Tag: #manchesterunited

West Ham Travel To Manchester United For The Battle Of The Transfer Chumps

West Ham United’s Premier League farewell tour rolls into Manchester this evening in the hope of finding an ideal spot to park the bus.

A recent analysis by the International Centre for Sports Studies placed both today’s combatants at the very foot of football’s transfer hall of shame. West Ham and Manchester United floundering in the bottom six of clubs who have derived the worst possible value for money in transfer dealings since 2021.

In the survey, which includes all clubs whose transfer spending exceeded €10 million, the two Premier League clubs are joined in the roll of dishonour by four Saudi clubs. And let’s face it, those Saudis are well used to losing an arm and a leg.

The reliability of the study was subsequently endorsed in a Daily Mail report which confirmed it had been undertaken by boffins. Who could possibly argue with that? It’s a sign of the times that we don’t hear nearly often enough from boffins these days. It has to be one of my favourite (peculiarly British) words, alongside scarpered.

Waste of Transfer Money in Euros

Delve a little deeper and a case can easily be made that the Hammers record is significantly worse – and has had far greater impact – than the Red Devils. Relative to revenues – which are ultimately the driver of transfer spend in the world of PSR and SCR – the most recent accounts show Manchester United outearning West Ham by some distance: £666 million to £271 million. While both records are appalling, the Mancs are far better placed to absorb and recover from losses of that scale.

It is possibly the saddest indictment of West Ham’s mismanagement and poor stewardship that having had 14 seasons feeding from the Premier League money bonanza trough, they have been left with a squad whose value and quality is no better than any of the newly promoted clubs.

Last night’s results saw the Hammers slip back once again into the relegation places. Wins for Leeds and Nottingham Forest hinting that the race for the drop might shift from a five-horse race to a three horse certainty. Dyche will no doubt continue to grind out results at the City Ground while Leeds have demonstrated a fighting spirit in their last two games that is sorely lacking from the West Ham squad.

In times of desperation, it is tempting to clutch at the straw that you never know what you’re going to get with West Ham. But that is fast becoming a fireside myth. The days of pulling off shock wins have been few and far between in recent seasons. When they have happened it has been the result of opposition off days rather than Hammer’s excellence.

With six games to go until the end of the year – and the season’s halfway point – it is challenging to see where more more than a handful of points might come from. By then, we may be even further adrift of safety. Leaving survival reliant on a storming transformational transfer window – something which all prior evidence (see above) suggests is improbable.

Tonight’s opponents have been experiencing a mini revival of late, but without pulling up any trees. I watched their game at Crystal Palace as part of a low-quality Super Sunday double bill, and they remain well short of top six quality. Palace should really have been out of sight by half time but had forgotten to bring along their shooting boots. Not for the first time, it was Bruno Fernandes who inspired the visitors comeback. He will be the main threat again tonight.

With the enforced absence of Lucas Paqueta, Nuno will have been busily spinning the selection wheel of fortune over the past couple of days. Quite what random changes he’ll come up with can only be guessed at. Red flags for me would be a return to the three/ five at the back formation and a starting berth for Tomas Soucek. You might as well switch off your set, log off your stream or retire to the bar if you at Old Trafford.

Neither George Earthy, Callum Marshall nor Mohamadou Kanté turned out for the Under 21s last night – so, one or all may have been on the bus up to Manchester. My preference would be a start for Earthy with a more advanced role for Mateus Fernandes in front of Freddie Potts and Soungoutou Magassa. However, if Nuno once again insists on parking the bus and refuses to commit players forward, the chosen formation will be academic anyway. At some point, whether from a free kick or corner, the defences will be breached.

A lot of supporters and media have already written off Luis Guilherme, especially where the narrative is to highlight Tim Steidten’s (rather than the Board’s) role in the Hammer’s current plight. Personally, I think there’s a decent player in there if used correctly. Someone able to carry the ball forward as an attacking midfielder – if there were such a thing in Nuno’s plan. I don’t though see him as a natural stand-in for Crysencio Summerville on the left wing. He will not shine there!

If anyone is feeling positive about tonight’s game, then please let me know what you’ve been drinking (or smoking). I only see one possible outcome and it’s not a good one for the claret and blue. Anyway, I need to scarper pretty quickly. COYI!

Groovin’ On A Sunday Afternoon: West Ham’s Dad’s Army See Off Manchester’s Young Rascals

A welcome win for West Ham against an awful and disinterested Manchester United side in the weekend sunshine. Does it tell us anything we didn’t know? Probably not!

