Hugill scores!

Those who don't take notice of Championship results might have missed it, but the unthinkable has happened. Jordan Hugill has scored three times in recent weeks. Hugill is on loan at Middlesbrough and scored twice for the Teesiders against Reading, first dispatching a penalty and then scoring a fine second with some chest control and a thumping volley. And on Saturday he scored in an away win at Brentford for Tony Pulis' side. I've always felt a bit sorry for Hugill. He was a panic buy by (presumably) Sullivan and derided by the fans as a sign of the club's lack of ambition, then only given three very brief appearances as a sub by David Moyes. He was shipped out by Pellegrini without being given a chance. But he can clearly do a job at Championship level and just might be worth looking at again as a squad player after his loan season at Boro ends.

Should Pellegrini persevere with Antonio?

Michail Antonio's decline has been sad to see since a series of injuries saw him rushed back too soon and seemingly always one stretch away from another twang. Where is the player who was great in the last season at the Boleyn under Bilic and scored eight times in the first half of the 2016-17 season? 

I left the City game thinking he'd had a bad game, having missed West Ham's two best chances, but looking back at it he did some good work as well, finding Arnautovic for a good chance in the first half and then sending over a great cross that Arnie headed over in the second half. And there was no denying that he kept trying throughout. He's also created a couple of goals recently, chesting it down for Hernandez to score against Burnley and firing in a shot that rebounded to Anderson for the equaliser at Huddersfield. 

On the negative side, once Antonio scored regularly with his head but he seems to have stopped getting his headers in now. While there's also the debate about whether he will ever get back his full pace. Would a goal make all the difference? Had his effort that hit the post against City gone in he might have regained his confidence. Pellegrini clearly sees something in him, but if Palace come in with a bid in January he will have to decide if Antonio is simply lacking in confidence and worth persevering with.

Another pasting from City

West Ham 0 Man City 4

All the Overground trains are terminating at Hackney Wick, so as I’m supposed to be meeting daughter Lola at Stratford it’s onto the replacement bus service, which will surely only be a five-minute hop. But the bus turns out to be moving at less than walking pace and the driver won’t let anyone off. It’s a Kafka-esque stand-off as we move at glacial speed through the gridlocked dystopian roads of the Olympic Park. After some 35 minutes I arrive at the Best Café, just in time to miss my lunch and find Nigel, CQ and Matt discussing the Standard’s must-see play An Honourable Man.

Pellegrini has picked an odd team. He's playing Masuaku instead of Cresswell when we know that Arthur struggles defensively, and he has failed to bring Noble back into the midfield. Diangana has done well, but you do think it might be a bit much for the kid up against City.

The crowd noise is impressive for the first 20 minutes, but City very effectively dampen it by scoring twice. Masuaku lets Sterling get in a cross too easily and after a deflection from Arthur’s boot, Silva gets in front of Balbuena to flick it home. It’s two as Sane jinks past Zabaleta and crosses for Sterling to tap home. Again he’s reacted quicker than Masuaku. It seems City are going to score every ten minutes.

ANTONIO WOE

At least the Hammers make a spirited response. Antonio finds Arnautovic, whose goalbound effort is smothered by a combination of Ederson and a defender. Then Antonio gets behind the City defence only to fire straight at the keeper.

I tell Matt that we’re going to win 3-2. He replies that if we score three he will ride home on his unicorn. It’s game after on 34 minutes as City score a brilliant third. Fernandinho chips over our defence for Sterling to play it in first time to Sane. The German winger puts Balbuena and Fabianski on their backsides with a brilliant shimmy and calmly strokes home. We’re left wondering if playing for Paraguay has left the General jetlagged, as he’s looked poor today. “We’re not really here!” sing the City fans. And nor is our defence.

The thought occurs that maybe Moyes had a better idea of how to set up against City. Attacking them has proved pretty suicidal and Antonio and Diangana are not going to match Sane and Sterling.

CAN THEY PLAY US EVERY WEEK? 

The hapless Masuaku is hooked at half-time for Creswell. Only a double save from Fabianski prevents a fourth at the start of the second half. But the Irons show some character to get some attacks going and the crowd respond with rhythmic clapping and chants of, “West Ham’s claret and blue army”. Balbuena heads a corner just wide of the post. Arnautovic puts over a free header from a fine Antonio cross. And crucially, when Hernandez’ fine through ball releases Antonio, the West Ham man fires against the outside of the post.

