Classy Hammers to boss makeshift Lions in Dockers derby

Top of the Table West ham make the short journey to the Den to take on Millwall at 12.30 today. West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo will be focusing heavily on exploiting an injury-ravaged Lions in this highly anticipated Dockers Derby.

The Hammers have been pretty porous at the back but have been free scoring up front. Nuno has demanded a defensive improvement. However, Nuno will look to capitalise on Millwall's injury crisis and not surprisingly has an offensive-minded starting XI with Bowen, Taty, Piroe and Solomon all starting and will aggressively press Millwall's makeshift backline right from the opening whistle.

Jarrod Bowen enters the derby in stellar form with 4 goals and 3 assists in his last seven Championship appearances. Having been overlooked by Thomas Tuchel in the latest England squad announcement, Bowen will take the pitch with a massive point to prove. Bowen faces young left-back Zak Sturge, presenting a massive experience mismatch and is 7/5 to score today.

But the atmosphere will be intense, even hostile and Nuno’s boys will need to embrace the emotional significance of this derby to the West Ham faithful while showing mental resilience and match Millwall's physical intensity. 

While the fierce atmosphere of a long-awaited rivalry will give Millwall a passionate home advantage, the tactical reality favours the vHammers. Millwall’s devastating injury crisis leaves their makeshift backline vulnerable against a clinical West Ham attack.

We can expect Millwall to fight fiercely and potentially score through a set-piece. However, the sheer individual quality and current form of the Hammers and potency of captain Bowen Jarrod Bowen should see the league-leading Hammers secure all three points by the final whistle.

Rory Nostradamus predicts a 2-1 win for the high-flying Bubbles.

Tierney to play central role as Hammers look to nail Lions

Sorry Eamonn, it's gonna be West ham's day

With less than an hour to kick off, the excitement is off the scales for the first competitive coming together of Millwall and West ham in fourteen years. On paper, the Hammers have a more skillful squad, and if football breaks out, you suspect the hammers will prevail. However, the Den is an intimidating environment and Millwall will almost certainly look to make this game a competitive and passionate toe to toe battle.

Central to today's outcome will be how the referee manages the game. Given the fierce rivalry and the intense atmosphere expected for their first league meeting in over a decade, the EFL has assigned Paul Tierney—a highly experienced official to keep a tight lid on proceedings. 

Tierney is no stranger to high-pressure environments. He has refereed over 350 Premier League fixtures and has been trusted with the FA cup final in 2023 and EFL cup final in 2021. 

He is generally regarded as a referee who tries to let the game flow but will not hesitate to clamp down early if the  match threatens to boil over.

Historically, the referee's stats heavily favor the Hammers over the Lions: the Hammers have picked up 24 ponts from 19 games under Tierney while poor Millwall have only picked up one win and three points out of eight.

Let's hope Tierney takes a no-nonsense attitude into today's game!

COYI!!!

Reasons to be Cheerful: Here’s why life in the Championship is so much fun

 

Anyone else enjoying life in the Championship? People said that West ham would have a half empty stadium for home games but the fans have answered that by turning up in force - 60k for last Friday’s demolition of Wrexham.

And here’s why:

1. First of all, It feels like we can win in every game! This allows for brighter, more open football and lots (and lots) of goals. Even Pablo has finally started pitching in. Honestly, Bowen looks capable of netting 25-30 goals over the season. Our Centre backs look superdangerous at set pieces, and lest we forget, SuperTomas Soucek is soon to return. Nuno is a manager of rhythm and now we have sorted out the transfer ins and outs, the team have found the rhythm that suits them. 

2. Secondly, there's no VAR. That means that there is full capacity for unbridled celebration. When the ball goes in the net it’s a goal. No VAR nerds finding a minor infringement 37 seconds back in the build up. Let’s face it, proper footy is a 90+ minute series of repeated transgressions. That’s what makes it human - to prosper is to ride on the outer margins of the rules. VAR may reduce the diving but it kills the celebration of goals. Football is a better spectacle without it.

3. This team is truly West Ham UNITED! Anybody left in the squad wants to be at the club (Magassa and Alcarez have been excluded by Nuno who has no time for 50%ers). The kids may be a bit raw but they are our kids, acadamied and East-Ended. Similarly, when we play other clubs, most have a healthy smattering of their own academy graduates. It’s delightfully REAL. 

4. We get to play Millwall.

COYI!!!

It's Parrot vs Piroe as Hammers head to Burnley for season's opener

 

As the championship season gets underway today, West Ham are still busily trying to build a squad that can fire them back into the premiership at first time of asking. The arrival of Arne Engels from Celtic has significantly boosted their midfield options and at this stage, the biggest issue for Nuno Espirito Santo is whether the combination of Jarrod Bowen and Taty Castellanos can score enough goals to dominate the championship.

