Three Images That Capture Exactly Where West Ham Are Right Now

Leaving the London Stadium after the Arsenal game a few weeks back many West ham fans had a genuine sense of hope and even, dare we say it, expectation about the future. With a decent squad, a solid financial base and an astute and experienced manager things looked pretty bright - a run at the Cup and push for a top half finish seemed reasonable.

Wind forwards a fortnight and we are back in circus mode. Our main striker decides to destabilise the squad, we once again stumble against modest mid table opposition in Bournemouth and then we go into overdrive with a stunning defeat at lowly Wimbledon followed by an absolutely abject performance against Wolves wherein we didn't manage a single shot on goal and were lucky to only lose 3-0. It's hard to disagree with Pellegrini's post match analysis that 'it's hard to play worse'!

Even more worrying, Marko Arnautovic hobbled off and left the ground on crutches raising fears that he might be absent for much of his remaining time at the club! In all honesty, we should feel relieved that we have 31 points in the bag because we look lost right now!


And then Monday night brings Mo Salah and his mates to further test our dodgy defence!

Arghhhhhh!

 

Mystic Mark Predicts More Hammers Woe

The madness continues tonight as West Ham travel to take on Wolves. Still all over the place after The Arniegate affair, they could do with a result to steady the ship.

Arnautovic should return tonight, along with Declan Rice who sat out the miserable drubbing agaibst lowly Wimbledon at the weekend. That shoukd make for a different performance but Manuel Pellegrini will be wary of a Wolves side that deserved their win at the London stadium earlier in the season and have maintained a high standard since.

Apparently Gareth Southgate will be in attendance hoping to speak with Declan Rice about his International future.

However, 'Mystic' Mark Lawrenson reckons Wolves will coast home with a 2-0 win and the bookies tend to agree quoting then at evens with a draw at 5/2 and the Hammers at 3/1 against for a win.

All set for a Hammers victory so!

The True Cost of the Wimbledon Debacle Emerges

'No one likes us' - yeah, but some hate you more than others!

So here's the deal - having invested in flights and accommodation for three travelling from the West of Ireland to Stratford for the Liverpool game on Monday 4th February, the one result that I did not want was a draw on Saturday night. With plans to reschedule the Monday game to Sunday at noon I would have been out of pocket to the tune of £700! Definitely not a good result.

So, seeing as Pellegrini fielded an attacking side with two 'world' class strikers up front, and a decent side otherwise with a few well tested back up players coming in for game time you would have expected that West Ham would prevail against a side who cant cope in League One!

But then you've got to factor in that its the FA cup, its on telly and its an evening fixture - all bets are suddenly off!

In honesty, we expected Wimbledon to come out all guns blazing after a rousing prematch build up from Vinnie Jones. After half an hour my mate commented that once it got to half time they would be all punched out and the game would settle down and allow our technique to dominate. Ahem. Then Wimbledon scored at just the right moment - three times! 

Trailing by 3-0 a draw was really the best most West Ham fans could shout for - all except yours truly! For the first time in my life I found myself willing us not to score!!! All the while, however, I was thinking that if Millwall was the prize in the next round then I'd take the £700 hit, settle for 3-3 and take it back to the London Stadium where it would have been much harder for Wimbledon to press us into submission.

When the final whistle sounded I still had mixed emotions - the Liverpool trip was still viable but what if Wimbledon got Millwall in the next round?

Naturally, Sods law took over from that point. As Ball 2 and ball 4 were paired the realisation hit home just how cruelly the Gods of football had treated us once again.



 

West Ham Wobble Their Way to Wally's Wombles

It's been another crazy week at West Ham with the news that Mad Marko has committed to stay at the club until the end of the season. Many fans will be pleased to have our best attacking threat back on board but it’s worth also noting that in the past West Ham fans have not been noted for their forgiving nature when players express anything but full commitment as Fat Frank, the Guvnor and Mr Defoe all can attest to. 

