Barcelona Hitman Perfect Fit for West Ham in Relegation Charge

How Andy Suarez might look at the Hammers Treatment Room

It's been repeatedly rumoured that West Ham might take a punt on South American striker Gabriel Barbosa or 'Gabigol' as he is known. The Hammers certainly need goals to support their efforts to avoid relegation in a season that has gone pear shaped.

However, in bad news for Messrs Gold and Sullivan, the hopes for capturing Gabigol look to be fading with reports that indicate Barcelona are considering bringing the striker to the Nou Camp to replace Luis Suarez as the Uruguayan hitman recently sustained a season ending knee injury.

With ever closing door another one opens, they say, and for the Hammers the Barca situation represents an ideal opportunity to bring in a top forward at a bargain price. Suarez would surely now be available on loan until the end of the season and could really add energy to our medical room. 

In reality, the medical team have been starved of opportunities to work their magic since the departure of 'Big' Andy Carroll. It's been rumoured that some staff keep a picture of Andy in the medical bay just for old times' sake to remind them of the days where the hopes and dreams of Hammers fans rested upon their belief that the medical team could get their top player back in time to change our fortunes. Replacing the persistently injured Carroll with a quality striker the likes of Suarez could be just the filip West Ham need!

Meanwhile, as some Hammers fans lament how unlucky the club is with injury, its worth noting that according to current figures West Ham are merely mid-table in terms of numbers out injured (six players at present) which makes the need to select three unknown kids for the bench at Sheffield United all the more concerning as our squad is clearly small and threadbare!

All of which raises the issue of incoming transfers who need to meet simple criteria (1) Be of Premiership standard (unlike Ajeti, Sanchez, Roberto), (2) Have a good history of avoiding injury (unlike Wilshere), and (3) Be capable of getting stuck in at the messy end of a messy season.

We are half way through the transfer window and apart from a new Conor Coventry contract, there's been no incoming... 

Hmmmm.

Julien's Faux Pas #10: Maxi Gomes Joins the Madhouse

There's hardly much to say about yesterday's defeat at Bournemouth - after the ecstacy of beating the Gooners we were (typically) back down to earth with an underpar performance. It's hard to see the logic in the sequence where we beat Arsenal, then lose to Bournemouth while Arsenal go on to beat Chelsea!

In all honesty, Bournemouth were flattered by the scoreline as Big Andy should've put the Hammers ahead but managed an unbelievable miss from a yard out. Callum Wilson underlined his potential value to West Ham, even just to stop him scoring against us!

Meanwhile the Arnie saga went to another level with his absence and rumours of a Payet-style refusal to play. Maxi Gomes would be an interesting replacement, certainly a goalscorer, but do not underestimate the value of Arnautovic's physicality in the Premiership.

In summary, (dis) order has been restored m'ludd! We give you Julien's Faux Pas #10.

QUACK QUACK!!! Anyone for a Cup Run?

Listening on the radio feed to yesterday's game the crowd noise was unmistakeably that of a cup game! Loud and passionate, you could sense the passion and excitement. Things weren't too bad on the pitch either, as Manuel Pellegrini fielded a strong side who ultimately had too much for a gamey Birmingham City.

The Blues had a number of chances to level matters along the way and will feel that West Ham were lucky to keep a clean sheet, but ultimately with 74% possession, almost three times as many passes (619 vs 211) and a vastly higher pass accuracy, West Ham were relatively comfortable winners.

There were impressive performances by the youngsters, with both Silva and Diangana posing a constant threat up front and forcing Birmingham to play relatively deep. However, the biggest talking point was the bizarre Arnautovic substitution. It seems Pellegrini may have had a rare rush of blood to the head as he pulled Marko ashore after just 20 minutes, much to the astonishment of everybody - including Arnie himself!

One disappointment from the game was that we could not get a two goal cushion early enough to give Conor Coventry a run. The cup provides excellent opportunity for younger players to get big match experience but equally, with our injury problems the Hammers did not want to concede and have to go to a replay.  

Andy Carroll got his first goal for nine months with a classical Carroll header - but not after missing two gilt edged opportunities on the floor! Its hard to know where to go with the Carroll story from here as he remains a great striker but simply cannot maintain fitness. One suspects that Pellegrini has a clear mind and will follow his plans with his usual ruthlessness. It was wonderful to hear him calmly dismissing the media in his post match interview as they tried to create a storm about the Arnautovic incident.

Next up its Monday night and the draw. We are ball 22 (Quack Quack!!!). David Gold has tweeted that he feels a Cup run coming. There is a good feeling about the club right now and that's a great time to have a run at the cup. The draw is after the Liverpool game (maybe 9.45). Ex-Hammer Robbie Keane will be pulling the balls.