If you had woken suddenly from a season long coma to the news that West Ham had completed the double against the mighty Manchester United – and climbed above the two ‘big six’ Europa Cup finalists in the league table – then you might have been fooled into thinking this must surely be a time of great joy. A reason for good old east-end knees-up.  

Surely, it had to mean Champions League football at the London Stadium next year with a victorious open top bus parade already planned. Only later would it be realised that the game was in fact an inconvenient, end-of-season affair. A match between two of the bottom six where, due to a bizarre alignment of the planets, the hapless Red Devils are still in with a shout of qualifying for the Champions League. Whatever the one-game-at-a-time mutterings from the Manchester United manager, next week’s final is clearly a far greater priority than was the visit of West Ham for Matchweek 36.

At a club where baffling team selections have become as commonplace as a chorus of Bubbles, scientists were able to measure reaction to the announcement of Graham Potter’s starting eleven on the Richter scale. Niclas Fullkrug and Edson Alvarez were once again left on the naughty step, there was not a youth player in sight, an unnecessary full back shuffle, and (as a coup de grace) a recall for the much-maligned Guido Rodriguez.  It was the Argentine’s first start since the home defeat by Crystal Palace in mid-January. Not a player that we had ever expected to see line up in the claret in blue ever again.

Even by West Ham standards it was a very old team. An average age of 29.6 – six players aged over 30 and just one younger than 25. Confidence was low that the Premier League Dad’s Army would have any chance of putting an end to the dismal run of eight games without a win.

What we didn’t know, however, was that agreement had been reached to play the game as a demonstration of walking football. With a level of intensity expected at an OAP’s Sunday morning tai chi lesson on the Common. Ironically, it was ideally suited to many of our players whose undoubted training ground competence is routinely undone when put under pressure by fast pressing opponents. Fortunately, Manchester United did none of that. Either because they lack the players to execute it or were more concerned about picking up injuries in advance of their trip to Bilbao.

It is between amusing and surprising to see the poor value and quality that poses as the present-day Manchester United squad.  Assembled at huge expense it is prima facie evidence of how not to run a football club. It’s possible that some of the younger signings will turn out to be future gems, but overall, you would have to say their transfer policy is even more shoddy than the Hammers. The exception to the rule is Bruno Fernandes who appears to have carried them single handedly over the past four of five seasons. So ineffective were they in attack that it was only after the introduction of Harry Maguire that the threat level was raised in the West Ham defence. I had read an article at the weekend that Hojlund was eager to prove himself at the highest level. It made me wonder whether he had considered a career change to scaffolder.

Predictably, the West Ham goals were scored by Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen. Together, they have notched over a half of their side’s Premier League total this season. I am conflicted about the contribution made by the big Czech. You couldn’t hope for more committed player and, of course he regularly weighs in with important goals from an otherwise impotent midfield. Yet, he is anonymous for long periods allowing the game to pass him by. Is that enough in the modern game where speed of thought and action – press, pass, carry – have set the standards of midfield play?

To be fair, Soucek had a decent game; put in some important blocks and even got involved in the exhibition of one touch passing that the Hammers put on towards the end. But that was the story of the game for other West Ham players too. Given time and space they can look at home at this level. Sadly, it all falls to pieces against quicker, aggressive opponents.

Despite sitting on an apparently comfortable 2-0 lead, it wouldn’t be a West Ham game without a nail-biting finale. In his wisdom, Potter elected to remove Bowen and Mohammed Kudus in a double substitution on 73 minutes with both players looking equally unimpressed with the decision. Removing his only out-ball runners is a tactic that hadn’t worked well for the coach in the past, so he decided to try it once again anyway – just in case. It immediately invited extra pressure as the Hammers found it increasingly difficult to clear their lines. Was it part of Fullkrug’s punishment to abandon him up top without any recognised service or support?

Still a win is a win; and they don’t come along frequently enough to belittle. I am not sure we learned anything new from the experience, although we are now TOP of the bottom six and can go into the remaining two games with a modicum of positivity. The magical 40-point mark has been reached, and if another four can be mustered it will raise Potter’s points-per-game above that of Lopetegui. I suppose that would be progress of sorts!

