the opposition box than West Ham in this season’s Premier League? Could be in line for a pulsating thriller. 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!

David Moyes Olympiacos Word Salad Is All Greek To Me

Moyes was getting his excuses in early in the build up to tonight’s pivotal Europa League group revenge encounter with Olympiacos. The beleaguered manager is under intense pressure to find positive results today and at the weekend.

If David Moyes half-time team talks are as uninspiring as his pre-match press conferences, then it is no wonder his team regularly concedes shortly after the re-start. There must be a strong case for keeping him out of the dressing room during the break. Indeed, once the match has started, he is largely surplus to requirements – incapable of making in-game tactical adjustments or introducing imaginative substitutions who can offer something different. You can set your watch by the timing of the Danny Ings for Michail Antonio switch.

It was deja-vu all over again at Brentford last weekend when a typically timid second half performance snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. The highlight of the first half was a magnificent strike from Mohammed Kudus, the lowlight the sight of Antonio and Said Benrahma teaming up for the miss of the century.

The writing was on the wall as to how things might pan out towards the end of the opening period. After Emerson’s yellow card, Mbeumo was given increasingly more space out on the right to direct operations . Whereas Thomas Frank made adjustments in formation to negate the first-half threat from Mohammed Kudus, it was more of the same from the Hammers. While all three goals conceded were the result of school-boy defensive blunders that shouldn’t deflect from the woeful lack of ambition to build on the half-time lead.

Although my most significant gripe with Moyes is playing style, recent results have also been abysmal. After an impressive start, it is now just four points from the last seven games. A rate of return, which if continued to the end of the season, would result in a meagre total of 30 points from 38 games played. Having slipped into the bottom half of the table a final league position similar to last season is looking to be the likely outcome. Another season of treading water in the shallows while the more talented players instruct their agent to find something better.

Last season, the European campaign was the manager’s get out of jail card. And credit where it is due, winning any sort of silverware is a massive bonus for a club and fans starved for success. But it would foolish not to acknowledge the nature of the competition had always meant we were among the red hot favourites to win. This year’s Europa League will be a far harder nut to crack. With the potential for Newcastle and Manchester United to join Liverpool and Brighton in the knock-out stages, the Hammer’s history against those sides suggests a negligible chance of going all the way.

I had mentioned previously that the easiest route to a fourth season in Europe would by dropping down to the Conference. It was meant as a whimsical aside, but Moyes even slipped it in as a possibility in his press conference. He also talked up how three seasons of European games after Christmas would represent a major achievement for him and the players. Frankly, if he missed out on that (by finishing bottom of the group) surely he must fall on his sword.

The poor run of results now see Moyes backed into a corner for the two remaining games before the next international break kicks in. With his job again in jeopardy he has little option but to field strong sides in both games. That should mean no place for Antonio or Ings and a risky recall for Kurt Zouma to replace a shell-shocked Nayef Aguerd. A more enlightened manager would be looking to make selected use of what appears to be a very talented group in the U21s, but let’s not hold our breath on that one – unless it’s to wind the clock down in added time.

Judging just how strong an opponent Olympiacos will be is difficult. They remain second in the Greek Super League despite a devastating 2-4 home defeat at the hands of PAOK last Sunday. Apart from their Europa League victory (over a very poor West Ham side), their other results have been a home defeat to Freiburg and an away draw with Topola – throwing away a two-goal lead and going down to ten men. They are no strangers to European competition and will be looking for a third successive win in London having twice come away victorious against Arsenal in this same competition (2020 & 2021).

What usually happens when the pressure is mounting on the manager is that the team respond with a scruffy one-nil win. Taking an early lead and spending the rest of the night defending it. It certainly wouldn’t be a surprise if that happened again today. What the fans deserve though is an electric performance under the London Stadium lights to reward them for their devotion and loyalty. It’s high time there was a performance to fill up this half-empty glass. COYI!

Euro Veterans West Ham Are Backa On The Road To European Glory

The Hammers embark on a third successive season of European competition against the unknown Serbian league leaders from Backa Topola

In the natural order of things, West Ham would be about to embark on defence of their Europa Conference crown, won in Prague just a few short months ago. But in the world of UEFA competitions, as well as well a shiny trophy for the cabinet, comes the opportunity to compete on an even more prestigious stage of the Europa League.

Opinions vary on the progress made at the club during the time that David Moyes has been West Ham manager. But there is no getting away from the fact that it is a first for the Hammers to be competing in Europe over three consecutive seasons. The structure of the current competitions means that only a disastrous run of results can deny European football once again stretching into the new year – whether that is targeting a final in Dublin (for the Europa League) or Athens (for the Conference).