The patience of the Vicar’s Son is tested by the performance of late sub Perez as he gives the ball away with seemingly every touch. “Perez!! What is the point?” declares the ecclesiastical boo boy.

Nigel and CQ retreat five minutes before then end, as Nigel has to go to Brussels to negotiate the Brexit deal and sign a couple of Belgian defenders. Arnie has to leave early too, nursing his sore knee.

“The second half hasn’t been too bad, I thought it was going to be a lot worse,” muses Scott in added time, just as Sane controls a cross to half-volley home for City’s fourth.

The only winner has been Michael, who has missed the game for theatrical duty at the White Bear. I retreat with Lola to Stratford International, which has no queue and gets us to Kings Cross in five minutes. 

So that’s 17 goals conceded at home to City in four games since we moved to the London Stadium. City look much better than anyone else in the division and we deserved a consolation at least, but even so you can’t defend like WHU did today.  The next eight games are crucial, as they are all against lower teams and should shape our season.

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 6; Zabaleta 5, Balbuena 4, Diop 5, Masuaku 3 (Cresswell 5); Obiang 4, Rice 6, Anderson 5 (Perez 4); Diangana 4 (Hernandez 5), Arnautovic 5, Antonio 5.

Literary Irons at LBC

Never have so many West Ham literati types been in one radio studio. Good fun in the LBC studios yesterday where I joined Brian Williams, author of Home From Home, and Robert Banks, author of An Irrational Hatred of Everything, for a podcast hosted by Hammers fan Iain Dale, the erstwhile publisher at Biteback and the man behind the West Ham Till I Die blog. An hour went by really quickly — and we hadn't even got on to Christian Dailly — before we retreated to the Garrick Arms to ponder all matters claret and blue and conclude that really we should be running the cub.

In praise of the General

Good to see that Fabian Balbuena recently made it into the Guardian's list of top ten underrated players in the Premiership. The piece has some revealing stats, including the fact that Balbuena is fourth in the Premier League for interceptions and third for clearances. While only Anderson in the West Ham side has made more passes. Fabian has also weighed in with a goal at Leicester and is forming an effective partnership with Issa Diop. 

The General always looks remarkably calm and seems able to take the ball off strikers in an almost casual manner. At £3.5 million he's certainly one of the bargains of the season. The Irons could still do with a younger right back and a better defensive left back than Arthur, but in Balbuena, Diop and Fabianski a strong central unit is starting to emerge. 

Diangana: playing without fear

Good interview with Grady Diangana in today's Guardian. Having left the Republic of Congo at four he grew up playing football in the parks of Woolwich and still seems to have an instinctive joy in the game. The lad also seems to play without fear and has a remarkably mature approach, telling Paul McInnes: "I haven't felt any pressure. I feel like I can go out there and express myself. Even if I make a mistake I don't beat myself up… I've only realised lately how much of the game is in the mind. " Click on the link to read the whole interview.

London Stadium capacity up to 66,000

Good news is that after considerable legal battles West Ham have settled out-of-court the unnecessary dispute with landlords E20 over the London Stadium's capacity. Capacity at home games will now go up to 60,000 and eventually 66,000 — though you wouldn't want to be one of the punters in Row 73. Relations seem to be thawing with the landlords, mainly because new LLDC chief executive Lyn Garner has a better relationship with Karren Brady and seems to realise that it's better to be helping rather than fighting your anchor tenant. We're even getting a new claret carpet, presumably once the sales are on in Romford Market. 

Harry's Game

Intriguing to see WHU's old gaffer Harry Redknapp dropped into the jungle on I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! After a lifetime dealing with agents, Harry found it pretty easy putting his hand in a box full of crabs and spiders to win a star. He was also pretty adept at rowing up a creek without a paddle, presumably something he learned at West Ham. Though 'Arry did look a little shocked at having to eat emu, which isn't as yet on the menu at Ken's Cafe.