The opening gambit in the annual player clear out was revealed a few days back with the announcement that Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal, Lukasz Fabianski, and Danny Ings would be leaving the London Stadium in the summer. The signing of Ings was a monumental blunder for both club and player. Another casualty of not bothering to sign a striker that suits your style of play. While I find it hard to associate millionaire footballers with the concept of being great servants, the other three have each had distinguished careers at the club. Cresswell’s 11 years at West Ham (360+ games, 11 goals) deserve our recognition and the opportunity for his greatest send-off since that night in Frankfurt; Coufal will not now get the chance to equal Tomas Repka’s modern record of the most games played by an outfield player without scoring; and Fab will fall eight short of 100 career Premier League clean sheets (43 at West Ham). We wish them well. COYI!

Don’t Tease Me This Way: Summerville’s Spark Propels West Ham To Unlikely Victory

The classic game of two halves as West Ham survive a first half bombardment to claim victory with a spirited response in the second. Relief also for Julen Lopetegui who managed to fix his own mistakes at half time to earn a welcome three points.

Sometimes you have to wonder what is going on inside a coach or manager’s head when they make their team selections. With Mohammed Kudus starting his red card suspension, the world and his wife were confident that Crysencio Summerville was the obvious natural replacement to fill his boots. But Julen Lopetegui had other ideas and decided that playing Carlos Soler out of position on the left hand side was a far more sensible and insightful solution. Does he consider Summerville too direct for his particular brand of slow build-up football? And doesn’t Soler deserve an opportunity in the Lucas Paqueta position to do himself justice? After all, the Brasilian is rarely at the races these days.

The other changes from the drubbing at Tottenham saw a recall for Lukasz Fabianski in goal, Dinos Mavropanos replacing Jean-Clair Todibo at centre back and Edson Alvarez ousting Tomas Soucek in midfield. The unbalanced nature of the starting lineup instinctively looked liked poor judgement. But it did allow the coach to take the plaudits when he fixed his own mistake with three substitutions at half-time. Perhaps it was the plan all along to start with a duff formation in order to demonstrate the genius of his tactical use of substitutes later.

The first half ably demonstrated the folly of both selections and tactics. The team lacked any sense og cohesion, control or goal threat. What’s more, the persistence with the use of inverted full backs, the high defensive line and the uncertainty of how the defensive midfielders should fill the resulting gaps allowed Manchester United to pick off the Hammers at will through simple balls over the top. Time and again the Hammer’s defence found itself exposed by the simplest of all plays. A deficiency of organisation and tactics rather than personnel.

It is always easy to speculate on should-haves and could-haves in football games depending on what story you are wanting to tell. Not all the chances that the visitors created were gilt-edged, but a couple were more than presentable – especially the comical Dallo miss and the Fernandez header. Had West Ham found themselves two or three goals down at the break, there could be no complaints that it didn’t reflect the balance of play.

It was a different story after the break. The introduction of Summerville was the catalyst for change. His energy and single-mindedness at driving at the Red Devils defence inspired his team-mates and the crowd. All of a sudden, the Hammers looked like a team with purpose, One that was prepared to ask questions of its opponent. Todibo speed, awareness and positioning also gave the defence a more solid feel. He looks to be a very good signing – whoever would like to claim the credit for that one! Tomas Soucek did OK without being influential. I would like to have seen Soler moved centrally for a while although he doesn’t have the same aerial abilities as the Czech.

As the second period progressed, it was West Ham who looked the more threatening even if it was manifested in enterprising approach play rather than the creation of scoring opportunities. When the opening goal came there was a touch of good fortune as Danny Ings scuffed shot became a perfect set up for Summerville to slot home. His joy at scoring was obvious despite the yellow card shown for removing his shirt. It is good to see that the officials have a handle on the most serious issues apparent in the game – such as this and delaying the restart for a nano-second. While blatant diving, cheating, time wasting and other dark arts go unpunished.