The Hammers have clearly stated their intention to have a decent pop at the FA cup and as such Arnautovic may well figure this evening as they make a short trip across London to League One strugglers AFC Wimbledon. Ex-Hammer Wally Downes is at the helm at present as the club is going through a rebuilding phase that includes a new stadium. However, on the field of play things have not been going well as apart from beating Fleetwood Town in round three have not won since St Stephen's Day  

The Wombles story is possibly one of the most uplifting in British soccer history as they rose from non-league status to achieve Premiership status, winning the FA Cup in 1988. However, for those of a certain vintage, the 1975 FA cup run, founded upon the heroics of goalkeeper Dickie Guy (now Club President) serve as one of the greatest moments of romance in the competition. The resilience of the small south London club is underlined by their phoenix like return to top flight football after being sold off and rebranded as MK Dons in 2004! 

For West Ham there are selection possibilities all over the pitch. Ryan Fredericks may return at right back after a prolonged absence due to injury. Both Andy Carroll and Samir Nasri are still building on match fitness and may well get a run out. Similarly, both Xande Silva and Grady Diangana will be hoping to get valuable game time. Presumably Adrian will attend to netminding duties. 

The Hammers travel to Kingsmeadow for the second time this season, having beaten Wimbledon 3-1 last August in the Carabao Cup. West ham are 1-3 on, Wimbledon are 8-1 against and the draw is 4-1 with the bookies. However, for many fans the real gamble underpinning today's game is the threat of a rescheduling of Monday 4th February's evening clash with Liverpool to noon on Sunday 3rd if the tie goes to a replay.  

As one of those nervous fans with multiple flights and hotel accommodation bookings riding on that not happening, i'll be hoping that Arnautovic appears as he will undoubtedly be keen to remind fans that when fit and motivated he is the best forward we have had since Dean Ashton.

Predicted Starting XI: Adrian, Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Rice, Obiang, Diangana, Snodgrass, Arnautovic, Silva.

COYI!!!


 

Toffees Game Wrapped up in Mystery

Arghhhh! Just when things were going all doom and gloom, with one point in the last three games, all sorts of departures for the AfCoN, Winston Reid playing coy, and rumours that Andy may be crocked again, along comes the romance of the Cup and........ Everton - a club who are vying with Arsenal to be our biggest bogey team.

It's hard to believe that it is now 14 games on the trot since we got a decent result against either side. Just think, in a league comprised of the Gooners, Toffees and us we could go a whole season without a win!

On this occasion, Everton have lost four games in a row and have not beaten us in the FA Cup in our past five encounters - a record that stretches back to the 1950s!

But we are without Song, Sakho, Kouyate, possibly Carroll and have no Zarate to spring a surprise. Moreover, "crafty" Sam will likely use the match to shopwindow Vaz Te, Jarvis and the like. Zzzzzzzz. It doesn't look good. Moreover,  we seem to have awful fortune up there - so much so that many fans must be considering a rewrite of Robert Banks classic.

And then there's the Lukaku factor- he is struggling to find goals of late since his permanent move but has he ever not scored against us? Ditto Satan Baines - if he's not scoring audacious free kicks then it's up there providing assists. Grrrrr!

Random acts of kindness?

Still, Goodison games are generally exciting as we have little to lose. Maybe, at long last, it's payback time for Paolo's moment of good sportsmanship all those years ago? If we get ahead and any of the current crop dare squander such an opportunity they would surely be shot!

For the first time ever we at VERYWESTHAM are predicting a Hammers defeat. 3-1, and with some irritating controversy to add to the misery!

Just to bring some bad karma...we DID notice

Btw: readers are advised that DM is currently laid up with man flu and may be more irrational than usual

West Ham-Crystal Palace XI: The pick of former players

As the mighty Hammers of East London prepare for the short trip across to their South London neighbours at Crystal Palace, it's a huge match for both clubs after both endured disappointing defeats on the opening day fixtures. For Palace, matters are further complicated by the on-going issue of finding a new manager after the sudden departure of Tony Pulis. However, for some the fixture will provoke mixed emotions, including those players who have played for both clubs. Here, we consider the finest players to have served for both Eagles and Hammers-the West Eagles XI.






