The summer signings West Ham need

The transfer window opens on June 10 and as Moyes has hinted, some major work is needed in the transfer market this summer. Number one priority as we all know is a striker to take the weight off Antonio and Bowen, particularly now Yarmolenko has been released. 

Next up has to be a defensive midfielder to replace the departed Noble and Kral and take the pressure off Rice and Soucek. With Fabianski being 37 a goalkeeper also has to be a priority — and signing Areola permanently would solve that problem, though Nick Pope could be another option after his Banks-like save against WHU. A left-sided centre back is another priority as Ogbonna is 34 and recovering from serious injury. The Standard reports that Issa Diop might be sold to help fund this. 

The Irons also need a long-term successor to the 32-year-old Aaron Cresswell at left-back. On top of that a creative midfielder who can produce the unexpected is another requirement — Jesse Lingard would do nicely. So that's six players in total. Yarmolenko, Fredericks and Noble are off the wage bill to free up some funds and possible sales might include Diop, Vlasic and Masuaku. But it's going to take money from the board and some proper scouting from Rob Newman (but not David Baddiel). And please no deadline day fiascos, let's get some deals done quickly.

Player ratings: 2021-22

LUCASZ FABIANSKI: Apart from the clanger at Brighton another consistent season, though at 37 his time as number one is surely nearly over. 7/10

ALPHONSE AREOLA: Had a great game in the League Cup win against Man City. Solid in all the cups even if he occasionally struggled on crosses. 7/10

VLADIMIR COUFAL: Campaign disrupted by injury and a hernia operation. Hopefully will be back to his best next season. 6/10

BEN JOHNSON: Looked really impressive playing at both right and left back. Needs to improve his crossing but very solid defensively. 7/10

RYAN FREDERICKS: Likely to depart but a useful squad player who did well on the occasions he was called upon. 6/10

HARRISON ASHBEE: Got a few games at right-back and looked promising. Would benefit from a loan spell in the Championship. 6/10 

AARON CRESSWELL: Made his usual assists, but sometimes vulnerable defensively and his two red cards in the Europa League proved costly. 6/10

ARTHUR MASUAKU: Only a bit-part player but scored a Messi-like chip against Chelsea for which he'll always be remembered. Though a bit too honest in admitting it was a cross. 6/10

CRAIG DAWSON: Immense at the back even if he gave away a few penalties. Must perform the most blocks in the division. An absolute bargain for £2 million. 8/10

ANGELO OGBONNA: Was playing really well until his ACL injury cruelly ended his season. WHU missed his presence on the left side of defence. 7/10

KURT ZOUMA: A good buy and scored a fine goal against Liverpool. Looks a quality defender, but please no more cat-astrophies. Did show some character to play through the cat-calls. 7/10 (Cat care: 0/10)

ISSA DIOP: Embarrassed by Kidderminster but showed character to play well in the away win at Lyon. Needs to improve next season and match his early promise. 5/10

DECLAN RICE: Our best player, he stepped up a gear and added a turn of pace and a few goals to his game. Also shows great maturity as captain. We just need to keep hold of him. 9/10

TOMAS SOUCEK: Looked exhausted and clearly the demands of so many games proved too much for him. Scored a few important goals but not the player he was the previous season. 5/10

MARK NOBLE: Lost his pace but never let anyone down when asked to play and produced a fantastic through ball for Antonio away to Liverpool. His last home game will linger long in the memory. 6/10

ALEX KRAL: Despite being a Czech international Moyes never trusted him. Did OK in the League Cup win at Man United but his first half performance at Kidderminster saw Moyes lose faith in him completely. A mystery why WHU loaned him as a better signing could have taken the pressure off Soucek. 3/10

PABLO FORNALS: Started the season in great form but faded after Christmas. Played some great through balls at times and always worked immensely hard. Could have scored more than six goals though. 6/10 

SAID BENRAHMA: Found his scoring form, netting 11 goals. Inconsistent at times but can produce something different on his day. 7/10