Arsenal next Saturday will be a big test. The Gunners have a modest away record this season, winning four of their ten games and losing on three occasions. With Zabaleta coming back to add balance at the back, Nasri adding to our midfield options and both Arnie and Andy Carroll reasonably fit, maybe its time to buck the trend as over the past decade we have won only 1 of 22 games (2015), with 4 draws!!!

COYI!!!

Pitbull would fit in well with the pack!

Right now West Ham feel like a club on the cusp of something great - having weathered a difficult (and defeat-laden) bedding in period under Manuel Pellegrini they have found their stride and have been marching up the table towards the top six.

That march was temporarily halted by Watford on Saturday but they will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways tonight against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium.

A big worry for Manuel Pellegrini is the extent to which injuries have taken their toll, with midfield the position that they are most stretched with Summer signings Carlos Sanchez and Jack Wilshere both out injured. undoubtedly Mark Noble and Declan Rice have done a great job, with Robert Snodgrass making a massive contribution in a more central role, but a big physical presence in midfield will surely be top of the wish list in January.

Chilean veteran Gary Medel looks like he could be just the solution that the Hammers are looking for. Nicknamed 'The Pitbull', his aggressive style would add needed bite to the squad. Medel enjoyed a mixed experience a few years back at Cardiff where despite a string of good performances he couldn't prevent the club from being relegated and moved to Inter Milan where he made 109 appearances in three seasons before switching to Besiktas.

Medel is only 5ft 7 in height (and perhaps a comparison to a staffie might be more appropriate?) but such is his athleticism that he has also played as a centre back on multiple occasions!

With 114 caps to his credit, Medel is just the type of wise head that you want in the dogfight for European placings and no doubt that wealth of experience is something that young Declan Rice would surely benefit from in his journey towards being a potential future club captain.

The rumour mill has it that the Hammers have already made a £6million offer but Besiktas are so far holding out. However, the Turkish club are known to be financially stretched right now and may be forced to sell off their best assets, including Medel who at 31 years of age will hope to still have a year or two to contribute at the top level and may well want to make up for what was ultimately a disappointing time at Cardiff .

The arrival of a pitbull will surely start a series of dog comparisons amongst our squad. can you name the players that bear resemblance to these 4 breeds?

For the answers see below. Number 4 may be the hardest but think about recent International speculation and it should be a little easier!

As for today, Southampton are on the rise with a sequence of wins under new manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, while West Ham may be without both Chicharito and Fabien Balbuena, both of whom had poor games against Watford. Angelo Ogbonna acted as a more than able deputy for the General and will be looking to start today. Up front, things are not quite so straightforward as Marko Arnautovic is unlikely to be rushed back from injury but should be ready for the Brighton game on the 2nd January. Similarly, Andy Carroll does not look quite ready for a starting berth.

The Hammers have only beaten Southampton at St Mary's once in their last nine visits and are 5/2 against for a win. Southampton are 6/5 with the draw a decent bet at 5/2.  It's likely to be a big day for Michail Antonio as he looks to impress at his former club. On form and back in the goals, it's a hard call to decide whether he is likely to leave or stay at the Olympic Stadium in January. Today presents a chance to convince Manuel Pellegrini that his physicality and direct style is enough to make up for his modest first touch on the ball.  
As for the quiz......
 
1. English Bull terrier = Squad #16




2. Afghan Hound = Squad #9

3. Border Collie = Squad #1

4. Irish Terrier = Squad #41


 

Player ratings as West Ham come from behind to beat Palace

Bubbles the Bulldog was there to witness a great comeback from his beloved Hammers after they had trailed 0-1 at half time, running out 3-2 victors. Here's what he thought of the West Ham players on the day:

Lukasz Fabianski - 7

For once caught out and he was slow to react and come out to clear the danger as Palace got a soft opener. Otherwise looked assured with good distribution. Could do nothing about Palace's free kick that clanged off the crossbar just before half time or for Schlupp's goal.

Pablo Zabaleta - 7

Blessed with a wise old footballing head, Pablo looked solid in defence throughout and added to the forwards momentum with some ambitious runs in the second half. Was unlucky not to score with a deflected scorcher early in the second half.

Issa Diop - 7

Booked in the first half for a 'necessary' challenge on a marauding Andros Townsend and came close to a second yellow just before half time for a crude lunge on the edge of the Hammers box. Otherwise, was solid and dominant, as usual!

Fabian Balbuena - 7

Solid throughout with plenty of sound decision making and a determination to pass out from the back. Looks to have a great Hammers career ahead of him.