Another piece of officiating that provides a solution to the wrong problem is forcing a player who has had treatment to leave the field until the referee sees fit. Of course, it is meant to discourage fake time-wasting injuries by Arsenal, but was there really any suspicion that Alvarez had faked a ball crashing into his face? I believe he was still off the pitch when Manchester United equalised – an equivalent situation that Ten Hag had complained about the previous week. We should, however, acknowledge the achievement of Alvarez in lasting the full 108 minutes without incurring a single yellow card

The circumstances surrounding the West Ham winner have overshadowed much of the reporting on the game. I doubt that many watching the game in real-time had seen anything untoward in the brief goalmouth skirmish and it came as quite a surprise when the game was stopped, and the referee directed to view the pitch-side monitor. In the days of VAR, we have become well aware how subjective these penalty calls are, allowing pundits and commentators alike to waffle on incessantly about whether there was contact and whether it was ‘enough’ – presumably measured in Newtons per square metre. How much is enough is never fully explained and we must await development of the AI powered degree of contact test before it can be resolved. It is rare for a referee to go to the monitor only to disagree VAR. I’ve a sneaking feeling by the time taken by David Coote to review the five seconds of footage that he was not convinced with. But he knew better than to incur the wrath of Michael Oliver. It is said these things even themselves out over time – so, just another dozen or so dodgy decisions in our favour and our account will be back in balance.   

Jarrod Bowen dispatched the spot kick with aplomb and after that there was just 15 minutes of added time to cope with. Bowen was another who came to life in the second half and his run was instrumental in the opening goal. His corner kicking is terrible though and generally results in a gentle chip into the keeper’s arms.

Summerville was the obvious choice for man of the match (or man of half a match) but I thought Aaron Wan-Bissaka was outstanding throughout. A good shift also from Michail Antonio who can still unsettle defences with his physical presence under the right circumstances, as long as you don’t try to involve him in any quick, intricate passing movements. Well done also to Fab for a sound display of goalkeeping – and not forgetting Mr Oliver. COYI!

Following the chaotic second half display last weekend with West Ham in total disarray, ask not for whom the bell tolls. The vultures are circling.

We are only eight games into the Premier League 2024-25 season, which I would suggest means that it is still early days for our new head coach Julen Lopetegui. But there is no getting away from the fact that West Ham have made a poor start to the campaign. As we were overrun by a rampant Tottenham in the second half of last Saturday’s early kick-off many fans took to social media sites making the case that Lopetegui’s team are no improvement on that of David Moyes. The “be careful what you wish for” brigade reared their head once again. The head coach has apparently asked for fans to judge him next May. Is that an optimistic request with the patience of fans wearing thinner after each passing game? Did I say passing game? Oh yes, our new style.

Just one more game, the two o’clock home game against misfiring Manchester United on Sunday will bring us virtually up to the season’s quarter point stage. How long should the bedding-in period last? Surely our Spanish coach with a distinguished career in charge at Porto, Real Madrid, the Spanish National team, and Seville deserves more time? Some say yes, others are not so sure. As for ‘distinguished’ then despite Europa League success at Seville and guiding them to qualification for the Champions League, wasn’t he sacked there and at Real Madrid following a string of poor results in each case?

He lasted barely two months at Real Madrid, but three years at Seville. Prior to his Spanish appointments he began his senior managerial career at Porto in Portugal, one of the two most decorated clubs in Portuguese football with a massive budget but was dismissed in under two years, failing to win any silverware in the process.

Prior to his appointment at West Ham he had a ‘relatively successful’ few months at Wolves guiding them to thirteenth after taking over a team in a poor position. However, that reign was ended apparently due to reported financial constraints at the club and other alleged disagreements and he left by mutual consent.

The early days here show an unclear identity and tactics, an attack that based on goals scored that ranks in mid-table (=10th), a leaky defence where only three other Premier League teams have conceded more so far (identical to Moyes defence too for the whole of last season) (=17th!), a slow midfield lacking creativity (Rodriguez, Alvarez, Soucek), and despite  highly lauded transfers in the summer still one of the oldest squads.

We have lost four of the opening eight league games, but not just lost, we have been comprehensively beaten in some. Are we just not good enough or has the quality of the opposition been too much? Three goal margin league defeats to both Chelsea and Tottenham, and an even greater (four goal) deficit to Liverpool in the League Cup bear comparison to some of the heavy defeats last season.

For some reason unbeknown to me, Summerville has barely been given much opportunity, but when he has had limited chances he has looked lively and promising. Guilherme and Soler have been barely used, whereas Paqueta, despite obvious skills has failed to impress, his commitment is questioned by some with ongoing uncertainty over his situation following match-fixing allegations which are dragging on (with his mind, perhaps not surprisingly elsewhere) but he continues to be selected.

Fullkrug, not everyone’s choice for the forward we so desperately needed, has been injured, and with irony we look from a distance as Duran goes from strength to strength pulling up trees at Aston Villa. On top of all that we will now be without Kudus for three matches after his meltdown and red card at the weekend.

