Lingard Antics Will Hurt Man United in the long run

So after all the huffing and puffing Jesse Lingard has been trapped at Man Utd until his contract expires in the Summer. 

While a move to West Ham could be viewed as giving ammunition to the Red Devils immediate opposition, the decision of the board to also block a move to Newcastle looks mean spirited to say the least.

For any developing talent considering a move to Old Trafford, the Lingard saga will surely dampen enthusiasm for a move and it certainly puts any issue of trust in serious question. 

All of which will likely come home to roost in the Summer when Man Utd come looking for Declan Rice again. The Hammers will surely give them the cold shoulder while the player himself will have seen what loyalty means around the Manchester club. 

Why on earth would a developing talent give up captaincy and a major say in how the club develops for the ruthless commodification that Man Utd have shown?

What goes around comes around as they say!

It's like a Hitchcock movie out there!

As we enter the closing hours of the transfer window its becoming a stampede as clubs with cash look to bolster their season's prospects.

But one club are hogging the space and making it difficult for the likes of West Ham to do business. In short, everywhere you turn their are bloody magpies, magpies and more bloody magpies!

With their new found wealth and a precarious Premiership position, Newcastle are trying to buy everything and anything of value in the shop window.

It looks like they have already beaten the Hammers to signing Hugo Etikite from Reims, and with Man Utd not wanting to assist the club they are battling with for the fourth Champion's League berth, it seems inevitable that Jesse Lingard will travel North by the evenings conclusion.

The latest supercomputer predictions suggest that as we stand the Hammers will be bounced out to a final placing at 7th in the Premiership. However, all that would change with a quality striker and centre back coming in. 

Let's hope Messrs Gold and Sully can out manoevre the avaricious Magpies and bring in some real quality. 

Ongoing Jesse Lingard saga

Egan to the rescue?

The loss of Angelo Ogbonna with a season-ending injury before Christmas has had a dramatic effect on West Ham's chances of a champions league finish. 

With Issa Diop fluffing his big chance, West ham have won just 4 games since losing Oggy as a previously rock solid defence has leaked goals at crucial times and dropped 10 or so points along the way. 

In reality, Ogbonna at 33 years old is close to the end of a fine career and Moyes really needs to look for a long term replacement to partner Kurt Zouma in defence.

The departure of young CB Frederick Alves on a permanent deal hopefully signals the start of a series of moves that will see a top quality CB arrive at the London Stadium.

With the deal for Croatian Caleta-Car still uncertain, new rumours have emerged that Moyes and Co are looking to their old friends at Sheffield Utd for help, with an interest in ROI international John Egan. 

Egan has continued to improve as the Blades try to get back to the top flight and has taken on the role of club captain. He is tenacious, strong in the air and very much a committed team player of the type Moyes prefers.

But is he top table quality?

Today could be the start of answering that question. 

What do you think? Would Egan be an astute signing?

Hmmmm.

Here we go....

It has been a frustratingly quiet transfer window so far for West Ham with no arrivals of significance as we enter the final 12 hours of business. 

In part, this is because of the new strategy at the club of keeping our cards close to our chest after a series of embarrassing debacles in previous years. 

In addition, David Moyes has made it clear that he has no interest in taking a punt on bargain basement offers, which often bring in players who don't fit in with his strict system.

But whatever about the merits of this approach, the compelling need for a striker and a centre back must surely force the board to splash some cash. With a Champions League place very much a possibility, this is surely the moment to make the move towards the big time. Failure to do so will add to the pressure to keep the likes of Rice, Soucek and Bowen at the club when Summer comes.

Just now, its all talk about the likelihood of Caleta-Car from Olympique Marseille and Darwin Nunez from Benfica. The latter would be a stunning capture as the 22 year old looks a massive prospect with skill, pace, aggression and an impressive strike rate. 

It's going to be an exviting day, so get your seatbelt fastened!

Moyes Throws Down the Gauntlet as Hammers Look to Nail Gooners

West ham make the short trip across London to the Emirates for tonight's crunch Premiership clash. The Hammers will be still smarting from the disappointing draw up at Burnley at the weekend but can make up for that by beating the Gunners tonight.

That will be far from easy though as they have lost ten of their last eleven trips to the Emirates. Moreover, Arsenal seem to have found their groove under Michel Arteta and are just a point behind fourth placed West ham going into the match.

There's no return for Aaron Cresswell, with Masuaku hoping to maintain his good form at left back. Pable Fornals returns, displacing Said Benrahma, with Manny Lanzini continuing in the starting XI. 

Arsenal are close to full strength despite all the in-house Covid difficulties of recent days with the exception of Augbameyang who is dropped due to discipline issues.

David Moyes will be hoping that his attacking unit kicks back into gear with eyes on Michail Antonio who has been just 'average' in recent games. 

Rory Nostradamus is going for a 2-1 away win.

COYI!!!

West Ham United: Fabiański, Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Masuaku, Rice ©, Souček, Bowen, Lanzini, Fornals, Antonio

Subs: Areola, Ashby, Alese, Noble, Král, Vlašić, Benrahma, Okoflex, Yarmolenko

 

Arsenal: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Ødegaard, Martinelli, Lacazette ©

Subs: Okonkwa, Holding, Maitland-Niles, Tavares, Lokonga, Elneny, Pepé, Smith Rowe, Nketiah

Trouble in the Bubble as Zagreb do a 'Masuaku'!

The original ' Masuaku'

It hasn't been an ideal start for the young Hammers side against Croatian legends Dinamo Zagreb as Orsic has fired in a Masuaku-style shot from the left wing to leave the kids playing catch up!

The ball sliced off Pablo Fornals ankle and looped over the helpless Areola. 

It's early days and yes, we have Arthur available on the bench to repeat his heroics of the weekend!

COYI!

Kids For A Quid Scheme Gets Out of Hand!

 

Back when Mr Gold and Sullivan took over at West Ham they promised affordable football for all the family. Apart from budget season ticket prices, the 'kids for a quid' scheme has also helped to fill our massive new stadium. 

Tonight that scheme moves to another level as the mighty Hammers field a starting XI of kids in their Europa League phase one finale. It's a big night for our U23s as no less than five of our starters are from the academy!

Fans will get to see what we've got in defence as the complete back four are all less than 21 years old. Fans have been hearing great stories about Baptiste, Ashby and Perkins and now at the happiest club in the league they get to strut their stuff on the European stage.

Let's hope that it doesn't go all Notts Forest out there but if they get into deep water Diop, Coufal and Masuaku are on the bench while Benrahma and Lanzini are available if we need some creativity.

Whatever happens, it's a proud night for the club to be able to deliver this spectacle!

West Ham: Areola, Longelo, Alese, Baptiste, Ashby, Fornals, Kral, Noble, Vlasic, Perkins, Yarmolenko.

Subs: Martin, Randolph, Coufal, Lanzini, Benrahma, Diop, Masuaku, Swyer, Forson, Potts.