Time to focus - the business end of the season has truly begun

It's been a drab January at West ham, with an annoying cup exit to Bristol city, injuries and Afcon absences and an underwhelming transfer window.

The drawn games against Sheff Utd and Bournemouth have taken the energy out of Moyes' mens push for a European spot, while the continued absences of Paqueta and Antonio have left us sonewhat blunt up top.

That said, a win today at Ye Olde Trafford would raise the spirits and kick start our stuttering season.  The good news is that Coufal and Aguerd are back in the starting XI, while Alvarez and Bowen will be sharper as they recover from recent niggles.

Man Utd are also moving back towards their strongest side and will be buoyed by their win over Wolves. 

Let's hope Moyes doesn't go all cagey - a rarely successful strategy against the bigger clubs but one he seems to rigidly follow. This Man Utd side is certainly vulnerable if you attack them.

Anyone for a 2-2 draw? Moyes' men rarely fail to score these days but are not as tight at the back as they could be. Interestingly, Pablo Fornals is quoted at 11/2 to score by the bookies!!!

West Ham United: Areola, Coufal, Johnson, Zouma ©, Aguerd, Emerson, Álvarez, Souček, Ward-Prowse, Kudus, Bowen

Subs: Fabiański (GK), Mavropanos, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Scarles, Phillips, Cornet, Ings, Mubama

Hammers dig deep as absences bite hard

It's pretty thin in the West ham dressing room right now with Kudus and Aguerd at the AFCON and Alvarez, Paqueta and Antonio injured. Said Benrahma starts his 3 match ban leaving a patched together side to face the Blades up in Sheffield.

Yes, it's still a grudge match and both sides really needs points just now, albeit for very different reasons with the Hammers perched to attack the European slots, while Sheff United are rock bottom of the league.

All in all the availability of Bowen and Fornals is a plus but there are no gamechangers on the bench which contains a host of youngsters. 

It'll be a testy clash for sure and conditions will surely add to the mix. It might be more heavy metal than ballet out there today but hopefully the Hammers can find that extra moment of class.

COYI!!!

WEST HAM: Areola, Coufal, Mavropanos, Zouma, Emerson Palmieri, Ward-Prowse, Soucek, Cornet,  Fornals, Ings, Bowen

Ouch! Moyes starting XI signals serious intentions

There can be no doubting that David Moyes plans to make swift progress in the FA cup as he has fielded his strongest available XI for today's third roud clash with Bristol City!

In come Zouma, Paqueta and Coufal with al the usual big game starters. Perhaps Moyes was bruised by the Carabou cup thrashing at Liverpool, or maybe with a break looming he wants his players to have some fun?

Yes, the forbidden 'F' word....fun, fun, fun.

Let's do this

COYI!!!

West Ham: Fabiański, Coufal, Zouma ©, Mavropanos, Emerson, Álvarez, Souček, Ward-Prowse, Paqueta, Fornals, Bowen

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

Let's keep the happy holiday spirit going

It's FA cup time as Championship mid-tablers Bristol City visit the London Stadium hoping to deliver an upset against high flying West Ham. 

The Hammers are depleted with Aguerd and Kudus on International duty, and both Zouma and Paqueta due to have fitness tests before the team is announced. 

David Moyes will want to avoid a defeat or a replay to allow for a much-needed fortnight's rest before our next Premiership clash with Sheffield United. After an excellent Christmas period with wins over Man Utd and Arsenal, and no goals conceded for four consecutive games, it's a tall order for Bristil City today, but the Cup is the cup, and usual bets are often put aside in what remains a fantastic competition.

Today's game could provide a farewell appearance for Said Benrahma who is rumoured to be Fulham bound in the transfer window.

Divin Mubama will be hoping for a rare start and a chance to lay stake to a key place in Moyes plans as Danny Ings may also be on his way out of the club leaving a sizeable gap at centre forward with Michail Antonio struggling for fitness (and form). 

Kick off is 2pm. Verywestham will be watching from The Inn Place in Puerto Del Carmen - a fine Hammers hostelry for vacationing Irons. It also features an impressive display of Hammers memorabilia throughout the bar.

The bookies have West ham at 4/11 on to win, 3/1 the draw and 6/1 for a Robins win.

COYI!!!

Has Moyes finally ditched the 'boring' tag?

It has certainly been an emotional December at West ham! Kicking off with a dull and disappointing draw at home to Palace, followed by an amusing win away to Spurs, Motes men headed to Craven cottage in expectation. The 5-0 horror show was unexpected but in part due to a viral illness running through the squad. 

But Moyes' sides never lie down and bounced vack with impressive wins over Wolves and Freiberg, the latter booking a Europa quarter final place and ensuring further European frolics well into the New year.

A Carabao cup quarter final came up next - Moyes was left with a tough dilemma as although the other 3 semi finalists were hardly terrifying, his overstretched squad looked tired. He decided to give tge fringe players their chance and they fluffed it with an embarrassing 5-1 thumping. Disappointing to concede so many, but the performance was simply appauling.

Suddenly Moyes was under pressure - the doubters felt that a European trophy and top half football was not adequate to justify a new contract. Moyes needed his troops to rally around hime and they truly delivered with back to back victories over Man Utd and, remarkably, a super-rare win away to the Gooners!

The latter result was all the more impressive given the absences of Zouma and Aguerd, with Paqueta only making it through the first quarter before limping off. Put simply, the system worked despite reduced personnel.

If the pattern continues we can expect a mauling by Brighton but who knows what the Hammers will throw up next? 

It's certainly not boring!

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!!!

Moyes has eyes on Saturday as weakened team starts at Anfield

As the teamsheets have been revealed it's clear that David Moyes views Saturdays clash with Man Utd as the 'big un' of this week.

With Zouma, Ward-Prowse and Paqueta all benched, it's clear he feels a win at the weekend is the priority.

That said, Fornals and Benrahma will relish the start and have lots to prove as clubs are perched ahead of the January transfer window - with one rumour that Barcelona are looking at the Spaniard.

A CB pairing of Ogbonna and Mavropanos doesn't instill total confidence but with Soucek and Alvarez in front of them that will hopefully add some solidity.

Otherwise, it's pretty clear that Moyes is planning a smash n grab raid with a small but pacy front line. Let's pray to the Gods of Football for turnover ball!

Thilo Kehrer will be disappointed to start from the bench. 

Liverpool start without Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Diaz. 

Hmmmm.

COYI!!!

West Ham United: Areola, Coufal, Mavropanos, Ogbonna ©, Johnson, Álvarez, Souček, Fornals, Kudus, Benrahma, Bowen 

Subs: Fabiański (GK), Zouma, Kehrer, Cresswell, Emerson, Ward-Prowse, Paquetá, Ings, Mubama