Following a summer transfer spree there is now mounting scrutiny on West Ham’s technical director Tim Steidten too. Supporters always want someone to blame when things are not going as well as hoped, although how long will it be before it will once again be directed at the owners as well if our poor run continues?

Based on what I had read I don’t think Lopetegui would have been my choice to take over from Moyes, although a change was needed to improve from where we were, and hopefully to give us a more enterprising brand of football. It doesn’t have to mean entertainment at the cost of results as some ‘Moyes in’ supporters constantly claimed. Just look at Brighton. Their fans are in dreamland, not only because of the results and position of the club, but because of the football they love to watch both home and away that their team give them.

My personal view is that it would be too hasty a decision to change the head coach right now. Whilst we are not in trouble (and I hope it doesn’t come to that) as a fan I hope he can turn it around, although at the moment there doesn’t appear to be solid evidence that he will. I also wonder if he has the support of the players? The impressive win against Ipswich before the last international break gives us some breathing space, but how patient will the fanbase be? Many social media sites (although not necessarily a true reflection of the fanbase as a whole) seem to suggest that discontent is growing. The vultures are circling waiting and watching for the opportunity to strike.

We face a Manchester United team this weekend in similar disarray with vultures circling around there too.

Do you think we should keep Lopetegui in charge, or is it already the time to change? What do you think?

History and current form suggests that West Ham will not win at Old Trafford on Sunday

The Hammers haven’t yet won a match in 2024 in five attempts. They haven’t gone winless in six games at the start of a calendar year for 25 years.

It is difficult to add to Geoff’s excellent article published yesterday. It seems incredible that we are sitting sixth in the Premier League after 22 games of the season, and on current form (the last five matches) we are one of only three teams who haven’t been beaten, the other two being Liverpool and Manchester City. But we haven’t won a single game in 2024 at five attempts either. And not exactly the toughest fixtures.

A goalless draw at home to Brighton to begin the year with the Seagulls being the better team, two games against a mediocre Bristol City team that knocked us tamely out of the FA Cup, outplayed at the bottom club Sheffield United, albeit robbed by some atrocious officiating, and then finally lucky to snatch a draw at home to a Bournemouth side who looked far more dangerous but saved by a mixture of poor finishing and some excellent saves from Areola. The headline writers loved having a go at Phillips for the Bournemouth goal – for me Zouma was far more culpable.

At the same time the entertainment is dire, and despite all the rumours, nobody was added to the squad to boost our attacking options in the transfer window which closed this week. And what was all that nonsense that led to the delayed departures of Benrahma and Fornals? The manager is allegedly on the verge of signing a new two-and-a-half year contract which will delight the Moyes luvvies and the “careful what you wish for brigade” whilst enraging supporters looking for more entertainment who believe that we have players who could achieve so much more with a less cautious approach.

Manchester United are next, and there isn’t a lot of history or current form to suggest that we’ll achieve anything in this game. We haven’t won there in the league for many years, not since the infamous Tevez goal that kept us in the top-flight in 2007. That was the last time we did the double over them too. In fact we beat them in three consecutive league fixtures at that time for the first time since the 1970s. An unlikely win in this game would enable us to match the three wins in a row once again. We have beaten them eight times since 2007, but seven of those have been home fixtures, and our only away win came in the league cup a couple of years ago.

In 55 Premier League meetings they have won 33, 13 have been drawn, and we have won 9, including the last two, both at the London Stadium. They have scored more than 100 goals against us in those games and we haven’t yet scored 50. Late goals from Bowen and Kudus did however enable us to win a fairly drab game just before Christmas.

If we avoid defeat then that would be seven league games in a row, but conversely if we don’t win then that would be six games in all competitions at the beginning of a calendar year without winning a game, something that hasn’t happened for 25 years!

David Moyes time at the helm for Manchester United lasted just 34 league matches, and this will apparently be the 34th Premier League game where he is taking charge against them. When facing them he has never won a league game at Old Trafford.  

You have to go back to the record-breaking season of 1985-86 to find a West Ham victory over Manchester United in the month of February when Cottee and Ward scored the goals in a 2-1 win at Upton Park in front of just 22,000 fans. Our sole February victory in a league game at Old Trafford came in 1929, 95 years ago this week. The attendance that day was a mere 12,000!

So there is very little to suggest that we can win this time. But I’m forever hopeful! What are the chances?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

West Ham face the visit of Manchester United in the final game before Christmas. But what happened on Wednesday night?

