Thankyou Mr Eastwood! It's Pink Devil time

Welcome folks to the annual Barry Mcguigan! Reading Julian Dicks’ autobiographt recently i noted that historically he believed that West ham could only hope for rare results at Ye Olde Trafforde but always expected a close encounter back at Upton Park. 

It’s a measure of the Red Devils decline, that despite recent patchy form, the Hammers will be looking for a win and a good performance today. Man Utd are up and down whilst J-Lo’s newly constructed squad hasn’t quite clicked and looks defensively frail. All of which points to a cracker today!

The absence of Kudus is a big downer for West ham as the mercurial Ghana-international serves a suspension for losing his cool on a frustrating day at Spurs last weekend. That said, Somerville is a decent replacement - pacey and unpredictable - and will be looking to make a strong case for more regular action. However, Kudus is much more than an attacker as his ability to hold possession in tight spots is almost unrivalled in the Premiership. Expect Man Utd to target oue left flank as a potential defensive weakness. Hopefully, Wan-Bissaka’s familiarity with the in form Garnacho will keep the other flank tidy. 

The continued absense of Fullkrug is frustrating as although Antonio remains a handful, especially for jittery defences, realisically he only has 60 minutes in the tank after which West ham lack energy up top for high pressing and related tactics. 

The Hammers will be really hoping that our midfield will compete - with Paketa, Soucek, Alvarez, Soler and Rodriguez there are a myriad of combinations on offer but J-Lo remains uncertain as to his best options. 

Anyone for a 3-2 thriller?

COYI!

Reckoning time for Moyes the Gambler!

There's barely a dull moment at West ham these days as results vary from emrrassing (0-5 vs Fulham, 1-5 vs Liverpool) to impressive (3-0 vs Wolves and a comfortable 2-0 vs Freiberg).

As a result, more temperamental fans have swung from 'he's a genius' to 'please rid us of this outdated management', with barely a pause for any middle ground.

Perhaps Moyes has become infected by the thrill of uncertainty, because in surrendering a semi-final place in a very winnable Carabao cup, he planted all his eggs in the basket labelled 'beat Man united'!

Failure to get a result today will push many observers over the edge and add to the questions around Moyes tactics and overall game management.

But a cold analysis of Hammers recent form must include two key observations; (1) Wolves and Freiberg were home games, while Liverpool and Fulham were both away, and (2) against Fulham we had players out or below par with a squad virus and against Liverpool we omitted the central axis of our side by not starting Zouma, Aguerd, Paqueta and Ward Prowse.

So cheer up Hammers fans, we can expect a committed performance from our best XI today, against a faltering Man Utd.

Anything less will tip a lot of fans towards a new set up.

 COYI!!!

Magic night for Moyes as Devils are Downed

West Ham can turn their attentions to Europe after a thoroughly deserved win against a lacklustre Manchester United who were well and truly East-ended. 

The London stadium was rocking and although the Reds started better, David de Gea handed the Hammers a crucial opener with a goalkeeping howler as he failed to keep a soft shot from Said Benrahma from rolling into the net.

Hammers fans braced themselves for a Man Utd onslaught but in truth it never materialised. Denied a clear penalty just before half time, the Hammers then had a goal disallowed under dubious circumstances.

But their tails were up and they tortured Man Utd down the left flank creating chance after chance. In midfield, the ageing legs of Casemiro et al couldn't keep up with Rice and Paqueta and despite 10 minutes of injury time the Hammers romped home, all but ensuring Premiership safety!

Here’s how we rated David Moyes’ men: 

Lukasz Fabianski 7

Calm throughout and did all the simple things well. 

Thilo Kehrer 9

Probably his best Hammers performance as he was strong and aggressive both with and without the ball throughout. Rashford got little joy all night.

Angelo Ogbonna 8

Soooo calm. Brilliant back up for the absent Zouma. Lots of important clearances and he clearly likes playing alongside the stylish and pacey Aguerd.

Nayef Aguerd 8

This lad is class - great defender, good decision making and excellent in possession. 

