Oops! Hammers hit an Astra Googly!

Are we Scunthorpe in disguise?

It was really only when we reached injury time last night that it really hit home that West Ham had been done over by last night's visiting Romanian minnows Astra Giurgiu. Having started in sluggish mood, the Hammers were caught on the counter just before half time allowing 35 year old ex-Baggie Filipe Teixeira to slot the ball home to give Astra the lead.

The Hammers upped the intensity for the second half but Astra keeper Silviu Lung was in fine form and pulled off a series of excellent saves in what was to end in an embarrassing defeat for the Olympic Stadium tenants.

In truth, many fans will be quietly pleased that West Ham now avoid a season of tiring midweek fixtures as recent injuries have highlighted the limitations of the squad depth. Moreover, any match where SuperSlav rests Captain Claret is clearly not of the highest priority. No doubt Dimitri Payet will also be available at the weekend and how west Ham missed his invention last night.

West Ham again seemed to lack purpose or a coherent game plan and are still playing like a team of individuals, but there were some positives. Ashley Fletcher looked very lively indeed during his 35 minutes of action and was desperately unlucky not to be awarded a penalty in the 70th minute before being denied the equaliser three minutes later as he sneaked into the six yard box to deflect an Ogbonna strike towards the net before Lung pulled off an amazing reflex save. Soon after, Fletcher earned a Payet-perfect free kick which Enner Valencia send goal bound only to be denied by the invincible Lung.

Thereafter, the frustration set in and it was a merciful release when the referee ended proceedings and West Ham avoided extra time!

SuperSlav was clearly annoyed at the result but one suspects that was partly for the cameras. Your-Ropey League is a dull and tepid excuse for European football and few Premiership sides have really benefitted from participation in the past (remember Fulham!). It's onwards and upwards with Man City at the weekend. Well done Astra - a much better showing than your 5-0 defeat last weekend in the Romanian League!!! having dumped us out of the Europa League for two season's running you are now well and truly West Ham's bogey team.

P.S. No disrespect intended to Scunthorpe United.

 

Hammers Select Starting XI of Real Intent for Astra clash

With an hour to kick off the atmosphere is a little confused as many Hammers fans are wondering with the return of the injury curse that progress to the group stages of the Europa League could prove a mixed blessing. Already the 3 games in a week cycle is stretching resources and with Man City waiting at the weekend, the Hammers cant afford to go into that game tired.

Astra meanwhile were buoyed by their late equaliser in Romania. The Europa League should provide a good testing ground for all of our emerging talent but instead is proving an unwanted burden upon an injury-prone first team squad.

With the team sheets in, it's clear that Superslav feels that group participation is desirable and he has underpinned that by selecting the following starting XI : Randolph, Byram, Reid, Ogbonna, Burke, Nordtveit, Tore, Obiang, Kouyate, Antonio, Calleri. (Subs: Adrian, Collins, Oxford, Browne, Diangana, Valencia, Fletcher).

It'll be interesting to see how the midfield lines out with Nordtveit, Obiang and Kouyate. With various rumours about Pedro Obiang's future, tonight is a massive chance for him to shine.

Up front, fans will be hoping that Jonathan Calleri puts his miss at the weekend behind him and gets his hammers haul up and running. The replenished Michail Antonio will be looking to further emphasise his offensive ability with another outing up front. It's a big start also for Reece Burke, who may play at RB with Sam Byram switching to LB (or vica versa!).

Let the games begin! SuperSlav says that the Hammers won't sit back and try to defend the away goal - with our recent defensive mishaps that sounds like a wise stance!

Hammers Name Exciting Side for Astra Clash

Tonight's Europa League Clash has been billed as a revenge match after Astra dumped an inexperienced Hammers side out of the competition at the same stage last year. Either that, or the desire to engage properly with the tournament real, SuperSlav has selected a fascinating side with Antonio up front along with new signing Jonathan Calleri, while both Reece's line out with Byram and Ogbonna at the back.

There are all sorts of worrying rumours about Cheik Kouyate who is not named in the starting side having allegedly picked up an injury, but he is on the bench. Obiang and Noble form the central midfield.

Carroll, Fletcher, Reid, Collins, Browne, Adrian and Kouyate are on the subs bench.

Let the games begin!!!

Defensive Madness Set To Continue!

One of the most enduring negative images of the Allardyce era was that of a young Hammers fan in tears as a youthful West Ham side were thrashed 5-0 by Notts Forest in the FA Cup. Similarly, the look on Michail Antonio's face as he was substituted on Monday night after another disappointing display at right back represents the most negative moment of Slaven Bilic's reign as west Ham manager.

Fans have repeatedly condemned the misuse of Antonio as a defender as it is glaringly obvious that he thinks like a (very capable) attacker in terms of positional sense and tackling style. For many, the silver lining in Monday night's showing was that it seemed to surely end the 'experiment'. 

However, with Arthur Masuaku cup-tied, Slaven Bilic may well persist with Antonio at right back and play Sam Byram at left back for tomorrow night's Europa League clash with FC Astra Giurgiu in Romania. Other options include to play Angelo Ogbonna as a left back and Byram in his natural RB position or use Reece Burke as a right back and keep Byram at Left Back.

Let's hope Slav makes a switch as for many fans it's becoming an agonising spectacle. Please stop this madness NOW!!! Even better, with Feghouli at al out why not reward Michail for his loyalty and commitment to the cause by playing him on the right wing?

C'mon Slav, you know it makes sense!