Cat and Mouse as Liverpool await Hammers

Tonight's Carabou cup quarter final clash is truly intriguing as Liverpool and West ham seek a semi-final spot whilst both are looking towards huge games at the weekend.

Liverpool will face Arsenal in their ost important Premirship game so far this season but will be needing to be careful in team selection against a tricky Hammers side who taught Arsenal a lesson when the Gooners arrived with a less than full strength side in the last round.

However, David Moyes will want to keep as much back as possible for the visit of Man Utd on Saturday as ultimately those two sides look very likely to be in a dogfight for the 6th place spot when the seasons reaches its climax.

All of which makes for much speculation about the potential starting XIs for tonight. West ham have an abysmal record at Anfield but never the less pine for domestic cup success. 

Speaking with a Liverpool supporting friend i told him that Moyes intentions will be clear once we know if he is starting Zouma, Paqueta, Bowen and Kudus. If all four start then he means proper business. 

However, a big criticism of Moyes is his stubborn tactic of playing negatively against the top six - usually with disappointing results! If this Liverpool side has an achilles heal it is defensively. As such, it makes sense to play with an aggressive stance. 

One big positive is that whatever happens there will be no extra time as it is straight to penalties if the sides are level at full time. 

The worst case scenario for Moyes would be to field his strongest starting XI and lose on penalties.

The lineups ill be announced shortly.

COYI!!!

Both Craft and Grit behind Hammers Success

What a difference a week makes. After a dreadful 5-0 drubbing of our virus-ridden side by Fulham last weekend, Moyes' men bounced back with an impressive (and important) 2-0 win over Freiberg on Thursday followed by a clinical 3-0 thumping of Wolves this afternoon. We are 8th and looking nicely perched as we move into the Christmas fixturefest.

Wolves simply couldn't match the swashbuckling style of our front line, as Kudus was almost un-markable (and really hard to dispossess once he gets his feet on the ball). Paqueta is a magician - constantly dreaming up exotic ways to hurt the opposition, while throwing himself around midfield. Bowen is an incisive presence, with stunning accuracy both inside and outside the box!

While the floating front line of Bowen, Paqueta and Kudus has really found it's rhythm, there is also plenty of grit at the back as Zouma, Aguerd and Coufal are in top form. The recovery of form by Coufal has made a huge difference in both defence and attack. The Czech dynamo probably drifted into Julian Dicks territory at times today but you've got to admire the passion.

Meanwhile, Kudus and Paqueta are running a circus tricks sideshow to keep fans entertained, as Alvarez, Ward-Prowse and Soucek look after the housekeeping in front of the defence.

It would be wrong to overlook Lucasz Fabianski's excellent form, having come in to shore things up in Areola's absence - he made a number of key saves today that stopped Wolves gaining momentum.

Liverpool in midweek will be a tough encounter, with the prize a semi-final spot in the League cup. Man United come calling next Saturday and no doubt Moyes will fancy our chances against his former employer. 

Even Roy Keane reckons West ham can bag a European slot this year.....

It's a veritable smorgasmoboard of entertainment just now!

COYI!!!

Exciting clash awaits humbled Hammers

It's another night of European action at the London stadium as in-form Freiberg come looking to topple the Hammers off the top of their Europa League group table.

The game is certainly no dead-rubber as the winners will avoid a tricky play off against one of the sides dropping into the Europa League from the Champions League.

That would certainly add to what is already a congested fixture programme - but with the likes of AC Milan, Benfica, Galatassaray and Feyenoord in the draw, getting a result is a priority.

The Hammers only need a draw as they overcame Frieberg in Germany, but after a 5-0 humbling at Fulham at the weekend, they need to up their game against a Freiberg side that are on a three game winning streak. 

Sitting in 8th in the Bundesligo, with the Hammers mid-table in the Premiershio, both sides will want to maintain their challenge in Europe.

It's a strong starting XI, with just Zouma missing from Moyes' best starting XI. 

West Ham United: Fabiański, Coufal, Mavropanos, Aguerd, Emerson, Álvarez, Ward-Prowse, Souček, Kudus, Paquetá, Bowen

Subs: Areola (GK), Johnson, Kehrer, Cresswell, Zouma, Ogbonna, Coventry, Fornals, Benrahma, Cornet, Mubama, Ings

Player analysis: West ham vs Backa Topola

It was a tough night in Serbia, but the Hammers came away with an important win to keep them in pole position to win their Europa League group. 

Tomas Soucek again underlined his importance in the side, creating chaos at set pieces and popping up in the role that had been given to Declan Rice last year to seize the winning goal.

Soucek is not always pretty to the eye, but he has a knack of scoring goals when it counts. At times ugly, but effective. Every top side needs one.

Ben Johnson had a great game and was probably our MOTM. Strong in defence, he was cheeky coming forward - like the kid who shot out of our youth set up 3 years ago. He earned a series of corners going forward despite a pretty predictable partnership with Fornals down the right wing.

Benrahma and Fornals did their usual thing - capable but not potent.

Mubama struggled up front alone and his lack of awareness as a target man showed. Lots to learn, hopefully at West ham, but he needs time to develop his positional awareness.

Cornet looked lacking in confidence and persistently turned in instead of testing their right backs speed. We've never seen the real Maxwell Cornet.

Mavropanos was slick in possession and solid against a lightweight attack. The jury remains out as to whether he can really cut it in the Premiership cauldron but he has plenty of potential.

Cresswell is coming to the end of a great career but the lack of game time was evident. With Ward Prowse on set piece duty his star is fading.

Danny Ings needs to drop down a level to a club that plays two up front - a rare beast in modern football.

We move on, it's a harsh wheel that keeps on spinning.

COYI!!

Soucek steals it at the death

Poor Backa Topola! The plucky Serbs had worked their socks off for a result and in all fairness deserved at least a draw.

But just before the 90 minute mark Tomas Soucek stole into the box and thumped in a crucial goal to snatch an ill-deserved win for Moyes' men.

Football can be so cruel at times.

On to Sunday and the visit of Palace. Let's hope Bowen et al are fit in time for an encounter that will require a much better performance from an out of sorts Hammers.

That said, four wins on the trot!

Impotent Irons lurch towards play offs

It's all gone very drab out in Serbia as the hapless Hammers have failed to impose their tactics on the game and allowed a determined Topola to coast along with hardly a save for their keeper to make.

Moyes has brought on fresh 'firepower' in Ings (no goals this season to date) and Cornet ( who has never scored for West ham).

Backa will see a result as their finest European achievement and look the more likely to snatch a win than the Hammers.

It's looking like the scenic route for Moyes men where if they don't beat Freiberg will have a two-leg knockout with a side dropping from the Champions league.

On the plus side, it would make for a cracking finale to the group in a fortnight.

Hmmmm 

Hammers making hard work of Topola in Serbia

 

It's been an intriguing first half - with high intensity cheered on by a typically passionate home crowd in Serbia. 

Backa have been impressive, with plenty of energy and neat interpassing, while the Hammers are also moving the ball quickly but without any clear openings so far. 

Johnson has made a number of key blocks and tackles to keep the Serbs at bay. Up front Mubama has looked an isolated figure, trying to live off long ball scraps.

Benrahma is doing his usual 'almost' act out on the left, while Paqueta and Ward Prowse have been busily probing through the centre.

Aaron Cresswell had an almost howler with a misplaced pass across the back on the half hour mark as Backa have looked hungry but Fabianski saved the day, albeit after an initial fumble.

All to play for in the second half, but with Freiberg an impressive 4-0 up at home to Olympiacos, Moyes men will need to uo their game if they want to top the group.

COYI!!!