Aaron Cresswell 7

Struggled with Anthony in the first 30 mins but thereafter suffocated the left flank. 

Tomas Soucek 8

He's a 100 percenter and back on the form of previous seasons. Almost scored a cracking volley which rattled off the post. 

Declan Rice 9

Quite simply, he did everything right this evening and almost pitched in with a goal. Best player on show by a long stretch!

Lucas Paqueta 8

His sorcery is key to how this team clicks. Had a few almost moments but his ingenuity keeps opponents on edge. Next season will be stunning!

Jarrod Bowen 7

A constant thorn and put in an important defensive shift today.

Said Benrahma 8

One of his 'on' games. Buzzed up and down the wing and, of course, got the all important goal.

Michail Antonio 8

Could sense Man Utd's unease in defence and got stuck into them. Made a few stunning runs and held the ball up excellently throughout.

David Moyes 10

The gaffer will have enjoyed his first league win in a decade over his former employers. In fairness, he made all the right moves with team selection and held off on substitutions while the Hammers had such good flow.

Moyes ready to finally make the record books

Oooogh! Moyes has picked a strong starting XI to take on Man United with Dawson back and Bowen passing a late fitness test. 

Scamacca gets the nod ahead of Antonio but expect Mikey to appear as and when needed before the end.

Both Benrahma and Downes are rewarded for their decent form of late and start.

Perhaps in recognition of his record of scoring against the Hammers, or that we tend to hang deep away to top sides, Ronaldo starts.

Moyes' men need to press hard to expose Man Utds flexibility. 

With Ericksen and Fernandes in midfield, Soucek, Rice and Downes need to get stuck in and make ot as physical as possible. 

Set pieces could be key as Zouma, Dawson, Soucek, Rice and Scamacca are pretty formidable from corners.

Moyes still awaits an away win against Man Utd but this is definitely possible with today's teams.

COYI!!!

West Ham United: Fabianski; Kehrer, Zouma, Dawson, Cresswell; Rice (c), Soucek; Bowen, Downes, Benrahma; Scamacca.

Subs: Areola, Johnson, Coufal, Fornals, Antonio, Lanzini, Ogbonna, Coventry, Emerson.

Man Utd: De Gea, Dalot, Shaw, Maguire, Martinez, Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes, Elanga, Rashford, Ronaldo.

Subs: Bishop, Dubravka, Fred, McTominay, Malacia, Pellistri, Van de Beek, Garnacho, Sancho.

Here's how Moyes can change his awful record against top sides

To kick things off West ham have not beaten Man United at Ye Olde Trafforde since the great escape in 2007, with a humble 3 draws and eleven defeats!

Add to that David Moyes has never won away from home as a manager against Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, or Arsenal despite a whopping 69 attempts!

Quite simply, his record is atrocious and here's why - he plays it tight trying to steal a win with counterattack but in doing so typically concedes 65%+ possession. That simply doesn't work when you are up against the might of wobbly refs and aggressive home fans where soft free kicks and penalties are a regular occurence and decide close games. 

The trick is to try to win by two goals, not nick a 1-0 smash n grab raid. Maybe we need to pretend that a win by two goals is needed to stave off relegation or qualify for Europe or avoid the plague - whichever option, let's play like our futures depend upon it!

Moyes has rarely had the kind of resources available to him to go toe to toe with big sides but just now he has his best squad ever and can realistically match Man Utd in every department - but only if the players play to their potential!

There is absolutely no reason why a Rice-Soucek-Downes triad in midfield can't at least get parity with Man United's current midfield set up. Add to that the defensive spine of Kehrer, Zouma and Fabianski and we shoukd force Man United out onto the flanks where if Bowen and Benrahma are energetically tracking back we can limit penetration. 

With our current attacking options we can surely create chances and given our recent fortune in front of goal this would be the ideal game for things to click into place as we undoubtedly have the ability to hurt opposition sides.