MANUEL LANZINI: Won his place back, scored a belter at Man City, a lovely half-volley at Palace and some important penalties. Did an important and underrated job knitting the midfield together. 7/10

NIKOLA VLASIC: A big disappointment for £26 million. Did manage to score at Watford and at times looks strong holding up the ball, but not must else. Have to hope his second season is a big improvement. 4/10

MICHAIL ANTONIO: Did really well to stay fit all season. The goals declined after Christmas but started off the season on fire. Netted 13 times and always a handful for defenders, plus a great celebration with a cardboard cutout of himself against Leicester. 7/10

JARROD BOWEN: After always getting subbed the previous season he really proved he was a top PL striker with 18 goals and numerous assists, plus an England call-up and dates with Dani Dyer. 9/10

ANDRIY YARMOLENKO: Never the same player after his ACL injury, but scored two important and emotional goals against Villa and Sevilla. 7/10

SONNY PERKINS: Will have been delighted to get some game time and nearly score on his debut in the Europa League. 5/10

Jarrod Bowen's on fire for England

A worthy call up from England for Jarrod Bowen — even though the lad could do with a rest rather than more games. It's a testament to the work Bowen has done, running through potato fields at his uncle's farm in Herefordshire and pulling cement mixers, as you do. He came up via Hereford and Hull City, so  still has the hunger that David Moyes spotted when he signed him for what now seems a bargain at £22 million. The season before last he was effective, but the first player to be subbed. This season he's made himself undroppable and after missing several one-on-ones early on has kept getting into scoring positions and ended up with 18 goals in all competitions — and also scored on the dating front with Dani Dyer. Congratulations on your England call-up Jarrod.

Meanwhile Kurt Zouma has pleaded guilty to charges of animal cruelty and West Ham have had an inquiry about Jesse Lingard. Something tells me it's going to be a busy summer.

Irons blow chance of sixth place

Brighton 3 West Ham 1

It was always going to be tough to be playing our unlikely bogey team in the 56th game of a long season. But with Man United losing at Palace it all seemed to be set for West Ham to sneak into sixth spot after Antonio took advantage of a slip by Dunk and turned to fire a rocket into the top corner. 

But Graham Potter brought on Maupay at half-time and the re-jgged Brighton side quickly equalised as Veltman's shot crept under Fabianski, a rare ricket from the Hammers' keeper that changed the game. The second arrived after some nice football and a turn and powerful shot into the top corner from Gross — though Soucek could have been tighter. Mark Noble at least gets some minutes for his final match, but the third is scored in added time as Welbeck rises between Zouma and Dawson to score a too easy goal.

Moyes was rightly angry after the players' second half performance and this is yet further evidence that a much larger and better squad is needed. Fatigue undoubtedly played a part, though in the big picture it's still been a good season to finish seventh and make the Europa Conference. And while many wondered if we'd make it out of the group stages in the Europa League, it's been quite something to get to the semi-final. Even if the season has ended with two big disappointments.

This summer is vital for new signings with Noble, Yarmolenko, Kral and Fredericks leaving and a few others likely to follow. Rob Newman and David Moyes have to get this right if the club is to continue progressing. And now it's time for a rest after a relentless round of games. We're all going on a slightly budget European tour. Come on you Irons!

The miracle of Antonio's hamstrings

One of the biggest surprises of the season has been the fact that Antonio has stayed fit for most of it. It's a testament to the work the club has put in on his diet, training and lifestyle. Michail gave an informative interview to the Evening Standard recently, in which he revealed that eating more vegetables had resulted in fewer injuries. He used to eat what he wanted but now he's given up red meat in favour of chicken and fish and eats lots of vegetables. Michail says, "Veg is an alkaline and it helps to combat inflammation in the muscles." 

