West Ham need Anderson on the pitch

It's mystifying why Manuel Pellegrini keeps substituting Felipe Anderson. Felipe was hooked at half-time at Everton and subbed after 66 minutes against Sheffield United. Yes, he's struggled a little this season, but he's still our most creative player. 

There was one great moment against Sheffield where he won a tackle on the halfway line, surged forwards, exchanged passes with Yarmolenko and then shot against the goalkeeper's legs. The finish wasn't there, but at some point he'll go on a goalscoring run like last season. 

Anderson is more likely to produce than Lanzini or Fornals at the moment and I'd like to see him given a full 90 minutes every week so that he change games against tiring defences. Flair players aren't normally brilliant for 90 minutes, but they can produce the magic that turns one point into three.

More like a football stadium?

It seems the squared-off ends at the London Stadium will be ready for next season. It would mean 300 fans at each end might not be covered by the roof, but singing in  the rain is surely a price worth paying for something that feels more like a proper stadium. This could make a big difference to the atmosphere. The minutes of the Official Supporters Board October meeting reveal the following:

Bobby Moore and Sir Trevor Brooking Lower Tier seating configuration, KB says good progress has been made in partnership with E20. The work is currently out to tender and on track to be installed over Summer 2020 and therefore the new stands should be installed for next season. The plans show that after the installation the new distances between the stand and the pitch will be very similar to the area behind the goals at the Emirates and much closer than Wembley. 7 KB explained that there would be about 300 seats (of about 3,600 each end, Bobby Moore and Sir Trevor Brooking stands) where the seats would not be covered by the roof and that all season ticket holders in the stand will be offered the closest like-for-like seat but if their seat was now not covered by the roof and they wanted to move they will have the opportunity to relocate. General view of OSB members was that they expected all seats including wet ones to be popular. KB said the SAG had a concern that fans in uncovered area may move when game is on if it rains and therefore a proper management plan will be in place and 300 supporters moving during a match would cause issues. KB says the Club expects the seats near the front to be highly desirable. The meeting agreed. KB says she and PC have spoken to companies who have submitted tenders and the new stands should feel more permanent and an enhancement of what is there now.

Snoddy shines in Sheffield stalemate

West Ham 1 Sheffield United 1

Pre-match it's luncheon at the Best Cafe where Matt and Lisa have been told that the ciabatta is off because it's far too north London. Then it's on to the London Stadium where we find CQ and Nigel munching a lucky beef pastie, plus a besuited Fraser, Scott and Joe. Alison is at home nursing a migraine induced by trying to find a formation to get the best out of Haller and Michael the Playwright is away at the White Bear gladhanding thespians and politicos.

Pellegrini has made five changes after the defeat at Everton and it's good to see Snodgrass in the side, as suggested by a certain blog. For the first half an hour it's relentless West Ham probing with countless crosses and corners finding the heads of United's three centre backs, plus the odd chant of, "there's only one Carlos Tevez!" West Ham's best effort is a long-range curler from Anderson that goes just over. 

Then Sheffield start to threaten on the break. From United's first corner Roberto has to make a great instinctive save to deny the unmarked McGoldrick. Then a cross is missed by the keeper and deflects off Robinson's shoulder when he might have scored with his head. 

IN SNOD WE TRUST
Just as Mystic May announces 'We just need to get to half-time," West Ham score. Roberto's punt downfield is misheaded by a defender; Yarmolenko plays a great first-time pass through to the onrushing Snodgrass who calmly slots it past Henderson. It's a nice moment for Snoddy who has added some energy to the West Ham midfield and deserves his chance.

Nigel's not-so-lucky banana

The second half sees West Ham start slowly, despite Nigel producing his lucky banana, unlike United who sense they can get something. Roberto has to parry a Baldock shot that is then painfully cleared off the line by Cresswell's goolies. West Ham come to life as Anderson does well to win a tackle on the halfway line, surge down the left, take Yarmolenjo's return pass and then fire straight at the keeper. 

Baldock shanks a good chance wide, and then Pellegrini makes the strange decision to sub Anderson after 66 minutes. He might be struggling a little but he's still our best player and always likely to produce the magic that might win the points in an otherwise even game.

OF MOUSSET AND MEN
United equalise three minutes later, when Diop's header falls to Mousset, who volleys into the corner. He might have slightly mishit his shot, but it's enough to deceive Roberto. The United fans start to sing of chip butties and dream about three points.

But it's the Hammers who have the chances to win the game, inspired by a loud (for the London Stadium) home crowd. Yarmolenko's clever dink finds Cresswell in the six-yard box only for Cressy to shoot at the keeper's legs. The Vicar's Son's patience is being tested, particularly when sub Fornals plays a great bell across the area. Yarmolenko misses it but Snodgrass appears certain to score until he somehow strikes the post.