Whether Moyes throws down the gauntlet or opts for a conservative will become evident in a few hours but even if we start cagey there is the option of switching to full nuclear with Antonio and Scamacca asking the questions, with Bowen and Benrahma pitching in.

It's time to end the pain.

Rory Nostradamus is opting for 3-1 to West ham but the bookies are offering 40-1 against and of note he was out picking mushrooms yesterday so may be feeling a bit 'unusual'

Let's do this!

COYI!

New Options Emerge in Hammers Hunt for Midfield Powerhouse

At their best, Mark Noble and Declan Rice form a formidable defensive midfield partnership. However, at 32 years old, Noble does not have the recovery powers that he once had, while neither player is blessed with exceptional speed. With Jack Wilshere persistently on the medical bench, and Carlos Sanchez vying for the most inexplicable West Ham signing of the past decade, David Moyes will need reinforcements if he is to enforce his high energy, pressing game on opponents.

There has been lots of speculation as to who the Hammers might be chasing, including Joe Allen, Franck Kessie and Stanislav Lobotka all suggested as raising the interest of the Hammers management as they look for a box to box player to add energy to our midfield. Moyes has indicated a preference for a younger player.

Reports in recent days have suggested that the Hammers are also looking at 20 year old Benfica starlet Gedson Fernandes. Currently in dispute (allegedly) with his manager, he has been out of the side in recent games and it is thought that the club are interested in a loan with purchase option deal. Fernandes has already been capped at full international level and is much coveted due to his tenacious running style. This season has seen him employed as a right-sided attacking midfielder at Benfica.


Other reports suggest that the Hammers may be in for Genk's Norwegian colossus, 21 year old Sander Berge. Berge has set the Belgian Superligue alight and is an immense presence in midfield for such a youngster - combatative and with excellent close control and a good turn of pace. At 6ft 5 inches he would add much needed height to the Hammers setpiece set up - an area that Moyes plans to focus upon  as it has been an area of definite weakness for the Hammers this season to date. Berge is thought to be available for around £20 million.

Manchester United appear to be a major competitor for Fernandes, while Liverpool have a longstanding interest in Berge. However, in both cases the lure of first team football at a rising club may be more attractive than sitting on the bench hoping for opportunities as a substitute or in the often insipid cup competitions.

COYI!!!

The View From the Bobby Moore Stand

It never ceases to amaze me how frequently you are discussing a game with a fellow fan who has a totally (often opposing) take on proceedings! After last season's win over Man United I got chatting with another Hammer flying home through Stansted who reckoned Felipe Anderson was still unconvincing and not tracking back for defensive duties!!!

These variances also happen within your own mind - on Monday, watching on TV I thought Haller looked off the pace, clumsy and disconnected from the team's flow. On Sunday, in the flesh, he was the fulcrum of our efforts, holding the ball up over a dozen times when any of our other recent strikers would have lost possession (yes, Arnie as well as Chicharito!). Moreiver, his link play was calm and assured - it's a pity we didn't flash a few crosses in as he looked well able for Harry Maguire.

Reading a report tonight, one pundit reckoned Maguire had bossed Haller while from my vantage point Sebastien demonstrated why England need to be careful before over-relying on the not so nimble defender who will struggle against top strikers.

From the upper zones of the Bobby Moore stand we got to see how much Yarmolenko and Anderson moved to unnerve the Man Utd defence, switching wings 4 times in the first 20 minutes! We also got to see how dominant Issa Diop was and that the pace of the man is astounding! Add to that how well Anderson holds the ball when we want to clear out from defence and we are starting to feel excited about our chances of pushing on from our current lofty position in the Premiership!

Add to all of that the sense of certainty that Cressy would bury his (second) free kick. Having seen the first slide just over the bar, it was clear that he was going to get it spot on as he stepped up in the 84th minute......yesssssss!

COYI!!!