West Ham have also designed a gym routine tailored around his hamstrings, while Antonio himself realises that he is no longer "a young pup". A lot of incremental changes appear to have worked. Michail has appeared in 35 out of 37 league games so far, plus nine Europa League games and two FA Cup ties, plus several games for Jamaica. West Ham still need to sign another striker this summer to take some of the weight off Antonio, but even at 32 the new fitter Antonio should have a couple of seasons left at the top.

Noble point for Hammers against Champions elect

West Ham 2 Manchester City 2

The last home game of the season sees Matt, Lisa, Nigel and myself taking luncheon at the Best Cafe. The egg, chips and beans is good as is Matt's halloumi baguette, but as ever the ordering is a little confused and after receiving no toast or bread our group ends up with a year's supply of toast ready for next season. 

We arrive in plenty of time to get a programme and join Fraser and Michael in the stadium along with Scott and Joe, representing retiring West Ham legend Alison. Danny Dyer channels Ray Winstone's East End geezer voice in a video tribute to Mark Noble. We hold up our plastic flags to make a giant '16' in honour of Mark as the teams come out. The atmosphere is suitably raucous to mark Nobes' final home match.

City ping the ball about but early on but West Ham make two chances. Ederson has to tip away Bowen's dangerous cross and Dawson heads over from Fornals' cross. After that City dominate possession but apart from a Rodri shot deflected wide by Dawson City don't create that much against a disciplined back line. There's a good moment when the linesman goes down after running into Laporte and is greeted with a chant of "Are you Grealish in disguise?"

Antonio is causing problems with his strength and speed but it's clear that Anthony Taylor is giving him absolutely nothing. It's in the 24th minute that the title race is blown open. Fornals lobs it over the top and Bowen has got behind City's emergency centre back Fernandinho. He rounds Ederson and chips home from an acute angle to cause scenes of mass jubilation. Rarely can so many Scousers have been celebrating a West Ham goal. "West Ham are Massive!" point out the London Stadium fans.

JARROD BOWEN'S ON FIRE

Incredibly it's two just before the break as Soucek wins a header, Antonio does a delicate chip and Bowen is behind the back line again, this time shooting low through the legs of Fernandinho and past the unsighted Ederson. It's Jarrod's 18th goal of the season. The game is going so well that Nigel declines to eat his lucky banana at half-time.

It's a big test of City's title credentials and the second half sees them attack from the kick-off. The goal City needs comes four minutes into the half as a header reaches the edge of the box and Grealish fires into the ground and Craig Dawson, the ball deflecting over the helpless Fabianski. 

Fabianski has to save smartly from Bernardo Silva but even at 2-1 the Hammers still have chances. After uncertain defending Bowen wriggles through to fire into the side netting when he could have squared it to Rice. The crucial moment comes when Fernandinho plays a terrible back pass and Antonio is through — but Michail lobs it wide when he might have been better rounding the keeper.

Mystic Matt predicts that Fabianski will be booked for time-wasting seconds before he is. The seemingly inevitable equaliser comes when City win a dubious free kick on the left after the lightest of contact from Antonio on Laporte. Mahrez fires it in and Coufal gets it all wrong and glances a header into his own net. Vladimir takes a long time to get up off the turf. "We're not really here!" sing the away fans.

Mark Noble comes on for the last 15 minutes in an attempt to calm things down in midfield. Kevin de Bruyne gets a chorus of, "You're just a shit Mark Noble!"

City might have all the possession and Grealish is a constant threat, but the Irons nearly make it three with a great move. Antonio crosses from the left, Soucek nods it down and Bowen's volley is deflected just wide of the post.

Five minutes from time it seems City are going to complete their comeback. Anthony Taylor hasn't given it but VAR intervenes as Jesus goes down after a challenge from Dawson. Thankfully Mahrez takes the penalty rather than De Bruyne. It's a good height for Fabianski and he makes a fine save to resounding cheers. After a nervous four minutes of added time the Hammers hold on for a deserved point. 

As Wolves have only drawn it means the Irons are guaranteed European football for the second successive season based on their league position for the first time in the club's history. That's massive progress from being relegation contenders three seasons ago.