This season’s Europa League has a far stronger look to it than when West Ham last took part in 2021/22. Considering the English contingent of Brighton and Liverpool is daunting enough, and what chance of Manchester United and Newcastle joining in when the draw for the Round of 32 is made in late December.

On paper Group A shouldn’t represent the hardest of challenges although all three opponents have started their domestic leagues in good shape. The balancing act for Moyes is doing enough to win games while rotating his squad through the onerous Thursday – Sunday routine. Hopefully, the squad is strong enough in quantity and quality to cope with the demands.

First up in tonight’s Group opener at the London Stadium are TSC from Backa Topola in Serbia. They are making their second appearance in European competition having first competed in the Europa League in 2020/21. This season, they had originally qualified for Champions League qualifying on the back of a second place finish in the Serbian Superliga. Having lost their Third Qualifying Round tie to Braga of Portugal (7-1 on aggregate) they dropped down into the Europa League groups. They currently lead their domestic league ahead of Partizan and Red Star Belgrade.

It doesn’t feel like it will be a night of counterattacking football for the Hammers, so it will be fascinating to see how Moyes approaches the game. There must be a return for Lukasz Fabianski between the sticks and full debuts for Mohammed Kudus and Konstantinos Mavropanos. I also expect call-ups for most of Angelo Ogbonna, Thilo Kehrer, Aaron Cresswell, Pablo Fornals, Ben Johnson, and Danny Ings. Maybe even for the elusive Maxwell Cornet. No doubt Divin Mubama will feature at some point, but not as a starter.

Games such as these against unknown opposition are rarely as straightforward as we might hope, but it would be a huge upset if it doesn’t end in a West Ham victory. Breaking with recent tradition of not making score predictions, I will go for a 3-0 home win. COYI!

For Better Or For Wurst: West Ham Prepare To Batter Frankfurters

Your task should you wish to accept it, is to win by two clear goals. It’s a tough assignment but no mission impossible as the Hammers head to Frankfurt

All the West Ham eggs are now firmly in a single basket labelled Europa League semi-final second leg. Nine months of competition season distilled into ninety minutes (plus) in which the Hammers must turn the tables and emerge victorious if they are to keep dreams of glory and silverware alive.

Defeat in the first leg was disappointing. As much for the deflation and failure to live up to events of 46 years ago as the outcome of the match itself. But all was not lost and the tie remains alive. It is not ideal to start the game a goal behind, but it makes winning a difficult task, not a monumental one. A draw at the London Stadium would still have required victory tonight, the only difference being how the two teams react to the circumstances they find themselves in. Will Eintracht, no longer the underdogs, risk sitting back on their lead – do they stick or do they twist? The challenge for West Ham is clear – play with intensity, avoid conceding sloppy goals and find the guile to get behind and beyond the host’s defence?

Both managers fielded weakened sides in league matches at the weekend. Eintracht dropping into the bottom half of the Bundesliga following defeat to third placed Leverkusen, West Ham losing out in their London Derby against Arsenal to effectively end outstanding hopes of consecutive top six finishes. I doubt form will count for much tonight, though. It’s a one-off game that will test character and resilience as much as it will ability.

If there was a takeaway from the first leg it was that Eintracht performed technically and tactically better than West Ham. The Hammers either lacked quality in the final third (a recurring theme) or their threat was snuffed out by superior German tactics. The match statistics, however, painted an interesting picture that provides at least a straw of encouragement for the return. West Ham had more shots, a greater share of possession, won more corners, had a better pass success rate, made more successful dribbles, and won more aerial duels than their opponents. And of course, struck the woodwork three times. But the only stat that wins matches are goals scored. To win we must outscore the opposition. Certainly not impossible.

It should be a fully fit squad for David Moyes to select from with the exception of extended absentee, Angelo Ogbonna. The only uncertainties are probably Ben Johnson or Vladimir Coufal at right back, and which two of Manuel Lanzini, Pablo Fornals or Said Benrahma feature alongside Jarrod Bowen in the attacking midfield positions. I’m fairly confident that Lanzini will start which then boils selection down to a preference for Fornals energetic defensive cover or a hoped-for moment of magic from Benrahma. The introduction of Benrahma certainly livened things up in the first leg but his starts are routinely characterised by bright starts fizzling out once the tricks and flicks fail to come off. But we need invention tonight, so my predicted starting eleven would be: Areola, Johnson, Dawson, Zouma, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Bowen, Lanzini, Benrahma, Antonio.

Eintracht Frankfurt welcome back two players (Ndicka and Jakic) suspended from the first leg but may stick with side that steered them to victory in London.