Bobby Bubbles' Player Ratings as the Hammers Squash Man United

There were joyous scenes again at the London Stadium today as West Ham beat off the rather meek challenge of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Red Devils. A super goal just before half time set the scene and, in truth, there only ever looked like there could be one winner. Aaron Cresswell's sublime free kick essentially ended the game and there was even time for the Hammers to indulge in another bout of keep ball against the once Premiership heavyweights! We are now up to 4th and looking good.  Bobby Bubbles gives his verdict on the days proceedings:

Fabianski:  Calm and assured as always. Surprisingly quiet day between the sticks but still pulled off two important blocks that could have changed the game. 8/10

Fredericks:  Having a good season and looking like the player we hoped when he arrived just over a year ago. Great pace and getting more confident going forward and building a good understanding with Yarmo.  8/10.

Ogbonna: Looked solid but picked up a foolish early yellow card that on another day might have been costly. 7/10.

Diop:  A colossus at the back. Huge presence, great timing and reading of the game Nd has the pace to match almost any forward. Had few difficulties with Rashford today. 8.5/10.

Cresswell: Possibly our man of the match as he was as good if not better than the lively Yarmolenko. Served a warning with a close free kick early in the 2nd half before nailing the second opportunity. Excellent in defence and attack. 9/10.

Rice: Solid throughout and saved our bacon with a trademark 'oh no you fon't' interception in the first half. A big presence as we have come to expect. 8/10.

Noble: Captain Claret was tremendous once again. Soooo competitive and he really leads by example. He loves beating Man U as well!. 8/10.

Fornals:  Looked a bit like the newbie and seemed a tad cautious given his Lanzini- style roving role. Will benefit from the game time. 7/10.

Anderson: Always looks capable of opening things up and tormented down the right all day. Also has a handy k ack of dispossessing opponents when in defence. 8/10.

Haller: Excellent stuff. Absolutely bossed Maguire and was sensational at holding the ball up all day long. Great link play. You with our wide men would whip a few crosses in for hom as he looks tremendous in the air! 8.5/10.

Yarmolenko: Looked really up for it from the off. Had a classy flick to bring us out of a tight defensive position and built from there. Great skill for the goal but also made a crucial defensive interception when Man U looked set to steal an equaliser! He'll be smiling tonite!!! 9/10.

Substitutes

Wilshere, Zabaletta and Snodgras all slipped into gear seamlessly and kept Man Utd quiet to the end.

MOTM: We reckon it should be shared by Cresswell and Yarmolenko!

Beware of that Icarus Effect!

There's a hugely positive vibe around the London Stadium right now. Quietly, Hammers fans feel confident that we can overcome Manchester United tomorrow and genuinely demonstrate our top six credentials. With a spine of Fabianski, Diop, Rice and Haller, complemented by the creativity of Lanzini, Anderson and Yarmolenko, the current West ham team can cause most teams major problems. Add to that the assured and astute leadership of Mark Noble on the field and Manuel Pellegrini as manager, the club is in good shape.

When the Hammers first moved to the expanses of the London Stadium the space proved to be a disadvantage as the team had been used to pummeling visitors in the tight confines of the cauldronous Upton Park. Pellegrini has adapted our style, added pace and an ability to use the space to torment the opposition and accordingly our home form has soared. Pellegrini insists on going toe to toe with all comers and on occasion that can backfire - like the 5-0 drubbing by Champions Man City on opening day.

However, top six sides take the game to their opponents and the modern West Ham have no qualms about using attack as their best winning strategy. Our possession and completed pass percentages have gone up dramatically and, let's be honest, our games are much more entertaining to watch - even if we do concede more goals than we would sometimes like to.

Monday night could be seen as a missed opportunity to go level 2nd in the Premiership but for now it may be better to lurk around the margins of the top six and hopefully visiting teams won't adopt too cagey an approach because open free flowing games suit this side. With our deficit of attacking replacements we do not want visiting sides arriving with the intention of kicking out a draw and hoping to catch us on the break. Let's avoid flying too close to the sun for now and keep a steady momentum.

Tomorrow's encounter looks to be a mouth watering prospect as Man United will come looking to play and that will likely suit Mr Pellegrini's musketeers. Expect a high scoring game!