HE'S WEST HAM THROUGH AND THROUGH

It's now the Mark Noble Show. He gets the full treatment of three banners held up by balloons and a giant Noble shirt on the centre circle. Trevor Brooking makes a short speech and presents Nobes with a framed Number 16 shirt. Mark says he hopes he's done us proud and he has. Will there ever be a one-club player at West Ham again? He gets a little tearful as he accepts the love from 60,000 fans. 

After that the squad come on for a lap of honour. Declan Rice plays with the toddlers, Yarmolenko says goodbye and David Moyes comes over to give Fraser a wave. We then head to the Refreshment Rooms to discuss the season over Meantime and perfect our search for the perfect pub. A scouting trip to the Eagle in Leyton is the latest summer plan. Michael heads off early to the Barbican to see Mahler, whom we believe composed West Ham Are Massive. It's been a cracking game with a great atmosphere at the end of a long season and we are still in with a chance of sixth if WHU win at Brighton. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 8; Coufal 5, Dawson 7, Zouma 7, Cresswell 6; Rice 8, Soucek 8, Lanzini 6 (Noble 6, 10 for his career), Fornals 7 (Johnson n/a); Bowen 9, Antonio 7 (Yarmolenko n/a).

Canaries crushed in Hammers stroll

Norwich City 0 West Ham 4

Listened to this on my pal Nigel's car radio while driving up to the Lake District. Norwich proved a good opposition to meet after the disappointment of Frankfurt. The Irons took an early lead when Bowen found Benrahma, in acres of space, and Said sent in a shot that squirmed away from Tim Krul. It was two when another calamity befell Hanley and Krul, who both missed the ball leaving a grateful Antonio with a tap-in. It looks like being a Krul summer for Norwich.

It was three when Benrahma scored the best goal of the game, a belting shot after again being set up by Bowen. A brace will be good for Said's confidence — for all his sometimes erratic performances, he's still scored 11 goals this season and made several assists. The fourth came after the break as Lanzini stroked home a penalty after a handball. Credit to Craig Dawson for causing the panic at a corner.

So a very satisfying stroll in the sun for West Ham, getting our first away win in the league since New Year's Day at Palace. Minor injuries to Antonio, Benrahma and Dawson were the only blemish on the day. It all ended with a fans' demonstration, and for once it wan't by West Ham supporters, but Norwich fans fed up with Delia Smith's regime. Though this result does mean that Nigel and myself now have to take a lucky drive to Cockermouth for every away game and listen to it on the radio so as not to jinx the Irons. 

A marathon not a sprint

The players might be feeling tired and so are us fans. The price of success has been a lot of extra games. I've been to six extra Europa League home matches this season, plus an FA Cup tie against Leeds and a League Cup game against Man City, on top of 18 home league games. One more to go now, when we stop Man City winning the League. It's going to be a total of 27 home matches for me in all, plus an away trip for me to Arsenal. Two seasons ago we were fighting relegation — fixture congestion is a sign of progress, even if its been hard on my wallet!

West Ham's European dream is over

Eintracht Frankfurt 1 West Ham 0 (Europa League)

The power of the Blue Posts in Green Park is invoked for this one, as we saw West Ham win 3-0 at Lyon there. Nigel has his lucky Status Quo carrier bag, Michael and his pal Nick have a lucky pink flamingo bottle holder, while Lisa has her lucky half of Level Head. 

The atmosphere in Frankfurt is certainly intimidating with the home fans bouncing and letting off flares while waving great big black and white flags. 

West Ham start quite well forcing an early corner. But the tie is effectively over after 15 minutes when a quick through ball sees Cresswell out of position and exposed in a one-on-one. Aaron panics and puts his arms around Hauge, allowing him to go down. After an initial yellow card VAR gets involved and it's turned into a red. It's Cresswell's second red card in the Europa and he just can't keep giving referees decisions to make. Better to concede a goal than go down to ten men.