Arthur Masuaku - 6

Looked a bit shaky for the first 20 minutes as things were just not going his way. Might have done better to clear the ball for Palace's opener. Grew into his role as the game progressed and had a fine second half opening up space on the left and whipping in a fine cross that Chicharito should have converted late on. Arthur is a player of extremes!

Declan Rice - 8

Outstanding once again. You constantly have to wonder how a 19 year old can look so assured in the holding midfield role? Numerous important tackles and always in the action when needed. He plays like a young Bryan Robson or even Roy Keane depending on which country you think he will ultimately opt for!

Mark Noble - 7

Another big performance from Captain Claret. Might have done better from a few good attacking positions in the first half but keeps us ticking over and makes sure that heads don't drop when things go against us.

Robert Snodgrass - 8

What a rehabilitation for a player who bacame an outcast last season. Looked like the player we paid £10 million to Hull for three years ago as he zipped about the pitch and created numerous chances. He will be delightwd to have scored the goal that turned the tide with a classy curling finish just after half time.

Felipe Anderson -9.

Our MOTM. A constant threat throughout with jis nimble footed play tjat creates opening after opening. Topped a cracking performance off with a stunning goal on 65 minutes that looped over Hennessy and will surely win him goal of the month for the Hammers in December? He is now our top scorer this season with six goals to his name.

Lucas Perez - 6

In and out of the action in the first half but largely ineffective and will have fallen back down the pecking order after Carroll's impact. Harsh to be substituted so early but Pelle is ruthless and the change worked.

Javier Hernandez - 8

Looked lively throughout if caught (? unfairly) for two offsides early on when we looked to be building momentum. Looked very comfortable alongside Big Andy in the second half and picked up a trademark poachers goal as Hennessy spilled Anderson's rasping free kick. Almost bagged a second from Masuaku's excellent cross soon after that. A good days work!

Substitutes

Andy Carroll (for Perez, 46') - 8

Created a palpable sense of fear in the Palace derfence and won the free kick that led to Hernandez's goal. Adds plenty of muscle when defending set pieces as well. Great to see him back in action.

Grady Diangana (for Hernandez 75') - 6

Brings a frisson of excitement to proceedings but we were reminded of the naivity of youth as he lost Schlupp to allow Palace's second goal. He will learn!

Pedro Obiang for (Anderson, 84') - 7

A solid 10 minutes as he helped us see the game out.

A Five Point Plan to Prevent the Annual Injury Crisis at West Ham

Here's a thing - every year around December and January we get to use the bubonic plague sketch to describe West Ham's injury situation. Every year. Right now we are second in the league in terms of injuries with a whopping first team squad players out through injury.

Having china dolls like Andy Sicknote and Diafra Sakho on the payroll is certainly part of the problem – with a total of 12 Premiership goals between them in the last two seasons (Carroll =9; Sakho =3) it’s simply not good enough! In all honesty, at this stage we really need to take the hit and free up space for players who will be available for selection at least 50% of the season.  

However, our most recent issues relate to Manny Lanzini and Marko Arnautovic. The optimist in me hopes that the Arnautovic injury scare is to end the tiresome media focus on the non-transfer of Marko to Chelsea. First it was Antonio, then Carroll and now Arnautovic - all fake news and it makes you wonder if there aren't some serious West Ham haters out there desperately trying to destabilise our club with these unhelpful rumours. 

However, in Lanzini's case you have to link his hamstring injury to the Shrewsbury saga. It's great to give the kids game time opportunities, and the replay certainly did that, but did our midfield talisman really need to be out there for 120 minutes in midweek with another (more important) game on Saturday? 

We have tried moving training facilities to reduce our injury count but with no benefit. Maybe it's time to make a coherent plan to reduce our injury count for the future. How about this: 

1. Offload long term chronic sicknoters - Carroll and Sakho. They are taking up space and wages that could be used better.

2. Include a detailed analysis of injury history in all new signings.

3. Restrict new signings to players who have not yet passed their prime - Jose Fonte is 34 years old - it's much harder to manage the speed of the game once you are over 30, and recovery time from injuries is greatly prolonged in the 'more mature' player.

4. Treat the FA cup and league cup the way the top clubs do - kids only. No Lanzini's out there against have a go types like Shrewsbury!

5. Invest in a big enough squad to allow for more player rotation - it's cost effective to have more players because it leads to less Lanzini-type overuse injuries.

 

 

Hammers simply can't afford NOT to strengthen!

