Moyes versus Potter: tactical masterclass awaits?

By all rights this should be a classical dead rubber as West ham and Everton face eachother at Goodison for the final time today.

With both sides well clear of the drop zone but hopelessly adrift of Europeanhopes, there should be little to stir the interest today.

However, it's a case of old manager discarded in favour of more modern newbie as Graham Potter confronts Mr Moyesball in what should be a fascibating game of chess.

Both sides have glaring weaknesses such that the side tgat can dictate the game can hope to prevail. Potter likes possession while Moyes likes a disciplined defence and counterattacking with turnover ball. With both sides porous in midfield it's anyone's game!

Potter gas three centre backs with Paqueta playing well forward to support the marauding Bowen and Kudus. He may wish to give up some possession to draw Everton out but you sense it'll be a stalemate with the first to score having a big big advantage.

The Hamners are 29/10 fot the win - decent odds, especially if paired with JWP to score first at 20/1.

COYI!!!

West Ham Starting XI: Areola | Todibo, Kilman, Mavropanos | Wan-Bissaka, Soucek, Ward Prowse, Emerson | Paquetá | Bowen, Kudus.

Battle of the Underachievers Looms

We can expect an exciting clash tonight at the London stadium as West ham host Newcastle United. The Hammers look to be gaining some momentum under new boss Graham Potter but will be wary of the Magpies who remain in and out of form and with Guimaraes and Isak are more than capable of opening up the leaky Hammers defence. 

However, the Hammers look more comfortable of late with Potters 'Five at the back' formation and with Paqueta and Ferguson on the bench should be able to shake things up if needed. Newcastle have only managed 6 points in their last 6 games (one point less than the Hammers over that time) but have plenty to play for as they are 3 points off 5th and 5 points of the final Champions League spot. In short, both sides have something to proove and should be up for it.

For West ham, Niclas Fullkrug is not quite ready to return, while Newcastle will be without Anthony Gordon who is suspended. 

After two straight defeats, Newcastle will want to lay down a marker for next weeks Carabao Cup final against Liverpool but may also want to hold something back, making for a tantalising sense of uncertainty as to how the game will go. 

The bookies have West ham at 9-4 against which looks like an attractive bet given that the Geordies have a pretty poor record in their visits to London over recent years. Confusingly, long time Hammers sceptic Mark Lawrenson believes West ham will take all three points, while more predictably Alan Shearer reckons Newcastle will take the spoils. 

Kick off is at 8pm.

COYI!!!. .

West Ham: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell, Scarles, Álvarez, Souček, Ward-Prowse, Bowen ©, Kudus.

Subs: Fabiański (GK), Emerson, Mavropanos, Rodríguez, Soler, Paquetá, Luis Guilherme, Ferguson, Ings
 

Newcastle: Pope, Livramento, Schär, Burn, Trippier, Guimarães ©, Tonali, Joelinton, Murphy, Barnes, Isak.

Subs: Dúbravka (GK), Krafth, Targett, Longstaff, Miley, Willock, Osula, Neave, Wilson

Is Potter potty about Potts?

The Graham Potter revolution is well under way at West ham as a series of decent results has seen them quell any relegation fears and given valuable space for the manager to experiment as he rebuilds the squad.

The porous midfield that resulted in Julen Lopetegui's short reign coming to an end has beefed up considerably under Potter as the Hammers have shifted to a possession-based game. Potter has shown a willingness to bring youth into the set up with Ollie Scarles, Luis Gilherme and Andy Irving gaining valuable game time since Potters arrival.

However, the midfield still lacks pace and the concerns about Lucas Paqueta's future are growing as his FA hearing looms. 

One option that Potter will be looking at is to assess the future of young Freddie Potts. From a dyed-in-the-wool Hammers clan, young Potts had enjoyed a successful breakthrough into the first team with three European games in the '22/'23 season and then grabbed player of the season at Wycombe Wanderers the following year. 

This season he has been on-loan at Portsmouth in the Championship and played in all but one of their games. Come season's end, Potter will have a big decision to make about the lad's future. At 22 years old, with quick feet and decent pace, he fits the Potter mould. 

And let's not forget that his dad, Steve, is a former Hammer of the year!

COYI!!!

Where to now for Potter's party?

Ain't gonna win the league now Fam, Bruv innit!

It was a day to be proud for West ham fans as the Hammers made the short trip to the Emirates and all but killed Arsenal's title hopes, taking all three points with an unexpected 1-0 victory!

The bookies has the Hammers at 17-2 for the win but despite an underwhelming performance last week at home to Brentford, you get the sense that Graham Potter is starting to weave some much-needed magic.

