We've had a hellish time over the last 18 months but during all the awfulness, the Hammers have given us reason to smile.
And there's nothing better for West ham fans than than beating Spurs to bring a massive smiley to our faces.
Enjoy the delight in the Bobby Moore stand today as fans brought us back to the Boleyn!
Happy, happy days!
COYI!!!
It was all too easy for the Hammers this afternoon as a Spurs side lacking in ambition and craft were overpowered by a patient West ham performance. Mikey Antonio popped up with the winner in the 73rd minute to top off a performance in which Spurs were gifted lots of pointless possession while the Hammers had all the shots on target.
Here's our player ratings:
Fabianski : In truth he'll be shocked to have had so little to do but he made a few important first half saves look easy and finished off with a bossy catch from a hopeful Spurs punt into the Hammers box. 8/10
Johnson: 9/10. His best Hammers performance to date. Showed good decision making in defence and much more involved going forward. MoTM!
Zouma: Immense. As he said in midweek, Kane is a picnic when you train with Antonio every day! 8.5/10.
Ogbonna: So calm, really good partnership with Zouma. 7/10.
Cresswell: Superb again. When we finally got a corner he send in a beauty. Tenacious in defence. 8.5/10
Soucek: Having no luck with grabbing a goal but they will come again. Big presence in a midfield that gave Spurs no oxygen at all. 8/10.
Rice (C): He really is a big big player for us and what an engine. Leads by example. 8.5/10.
Bowen: What a nightmare to play against! Constantly pushing for a break and has developed into a clever head when he gets the ball. Not getting k ocked off the ball like he used to. 8/10.
Benrahma: Not his best day but almost got in a few times. 7/10.
Fornals: Sooo intelligent on the ball and a really buzzybee in defence. The movement and cohesion between Pablo, Jarrod and Said is a joy to watch. 8.5/10
Antonio: He's the man! Silenced the noisy Spurs fans who suggested he couldn't lace Sir Harry's boots. Ha ha! Took his goal with calm assurance. 9/10.
West Ham Starting XI: Fabianski; Johnson, Zouma, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Soucek, Rice (C); Bowen, Benrahma, Fornals; Antonio.
Subs: Areola, Dawson, Diop, Masuaku, Ashby, Noble, Lanzini, Vlasic, Yarmolenko.
It's another fun night of European footy for the Hammers as Genk arrive hoping to halt Moyes' mens' march.
The side is pretty predictable apart from the absence of Mark Noble who is still catching up on fitness but does make the bench.
Zouma and Oggy are rested, with Diop and Dawson getting some valuable game time, while up front it'll be interesting to see how Yarmolenko, Vlasic and Lanzini link up with Jarrod Bowen - will it be Bowen or Yarmo or Vlasic that leads the line?
Michail Antonio gets a well deserved night off and is not even on the subs bench.
Tomas Soucek is playing with his latest war wounds, while the indefatiguable Declan Rice partners him in midfield.
West Ham confirmed starting XI: Areola, Johnson, Dawson, Diop, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Yarmolenko, Vlasic, Lanzini, Antonio.
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| Two Young Hammers Ready to Rock! |
On paper this game looks like cracker! Two strong attacking sides who are playing fearless football and like to go toe to toe with their opposition. We can look forward to an open and free-flowing game at the London Stadium!
Can Zouma and Oggy clamp Toney and Co.?, will the Hammers be able to boss midfield and frustrate a very fluid Brentford unit?, can Brentford's leaky defence cope with the counterattacking precision of Moyes' men?
These two sides probably have the happiest squads in the league right now with the positivity at West ham flowing through the players and fans.
Rory Nostradamus has predicted a 4-3 thriller with Ex-Brentford assassin Said Benrahma to continue his scoring spree with the deciding goal.
Happy days - this will be a drama to savour!
WEST HAM STARTING XI: Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell, Kurt Zouma, Angelo Ogbonna, Declan Rice(C), Tomas Soucek, Said Benrahma, Pablo Fornals, Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio
Here are our player ratings:
Alphonse Areola (GK) - 8/10 - A quiet night but looked composed throughout and his distribution was good. Some useful game time.
Ben Johnson (RB) - 9/10 - His best game for the Hammers ss he played on his preferred right. The penalty shout would have been cruel as he had been composed and lively all night.
Craig Dawson (CB) - 8/10 - Still a useful part of the squad even though Zouma has usurped him. Steady with an imposing presence at set pieces, almost scoring a few times!
Issa Diop (CB) - 8/10 - Took no nonsense from the opposition. Will be Zouma's partner as we move forward and Oggy's age catches up. Should've been given a penalty for a first half dragdown!
Aaron Cresswell (LB) - 8/10 - Looked lively all night even though Rapid's best player covered the left flank well all night.
Declan Rice (CM) - 9/10 - When you have Rice's engine and tenacity on your side you look like you have an extra man, He hss matured into a real beast of a presence. Even pitched in with a goal!
Mark Noble (CM) - 7/10 - Decent first half but faded.
Nikola Vlasic (AM) - 6/10 - Still finding his feet. Looked a bit like Benrahma did last year. Needs more time.
Andriy Yarmolenko (RW) - 8/10 - Cracking first half to remind us how innately skilful and clever he is. Created the opener and put himself about.
Michail Antonio (ST) - 8/10 - Always looking lively and likely. Skilfull assist for Rice's opener. Can he stay fit???
Said Benrahma (LW) - 8.5/10 - Has adjusted to the Premiership kevel and really is a handfull. Deserved his goal at the end to round off a great performance.
Substitutes
Manuel Lanzini (CM) - 5/10 - Little to write home about.
Tomas Soucek (CM) - 6/10 - Solid but looks a tad jaded.
Jarrod Bowen (ST) - 8/10 - A real ball of energy and a great asset as an Antonio alternative. Will be annoyed to have missed a golden chance to wrap it up in the closing minutes.
Pablo Fornals (LW) - 8Top player who really brings out the best in our forward unit as he is the ingredient that makes it purr!
Leeds fans must hate playing West ham as they followed up home and away defeats last season with another loss at home yesterday.
Although it took a last gasp Antonio strike to separate the sides, in reality Moyes system works well against open sides like Leeds.
So poor Leeds drop into the sweaty zone without a win in their six games, whilst the Bubbles boyz lurk with intent on the edge of the top six.
There were some useful insights yesterday about the state of the squad just now;
1. We have a winning mentality. Having fallen behind the Hammers still looked confident and didn't panic. Bielsa did a good job of disrupting the Hammers rapid counterattacking system but we were patient and it payed off. Top sides tends to pinch all three points in nip and tuck games, and so it was yesterday. Gone are the days of moral victories for the Hammers - we tend to get what we deserve and sometimes a bit more.
2. The extra burden of European football, along with a squad of players who are inevitably busy during International breaks, seems to be taking it's toll already. Soucek, for one, looked flat yesterday and maybe needs a rest in midweek. Alex Kral has looked good so far and should make a decent replacement.
3. Kurt Zouma's Premiership experience has allowed him to slot in almost seamlessly. He already looks more than comfortable in the system and playing with Ogbonna. Niko Vlasic, in contrast, needs a settling in period as he hasn't yet developed the understanding that's needed to play in our front four effectively. Time shoukd sort that out.
It's a happy time at the Hammers!
COYI!!!