Now Redknapp is on the way to being a national treasure we could do worse than put him in charge of the Brexit negotiations. This might involve a loan deal for Jean-Claude Juncker and Theresa May being offered to Luxembourg on a free. Perhaps his negotiating style will include throwing a plate of sandwiches at some Eurocrat's nut, as he once did at Don Hutchison for not tracking back in a game at Southampton. His talk of 'rickets' and being 'down to the bare bones' would surely bamboozle the EU and he might get a deal over the line on deadline day. And in a couple of years he'd have us back in Europe via the Inter-Toto. 

Is Graham wearing a West Ham badge?

Was Graham wearing a West Ham badge in last week's episode of Doctor Who? He's already been seen in a claret and blue scarf in the opening episode and the badge on his jacket in Demons of the Punjab was clearly claret and blue too — as befits an East End bus driver exiled to Sheffield. A worthy addition to the WHUniverse.

Boleyn in Dyer straits

My book Goodbye to Boleyn spotted at Foyles in Stratford Westfield. Bit worried it might pick up an injury being so close to Kieron Dyer's tome…

Arnie on his bike?

The papers have made a lot out of comments Marko Arnautovic has made in an Austrian newspaper saying that at 29 he wants to "compete with the best players". His agent and brother Daniel Arnautovic says that although Marko is enjoying West Ham, "it can not be the end". It would be a surprise if Arnie left this January, but less so if he left in the summer should a Champions League club come in for him. And really you can't blame him, since he was promised a club with a massive stadium challenging for the top six, but has ended up with two seasons of battling to stay up. 

Marko's departure from Stoke suggests he looks after his own interests first. With his record of assists and goals it's hard to begrudge him having some ambition. Though Mourinho might have gone from Man United by the summer, and he would be a risky signing for a new Old Trafford boss. Similarly would Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs, or Arsenal go for him with their current set of strikers? If the Hammers can have a good finish to the season we might yet hold on to Arnie. 

Farewell Joe Cole

Sad to hear of the retirement of Joe Cole. I was there when he came on the pitch as a kid and we were told, "you can tell your grandchildren you were there when Joe Cole signed for West Ham." He could never live up to such hype of course, but I do remember him playing his heart out during the relegation season of 2002-03 (and not asking for a transfer in the fashion of Defoe). Another highlight was his winner in the fantastic Di Canio-inspired 5-4 home win against Bradford. He was so skilful that at times he seemed to have too many tricks and needed to keep his game simpler, which he learned to do at Chelsea, winning two titles. 

When Joe returned to West Ham under Sam Allardyce he had lost his pace but still chipped in with some useful cameos and goals. While you had to admire his love of the game when he dropped down the leagues to Coventry and then signed for Tampa in the US. Cole, Ferdinand, Lampard and Carrick have all now retired and it's the end of the generation of England talent that West Ham sold. Let's hope we keep hold of the next crop of Academy youngsters. Good luck in your post-footie career Joe.

Is Nasri fit to wear the shirt?

Latest reports suggest that the proposed Samir Nasri transfer is stumbling over his fitness. He hasn't played for 18 months and presumably will take a long time to get back into condition. We're left wondering if he now weighs 20 stone and looks like some of the more rotund geezers in the Bobby Moore Stand. With Carroll and Wilshere in the squad you can understand why the board might not want another player who's not fully fit. But much will surely depend on the desire of the player himself. If he has the dedication to come back at the age of 31 then Nasri could yet be a quality player. There's no arguing with his ability, what Pellegrini has to quantify is his mindset.

Give 'em enough dope… Nasri to sign for Irons?

Why is it when you read the words "brilliant but temperamental" they usually apply to a West Ham signing? It seems the Irons are on the verge of signing Samir Nasri. The former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder has served an 18-month suspension for contravening doping regulations after receiving an iffy intravenous drip in LA. (Mind you we've had a few intravenous drips and several dopes at West Ham over the years.) Now it seems Nasri's punishment is to be extended by signing for the Hammers.

The important thing to remember is that on his day he's a brilliant player. Mancini wanted to punch him when he was at Man City, but Pellegrini got the best out of Nasri with a quieter approach and won the league with him. Perhaps he was just naive with the drip, but he's now served his time and won't do it again. On a six-month deal it's not that big a gamble and he can certainly play the Lanzini role. It seems we're back to the Redknapp days of taking chances on rejects, refuseniks, rebels and rehab cases. And if we're not going to challenge the top six at least signing mavericks makes it exciting.

