Reasons to be cheerful: Five things we learned from the Wolves match

Hammers fans will be hoping that yesterday's much needed win over Wolves signals that our new squad is finally starting to gel. Overall, the signs were certainly positive and at VERYWESTHAM we noted five reasons to be cheerful.

1. Scamacca looks the real deal. Aggressive, quick, good in the air and willing to shoot on sight, the lad has the skillset managers dream of. Still only 23, he has lots to learn but after a frustrating period where he was fighting of a virus, his first Premiership goal looks likely to open a floodgate. The skill involved in his goal should not be underestimated. He looks like Arnie without the churlishness. 

2. Kehrer is a top class player - calm on the ball, intelligent in defence and adaptable across the back line. Apparently he has leadership presence in the dressing room too! Over time he may well even challenge Soucek for the second central midfield berth! What a bargain at £10m! Coufal has struggled since he was needlessly kneed in the groin by Matic and maybe a break is needed - with Kehrer, Johnson and Coufal (and Ashby?) Available to play at RB we have strength in depth. And let's not forget that Antonio can play there too (just kidding!).

3. Soucek played his best Hammers game in a long time - better on the ball (i.e. quicker) and he was excellent in defence. Let's hope he can get to the level he was at 12 months ago - if so, we will likely go on a winning run.

4. With Bowen it was only a matter of time before things clicked back into gear. He rides the waves with his abrasive style and that can be frustrating if its only slightly off, but on form it is almost unmarkable! He's off the mark and we know what's coming next - with Fulham, Southampton and Liverpool over the next few games we can push on.

5. Paqueta is slowly getting to grips with the Premiership - it takes time but his attitude is exemplary and in all honesty a different ref would have given him 4 or 5 extra free kicks yesterday. 

So, the Hammers are out of the bottom three and firmly looking up - a decent haul over the next few games and we will be back on the edge of European places - you know it makes sense!

COYI!!!

Moyes ready to stake the heart of Dracula's boys!

Ok, it's a bit corny but on the long trip from the West of Ireland for tonight's action you get to watching a shed load of footy clips. The ' stake to the heart' quote comes from a clip of Middlesboro's goal against Steau in a UEFA cup tie for 30 odd years ago. 

Steaua were a big scalp back then, but as they visit London tonight its the Hammers who are the favourites with their expensive squad and stadium. 

David Moyes has opted to use the game to test the depth of his squad and gives valuable game time to Cornet, Scamacca, Cornet, Palmieri, Ogbonna and Areola. It's a decent attacking unit and after brushing aside Viborg 6-1 in the qualifying round we are ready to play some ball!

It's a huge night for Flynn Downes as he makes his first start for the club. 

Steaua are no fools and will be looking to keep the game tight and notch some points on the board, while Moyes will want to nail down a commanding win to take control of the group. 

Paqueta, Zouma, Fornals, Bowen and Antonio all wait on the bench in case they are needed. Dawson returns to the squad. 

It's a brilliant atmosphere around the ground!

Anyone for 3-1???

West Ham Starting XI : Alphonse Areola, Vladimir Coufal, Thilo Kehrer, Angelo Ogbonna, Emerson Palmieri, Flynn Downes, Declan Rice, Said Benrahma, Manuel Lanzini, Maxwel Cornet, Gianluca Scamacca

Hammers Ready to Rock Chelsea as Paqueta Starts

David Moyes' men travel across London to Stamford Bridge to face an out of sorts Chelsea today.  Having lost 3 of their last four, Tuchel's side desperately need a result, while the Hammers have started to click in their last two games. 

Gianluca Scamacca is still out with an illness, so Michail Antonio agsin leads the line after his tremendous MOTM performance against Spurs in midweek. Lucas Paqueta starts as Benrahma and Cornet await on the bench. Emerson replaces the injured Cresswell. 

Despite all the incomings, Moyes still has two goalkeepers on the bench!

This one is hard to call as both sides are in and out of form just now. Tuchel's men are probably under more pressure just now but both sides need a good performance.

Anyone for 2-2?

COYI!!!

Fabianski, Coufal, Kehrer, Zouma, Emerson, Rice, Soucek, Bowen, Paqueta, Fornals, Antonio

 

Substitutes: Areola, Randolph, Ogbonna, Coventry, Downes, Lanzini, Cornet, Benrahma

No Scamacca as Spuds come a knocking!

It's a big night at the London stadium as West ham 'welcome' their neighbours from Totty Hot Spuds.