In fairness, the Hammers deserved their win with a highly disciplined performance that shipped only a handful of half chances to the Gunners whilst the Irons looked dangerous (and for once, coherent!) on the break. 

Naturally, it fell to the talismanic Bowen to deliver the killer blow, but there were outstanding performances from Wan Bissaka and young Ollie Scarles that left much to feel positive about. Equally, Todibo put in a solid shift alongside the dependable Kilman and Evan Ferguson gained some more game time and will surely soon get his first full start in Claret and Blue.

The back 3/5 set up worked well with Arsenal choked for space and amusingly, Declan Rice got pulld just after the hour mark and was forced to watch in agony as the Hammers derailed the Gooners titke chase for the second year running in their own back yard.

The win all but ends concerns that Potter's side might get sucked into a relegation dog fight as another 2-3 results in their final 12 games will surely keep them above anything Southampton, Ipswich and Leicester can muster.

More importantly, it gives Potter some room in which to continue his development of the team. With an attractive run of fixtures looming (Leicester (H: 27 February), Newcastle (H: 10 March), Everton (A:15 March), Wolves (A:1 April) and Bournemouth (H:5 April) before the chance to take a free shot at Liverpool on the 12th of April.

COYI!!!

Ferguson can be the new Ashton!

It's been a quiet January transfer window for West ham with one arrival and no departures. 

However, if West ham can finally find a striker to fill Michail Antonio's boots then jusrt the single incoming won't bother too many Hammers fans.

Evan Ferguson certainly has the potential to be a top class Premiership striker, with speed, strength and a decent finish. 

He's previously been compared to Alan Shearer, but Hammers fans will feel that we are still owed one from the Gods of Football after the untimely loss of Dean Ashton - a striker with many similarities to young Ferguson. 

Its hard to fully digest that Evan is still only 20 years old! He has so much time to develop and although the signibg is a straight loan without a buy option, his current contract at Brighton ends in 2026 so by this seasons end even if he has a successful Hammers spell his transfer tag will be much more affordable than the £100m valuation previously tagged on him.

He's going to be wearing number 34 and will be available for the Brentfod game on Saturday week.

We wish him the very Verywestham best!

A bridge too far beckons for wounded West Ham

As the transfer window edges towards shutting, Hammers eyes are diverted to the business of trying to eek out a result away to Chelsea. 

Graham Potter would undoubtedly love to get one over on his former employers but its a tall task as the Hammers are truly down to the bare bones and have a group of largely untested youngsters on the bench.

One bright light is the return of captain Jarrod Bowen, a few weeks earlier than expected. However, there is no Paqueta, Sumerville or Alvarez which has made for a makeshift midfield and a full debut for young Alan Irving.

It's a pity but due to transfer rules the game comes too soon for newbie Evan Ferguson and the returning JWP. As such, Potter is going to beed to pull off a tactical masterclass if the Hammers are to avoid a spanking like they received in the home clash earlier in the season. 

Then again, it's Chelsea and we are West ham, so the improbable is likely. Bizarrely, Mavropanus remains on the bench while Kilman, Wan Bissaka, Coufal and Cresswekk play in defence. Perhaps Soucek will drop back as a makeshift centre back but its a hard one to fathom.

Even harder to grasp is how on oddschecker Evan Ferguson is 12/1 to score the opening goal while Jarrod Bowen is 14/1! Otherwise, Chelsea are 3/10 for the win with the Hammers 9/1 against. The draw at 11/2 looks the best bet.

COYI!!! 

West ham: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Coufal, Kilman, Cresswell, Emerson, Soucek, Irving, Soler, Bowen, Kudus

Subs: Fabianski, Foderingham, Mavropanos, Guilherme, Ings, Rodriguez, Casey, Scarles, Orford

It's Fergie Time at the Hammers!

Ravaged by injuries and with hardly a forward left with two functioning legs, finally West ham have some incoming. Evan Ferguson is on his way on a short loan until the season's end - a good development for both parties as the lad is fit again and desperately needs game time. 

But there does not seem to be any follow through with the arrangement which means he is likely to Lingard at the seasons end as there is no word of an option to buy.

Ferguson will be happy to reunite with Graham Potter and hopefully rediscover the form that had him valued at £100M before his injury woes. 

Ferguson is an undoubted talent - a physical presence with an eye for goal but still at 20 years old has much more to give. Potter will be an ideal mentor and with the dearth of attacking options at the London stadium he can expect to get a decent chance to regain his momentum. With Bowen, Sumerville and Kudus around him maybe West ham will finally have an attacking set up that can deliver.

Tomorrow night away at Chelsea would be a hell of a place to lay down a mark.

Welcome to West ham Evan.

COYI!!!