With just a week left in the January transfer window it's all getting a bit heated at West Ham. Even worse, the injury list is (as usual) growing with news that both Andy Carroll and Manny Lanzini are set for prolonged absences - three months in Carroll's case (ED: that usually means nine!) and which essentially ends another season of disappointment for the big man.

With a series of very winnable games looming in the next month, Moyes can nail down his job as Hammers head-honcho for next season beyond, but with the squad depleting it looks like all the good work of late , which has propelled the club to mid table safety, could well come undone.

With rumours that just about every Hammers forward is potentially on the move (Chicharito to Besiktas; Ayew to Swansea; Sakho to Rennes; Carroll to sickbay instead of Chelsea) and revelations today that Chelsea are trying to destabilise Marko Arnautovic, it makes for hard viewing right now at the London Stadium.

Even worse, do we really think that the likes of Joe Allen or Jonjo Shelvey are top six standard players? With some reports suggesting that Moyes wants to stick to proven Premiership performers, it is clear that he has an eye for inter Milan's midfield Joao Mario. The Portuguese would bring a winning mentality but as a principally defensive-oriented player, he will hardly provide the solution to our reliability on Arnautovic up front.

Similarly, Anderlecht's Leander Dendoncker, another energetic midfielder that the Hammers have been linked with, is not exactly prolific with just 10 goals in 155 appearances for the Belgian club. 

It's pretty clear that its going to be difficult to bring in quality players as the January window is cagey and overpriced! Offloading the volatile Diafra Sakho for the reported fee of £10 million (who is out of contract in the Summer!) would be a start. Also, Chicharito might have finally checked in with his strike on Saturday against Bournemouth. It's also relevant that after high profile failures chasing 'big' players in the past, last Summer saw the Hammers board adopt a less flamboyant approach to transfer dealings which perhaps underpins the relative silence about possible signings.

With the 13th highest income from gate receipts worldwide, we can certainly afford to dip into our pockets and ensure our Premiership survival! We predict some good news on the transfer front, and soon!  

What is the Logic Behind Andy Carroll's Proposed Move to Chelsea?

As speculation grows regarding a shock move to Chelsea for Andy Carroll, fans are wondering what logic underpins the potential switch. Having mustered just 86 games in his four and a half seasons at West Ham, offloading Carroll for a decent fee (or just offloading his weekly wage) would possibly be the best piece of financial business the Hammers have done in recent years during the treacherous January transfer window.

With Carroll once again in sickbay - this time with rumours that he is feigning an ankle injury to keep himself available for any potential move - David Moyes has been coy about the move. From a Chelsea perspective, the move makes little sense. The Pensioners already have a big man up front in Alvaro Morata who has a decent record of maintaining injury-free status over recent years and hardly needs back up.

At the start of this season Hammers fans hoped that a combination of Carroll and Chicharito up front could propel them up the table and onto the verge of Champion's League glory. However, the two have rarely played together as both have had constant injury niggles, while in reality, the two up front combination represents an outdated model of attack since most clubs prefer these days to work with a lone attacker and a mobile midfield pushing up in support.

Carroll appears very settled in London, but it is worth noting that many of his closer friends have departed from West Ham, including Kevin Nolan, Joey O'Brien and Darren Randolph. After a career that has been blighted by injuries, it may well be that Andy has adjusted to the reality that he can only ever be an occasional presence for any club and that, at 29 years of age,  role as an impact substitute at Chelsea may be the height of what is possible for him now.

For the Hammers, losing Carroll would be a blow (sort of!) but if they could offload both Carroll and Sakho it would free up considerable resources to bring in strikers who will hopefully be reliable - both in terms of fitness AND goal scoring record. A possible swap for want-away Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi represents good potential business as despite being used as a substitute for much of his time at Chelsea, he still has a considerably better scoring record (17 goals in 50 apps) than Carroll (32 in 124) that is similar to that of the terminally unhappy Diafra Sakho (24 in 71).

At this stage, if the rumours are correct, it might be better for Carroll to depart as it seems that his head has been turned. After so many false dawns over recent years, a fatigued Hammers fan base will mostly welcome moving on with new blood up front.

COYI!!!



 

Moyes Shows Muscle For Crunch Baggies Clash

David Moyes has opted for a muscular side to face West Brom at the London Stadium tonight. With the physicality of Arnautovic and Carroll up top, along with the return of Winston Reid, the Hammers will pose an aerial presence.

Key to the outcome will be whether Zabaleta and Masuaku can get down the wings and create from out wide. Adrian continues in goal but will be needing to do better than the past two games where we have reverted to our previous defensive chaos. 