Rory Nostradamus is predicting a 3-2 win.

COYI!!!

Traitor-Rator: Who is West Ham's biggest Ever Judas?

After all of the positivity of last season when after a poor start the squad found its mojo and delivered a host of good results playing attractive football, once again we now face falling back to where we started. 

With Marko Arnautovic's departure, the club are struggling to identify a forward who can provide the regular supply of goals that would allow the club to push to the next level and maybe even European football. 

With the Maxi Gomez deal all but dead, its hard to see who might come in. As a much needed distraction, let's focus our fury on Arnie and ask - is he the worst ever Judas to play for the club?

To add a little objectivity, we have rated our top four traitors according to the following characteristics; 
1. How two faced was the departure?
2. How self serving was he in making it happen?
3. How much damage did it do to the club at the time?
4. How unpleasant was he after the 'escape'?
5. Looking back, can there be any forgiveness?

Let's start with that 'Big time Charlie', Paul Ince. A childhood Hammer, Ince was one of the few positives to emerge in the Post-Billy Bonds era and despite decent personal performances was part of the relegated side in 1989 which saw John lyall depart after 15 years at the helm. Ince aws photographed in a Manchester United shirt to save him having to come back from holidays for a new signing photograph for the press, the deal was postponed as he failed the initial medical. However, the tabloids still published the picture and all hell broke out! Ince escaped after a second medical and one game into the 1989-1990 season. The departure was badly managed but Ince has cited that at 21 years old he was naive. In truth, the club was in a mess and had a yoyo period for the following 4 seasons getting relegated and promoted twice and Ince was a wanted player at a selling club. He enjoyed playing the panto villain in matches between Man utd and the Hammers but has not spoken negatively of the club over the years.

1. How two faced was the departure? 2/5

2. How self serving was he in making it happen? 2/5

3. How much damage did it do to the club at the time? 3/5

4. How unpleasant was he after the 'escape'? 2/5

5. Looking back, can there be any forgiveness? 2/5

Total score 11/25.

Next up is Jermain Defoe. Also 21 years old, he was a bright young star of an amazing Hammers squad who somehow managed to get relegated in 2004 with a squad teeming with stars but low on luck! While the Hammers can claim the greatest ever escae from relegation in 2007, 2004 was surely the stupidest relegation from the Premiership? Defoe reacted badly to the relegation and within 24 hours made a written request for a transfer. Distressed fans focused their annoyance on his insensitivity and he was turned down by the club. He stareted the following season at West Ham but refused to sign a new contract and had an obviously poor attitude, picking up three red cards in 22 appearances before the club lost patience and sold him to Spurs. Over the years he has repeatedly  apologised to supporters for mishandling the move due to his young age and often expressed a desire to return to make amends. 

1. How two faced was the departure? 2/5

2. How self serving was he in making it happen? 4/5

3. How much damage did it do to the club at the time? 3/5

4. How unpleasant was he after the 'escape'? 1/5

5. Looking back, can there be any forgiveness? 1/5

Total score 11/25.

Et maintenant, c'est Dimitri Payet. Surely the most naturally gifted Hammer of recent times. Payet arrived in June 2015 and quickly established himself as a fans favourite with a series of impressive performances that woshortlisted him for PFA player of the year while he received the Hammer of the year award. A lucrative new contract arrived then suddenly in January 2017 (aged 29) he refused to play for the club stating that he wanted to return to Olympic Marseille. After much huffing and puffing he left for a modest fee. He later stated that he felt the club lacked ambition and that he was 'bored'.

1. How two faced was the departure? 2/5

2. How self serving was he in making it happen? 5/5

3. How much damage did it do to the club at the time? 4/5

4. How unpleasant was he after the 'escape'? 4/5

5. Looking back, can there be any forgiveness? 4/5

Total score 19/25.