Steve Mautone. Selected mostly because he is the only 'keeper to have played for both with a single appearance for West Ham versus Notts Forest in September 1996 and a massive two league appearances for Palace in 1999. Now back in his native Oz as a coach with Melbourne Victory.






Paul Brush: A Plaistow lad who emerged from Hammer's famed academy system and went on to make over 150 appearances over a nine year spell before switching to Palace where he added another useful three years and 50 appearances.






Tony Gale: Silky centre back who made 300 appearances for the Hammers before a brief but Premiership-winning spell at Blackburn. Just two appearances for Palace at the end of a super career. 'Galey' is a busy football pundit who pops up on TV, radio and in the print media with his reflections on all things footie.








Neil Ruddock: Hilarious! Talented player who always played on the edge of legality. Multiple clubs 'enjoyed' his services in a long career - 'Razor' had a two year spell at the Boleyn and a further year after that at Palace. The one major blemish on his copybook is the two appearances for Millwall  back in 1988-9. Hard to miss his sizeable presence as a popular pundit on TV these days.






Chris Powell: Mr Charlton Athletic actually started life at Palace and his highest appearance tally is for the Shrimpers at Southend! Excellent and very competitive left back, Powell also had a useful spell at West Ham during our promotion campaign of 2004-5 where he (probably) learned the skills that have made him such a successful team manager at Charlton. Recently linked up with the Hammers again as the mighty Premiership side signed last year's player of the year at Charlton, young Diego Poyet.






Michael Hughes: 'Cheeky' was a firm favourite at the Hammers and always remembered for a certain final day of the season goal against Man United. Hughes arrived from FC Strasbourg in 1994 before the move was made permanent by virtue of a Bosman ruling in 1996. The diminutive (five foot six) midfielder made up for his lack of stature with his all-action style and a tasty left foot. Had a lengthy spell at Palace making 126 appearances and also acting as team captain for a year.





Hayden Mullins: Tactically savvy defensive midfielder who learned his trade under Terry Venables at Palace where he made over 200 appearances before moving to the Boleyn. Had to endure losing a play off final for West Ham against his former Eagles in 2004. Amasses 180 appearances for the Hammers before moving to Portsmouth and now at Notts County.






Carl Fletcher: A combative midfielder, he arrived at the Boleyn in 2004 after a lengthy spell at Bournemouth. He managed 44 appearances over two seasons with his last game in the FA Cup final draw with Liverpool. He moved to Palace where he was installed as club captain and enjoyed three seasons. He recently returned to Bournemouth as youth team coach after a disappointing spell at Plymouth Argyle as manager.





Ray Houghton: What were West Ham thinking when they let the young Houghton leave after a single appearance as a substitute! He went on to have a stunning career at Liverpool and Villa and is eternally famous for his goal for Ireland against England at the European Championships of 1988. Palace got a decent run out of him at the end of his career. A busy pundit with RTE sport.






Iain Dowie: Popular forward, albeit more hardworking than prolific! Enjoyed two spells at his beloved Hammers and is perhaps best remembered for a stunning headed own goal in dreadful conditions away to Grimsby! Had a prolonged spell a Southampton before a short stint at Palace and then back to West Ham. Forthright management style has had some successes and include a spell at Palace that ended acrimoniously with a legal case. Most of his time is taken up with punditry for Sky Sports these days but  return to management is more than possible.



Ian Wright: Talented athletic striker who started at Palace as part of the Wright-bright partnership. Then endures seven seasons with the Gooners before a 15 month spell at West Ham. Famously vandalised the referee's room at Upton Park after being sent off! Prolific just about everywhere he went but remembered by most fans for his accuracy with the Gooners. Top pundit who never fails to entertain, Wrighty doesn't do boring!





Substitutes: Freddy Sears   /   Marouane Chamakh   /  Clive Allen  / Matthew Upson / Danny Gabbidon  / Paul Kitson.
It is interesting that most of these players went to Palace after West Ham has dispensed with their services rather than vica versa.

So there we have it - in their heyday this side would probably have thumped either of today's West Ham or Palace sides!

We fancy West Ham to get revenge for last year's defeats against Palace with a 1-0 smash n grab raid.