If we get ahead then Captain Claret is available to come on to calm things, while if we are chasing then Chicharito is an option. Michail Antonio has failed to recover from injury while Diafra Sakho is absent for uncertain reasons.

The starting XI is: Adrian, Pablo Zabaleta, Angelo Ogbonna, Winston Reid, Aaron Cresswell, Arthur Masuaku, Cheikhou Kouyaté, Manuel Lanzini, Pedro Obiang, Marko Arnautovic, Andy Carroll. 

On the subs bench are: Joe Hart, Mark Noble, Domingos Quina, Declan Rice, André Ayew, Chicharito, Sead Haksabanovic. 

The atmosphere is building! 

COYI!!!

 

What can we expect from the "Moyes' Method"

The departure of Slaven Bilic was a sad moment for many fans as he offered a clear connection with our past and understood the West Ham way. However, after two seasons that offered much hope, things fell apart and in the end it seemed a mercy to bring things to an end. We wish him well in his next adventure.

So today we get to experience the Moyes' "magic". Undoubtedly a good organiser, firm disciplinarian and with an ability to get more out of his teams than the sum of their parts, he is in many ways the right person to sort out our undoubtedly talented but underperforming squad. However, his preferred style could hardly be considered anything like the West Ham way such that from a strategic perspective this may be a step backwards towards a fancy version of Big Sam.

Currently stuck in the relegation zone and on a downward slide, perhaps this more pugnacious style of football is what we need and, in reality, maybe Moyes is what we most need right now. Today's game will tell a lot about how well the players are responding to his physically demanding methods but will also provide an interesting insight into what he makes of the squad. The absence of Chicharito is a disappointment as it would have been fascinating to see how he will use Carroll, Sakho, Chicharito and maybe even Martinez as an attacking resource.

At the back, the starting XI will tell a lot about what he thinks of the relative merits of our centre backs and also the Cresswell vs Masuaku face off. In midfield, Moyes likes an sensible head (Noble) but will be attracted to the mobility of Obiang and Kouyate. Marko Arnautovic will be wondering where he fits in the grand scheme of things having become the figurehead for the failed season to date and especially after Moyes' adverse  midweek comments. Young Declan Rice will surely be hoping that he can continue his ascent as Moyes has been a good developer of younger talent in the past.

For these reasons, there seems little point in trying to predict a starting XI but we can expect a tighter formation and a lot more metres covered than under Bilic. Moyes himself is under a lot of scrutiny after his mixed experiences since leaving Everton for what most recognise was a poisoned chalice at Old Trafford and then at Sunderland. He did OK in Spain but this is perhaps the first chance since Everton to work with a team that is better than it's billing. We should probably expect a conservative approach, a dull game and a tight scoreline - and probably not just for this game alone!!!

COYI.

Hammers Look to Silver Lining...

After his 90 seconds of madness on Saturday, Andy Carroll will be serving a ban when West Ham welcome Brighton to the OS on Friday night. missing out on the three points that we looked destined for against Burnley was hugely disappointing, but for many fans Carroll's loss may be a bonus as it will likely mean that Chicharito will return to his favoured central role.

In truth the Mexican assassin has looked out of sorts since he was displaced from the central striker's position by Carroll's return. Never the less, he is joint top scorer for the club with three goals in eight games - compared with Carroll's zero return from 4 starts.

Perhaps even more interesting will be the opening created for Diafra Sakho - a player that is starting to look like his old abrasive self as he regains hard-won fitness after repeated injury woes. Sakho has delivered 3 goals from 2 starts (and seven substitute appearances) but clearly needs more game time.

With the Hammers at home and under the floodlights, it's surely time to go with two up front - with Arnautovic on the left and Antonio on the right. Add Lanzini in the middle and we have the prospect of goals galore. The one issue is who will fill the holding midfield role - with Kouyate and Obiang neck and neck while poor Mark Noble looks out of the picture.

Whatever else, Friday night will answer some important questions about Bilic's intentions for our forwards and his preferred offensive style. Chicharito and Sakho will no doubt be hoping to seize this excellent opportunity to impress the boss regarding their respective claims for the central striking role.

COYI!!!

Offensive Look to Bilic's Hammers as the Home Season Begins

Hammers fans will be hoping that the season will finally get going as they face newly promoted Huddersfield town at the OS tonight. As expected, Slaven Bilic has responded to all the speculation about his future by coming out fighting and with an attacking formation that includes Carroll and Chicharito up front. Kouyate is back and will partner Pedro Obiang in midfield but it's not clear who will cover the left wing area - perhaps Chicharito playing out wide with Carroll in the middle? Elsewhere, it's three at the back with Aaron Cresswell looking to impress and starting ahead of Masuaku. Young Declan Rice is on the bench but will be hoping for an opportunity to make amends for his costly slip against Newcastle. The visitors have started well to their life in the Premiership and include Tom Ince as their best known player (to Hammers fans at least!).