For Faulks' sake, sort it out Hammers

You don't get many West Ham fans called Sebastian. Literary geezer Sebastian Faulks is revealed to be a West Ham fan in the Evening Standard magazine. The Birdsong author lists Bobby Moore as his most iconic Londoner, if being born in Barking counts as being a Londoner. When asked what he would do if he was Mayor for a day, Faulks replies: "I would move West Ham United back to the Boleyn Ground and donate the Olympic Stadium to Mr Farage, Mr Rees-Mogg and Mr Johnson to run round in circles until they dropped." 

Anderson saves point for Hammers

Huddersfield Town 1 West Ham United 1

A point away from home is not a disaster, though with £100 million spent West Ham would have hoped to gain a second successive victory against a side that were second from bottom. But it proves to be a difficult afternoon in Yorkshire, and it's certainly pretty tense getting updates on my mobile while dog-walking round a sodden Hampstead Heath.

West Ham have a poor first half. Both sides have chances early on as Fabianski tips Mounie's header on to the bar and a great ball from Diangana sends Arnautovic clear, only for Lossi to tip the ball round the post. Huddersfield's pressing gives the home side the lead after the Hammers lose possession and Pritchard fires home through Rice's legs, the defender apparently unsighting Fabianski. Town almost get a second as Billing's cross drifts on to a post and across the line, while Moiunie also forces a smart save from Fabianski.

Pellegrini beings on Hernandez for Diangana at the break and it's an improved second half from the Irons. Chicharito nearly scores immediately as Lossi smothers his effort and then Javier heads the rebound over the bar. The equaliser comes after a brilliant dummy from Anderson on the left and a reverse ball to Snodgrass. Snoddy stands up a good cross and Arnautovic, Hernandez and sub Antonio all have swipes at the ball before Anderson takes control to calmly shoot into the top corner. Three goals in two game for the Brazilian. 

Late on Diop has a header cleared off the line while Town nearly nick it as Durm shoots just wide and Depoitre fails to connect with an inviting cross. Probably a fair result overall, but we'll have to play a lot better against Man City. 

Blowing Bubbles in Paris

Thanks to my daughter Lola for spotting this soap at Lush in Paris. Seems like West Ham have a Parisian fan in the ethical cosmetics industry. Well, the goings on at the London Stadium have long resembled a soap opera…

Grady makes the grade: Diangana a real prospect

Grady Diangana had another excellent game against Burnley. The 20-year-old seems to have come from nowhere, but is now looking like a vital player following Yarmolenko's season-ending injury. Diangana has been involved in six successive first-team games since scoring twice against Macclesfield. 

He seems to play without fear, and when he came on against Spurs he was not afraid to run at international full-backs and even showboat at times. He gave Burnley's Lowton a torrid time on Saturday and was involved in two of the goals. 

Yes, he still looks a little naive at times off the ball, but he's quite a prospect. Defenders don't like playing against him and he even earned praise from Sean Dyche for staying on his feet after he was fouled in the box in for what should have been a penalty. The youngster enjoys playing with Anderson and Arnautovic and seems to believe he belongs alongside them. 

Grady might need resting at some stage, but he looks hungry and there's even a Declan Rice-style tug-of-war over his services, as he is eligible for both DR Congo and England. Credit to Pellegrini for not being afraid to play Grady. This gives hope to Powell, Coventry and all the other Academy youngsters. It's early days, but WHU do seem to have a player here.

Anderson brace sees off Burnley in six-goal thriller

West Ham 4 Burnley 2

It’s in to the Clyde Best Café with daughter Lola, Matt, Nigel and a tardy Michael, who revives memories of Ken’s Cafe by devouring a big breakfast at 2.30pm. We move on to the London Stadium via Matt’s lucky tower block route and find that mercifully we’re back among the usual season ticket holders rather than the Herberts from the Spurs game.

West Ham absolutely dominate the first half and have the perfect start. Tarkowski dawdles and underhits a backpass, allowing Arnautovic to slide home. Arnie then appears to taunt the hapless defender as he celebrates.