In fairness, the Spuds have looked sharp this season whilst Moyes' men have stuttered. However, all that usually goes in the bin when it's a derby fixture.

Gianluca Scamacca is mysteriously absent leaving Michail Antonio to lead the line. New boy Lucas Paqueta is on the bench. 

West Ham United: Fabiański, Coufal, Kehrer, Zouma, Cresswell, Rice (c), Souček, Bowen, Benrahma, Fornals, Antonio

Subs: Areola (GK), Randolph (GK), Ogbonna, Emerson, Downes, Coventry, Cornet, Lanzini, Lucas Paquetá

Wow! It's been a big turnaround week at West Ham

It's been a weird season so far for West ham. Holding on to all our big players was a decent start and then the wait as a host of exciting signings have arrived.

Suddenly we have a squad - it seems the board have realised that without 18-20 top quality players it is inevitable that form will decline - typically in the run in when the 'big' clubs tend to make their squad depth count. 

However, with a host of top quality signings all across the pitch the Hammers look ready to do serious business. However, three straight defeats brought a sense of dread with some wobbly types doubting the Moyes plan. 

Thankfully, the win at Villa has settled nerves and after a terrible first half where our back 5 made Villa seem like they had an extra man  reversion to a back four brought some rhythm and ultimately a decent performance and three points.

With Scamacca and Kehrer looking sharp, enter Lucas Paqueta to add some Brazilian magic to our midfield and suddenly we look ready to take on all comers. 

Meanwhile, quietly in the background we have progressed in Europe with two decent victories and can look forward to Thursday nights under the lights against the likes of Steaua Bucharest and Anderlect. 

Upgrading a season ticket for the three game Europa package highlights the success of Gold and Sullivan. Affordable family football in the top tier and in Europe is truly ours. At £42 for the three games it's tremendous value. Hats off lads!!!

The season has finally kicked into gear. The Spuds could be in for an East end surprise on Wednesday. 

Happy days - and a team to be proud of with a host of international talents and a healthy representation of our own products. This is the fabled West Ham way.

COYI!!!

Hapless Hammers Stumble to Half Time

It's been further disappointment for the Hammers in the first half of their clash away to Villa. Moyes has gone wth 3 at the back but the net result has been to make it seem like Villa have an extra man as they have lorded possession.

Declan Rice is (again!) Misfiring while our front players look like they have only just met for the first time.  Scamacca has been isolated and ineffective.

Ben Johnson has gone off injured with Vlad Coufal on as a replacement. 

In all honesty, we have barely strung three consecutive  passes in the whole half! 

West ham have come out on top in all the the most recent 5 games with Villa but are unlikely to continue that run based on the first half action.

Moyes has much to think about as the team look clueless. Mercifully, he has plenty of decent options on the bench with Antonio, Benrahma, Cornel and Lanzini all capable of shaking things up.

COYI!

Wild Man Moyes Rolls the Dice with Brave Starting Selection

It's little surprise that David Moyes has shuffled his ever increasing pack for the trip to Villa today, but all the same he appears to have gone from his ultra-conservative former self to a tinkerman approach to team selection. 

There are five changes from the side that brushed aside Viborg in midweek with a number of significant surprises!

Perhaps most surprising is the immediate inclusion of Emerson Palmieri with the red hot Said Benrahma dropping to the bench. Michail Antonio looks set to enter as an impact substitute as Scamacca gets the starting berth up front. It's a big game for Pablo Fornals with Pacqueta about the enter the equation, while Ben Johnson maintains the right back spot ahead of the recovered Vladimir Coufal. 

We can expect some interesting defensive changes in the coming weeks as Moyes may go to a back five and has plenty of options across the back line with Oggy regaining fitness, Dawson soon to return and Aguerd on the mend. 

Jarrod Bowen and Declan Rice are both back today after a midweek rest. 

It's time to start getting some points on the board as Moyes' men are firmly on the bottom of the league after three consecutive defeats. 

COYI!!!

West Ham starting XI: Lukasz Fabianski; Ben Johnson, Thilo Kehrer, Kurt Zouma, Aaron Cresswell, Emerson Palmieri; Declan Rice (c), Tomas Soucek; Pablo Fornals; Jarrod Bowen, Gianluca Scamacca.

Subs: Alphonse Areola, Darren Randolph, Ben Johnson, Vladimir Coufal, Angelo Ogbonna, Flynn Downes, Conor Coventry, Maxwel Cornet, Michail Antonio