Rory Nostradamus is going for the Hammers and a 3-1 win (Hammers are evens for a win, Huddersfield 3-1 and the draw is 12-5 with Paddy Poormaker).


West Ham United - Hart, Reid, Cresswell, Fonte, Zabaleta, Collins, Kouyate, Carroll, Obiang, Hernandez, Antonio.

Subs - Adrian, Sakho, Ayew, Ogbonna, Byram, Masuaku, Rice.

Huddersfield Town - Lossl, Smith, Billing, Kachunga, Mooy, Lowe, Van La Parra, Ince, Mounie, Zanka, Schindler.

Subs - Coleman, Malone, Sabiri, Williams, Depoitre, Hadergjonaj, Hefele.


COYI!!!

The Princess and the Little Pea: It's Hans Christian Anderson Time at West Ham

When West Ham left Upton Park this time last year it was a poignant moment, softened by the belief that we would be moving to bigger and better things. The expectation was that we would no longer have to sell on our best young talent and would be a buying rather than a selling club. Our recent transfer activity indicates that we have made that transition and with a host of quality arrivals we are ready to launch a genuine attack upon a top six place in the Premiership. 

Fairy tale stuff, perhaps, but if we are to enjoy that kind of success our offence needs to dominate games more than in previous seasons. Chicharito - the Little Pea - certainly has the poaching ability that we have lacked since Jermain Defoe while this season will surely be the one where Andy Carroll's destiny is finally decided. If he fails to deliver - for whatever reason - his time at the club will be deemed a failure, while if he can link up with Hernandez and provide a 30-goal partnership then all the patient waiting will be deemed worthwhile!

With that in mind, Hammers fans will be hoping that SuperSlav doesn't have one of his tactical blind spots (yes, we are referring to the crazy right back experiment of last season) and recognises that Chicarito delivers best from a two man attack. With Big Andy creating space and winning possession, Antonio and Arnautovic powering down the wings and the Jewel weaving his wand in the middle, we have an attack that looks genuinely scary. 

—– Hart —–

— Zabaleta — Reid — Ogbonna — Cresswell —

 

—– Kouyate —–

 

—  Antonio — Lanzini — Arnautovic

— Hernandez — Carroll —

 
Fairytale or nightmare for opponents? Time will tell!

Striker, Striker, Striker!!!

After last night's toothless encounter with Austrian third tier outfit Sturm Graz 2 it's surely time that fans started to shout louder for that much needed striker - NO, not the 1970's board game, but a real 2017 player who can score goals at the highest level!

Having created a host of gilt-edged chances in the first half, with last season's star offensive signing Andre Ayew chief culprit with at least three unconverted one on ones with the keeper, the game petered out for a 0-0 draw!

On the positive side, there were good performances from young Nathan Holland and Pablo Zaballeta, as well as welcome returns for Pedro Obiang and Arthur Musuaku, but we looked blunt and lacking in the final third. There's a long way to go before we can set the Premiership alight!

Both Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho sat out proceedings as their seemingly endless rehabilitation programmes continued. The rumour mill suggests that Chicarito is edging closer towards a move to West Ham - let's hope we can finally bring a consistent and injury-free forward to the club.... 

It's Cheggers Time as Hammers Try to Get Transfer Engine Rolling

Most West Ham fans are relieved that our board seem to have opted to maintain a more dignified silence in their efforts to capture new talent in this Summer's transfer market. Last year the club became a laughing stock as despite all the bravado we ended up having to make disastrous last minute deals for Simone Zaza, Jonathan Calleri and Andre Ayew. Of these, only Ayew has enjoyed any success and even with that many question his £20 million fee.

This year it’s entirely different. As a result, the headline-starved media are coming up with all sorts of bizarre suggestions for transfer deals. One amusingly outdated concept is the player swap - something that has not been a part of transfer dealings for many a year (Think Harry Redknapp and his genius 1993 deal swapping Julian Dicks for Mike Marsh and David Burrows). In the past 48 hours alone, the Hammers have been linked with three separate outlandish swap deals! 

First up, HITC have suggested that West Ham get into bed with West Brom and swap Robert Snodgrass for Nacer Chadli! Chadli can be good, albeit frustratingly inconsistent, but Snodgras surely deserves another run at least until Christmas next year?

Then Football London have suggested Snodgrass could be swapped for Marco Arnautovic at Stoke!