We worry about the Irons not getting the second as Burnley look bereft of confidence. A nice give and go with Anderson sees Arnie shoot and the returning Joe Hart save with his legs. Anderson curls a lovely effort towards the top corner to beat Hart, only to see Mee head acrobatically off the line. The Brazilian is looking a lot sharper today and importantly he has won the crowd over by doing some tackling back. Diangana dribbles into the box and is chopped by Defour in what should be a blatant penalty, only for referee East to ignore WHU appeals. 

With twenty seconds to go till the end of the half Burnley mount their first attack. Diop loses a header and Westwood threads a pass through Balbuena and Cresswell to Gudmundsson, who slides past Fabianski. A soft goal and typical West Ham, we muse. Fraser is tempted to order another pitch invasion against Burnley.

A TIMELY FELIPE

In a desperate move, Nigel produces his lucky soggy banana at half-time. The Hammers come out for the second half looking determined to right the injustice of not being ahead. Just as Nigel is telling his lucky anecdote about being snubbed by Brian May, the Hammers advance. Arnie finds Diangana, who is scythed down after playing a clever ball to Anderson. The referee plays a good advantage and Anderson advances to slide the ball through Hart’s legs. He goes down on to his knees for a quick prayer in front of the Bobby Moore Stand. Felipe needed that.

But this being West Ham we concede again as a corner finds Wood, who powers home an old-fashioned centre forward’s header. It’s bizarre that he’s being marked by Snodgrass when surely Rice, Diop or Balbuena should be on Burnley’s giant substitute. Two-two with 13 minutes left.

ALL ABOUT MEE

Pellegrini has bravely taken off Obiang to bring on Hernandez and the attacking trio of Arnie, Diangana and Anderson threaten whenever we advance; though conversely the Irons still look brittle at the back.

Another good move between Diangana and Arnie sees Anderson curl an effort on to the outside of the post when he should score. But the little Brazilian is not to be denied. Diangana and Arnautovic combine again and Anderson pokes in a shot off Mee’s leg after 86 minutes. “I feel sorry for Joe Hart, he looks like he’s going to cry,” says a compassionate Lola. It’s proving to be a cracking game.

Bizarrely Burnley then nearly make it 3-3 as Taylor’s cross finds Wood again, who heads on to the top of the bar. In a move that would have Big Sam choking on his pint of wine, the Hammers advance rather than try to kill the game. Snodgrass’s free kick finds Anderson on the edge of the box, who volleys with the side of his foot into Hart’s hands. Very nearly the goal of the season.

Anderson is enjoying himself now and plays a sweeping crossball to sub Antonio. Michail chests it down we into the path of Hernandez, who expertly dinks it over Hart and into the net to spark wild celebrations.

There’s an excited hubbub as we leave the London Stadium, and it’s been almost like the Ron Greenwood days of having a rubbish defence but still outscoring the opposition. It’s been an exhausting but exhilarating game, though we have to tighten up defensively. 

But it’s the big game we needed from Anderson and it’s a happy Hammer who leaves for a dinner party with DC, the ghost of Ken’s Café past. An important win, and it seems WHU fans are setting off fireworks all over London. Huddersfield up next and another chance to move up the league. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 6; Zabaleta 6, Diop 5, Balbuena 5, Cresswell 5; Obiang 6 (Hernandez 7), Rice 6, Snodgrass 7; Anderson 9, Arnautovic 8 (Ogbonna n/a), Diangana 8 (Antonio 6).

We need more from Anderson — but give him time

Manuel Pellegrini has been quizzed about the form of Felipe Anderson, and rightly so. For a £36 million signing (rising to £40 million) we needed someone who can both score goals and change games. But there's also a case for showing some patience with Anderson. As Manuel says, he's not the first foreign player to have difficulty adjusting to the Premier League. Statistically most foreign signings are usually better in their second season, argues the book Soccernomics. Anderson has shown real class in the games against Arsenal, Everton and Man United. But he's not done enough in the other matches and has infuriated everyone by taking a succession of poor corners and dead balls. 

Felipe certainly needs to learn to pay it simple when he's out of form. But we've not bought him for his tackling, so it seems pointless for haranguing him for not getting stuck in, as the bloke behind us does every match. Is he happy off the pitch and settled in London yet? Anderson has had his bedding in period, so let's hope the next ten games see an upturn. He's not lived up to his price tag so far — but we still need to give him a little more time. 