Have you ever wondered why clubs such as West Ham don’t take the Carabao Cup as seriously as they might?

Getting to the final of the Carabao Cup or the FA Cup gives fans a day out at Wembley. The winners of each competition are guaranteed a place in Europe the following season, and for most clubs, including West Ham it is their best chance of being involved there. So why don’t clubs take domestic cup competitions as seriously as you might expect, and definitely not as seriously as most fans would expect them to?

It can only be money? The prize money on offer for winning the Carabao Cup is £100,000. The runners up get £50,000, semi-finalists £25,000 and so on. With the amount of money washing around at the top level of English football this is only peanuts isn’t it? The FA Cup is 20 times more lucrative with the winners picking up £2 million in prize money but still clubs don’t take this competition as seriously as Premier League games. Why?

The winners of the Premier League will collect £44 million in prize money and this decreases by £2.2 million for each position in the final table. Even this is small fry compared to the money from TV revenue, both home and abroad and all the other revenue streams available to clubs. If West Ham finish the season in eighth place the prize money from the Premier League is £28.6 million. Finishing just a place lower in ninth would be £26.4 million. So for West Ham (for example) finishing eighth instead of ninth is more lucrative than winning both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup combined. Heaven forbid we drop any lower in the league by fielding our strongest side to try to progress in the competition!

Ask any fan if they would sooner win one or other of the domestic cup competitions (or even reach the final for a day out at Wembley) and only finish ninth in the league rather than eighth. Who remembers final positions in the league when you are in the pack? But we all remember our days out at Wembley, especially when we lift a trophy.

Liverpool were there for the taking on Wednesday. You’d like to think so anyway. So why did our back four include Mavropanos, Ogbonna and Johnson?. Why were Benrahma and Fornals in the starting eleven? Where were JWP, Paqueta and Emerson? David Moyes had never won at Anfield in 20 visits with four different clubs. Liverpool hadn’t been beaten at home since last February. And then only by Real Madrid. We certainly weren’t going to come close with that line-up. And so it proved. Were you surprised? I wasn’t.

Jarrod Bowen, described by Klopp as one of his favourite players, took his goal well but what else was there for the thousands of Hammers fans to cheer after travelling to Merseyside on a December evening the week before Christmas? The lack of ambition in the first half was demonstrated by lack of touches in the opposition box. We lost this particular statistic 23-1. Amazingly we were only a goal down at the break. We managed our first shot on target after 77 minutes and this was our goal. Did we have a sniff at 3-1? The manager obviously thought so and took off Alvarez to be replaced by Ings! Game on? Don’t make me laugh.

We’ve never won the League Cup. We’ve been runners-up twice but with this lack of ambition I can’t see it happening soon. There were a lot of grumbles on social media but surprisingly to me some of our fans didn’t seem at all bothered. Our best three years ever, just look at our record in the last nine games, we’re marching on in Europe etc.

So close to a Wembley final with only Chelsea, Fulham and Middlesbrough to stop us, and yet so far. David Moyes is used to having no success at Anfield and was waving the white flag before we even kicked off.

So two days before Christmas and Manchester United come to town. I don’t think we’ll see JWP and Paqueta on the bench. We’ll put out our strongest side possible. Because money talks and finishing eighth rather than perhaps ninth or lower is considered to be more important by some than winning the Carabao Cup. I’ll be supporting the team as I always do and have done for the past 65 years. I fervently hope we give the Red Devils a hiding. But I think I’m entitled to feel massively disappointed by Wednesday night’s effort!

Seasons greetings. Have a great Christmas and a happy New Year!

Sticking Point: West Ham’s Desperate Scramble for Safety Meets Manchester United’s Stuttering Champions League Ambitions

With three league defeats on the bounce, West Ham badly need a boost to survival and European hopes when they meet inconsistent Manchester United at the London Stadium

Tonight sees part two of the Manchester duology when West Ham entertain Manchester United in an inconvenient early evening kick-off at the London Stadium.

Part one of the showdown went pretty much according to script with a routine win for perennial champions, Manchester City. Compared to the dire pre-match predictions of many Hammers fans – including myself – it could have been a far worse outcome. West Ham never looked capable of scoring more than NIL, but the potentially crucial goal difference advantage didn’t take too big a hammering.