Finally, HITC have decided to really put it out there with suggestions that the Hammers might swap Andy Carroll for Leicester City's misfiring Islam Slimani! Hardly good value to swap the Premiership’s most physically adept forward for a player who has not adjusted to the Premiership with any great success? 

All of which suggests that the days of folk redistributing unwanted underperforming possessions on Swap Shop are unlikely to return! Patience looks to be the best policy in this transfer market - we are not (yet) big enough to drive the market but will be ready to respond once the merry go round starts to gain momentum. 

 

The Truth Behind West Ham's Drab Season

For West Ham fans the 2016/17 season was a frustrating campaign, with the title crushing win over Spurs and the Cup victory over Chelsea the highlights. While there are a number of explanations - adjusting to a new stadium, another harsh run of injuries to key players, the lack of pace in midfield - undoubtedly the main problem was in attack where none of their forwards managed to make double figures.

Perhaps the writing was on the wall with the panic signing of World Cup penalty comedian Simone Zaza after efforts to lure the likes of Carlos Bacca or Michy Batshuayi came to nothing. Thereafter, an impotent Hammers attack laboured away to limited effect with Manuel Lanzini and Michail Antonio the main lights in what was a drab offensive campaign. 

As usual, Andy Carroll popped up with a few decent strikes and an overall decent strike rate of almost a goal every third game - which was our most potent scoring percentage per game. When twinned with his contribution in terms of general physicality and at both attacking and defensive set pieces, it's hard to not be lured into continuing to hope that he will find a consistent run of fitness. However, it's fair to assume that Andy cannot ever be relied upon as our principal starting striker as he only managed 110 appearances in five seasons at the club.

Similarly, after a tremendous start to his career at the club, Diafra Sakho has succumbed to sustained injury problems and has been almost constantly absent for the past 18 months. With squad numbers at a premium, it's hard to justify having so many injury-prone forwards on the books (and Daniel Sturridge seems unlikely to improve matters!). As such, either Carroll or Sakho need to leave this Summer - Carroll is the more consistent performer but his wages are considerably higher. The outcome will tell us something important about how cash rich we really are!

Otherwise, the departure of Jonathan Calleri comes as no surprise but perhaps what confused some fans is that he was started ahead of Ashley Fletcher for the final half dozen or so games of the season? Andre Ayew seemed to find form after his early injury setbacks but is clearly not the natural poacher that the club need if they are to push into the top half of the Premiership next season.

As for developing talent, for all the talk of Toni Martinez being the next big thing, he endured a disappointing spell at League One Oxford, while Jaanai Gordon fared no better at League two's Newport County.

The bottom line is that we need to invest in at least two top class strikers this Summer.

NOTE to Messrs Sullivan and Gold: Top class players are rarely available on loan!

Let the transfer games begin!!!


 

Bilic Makes His Point, Now Can He Make Three Against Swansea?

West Ham fans have been left befuddled by SuperSlav's team selection fot the crunch relegation six pointer with Swansea as he has dropped Andy Carroll to the bench and has no striker up front as Andre Ayew leads the line!!! 

Perhaps the crafty Croat is making a point to the fans and the board that at such a crucial stage of the season, and despite all the promises and media huffing and puffing, we lack a reliable striker for the first team!!! 

Darren Randolph holds his place as Slav also is forced to stick with the back four that struggled against Arsenal during the week. It remains to be seen if the team can get some rhythm and put real daylight between ourselves and the bottom three or if the disastrous five defeats in a row slide is to continue. 

Starting XI: Randolph; Byram, Fonte, Collins, Masuaku; Kouyaté, Noble, Antonio, Lanzini, Snodgrass; Ayew.

Swansea: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson; Fer, Cork, Carroll, Routledge, Sigurdsson; Ayew.

Hammers Ready to Sting Hornets

A Hammers win today for sure, Ted!

Thank God the FA Cup break is over - even though the heroics of Lincoln and (ahem) Millwall made for entertaining viewing, the absence of Hammers activity was frustrating. Anyhow, today Bilic's boys are heading across London to seek revenge against a Watford side that inflicted an embarrassing 4-2 defeat on the Hammers earlier in the season. Seemingly coasting at 2-0 up, West Ham then suddenly fell apart - with their defensive frailties cruelly exposed by the angry Hornets.

The word is that Superslav has been focusing on defensive training during the Dubai warm weather break and will be hoping to keep it tight at the back today. Presumably, jose Fonte and Woinston Reid will be getting well used to each other by now and

With ongoing debate about Andy Carroll's groin strain most experienced Hammers fans will wearily concede that the big man will be out again today. With Diafra Sakho still at least a fortnight short of returning, SuperSlav will probably go with Michail Antonio up top with Feghouli, Lanzini and Snodgrass supporting from midfield.