So finally, Mad Marko Arnautovic. We cant say that we weren't warned by Stoke fans after he smahed his way out of their club to join the Hammers. He arrived in Summer 2017 and after a poor start switched to a new central attacking role that proved a piece of David Moyes genius. 11 goals and Hammer of the year award followed. On to this season and he started getting restless before Christmas as rumours of Chinese interest surfaced. After much stealth, using his agent brother Danijel to voice the Mr Hyde half of his persona, he seemed placated by a big new deal. He denied ever wanting to leave but then submiited a transfer request in mid Summer and forced a bargain purchase for Shanghai SPG where he will presumably see out his career being paid huge money in a pointless league. As yet there have been no noises from Marko about his departure but the series of incredibly two-faced statements in his final six months will surely annoy fans for a long time! The difficulty replacing him is currently hurting the club but Manuel Pellegrini has a talent for bringing in top players so we wait in hope!

1. How two faced was the departure? 5/5

2. How self serving was he in making it happen? 5/5

3. How much damage did it do to the club at the time? 3/5

4. How unpleasant was he after the 'escape'? 1/5

5. Looking back, can there be any forgiveness? 5/5

Total score 19/25.

Wow!!! A draw between Marko and Dimi!!! Arnie will be furious as he loves to hog the limelight. It's interesting how our old skool traitors are lightweight compared with the two-faced mercenaries of the modern era! 

Bobby Bubbles Player Ratings as Hammers Robbed at Old Trafford

A penalty brace from the endlessly likeable Paul Pogba was enough to claim the victory for a disappointing Manchester United side at Ye Olde Trafford yesterday evening. Nevertheless  there were many positives  for the Hammers  as  they  came within a whisker  of  completing  a rare  double  over the Red Devils.

Here are Bobby Bubbles' ratings:

Pellegrini: It takes balls to go to Old Trafford and stand toe to toe with the home side but that is the Pellegrini way and the travelling West Ham faithful were given plenty to appreciate. The Hammers dominated for much of the game and can feel justifiably aggrieved at coming up short in terms of points gained. Once again, Pellegrini demonstrated his belief in rotating the squad bringing in Zabaleta, Masuaku and Snodgrass. Apart from the overall performance, there were also excellent showings from Fabian Balbuena and a return to best form for Felipe Anderson. However, on the downside Manuel Lanzini hobbled off and looks set for a further period on the sideline. Pellegrini deserves particular credit for the second half showing where, despite a number of referee howlers in the first half, West Ham remained unperturbed sustaining what was an impressive performance  9/10.

Fabianski:  calm and assured as always. You really thought he might save the second penalty but unfortunately Pogba served up an unsaveable strike! 8/10

Zabaleta: excellent performance before running out of puff. You have to wonder if he would have done better against Martial for the second penalty. Still has plenty to offer despite the ageing legs. 7/10.

Ogbonna: never look troubled despite Manchester United playing a relatively attacking formation. Issa Diop has a real battle on his hands to regain a starting place. 7/10.

Balbuena:  it's great to have him back  and he again  showed great composure  and  was not really  under pressure in any way. Good distribution coming out of defence. 8/10

Masuaku: one of his better games where there were no defensive errors. Maybe he still has something to offer next season? 7/10.

Rice: The best midfielder on the park throughout and greatly overshadowed Pogba who had very little influence apart from the two penalties. 8/10.

Noble: Captain Claret loves getting stuck into Man United and looked to be thoroughly enjoying proceedings yesterday. Still has plenty to offer. 7.5/10.

Lanzini:  Starting to look more like his old self but still a little off the pace. Excellent assist for Anderson's goal and also had a decent shout for penalty when he was held back in the box. Let's hope his injury is nothing serious as he needs game time to get back to his best 7/10.

Anderson: Possibly our best player against Chelsea and again yesterday was our man of the match as he tormented Manchester United again and again. The switch to the right wing was an interesting experiment which worked well and increases our attacking options. Denied a perfectly legitimate goal in the first half before scoring what could easily have been a match winner in the second. 9/10.

Chicharito: We've said this before but he really doesn't offer enough to the general play. Limited contribution before being substituted. 5/10.