It was inevitable that Haaland would break the Premier League most goals in a season record in this game and Danny ings will forever be able to describe his pivotal assist in the build-up. City took yet another stride towards the title yesterday with a 2-1 win over Fat Sam’s Leeds United – a much closer contest score-wise than our own encounter, although mostly due to the hosts easing up in the second half with a Champions League semi-final on the horizon. No doubt, Guardiola will have something to say to his players about the unprofessional penalty taking debacle that precipitated their late wobble. Anyone remember Paul Kitson against Everton in April 1997?

A surprising element for me was that our boys managed a staggering 31% possession in the game – more than double than anticipated. But possession is a strange thing. Out of curiosity, I looked up the stats for when Brentford became the only team to win at The Etihad so far this season (in November) and compared these to the Hammer’s recent effort:

Brentford: Possession (25%)  Passes (216)  Pass Accuracy (56%)  Corners (2)

West Ham: Possession (31%) Passes (327) Pass Accuracy (77%)   Corners (3)

Brentford also faced more opposition goal attempts than West Ham – 29 to 16. But they did create more attempts themselves – a total of 10 to West Ham’s 6. As ever, the most telling of all statistics is goals scored, and the Bees netted twice from 8 shots on target – testament to their setup and the double spearhead of Toney and Mbeumo. West Ham on the other hand never seriously threatened the City goal. Still, shows how misleading the stats can be!

While City are now several streets ahead of their one-time imperious neighbours, the Manchester Reds remain in contention for Champions League qualification. Now on their sixth manager since Sir Alex Ferguson hung up his changing room hairdryer, they have never looked anywhere close to reproducing their previous dominance. The promising signs of Erik ten Hag’s early reign have slowly been swamped by a wave of inconsistency. The impression is a collection of talented individuals rather than a convincing, cohesive team on the cusp of a return to greatness. Today they may well be either galvanised or traumatised by the prospect of Liverpool coming up on the top four rails.

Any belief that Manchester United are a far less formidable opponent than in days gone by has yet to be translated into positive results for West Ham. The most recent Hammers victory in the league was a 2-0 win (Yarmolenko, Cresswell) for Pellegrini’s Hammers in September 2019. This was followed by a draw and then five straight defeats. Even in our two fantastic seasons (© D Moyes) the home fixture was lost 1-3 and 1-2 respectively. So, what cunning plan might the Moyesiah have up his sleeve for today? Could it be the revolutionary tactics of defend in depth and hope to score from a set piece or breakaway? Intriguingly, this is also Manchester United’s masterplan.

I sometimes have sympathy with football manager’s having to come out to face the cameras each week while the heat of battle and the frustrations of another incompetent performance are still fresh in the memory. While the victorious manager can afford to be magnanimous – see Pep praising West Ham’s resilience – the loser has to spin out the latest in the long line of tame excuses, especially when there is no contentious VAR decision lifeline to rant about. Unfortunately, when Moyes has his back to the wall, he is prone to petulance and unwise criticism of individual players not ideal for team morale.

However, there is no excuse for spouting the same level of unbelievable nonsense in the calm of the pre-match preparations. This week’s corker was Moyes attempt to explain why Maxwell Cornet had played so few minutes since his recovery from injury in late March. The reason, apparently, is that the established players (Michail Antonio and Ings) are already doing a really good job in that position. Thanks for clearing that up, David! It must be a particular problem for a manager who doesn’t realise he is allowed to make tactical adjustments with his substitutions as well as like for like changes.

Defeat today and West Ham will go in to the first leg of the European Conference semi-final with the spectre of relegation continuing to hang over them. A win would almost guarantee survival while a share of the points would leave work to be done.

It will be business as usual on team selection as Moyes welcomes back food poisoning victims Declan Rice, Nayef Aguerd and Tomas Soucek. It is rumoured that Soucek experienced his most explosive runs of the season during the absence. Either Ben Johnson or Thilo Kehrer will replace the injured Vladmir Coufal and there will be a toss-up between Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals to fill the problematic wide left berth. Other than that, same shoot, different weekend.

With games rapidly running out, we are left again to hope for the best and fear the worst. I wonder if it possible to borrow that Stone of Destiny for the afternoon? COYI!

West Ham Head To Old Trafford On Sunday: Can They Find A North-West Passage To Victory?

The cities of Manchester and Liverpool have never been happy hunting grounds for West Ham. Can they break the hoodoo at Manchester United or will they yet again be north-west passengers?