The game might prove to be a fascinating tactical battle. Both teams preferring to play on the break but neither having demonstrated the soundest defensive conviction in recent matches. To succeed West Ham must be clinical on the break and make better use of the set pieces that come their way. At the back, the greatest worry is the weakness and lack of pace down our left-hand side. It is going to be tense from start to finish.

It is the second leg of European encounters that usually deliver the most memorable games. Forget group matches, this is where the excitement is, unless the first leg has made it a foregone conclusion. We were already treated to thrills and superb performances in previous rounds against Sevilla and Lyon. And with all to play for tonight, we must believe the team can deliver once again. Big performances will be needed from the likes of Zouma, Dawson, Rice, Bowen and Antonio

Personally, I am mentally prepared for extra-time and even the spectre of penalties tonight, although hopefully it won’t come to a shoot-out lottery. With only limited resources available from the bench, and a manager reluctant to use them in any case, a victory in normal time would be nice. In a kind of reverse symmetry to 1976, a 3-1 away win would be absolutely wunderbar. COYI!

Can West Ham United beat Eintracht Frankfurt once again in a repeat European Semi-Final of one of the great games in their history. It was 4-3 on aggregate over the two legs in 1976. Will this be a similar classic?

West Ham’s forays into European competitions have come about following winning the FA Cup in 1964, 1975 and 1980, the European Cup Winners Cup in 1965, and a fifth-place finish in the Premiership (as it was then called) in 1998-99. The now defunct European Cup Winners Cup was a fantastic competition for us in the seasons following those cup wins, winning the trophy in 1965, being the losing semi-finalists in 1966 (qualifying as the winners in the previous season), being losing finalists in 1976, and losing quarter finalists in 1981 when we were a second-tier side. We even won the Inter-Toto Cup in 1999 following our fifth-place finish in the 1998-99 Premiership season which gave us qualification into the UEFA Cup in 1999-2000 where we were eliminated in the second round by Steaua Bucharest of Romania. The Europa League has been great this season too. We do have a fantastic record in Europe – it’s a shame we haven’t been there more often!

One of my favourite West Ham memories was as an eleven-year-old at Wembley high up on the terrace behind the goal where Alan Sealey scored his two goals in the memorable 2-0 win over TSV Munich 1860 in May 1965, our first and so far only major European trophy (disregarding Inter-Toto which doesn’t really count). Incidentally the second leg of the semi-final that season was played on April 28^th when we held Real Zaragoza of Spain to a 1-1 draw after a 2-1 win in the home leg.

We gained automatic entry into the competition the following season as winners and faced two German sides in the campaign. Germany was divided in two in those days and we met FC Magdeburg of East Germany in the Quarter Final winning the home leg 1-0 and then drawing 1-1 away to progress into the semi-final. There we met Borussia Dortmund of the West who were too strong beating us 2-1 at Upton Park and then 3-1 in Dortmund.

But my favourite ever West Ham game in the last 63 years was against Thursday’s opponents Eintracht Frankfurt. It was the second leg of the European Cup Winners Cup semi-final on 14^th April 1976 where we overcame a 2-1 deficit from the first game with a 3-1 victory thanks to goals from Keith Robson and two from Sir Trev. I watched the game from the North Bank in pouring rain in an electric atmosphere with just under 40,000 inside the Boleyn Ground.

Where are our German opponents of the past now? Magdeburg are currently at the top (and destined to become champions of Bundesliga 3 (the third tier in Germany) whilst Munich 1860 are fourth in that same division. Borussia Dortmund are currently second to Bayern in the Bundesliga but Glasgow Rangers knocked them out of the Europa League competition 6-4 in the round of 16 before beating Braga in the Quarter Final to face RB Leipzig (who are currently fourth in the Bundesliga) in the Semi-Final. The winners of that will of course face either ourselves or Eintracht Frankfurt in the Final.

Frankfurt, despite their excellent win over Barcelona in the last round, are languishing in mid-table (9^th) in the German league and should hold no fears for a West Ham side at our strongest and best. Frankfurt have saved their best performances for European games, similar to Lyons who were similarly placed in the French league when we met them in the Quarter Final (and perhaps similar to ourselves too).

Just like the Lyons tie, but the other way round to our meeting in 1976, we face the first leg at home. It would be useful to take a lead into the second leg but not absolutely crucial as we found out against Lyons. Wouldn’t it be great to repeat the 1976 score (3-1) from the home leg, especially with the removal of the away goals rule which I believe should have been scrapped years ago.

The European adventure (whatever happens now) has been great this season, and it would be excellent if we can go all the way to the Final and win the competition to qualify for the Champions League next season. Surely that would be a big help in recruitment in the summer for next season? The spirit within the squad continues to be high. Can we do it? I think we can. What are the chances?