Snodgrass: will be furious about the first-half penalty which was  extremely soft  and it's debatable whether he actually made any contact with Juan Mata. However, he didn't allow this to discourage him and  delivered a series of excellent  corners throughout. 7/10.

Substitutes
Antonio: Tremendous stuff had a few barnstorming runs at the Utd defwnce, cracked one against the bar and was denied by a super De Gea save after a good header. Deserved more. 8/10.
Diangana: No major impact 5/10.

Fredericks: Oops. Clumsy challenge on Martial gave away the game.  3/10.

The West Ham Way Part 6: Refereeing Nonsense Denies West Ham at Old Trafford

Quoted at 7/1 against for a win before the match, Manuel Pellegrini's troops were clearly offended by the bookies lack of faith and reacted with an excellent performance. However, how many times have we said this, "but for some poor refereeing....deblah blah" and that was once again the story of the day as Man United were gifted the win by match referee Graham Scott who made a series of bad calls in the Mancs favour.

First up, Felipe Anderson scored  a perfectly legal goal but sadly referee Graham Scott and his henchmen failed to notice that Defender Diogo Dalot was playing the Brazilian on side.

Next up, Scott awarded Manchester United a penalty for an innocuous challenge by Robert Snodgrass on the easily toppled Juan Mata. Grrr.

Half time 1-0 to the wrong side.

However, the Hammers spirits were not dampened and they emerged for the second half full of determination and levelled the scores within 4 minutes of the restart with a delightful Anderson strike.

Thereafter, West Ham dominated proceedings going close on a number of occasions while the home side offered little in attack.

West Ham  could feel unlucky not to have been given a penalty  as Manuel lanzini was held back in the box  but  the matchday officials  were nowhere to be seen when the call was potentially going to go in West Hams favour.

Then, poor Michail Antonio was doubly disappointed as first he rattled the bar and then was foiled by an incredible save by David De Gea as somehow the Spaniard managed to keep out a thumping goalward bound header - pushibg the ball just outside the post.

In reality, at that point West Ham should have been at least a goal to the good and as they pushed forward sensing a victory, were caught on the break with another close offside call going man united's way as Anthony Martial found himself through on goal and was pulled down by a desperate lunge from Ryan Fredericks resulting in perhaps the only correct call by Mr Scott all day as he awarded a penalty allowing the otherwise anonymous Paul Pogba to score a second from the spot and give Manchester United an unlikely and remarkably fortunate win.

If Scott had got the earlier decisions right then West Ham would almost certainly not have been caught pushing up with just 10 minutes to go.

The normally restrained Pellegrini was visibly annoyed in his post match interview and made it clear that he felt West Ham had been outdone by poor refereeing decisions. In his post match interview, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer conceded that Manchester United had 'got away with it' but countered that these things balance out over the course of a season.

With Spurs on an impressive run of victories and feeling buoyant having just moved into their new stadium, West Ham will be hoping that some of this bad luck is balanced out with good fortune when they visit White Hart Lane in a fortnight's time. Before then, Leicester City visit the London Stadium next weekend as the two sides do battle for the very middle of the middle of the Premiership table!

COYI!!!

Hammers Ready to Make the Record Books

After their sproncey second half efforts against Chelski on Monday night,  West Ham visit Ye Olde Trafforde in search of glory today. With our season all but over, Manuel Pellegrini's troops are playing for amusement as much as anything else - not exactly an ideal mindset as we prepare to face a Man United side who are desperate for points as they chase a Champions League spot. In addition, there 's the small matter of facing Romelu 'i score at will against West Ham' Lukaku, a challenge that the impressive Balbuena will surely relish.

The game represents an important juncture in Ole Gunnar Solsjaer's managerial career. After an impressive start, since being made permanent he has reverted to the forlorn form of his Cardiff era and is currently on a 4 losses in 5 games run that should the Hammers spring a surprise today will be Man Utd's worst ever top flight run. Even worse, they are at the Nou Camp next week!