The current focus appears to be on trying to bring in either Troy Parrott or Joël Piroe to lead the frontline with AZ Alkmaar holding out for around twenty five million whilst Leeds look willing to release Piroe for around fifteen million or perhaps even on a loan to buy deal.

While it remains unclear whether parrott is truly open to a return to english football , it would be a real coup for the hammers , if they could persuade the prolific irish man to lead their drive back to the premiership. Although Piroe has previously had an impressive scoring record in the championship, last season he struggled for  game time and did not manage a single premiership strike. In contrast, Parrott slotted 16 goals in the Eredivisie with an impressive total of 31 goals in all competitions over the course of the season as he continued his impressive form into international duty.

Perhaps, more importantly, Parrott represents a much better fit as a partner for Jarrod Bowen with his mobility and finishing prowess. Tactically, Piroe is much more static, while Parrott has the ability to create space through his clever running and the combination of Bowen, Parrott and the creative Engels presents an impressive potential to dominate the championship.

Also in the background is the possibility that Jamie Vardy may arrive to add further attacking punch, but in reality at 39 years of age he will probably be used as an impact substitute.

Overall, it is obvious that west ham still have much to do in order to build a squad capable of achieving promotion back to the top tier. Today's clash away to Burnley will be a big test of their credentials after an impressive home win against Portsmouth last week in the league cup.

Kick off today is at 4pm.

COYI!!!

Hammers turn to the real God

Having been forsaken by the Gods of football for most of the season, Hammers fans bave returned in their droves to the one and only true God. The deal is simple today, we must win and St David of Moysie must vanquish the evil Spursian serpents.

Anything else and West ham will be thrust into the hellish fires of the Chumpionship. There was an unusually frosty atmosphere at the airport this morning as Hammers, Spuds and Gooners congregated afore the day of reckoning. 

There will be some sad heads at Stansted tonight as fans return home, in some cases to reflect upon a dismal season and the inevitable fire sale that awaits during the Summer.

With £100m debt, the Hammers have already squandered any potential parachute payments. We are 6 to 1 against to survive but....

Whatever else, we simply have to get behind the team and ensure we complete our half of the equation.

For those wishing to call upon the intercession of God, St. Rita of Cascia, St. Jude Thaddeus, St. Philomena, and St. Gregory Thaumaturgusare all known for their kindness on behalf of impossible causes.

COYI!!!

   

COMETH THE HOUR!

 

Cometh the hour…

West ham are truly at the hour of reckoning as they travel to Newcastle today knowing that anything less than a win will give Tottenham a chance to seal the Hammers relegation against Chelsea on Tuesday night.

After last week's VAR fiasco, the Hammers may well feel that they are due a dig out from the Gods of football, but sadly , that isn't how it always works , and they're going to have to dig deep to pull off a sensational victory away at the Magpies.

While it's quite possible that Tottenham could lose their final two games, meaning that a win next week at home to Leeds would keep West Ham up, the reality is that if Tottenham get a point then the goal difference situation is such that West Ham will need two results, including at least a point today against Newcastle.

In good news, Anthony Gordon will not be featuring for the Magpies, which should allow Aaron Wan Bissaka the freedom to push forward. While Kieron Trippier at right back for Newcastle may well struggle if Crystantio Summerville is in the kind of form he showed last week against Arsenal.

A big question for Nuno will be how to use Callum Wilson today? In a bold move, he could play him from the start, but in all likelihood will hold him on the bench and bring him on for the final 15 minutes to face his former employers.

It’s tense right now. 

So very tense…

COYI!!!

De Zerbi loses the plot as Nuno exudes calm before Palace raid

It's all getting very tense at the foot of the Premiership with West ham and Spurs seemingly the two side left to slug it out over who goes down.

Form certainly favours the Hammers as they have reeled in a whopping 14 points on Spurs and now sit a point above them with 6 games to play.

Spurs looked to be finally turning the tide on Saturday but then threw away a precious win by conceding in the 5th minute of injury time!

Bizarrely, Spurs manager de Zerbi responded by claiming that his side will win all of their remaining 5 fixtures! A laughable notion given that they haven't won a Premiership game during 2026 and look leaky at the back and gutless in midfield!

Nuno, meanwhile, is patiently coaxing his side away from relegation and has instilled a system that the players understand and believe in.

That said, the Hammers need to maintain their recent form and tonight's trip to Palace will be tough. Quelling Mateta is key but easier said than done. Up front, Summerville and Bowen need to have a good night.

It's tight and feisty at Selhurst park so we can expect plenty of tough tackling in midfield. The first goal will be crucial. Its the perfect evening for another Mateus Fernandes screamer!

Let's hope Palace are tired after last Thursday's European heroics.

COYI!!!