With Sam Byram back in the reckoning, Cheik Kouyate will move centrally into midfield with the unthinkable possible - Captain Claret on the bench!!! Word is that Bilic will stick with Darren Randolph in goal despite an under par performance against the Baggies that allowed two soft goals to the otherwise totally outplayed visitors to the London Stadium a fortnight ago.

'Mystic' Mark gave Hammers fans a prematch boost by predicting that Watford will coast home by two clear goals at 2-0. Meanwhile, Paddy Poormaker agrees giving odds of 15/8 against a Hammers win - even though Slav's troops have won six of their last ten games, including three away wins!

Maura Zarate may get the chance to say hello to his former team mates as he is available for the Hornet, while Pedro Obiang will be looking to impress in front of his former Fiorentina boss now governing Watford, Walter Mazzarri.

Carroll to Feature Against Baggies but Defence is the Key for Hammers

The mood is good at Planet Hammers right now with 6 wins in the last nine and plenty of the first team hitting good form. Perched in 9th position in the league, Slaven Bilic's men are 5 points behind today's opponents West Brom.

Looking at the overall table, Slaven Bilic was coy during Thursday's press conference when asked what final position/points haul he was hoping for, identifying 40 points as 'the first target'. With Man United 14 points clear of the Hammers in sixth, a European spot looks a tall task.

In team news, the big question has been whether Andy Carroll will play today. On that subject Bilic was not able to offer a definitive response but confirmed that Carroll has not trained all week.

However, David Gold has hinted on twitter that the big man will appear at some point and with Gareth Southgate likely to visit fir a look at Carroll (and Antonio) and the prospect of a Dubai break to follow Bilic may be tempted to take a risk.

Meanwhile, Cheik Kouyate looks set to continue at right back and along with Aaron Cresswell will hold the key to today's encounter. The Baggies are tough customers under Pulis and with Matt Philips and Nacer Chadli out wide can be a real attacking threat as the Hammers discovered at the Hawthorns earlier this season where they were 4-0 down just after half time. A spirited comeback was quelled by the intelligent Pulis and the game ended in a frustrating 4-2 defeat for Bilic.

Pulis likes to defend on numbers and hit opponents on the break. West ham will thus need to be patient and draw the Baggies out or else risk a repeat of the Hawthorns visit. West Brom are also potent from set pieces so the Hammers will be hoping that Jose Fonte and Winston Reid are getting to know eachother quickly in order to organise what is still a makeshift defence. If not, Soloman Rondon will be waiting!

However, West Brom haven't won away to the Hammers in their last 7 visits - with 2 defeats and 5 draws during that time. The pundits are predicting a draw which is understandable but with the Hammers on a run and Snoddy looking to open his account, we reckon the Hammers might shade it.

COYI

January...A Great Time for Gym Owners, Santa's Elves and Agents of Dodgy Players

As David Gold was quick to point out recently, West Ham were the fourth highest spenders on new players in the January window yet. What he didn't mention though was that from a business perspective with the sale of Dimitri Payet we were the fourth highest beneficiaries in terms of our balance sheet as we made a cool 8 million profit. Add to that the offloading of the Payet and Zaza wage bills and we came out (financially) smiling!

However, we lack proper cover at right back and yet again failed to bring in a decent proven back up striker for Andy Carroll. Already Sam Byram has hit the deck and realistically you would have to accept that Big Andy has not maintained fitness for more than three months in years. With Diafra Sakho similarly injury prone we are down to Ashley Fletcher and Jonathan Calleri. Hmmm.

Were the board wise to keep their cash back until the Summer? Past experience would certainly suggest so. A Fanvoice poll of the worst ever January signings has rated two Hammers in the top five!!! Under the Gianfranco Zola regime Savio Nsereko was a befuddling waste of £10 million who left after six months and 11 disastrous appearances and was voted fifth worst ever January signing! Meanwhile, Andy Carroll's £38 million move from Newcastle to Liverpool, which was followed by a disastrous 18 month goal drought at Anfield, was voted second worst! The 'winner' was Fernando Torres as Liverpool balanced their books by offloading him to Chelsea for £50 million!

Strangely, neither Benni McCarthy nor Mido got a mention! However, with the Hammers pretty much safe from relegation but hopelessly adrift of the top six, and having exited both cup competitions, an objective business head would say to hold back the cash until the much better value of the Summer transfer window is upon us.

Did anybody really believe that Scott Hogan was worth £15 million?