After the season's high point 3-1 thrashing at the London Stadium back in October, Manuel Pellegrini's troops will hope to do the double over the Red Devils - last achieved in the 2006-7 'Great Escape'season of madness!

The bookies fancy a home win at 5/2 on, with the away win at 7/1 and a draw at 4/1. 

As we prepare for this evening's clash we ask ' what would be the best team of players who have played for both clubs....the so-called ‘West Man United XI’?

	At Man United he failed to inspire confidence - epitomised by ‘the goal that never was’. Joined West Ham in 2005 after falling out over a lack of first team opportunities. Had a good initial season but sustained a back injury in Jan 2006 and slipped into a variety of difficulties that ultimately earned him a place in the ‘Troubled Bubbles XI’!  Currently with Irish League outfit Linfield. Verdict 4/10
	Hammers debut at the tender age of 17, Rio soon forced his way into the regular first team squad where he continued to impress until Leeds paid a record 18 million for him in November 2000. Quickly moved to Man United where he has been a fantastic servant for a decade and was key to the many successes of the past decade.Verdict 9/10.
	8 appearances for Man United where he was never really given a chance. A bargain signing for 500K for West ham that led to a five year career and over 100 appearances . Versatile defender who had his finest hour when scoring twice in a 4-0 victory over Man United in 2010. Ran out of road as the Hammers regrouped after relegation and moved to Birmingham City. Verdict: 6/10
	Top man. Signed from Cork Athletic in 1952. Noel enjoyed a fruitful 8 years at West Ham with 250 appearances. Captained the Hammers to promotion back to the top flight for the first time in almost 30 years in 1958 . Sold to man Utd for almost 30K in 1960 where he captained a cup winning side and was part of two league winning teams. Verdict 8/10.
	Hmmm. One that got away having impressed at youth level but nicked by Man United. He might have fared so much better had he stuck with the Hammers and gotten a better shot at first team football. Many observers would say that he has never lived up to his potential. Verdict 4/10.
	Industrious and gamey, the 'Guvnor'  was never found wanting in the Hammers shirt after replacing Billy Bonds in 1987. He didn’t handle his Hammers departure very well being photographed in a Man United shirt well before the deal was confirmed. Probably did not deserve the  criticisms thrown his way by Fergie and after 6 years and over 200 appearances Verdict: 8/10.
	Another one thrown in as a teenager at 17 into the Hammers first team. Skilful but perhaps a little ‘ghosty’ at times. Happy to do the unglamorous work and stayed loyal after relegation in 2003 before losing patience and moving to Spurs for 3.5 Million and then Man United where he was a solid performer for ten seasons. Verdict 9/10.
	Trouble with a capital T during his time at Man United, Fergie tired of his disciplinary problems and Big Sam obliged for a mere 650K. Initially 'Raveldo' looked like an astute piece of business but  disciplinary and personal issues re-emerged and after 18 games for the Hammers he was moved on. Verdict 3/10.
	Arrived at Man United late in his career but proved another astute Fergie signing and achieved legendary status in stoppage time of the 1999 Champions League final. Came to the Hammers not far  short of pension age but still had plenty to offer by virtue of his excellent footballing brain. Returned as forwards coach to great effect in the 2014-5 season. Verdict 9/10.
	Played in a different era when United were not quite the same powerhouse they are now but picked up a cup winners medal, scoring in the 1977 final against lovely Liverpool.  Moved to the Hammers in 1979 after a nasty knee injury but still managed to play a major part in the 1980 Cup final victory over Arsenal, teeing up Trevor Brooking’s ‘stunning’ header! Verdict 8/10.
	Arrived at the Boleyn in a bizarre deal in 2006. Bemused Hammers faithful endured two-thirds of a season of Carlos trying to inspire a lacklustre side and then it all clicked into gear for the final 10 games where he couldn’t stop scoring, including a final day win at Old Trafford to keep the Hammers up! The Apache had some classy moments in the United shirt but got sidetracked by his own ego needs. Ultimately moving to City was the final straw.Verdict 9/10.