Wow! Moyes picks surprising starting XI!

If the starting XI is anything to go by then Mr Moyes has certainly been switching it about in the lost three month period!

Declan Rice slips to centre back, with Soucek and Noble in midfield, while there's no place for Seb Haller.

Up front its Antonio with Fornals, Bowen and Anderson in behind in what seems to be a 4-2-3-1 formation!

It's not what was predicted but certainly raises the interest with what looks to be a whole new set up under Moyes!

West Ham United: Fabianski; Ngakia, Rice, Diop, Cresswell, Soucek, Noble (c), Bowen, Fornals, Felipe Anderson, Antonio


Substitutes: Randolph, Fredericks, Balbuena, Johnson, Yarmolenko, Lanzini, Wilshere, Xande Silva, Ajeti

Here we go! Hammers look to kickstart survival campaign

We're back! After three months of fear, sadness and frustration, today marks the start of truly recovering some sense of normality since the COVID-19 catastrophe began.

Hovering close to relegation (currently in 17th place on goal difference!) we certainly won't be bored from now to the end of the season. With our opponents today looking towards a possible top four finish we will be hoping that all the positive vibes from the training ground will translate into fully fit and motivated players. On a positive note, Moyes' teams rarely want for effort or fitness, so we can expect them to look sharp.

As for the starting XI it's impossible to know what Moyes will do - we look better with two up front but caution calls for three in central midfield, hmmmm. If we do go for a midfield pairing who would you select from Rice, Noble and Soucek - especially now the Czech has had plenty of time to settle in. 

And that's not to mention the circus going on at right back! With Traore seemingly fit again we will need pace at the full back berths. That said, the Ngakia situation is very disappointing all round and is starting to reach the point where he could join the list of ex-players that shall not ever be mentioned!

Just how the absence of a crowd will impact upon things is also intriguing - although the new stadium is no Upton Park in terms of atmosphere, it has improved on the fortress stakes and does provide a degree of home advantage that will be seriously diluted today.

We reckon Moyes will play it cagey and it'll be a low scoring affair. With nine games to go, 38 points (i.e an average of one per game) would likely suffice and we do have a relatively attractive run in. 

If you are watching with mates don't forget to maintain social distancing, even WHEN we score :-)

COYI!!! 

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!

Unsettled Hammers Look to Beat the Odds

West ham have endured a pretty disappointing start to the new era under Manuel Pellegrini. Having lost each of their opening three games they languish at the bottom of the Premiership table. The midweek win against Wimbledon may have provided some light, but given that they trailed for an hour despite having an extra man will not have gone unnoticed as yet more evidence that the new squad is far from firing on all cylinders!

Wolves, meanwhile, enjoyed a morale boosting draw with Man City last weekend and then dispatched the Owls during midweek, using their back up players. If the Hammers lose tomorrow it will equal their worst ever start to a season - the other coming under Avram Grant's doomed tenure. No pressure then!

However, in better news, Marko Arnautovic and Mark Noble are available. In reality, when 2 of your first 3 games are away at Enfield and the Emirates it is not a total disaster to come away with little to show, but Pellegrini's men really need a win to kick start their campaign. First up, Pellegrini needs to sort out a stable CB pairing, with tomorrow's selection likely to reveal where his longer term intentions lie. The Hammers boss has been singing the praises of both Masuaku and Cresswell, so selection at left back will also provide an interesting talking point.

But perhaps the biggest question is whether Mark Noble will walk straight back into the starting XI. Carlos Sanchez had a mixed performance against Arsenal, so it looks up for grabs. Javier Hernandez will hope that his goal in midweek might swing a starting berth for him, while Andriy Yarmolenko had a lot of the ball with modest impact against the Wombles. In truth, there is considerable uncertainty regarding most of the side with plenty of positions up for grabs.

Interestingly, BETWAY have the Hammers at 8/5 for a win, which seem like generous odds. Rory Nostradamus at VERYWESTHAM predicts a 3-1 win for the Hammers.

COYI!!!

Bilic Dances With Wolves!

Happy days right now at the Boleyn and right on cue the FA cup arrives just in time to further lift our buoyant spirits. Ex-Lion tamer, Kenny Jackett, and his pack of Wolves travel to Upton Park on the back of three straight victories that have pulled them up to a lofty 11th in the Championship. However, with the Hammers in scintillating form it would be disappointing if they dont progress to the next round. Having only failed to score at home twice in the last 20 games, and with a defence that is currently as tight as the proverbial gnat's arse, it's little wonder that the Bubbles boys are odds on to win.

Slaven Bilic has stated his affection for the FA Cup and a clear intention to make a strong challenge as he views a cup run as a decent target for his side this year. With Dimitri Payet needing game time, Wolves will need to be vigilant if they are to prevent the skilful midfielder from running matters. A key question is whether Bilic will give a run out to his up and coming youngsters, with Reece Oxford, Stephen Hendrie and Josh Cullen all hopeful that they might get some game time.

Wolves should not be underestimated, with Benik Afobe and Jordan Graham up front as their key attacking threats. However, in good news for the Hammers that 'controversial' pundit Mark Lawrenson has predicted a shock win for Wolves!

We reckon 2-0 to the Hammers as the momentum right now is strong. Kick off is at the traditional 3PM. We have produced a Slaven Bilic dance video to get you into the mood....ENJOY!!!