Defensive lapses send Spurs marching into next round of Carabao Cup

Perez pulls one back. Photo by Michael The Whovian

West Ham 1 Spurs 3 (Carabao Cup)

It’s a restrained four changes from Pellegrini, while Spurs field a number of reserves alongside the quality of Son, Alli and Eriksen. Our party is split due to tardy ticket booking, with Matt and Lisa several rows behind Fraser and myself and Michael some rows further forward delivering Shakespearian insults to himself. The laying of a wreath for the Leicester helicopter crash victims by Tony Cottee, David Gold and Ledley King is accompanied by a minute's silence.

The Hammers start quite well initially with Diangana causing problems on the right. His best moment sees Grady cut inside and loft in a cross that Hernandez tries to volley across goal to Antonio — perhaps he should have shot.

But it all goes wrong after 16 minutes. Ogbonna’s clearance goes to Llorente, and the centre back is then fooled by Alli’s clever flick as Son strikes confidently home. “Nice one Son!” chant the gleeful 4,800 Spurs fans.

For the rest of the half the Irons give it a go. Antonio, who is struggling for pace and touch but at least trying, has an effort deflected wide. Then he is played through by Masuaku’s fine through ball, but has his effort blocked by Gazzaniga. Diangana’s free kick finds Hernandez, only for Chicharito’s touch to let him down as he prods a tame effort at the keeper.

Snodgrass comes on for the disappointing Anderson at the break and it makes a difference. Antonio confuses the Spurs defence with a heavy touch, but still manages to force a save from the keeper.

Nine minutes into the second half the Hammers succumb to another defensive calamity as Arthur Masuaku misses his clearance and simply strokes the ball to Son who rounds Adrian to score.

Pellegrini takes off Hernandez and Obiang, which leaves us a little short in midfield, and throws on Perez and Arnautovic. Arnie immediately fires in a fizzing cross that is deflected behind for a corner.

FIGHT CLUB

Meanwhile the game is further marred by a fight behind us. A lairy bloke, who has been tirading in Tourette-ish fashion at Antonio and co for most of the game, appears to object when someone suggests that he get behind his team. The Herbert is being held back and is clearly out of control and full of aggression. A grey haired bloke ends up with a cut on his face as the cowardly thug threatens blokes twice his age. It takes an age for a single steward to arrive, who looks like a student. Eventually a second steward arrives and finally a team leader, but the miscreant only appears to be moved to a different seat rather than ejected.

There’s also a football match breaking out. A pinball session started by Arnie sees a series of shots blacked and saved. Suddenly the Hammers are back in it as Perez nods in Snoddy’s corner at the back post. It’s a good poacher’s goal, heading the ball down in to the ground and up over the keeper. “Come on you Irons!” echoes around the stadium and suddenly there’s a cracking atmosphere.

AND SOME PEOPLE ARE ON THE PITCH 

But as in politics, the idiots are taking over. A Herbert runs on to the pitch past non-existent stewarding to chants of “Are you Mark Noble?” from the away fans. Having helped deal with the pitch invader Ogbonna loses focus and allows Llorente to outmuscle him at the corner and volley home.

Game over, though there’s still time for Antonio to have a good case for a penalty after another dangerous Diangana cross causes panic in the box. “West Ham United — it’s happened again!” and “3-1 in your Cup Final!” chant the away fans. And another Herbert invades the pitch in added time.

So it’s off to the King Edward, which seems to be full of blokes in flat caps and quilted jackets and odd things going on in the gents. At least Michael, fresh from his Soft Cell venture can regale us with accounts of Tainted teddy bears, though it’s been mainly our defence that has been tainted tonight. I text Nigel to inform him that the Cup Final Breakfast in Kew has been postponed until May.

Looking at the stats we should have got something from this. Possession was 50-50 and WHU had 13 shots to Spurs’ six and 11 corners to Spurs’ three. But if you don’t defend well you don’t win matches.

It’s the return of Joe Hart next in the six-pointer against Burnley. We retreat to the tube predicting that Joe will surely have the game of his life on Saturday.

PLAYER RATINGS: Adrian 6; Fredericks 5, Diop 6, Ogbonna 4, Masuaku 4; Rice 7, Obiang 5 (Perez 6), Anderson 5 (Snodgrass 7); Diangana 6, Hernandez 5 (Arnautovic 6), Antonio 5.