DRAWING DRAWING WEST HAM
There's still time for Rice to test the keeper and Yarmy to shoot just wide but it ends in a draw. If nothing else it's been an entertaining game. Noble has looked like he's playing too far forward before being subbed, while Yarmolenko had a strange game. He didn't seem to play well, yet made the goal and created two good chances. Overall, having ten corners without creating a chance is not good enough. Zabaleta and Balbuena did well on their return to the side, but it's still two points from 12 and a win is now essential against Newcastle. 

After the match Fraser leads us on a 'short cut' via Stratford International and Westfield to the station, and it's off to Oval and the White Bear for a post-match pint of Neck Oil and a beetroot and chickpea burger for hipster Matt. At least Michael's play Maggie and Ted credits West Ham with winning the World Cup. 

So it's ten league games in and we're where we deserve on current from — mid-table. West Ham are still some way behind the likes of Leicester, though Sheffield United was never the easy game some thought. United were well-organised, spirited and full of confidence after winning promotion. A draw is not a disaster, but WHU need some wins and to get Anderson and co creating chances for the isolated Haller. Pellegrini has work to do.

PLAYER RATINGS: Roberto 7; Zabaleta 6, Diop 6, Balbuena 6; Cresswell 6;  Snodgrass 7 (Ajeti n/a), Rice 6, Noble 5 (Fornals 6), Anderson 6 (Lanzini 5); Yarmolenko 6, Haller 5. 

Should Pellegrini make changes for Sheffield United?

After two defeats there's some debate about whether Pellegrini should make changes. Fornals is still struggling with the pace of the Premier League — though the fact he had a couple of efforts at goal at Everton was encouraging — while Anderson and Lanzini didn't create much at Everton, with Felipe subbed at half-time. Anderson has looked much better defensively this season, though perhaps it has been at the expense of his forward play. But my feeling is that if either Felipe or Manuel get a goal then they might go on a goalscoring run. What they should be doing is shooting more though, at the moment West Ham's pretty passes are too predictable and lack variation.

Yarmolenko needs to come back in to provide some beef and shooting ability to the front line while there's also a case for giving Snodgrass some game time. If nothing else Snoddy can take a great corner. He can also whip in a cross which might provide something for Haller to get on the end of. Wilshere still looks like a bench player to me, best used to cause some damage with his passing late on in games. If it's not going well, Pellegrini needs to give substitute Ajeti a run-out in support of Haller so we can gauge how good he is.

We also need Mark Noble to stop predicting that West Ham can challenge for the top four in his Evening Standard column... Pellegrini's team selection for Saturday should be interesting against a promoted side that is bang in form.

Hammers well-beaten at Everton

Everton 2 West Ham 0

West Ham up against a team desperate for a win — what could possibly go wrong? Watched this one at Mabel's Tavern near Euston with a party-bound Fraser. Roberto has to make a decent early save from Tom Davies, which sets the pace of the game. Everton take the lead after Bernard bamboozles Masuaku and Rice and then nicks the ball past Roberto at his near post. A goal that should have been stopped by three players. Richarlison hits the post and West Ham's only first-half chance is a header from Fornals.

The appearance of Yarmolenko at half-time (though taking off Anderson was a strange call) looks like it might improve the Hammers as he crosses for Fornals to miscue his shot. But Everton always threaten with Roberto having a very good second half, denying Iwobi and then a Diop deflection. West Ham almost score from a late corner as Ogbonna's shot is deflected by Pickford's chest. But it's all over when sub Sigurdsson ends his drought with a screamer into the top corner.

The Irons's lightweight midfield looked second best all afternoon and Haller barely got any service up front. We have to do better against Sheffield United.

Another brick in the wall

There's a rather touching piece on the BBC website about West Ham fan Jonjo Heuerman, who has 1000 commemorative bricks in his back garden. They were all salvaged from the now-demolished Bobby Moore Stand. The bricks were paid for by Hammers' fans and have the names of their sponsors engraved on them. 

Jonjo, who has previously raised £350k for the Bobby Moore Fund, was looking for items from the Boleyn Ground to auction for charity when the builders, all Arsenal fans, offered to give him the commemorative bricks rather than throw them in a skip. He is now trying to reunite the bricks with their owners and has had much success, including reuniting Jim Fitzpatrick MP with his brick. 

You do wonder if in a hundred years' time fans might be as eager for bits of the London Stadium when it is demolished in favour of a new stadium on Mars. Perhaps I should put my great grandchildren down for a square of claret carpet…

A better weekend for ex-Hammers and loan stars

West Ham might have lost to Palace but the weekend was better for some of our loanees and ex-players. Grady Diangana scored for top-of-the Championship West Brom in the 4-2 victory against Cardiff; Jordan Hugill (remember him?) scored his sixth goal of the season for QPR in their 4-2 win against Blackburn; and "divine ponytail" Andy Carroll came on as a sub for Newcastle against Man United to unsettle the Mancs' defence in the Toon's 1-0 win. 