A Nods As Good As A Wink: Aerial Power The Key For West Ham In The Lyon’s Den

West Ham’s dream of Europa League progress takes centre stage as they head for sudden death success against the Lyon winkers

Preparation for today’s Europa League Quarter Final second leg could hardly have gone any worse. Playing a full-strength side at Brentford on Sunday might have made sense at the time – in the hope of capitalising on slip-ups by Manchester United and Arsenal – but in retrospect giving key players the opportunity to rest would have been the sensible option. The Hammers wouldn’t have taken anything less from the game, and might have found themselves in a far better position to face Lyon.

The performance at Brentford was one of the poorest from a West Ham side for quite some time. We will discover later whether this was down to fatigue or was the result of player’s minds seduced by today’s showdown. There are fine margins at this level and concentration only has to slip a little to be exposed by an opponent as determined as Brentford.

The European adventure has provided a welcome added dimension to the season. Having had a taste, I’m sure most fans are eager for more next season. Qualification for the Europa League or Conference is still a possibility from league position but winning this competition would hit the jackpot of Champions League qualification. Easy to see why today’s game could serve as a distraction.

I was reasonably happy when West Ham were drawn against Lyon. After all, having just knocked out serial winners, Sevilla, what problems could a mid-ranking Ligue 1 side possibly pose? I did worry, though, whether the Hammers had peaked too soon in that Sevilla second leg. It felt like we were already in the final.

This tie sits finely poised after a referee assisted first leg stalemate at the London Stadium. Playing for half a game with ten men is never easy, so huge credit for a gutsy draw. But the implications of the farcical red card do not stop there. We must now play another whole game without the services of Aaron Cresswell. It’s not that Cresswell is a fantastic or irreplaceable player, it’s that he’s the only left back we have! A ludicrous state of affairs to find yourself in.

The other spanner in the works was the news that Kurt Zouma will miss the match, and potentially the rest of the season, with a twisted ankle. Wouldn’t Billy Bonds or Stuart Pearce just have had a squirt of Ralgex and carried on playing? Zouma is a commanding presence in the air but often looks awkward (almost clumsy) going in for tackles. I wonder whether he picks up more than his fair share of injuries because of that. No doubt he is one of our top players and his absence will be sorely missed.

I don’t see David Moyes making any radical changes to shape to compensate for the absences. It will be Issa Diop replacing Zouma in a straight swap, with Ben Johnson in as the least worst replacement for Cresswell. I consider Johnson to be the most accomplished of our full backs defensively but switching sides and playing on your weaker foot is not as easy as many suggest, particularly at the highest level. How well he adapts to the threat down the right may well be one of the pivotal battles of the night. There has also been speculation about Declan Rice dropping into a back three, but that would be crazy unless the plan is to play under siege for ninety minutes. In any case, the squad does not have the wing backs to deliver the attacking width required from the role.

Could there be change in the forward midfield positions? Manuel Lanzini looked seriously out-of-sorts on Sunday and maybe Pablo Fornals replaces him in the centre, with Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma out wide. Or could there be a surprise return for Mark Noble to stiffen the midfield alongside Rice and Tomas Soucek? Maybe that is a second half change!

My predicted line-up is: Areola, Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Johnson, Rice, Soucek, Bowen, Fornals, Benrahma, Antonio

As with the first game I expect assorted dark arts and skulduggery from Lyon. The type of tactics that commentators euphemistically refer to as ‘using their experience‘, rather than calling it what it is, cheating. We must hope the Swiss referee is more attuned to such underhand behaviour and does not believe his role is to be part of the entertainment.

Lyon are reported to have picked up a number of injuries since the first leg, notably goalkeeper, Lopes and midfield creator, Paqueta. Goal threats remain from the winking Dembele, Toko Ekambi and Tete requiring new heights of excellence from the Dawson-Diop axis – a pairing that has failed to impress in the past.

Tonight’s winner will be set up for a cracker of a semi-final against either Barcelona or Eintracht Frankfurt. Although underdogs, West Ham can win this. On more than one occasion, the team have demonstrated the character, fight and determination needed to achieve it. It starts all-square with no requirement to win by more than one goal, as in the second leg with Sevilla. As someone famous once said, there’s nothing to fear but fear itself.

We cannot change the players Moyes has available for selection. All we can do is accept whoever is picked, get fully behind the team, and spur them on to victory. I’m banking on the pace of power of Michail Antonio rattling the Lyon defence and our set pieces causing nightmares for the stand-in Lyon keeper. Dawson to nod in the winner! We still believe. COYI!