Bobby Bubbles Verdict on a night of European Joy at the London Stadium

Another great European night for the Hammers as they continued with a perfect start to top their group in the Europa League. Moys put out a mixed side giving some rest to key players like Oggy, Soucek and Coufal. The Hammers ran out 2-0 winners in a tense affair.

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! 

Three things we learned from the Elland Road Trip

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!!!

The Secret to How West Ham Can Beat Leeds today

David Moyes has been able to pick what is probably his strongest XI to start the game vs Leeds at Elland Road today. Antonio is back after a useful rest, while midfield sees the return of our two gladiators Soucek and Rice to do battle with the feisty Kalvin Philips. 

Leeds are missing Bamford while, in contrast, the Hammers have the three amigos - Benrahma, Bowen and Fornals ready to buzz about behind Antonio.

Leeds' style suits the Moyes' method so we can expect West ham to be patient and catch Leeds with turnover ball pretty much like the All Blacks do to their opposition in rugby. 

Leeds have yet to win in the Premiership in 5 attempts and are quoted at 2-1 for the win, while the Hammers despite being the visitors are 6-4.

It's always a belter between these two sides and we are going for a 2-1 win for the Hammers. 

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

Subs: Areola, Johnson, Dawson, Diop, Noble, Král, Lanzini, Vlašić, Yarmolenko

Leeds United: Meslier, Dallas, Cresswell, Cooper (c), Firpo, Phillips, Shackleton, Klich, Raphinha, James, Rodrigo
Subs: Klaesson, Roberts, Harrison, Gelhardt, Hjelde, Drameh, Summerville, Greenwood, McCarron

It's all a load of balls!

It's been a testicular week for West Ham with back to back league and cup battles with Man United.

Fans have been treated to two zingers as last Sunday's game had everything as the sides went toe to toe, with a late Lingard stunner followed by an astonishing Noble penalty miss rounding off a classic match that you simply couldn't take your eyes off. 

Then the B-sides went at it up at Old Trafford as the Hammers second string demonstrated that they can all play the Moyes conterattacking method and grabbing a rare away win at the Red Devil's home.

But the midweek game was marred by an unpunished horror challenge by Nemanja Matic on Vladimir Coufal as her quite simply kneed the Hammers defender in the balls! How such a challenge doesn't receive a severe punishment is beyond any sensible fan. Hiding behind the fact that VAR isn't used in the Carabou cup is total nonsense as it was clearly captured on camera and was entirely deliberate and cynical. 

Then David Moyes elected to put Mark Noble's undoubted courage and dedication down to his big big balls!

Errr?

A strange week but a fair reflection on how far the club has come in terms of competitiveness, organisation, commitment and squad depth.

Happy days but don't put it past the lads to make a balls of Today's visit to Leeds!

Bizarre Prediction from Pundit Ahead of Leeds Clash

Hammers fans have gotten used to Mark Lawrenson's dour predictions, with a sense of inevitability that he will back just about any one-legged horse against West ham.

And so, after a cracking start to the season, a triumphant win away at Ye Olde Trafforde in midweek and a fully fit squad to choose from, Lawro reckons an injury struck Leeds will prevail in this weekend's clash at Elland Road.

With Bielsa's troops leaking over two goals a game in their five matches to date, any smart money is surely on Moyes' men to at least grab a draw.

Never the less, Lawro loves to predict doomand gloom on the Hammers and we wouldn't want it any other way!

Rory Nostradamus is going for a 3-2 classic with the visitors taking the spoils.

COYI!!! 

Moyes Shows his Flamboyant side for Europa Opener

It's a big shake up in the starting XI as the Hammers take on Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia in an hour's time.

Vlad Coufal gets a well earned rest and Vlasic gets a chance to show his stuff alongside Manny Lanzini and Fornals.

There's no rest for Antonio, Rice or Soucek.

Weirdly, Areola is on the bench along with Mark Noble and Alex Kral!!!

Perhaps most interesting is the "future" CB pairing of Zouma and Diop.

This will be interesting!

Fabianski, Fredericks, Diop, Zouma, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Lanzini, Vlasic, Fornals, Antonio

 

Substitutes: Areola, Randolph, Coufal, Yarmolenko, Dawson, Noble, Bowen, Ogbonna, Benrahma, Masuaku, Johnson, Kral