VAR nicks it for Palace

The sad sight of the Boleyn Ground as flats

West Ham 1 Crystal Palace 2

It's off to the Newham Bookshop at lunchtime for an interview on the history of the shop for a local community project. It's certainly sad to see the old Boleyn Ground now blocks of grey Barratt homes. But Vivian and the Newham Bookshop are still thriving, so much so that all the copies of Goodbye To Boleyn have sold out. 

I'm able to reminisce with interviewers Tanya and Rosa about book signings at the shop, Danny Dyer, Gilda O'Neil, Cass Pennant, Clyde Best, Benjamin Zephaniah and much more.

Then it's back to Stratford and the Best Cafe for an early panini, where Matt, Michael and a tardy Nigel wonder if Spurs are too good to go down. Inside the London Stadium we find my daughter Lola recovering from a late night, the venerable Fraser, Scott and Molly, but no Alison, who is at home in middle-class Clacton studying the Benn Act.

The atmosphere is certainly better at a 5.30pm kick-off as most fans appear to have had a drink or two and after three years the London Stadium is starting to feel a bit more more like a home, even if the first half is poor. As with all Roy Hodgson sides, Palace are well-organised and difficult to break down, with Cahill outstanding at the back all game. 

HALLER OF FAME
The first real action comes after half an hour as Yarmolenko's low cross finds Haller who fires straight at Guaita. Anderson completely miscues an inviting volley, and then heads into the keeper's arms while Lanzini sends a shot wide. At the other end Zaha causes problems in the box, and Schlupp's effort is cleared off the line by Fredericks. Roberto also has to make a decent stop from a long range McArthur effort.

Haller scores for the Hammers

The Hammers step it up after the break. From a free kick Ogbonna scoops over following Haller's intelligent header across goal. The breakthrough comes with a lovely 13-pass move from West Ham. Rice, Noble and Anderson play some great one-twos, with Anderson adding a nutmeg, before the ball is patiently shifted across the pitch to find Fredericks on the right. 

Enter Mystic Matt with a cry of "Fredericks won't know what to do with it…" Ryan immediately plays in a fine low cross that Haller prods into the net. Sebastien runs to the corner as the London Stadium erupts and it appears to be game won with West Ham moving up to third.

THE HAND OF DEC
But the game is changed by a Palace penalty. Declan Rice jumps with his arm in the air and touches Kouyate's cross. Van Aanholt duly converts the penalty to send the Palace Ultras into delirium. We often forget that Declan is a young player, and he will learn from this mistake, not that he could have done much to get out of the way.

There are 27 minutes left and both sides threaten, with Zaha a constant menace on the break. Cresswell goes off with an injury, which is worrying, and the game looks to be heading towards a draw. But on 87 minutes Fredericks concedes a free-kick by fouling Zaha on the edge of the box. From the second phase Townsend crosses, Kelly heads down and the unmarked Ayew sweeps the ball into the net only for referee Michael Oliver to disallow it. But wait, there's a seemingly never-ending VAR review as the officials decide that Kelly and Ayew was played onside by Anderson's toe. 

AYEW SURE ABOUT THIS?
Diop heads over when well-placed in added time but Palace hold on for victory. West Ham surely deserved at least a point from this as Palace only really had one chance in the second half which they scored from, plus a penalty resulting from Rice's handball. It's the end of WHU's six-game unbeaten run, but we'll perform worse and get points. It's also been significant that Yarmolenko was subdued by a fine performance from Van Aanholt.

After the game we meet Lola's friend Michael and head to the Refreshment Rooms, which are closed just to sum up our day. So it's on to the Stratford Theatre Bar where Matt, Fraser and Michael have befriended a south London-based lone drinker and Matt is doing a Sober October which involves drinking red wine in the style of Malcolm Allison rather than his usual beer. Lola and pal Katie prepare for a fancy dress party of Essex folk in Stratford opting for a cutlass and eye patch costume, which is quite apt after Palace's piracy at the London Stadium. 

At least Roberto looked competent. So it's a two-week break and a chance to regroup. Perhaps the Champions League will have to wait...

PLAYER RATINGS: Roberto 6; Fredericks 6, Diop 6, Ogbonna 6, Cresswell 6 (Zabaleta 5); Anderson 7, Rice 5, Noble 6, Lanzini 5 (Fornals 5); Haller 6, Yarmolenko 5 (Wilshere 5).

A Noble move forward

Tweaking Mark Noble's position might just prove to be a masterstroke from Pellegrini. Nobes has been one of our best players this season and he's proving just what a good footballer he is (note the quick ball in to Anderson for Yarmolenko's goal against United for an example of his football intelligence) now he's closer to the front four. 

It's good management from Manuel, as it puts less pressure on Noble to run back. He's looking more like the forward-thinking midfielder who came into side against Crewe when he was just 16 (and was better than Roy Keane). Of course, it puts a lot more pressure on Declan Rice as the only holding midfielder, but while West Ham are attacking with such fluency it seems to be working.

Embark at Seven-Two Sisters station for Tottenham...

Just been sent this on WhatsApp… Poor old Spurs! It wasn't as if they were facing a quality team like FC Astra...