The midweek Europa Conference game against Silkeborg ended in the type of unexceptional victory that has become commonplace in the late stage group games. West Ham were all but assured of top spot prior to kick-off and the visitors would have been aware that next week’s home fixture against Anderlecht was their key to progressing in the competition. The game really should have been more of a stroll for the Hammers but once their finishing was about as convincing as a politician’s promise.

Still. it was good to get a first competitive glimpse of Nayef Aguerd. Without being tested it provided an encouraging teaser for we might expect from a speedy, ball-playing central defender. There was also an accomplished performance from Conor Coventry. He may be some way down the defensive midfield pecking order – unless David Moyes fancies picking four of them together at some point – but he is now firm favourite for the tidiest haircut since Scott Parker award.

I can’t help thinking the club is going a little over the top with their seven home wins on the trot marketing campaign, especially when considering the quality offered by much of the opposition. I suppose they were games that needed to be won, though. As for the Conference, we can now look forward to the most pointless match ever held for next week’s trip to Bucharest. Are we allowed to field the Under 13’s?

Sunday sees a return to league action against another of the sides enjoying the rigours of Thursday – Sunday football. Manchester United have now guaranteed group qualification but must triumph at Real Sociedad next week to avoid the play-off round lottery in the Europa League.

Trips to Old Trafford may not be as fruitless for West Ham as they are to Anfield, but there’s not much in it. The Hammers have returned with all the points on just six occasions since 1958; just twice in the Premier League era with the last time being the great escape in the final game of the 2006/7 season. With an equally dismal record against Manchester City, and even Everton proving a regular bogey side, trips to the north-west rarely turn out well. Since the Hammers most recent return to the Premier League they have lost 31 of 42 league matches played in Manchester and Liverpool (won six and drawn five). Indeed it is a record that has been passed down from manager to manager.

Although facing the Red Devils is nowhere near as daunting as it once was, it should be pointed out that Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham have already been beaten this season at Old Trafford. The home side may not yet be credible title challengers but they will certainly be in the mix for a top four finish.

Then there are the lurking perils of VAR. If you cast your mind back to the equivalent fixture last season, the home side won the game with the last kick of the game. Despite a strong suspicion that Cavani was offside before he played in Rashford to score, the goal was expediently awarded with indecent haste. No three or four minutes of line and angle drawing at Stockley Park on this occasion – the players were back in the dressing room by then.    

I have run the numbers and the eXpected VAR balls up ratio (xVAR) comes out as 1.9 : 0.2. This week our fate is in the hands, whistle and mouse of Chris Kavanagh (referee) and Paul Tierney (VAR). The current standard, consistency and subjective nature of officiating reminded me of playing football over the park as kids – with the legendary jumpers for goalposts. If you shouted ‘post’ or ‘over’ quickly and loudly enough, it was often all that was needed to get a goal chalked off!

I think most West Ham supporters expect a further dose of David Moyes cautious medicine tomorrow.  Initiative will be surrendered, opposition will be shown too much respect, defending will be as deep as possible, all in the hope of scoring on the break. His well-known inferiority complex preferring to hang on passively rather than forcefully targeting the host’s weaknesses.

With Lucas Paqueta again nursing his mysterious shoulder injury, Moyes may well persist with the unusual defensive midfield triumvirate of Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek, and Flynn Downes that featured against Bournemouth. It screams lack of creativity and ambition but may just work if the three selected further forward are predominantly attack minded players – e.g. three from Said Benrahma, Gianluca Scamacca, Jarrod Bowen, and Michail Antonio. At the rear the much-missed Craig Dawson is adding weight to the axiom that West Ham injuries always take longer to heal than originally anticipated. Dawson partnering Kurt Zouma in the centre with Thilo Kehrer and Aaron Cresswell as full-backs provides a solid enough backline.

The hosts may make several change to the team that shot three past Sheriff in midweek, with frequent West Ham irritant Rashford replacing the increasingly petulant Ronaldo. As usual the Red Devils have a surfeit of attacking talent but invariably look shaky at the back. If only West Ham could bring their clinical shooting boots with them.

Interviewed after the Silkeborg game, Aguerd (very good English) said the team set out to win every game. Is that true, does he believe it, or hasn’t he been around long enough to know differently? Observation and experience suggest the first priority is not to lose every game. Who knows, perhaps the spots on the leopard can be purposefully re-arranged this weekend? More probable, I think, is a goal apiece draw. COYI!