Ben Johnson replaces Lanzini to play at left-back, but while Ben is still feeling his way into the game an attack comes down his flank. With Johnson and Zouma drawn to the ball Knauff's low cross finds Borre, who has got behind Dawson, who strokes home.

It's game over effectively and we all expect the wurst, but at least the ten-man Hammers play with spirit. Shortly before the break Zouma chests Bowen's free kick towards goal but it's cleared off the line.

Frankfurt look rather nervous as the prospect of their first European final since 1980 comes closer. Antonio runs his heart out up front and does well to spin and cross for Dawson to head at the keeper. Another dangerous Antonio cross is parried by Trapp but falls for a defender to clear.

An angry David Moyes is then red carded after a contretemps with a ball boy to round off our evening. Areola tips over Toure's effort. Late on the Hammers make two more chances, Antonio firing at the keeper and Soucek heading just wide from a corner. So it's another formerly lucky pub then. 

It's all over and the Eintracht fans pour on to the pitch. The club is not dissimilar to West Ham, a big team with good supporters deprived of success, so congratulations to them. We lost it in the first minute of the first leg really. 

At least we don't have to look at train and plane timetables to Sevilla and wonder if there would be any chance at all of getting a ticket for the final against Rangers. As William Makepeace Thackeray once commented: "Ah! Vanitas vanitatum! Which of us is happy in this world? Which of us has his desire, or having it is satisfied?"

Still, no-one expected West Ham to get this far so the semi-final is a big achievement. Though had we strengthened in January it might have been so much better. Now the lads have to raise themselves for a tricky game at relegated Norwich. Let's win our final three games and get another tilt at Europe. It can still be a really memorable season. Come on you Irons!

Kicked up the Arsenal

West Ham 1 Arsenal 2

Arriving at Hackney Wick there's time for a quick coffee at the Milk Float barge with my pal Carolyn the Gooner followed by a walk to the stadium. Inside we're greeted by the shock news that Alison and Scott are retiring with Mark Noble to spend more time in Clacton. Fraser, Michael and Nigel make up our number, plus Lisa and Matt, fresh from a boutique hotel in Derby, an ice hockey match with a big bundle and evocative memories of Diego Tristan playing for WHU at Derby County. 

Michael is wearing an Orwell t-shirt declaring, "If liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear", which is possibly a tribute to Matt's relationship with Said Benrahma and Fraser's views on David Moyes.

Zouma makes one rousing run forward to raise the crowd but it's 33 minutes before either side has a shot on goal, as Rice gets forward to test Ramsdale. Though West Ham have competed well against an out-of-sorts Arsenal side. 

But resting Soucek and Antonio and the suspension of Dawson have left the side short of height, which proves costly. Bowen's loose ball leads to Fabianski tipping away Nketiah's shot for a corner. We've already given several corners away and this time Holding brushes aside Lanzini and gets ahead of Cresswell, playing as a centre back, to head home.

The response from West Ham is good. Ramsdale has to make a flying save to deny Rice's header from a corner. On 45 minutes a fine ball from Rice out to Coufal sees Bowen control Vladimir's pass and half-volley home via a deflection off Gabriel. That's Jarrod's tenth league goal of the season.

JEEPERS KEEPERS

A key moment of the second half comes when Ramsdale races from goal and appears to clatter Bowen with a reckless lunge. Mike Dean promptly books Bowen for diving to loud boos from the Irons fans. The TV evidence is inconclusive but Ramsdale may well have nicked Bowen and it's hard to blame Jarrod for trying to hurdle the onrushing keeper and a dangerous challenge. This should never have been a yellow card. 

Soon after Saka's low shot is saved for a corner. From the second phase Gabriel gets behind Fabianski to head home and celebrate in front of the away fans. Antonio and Soucek come on ten minutes too late, and West Ham make little headway beyond a blocked Fornals volley. With Coufal caught upfield Nketiah causes Zouma trouble on the break, firing wide and then forcing another Fabianski save.

Arsenal indulge in a lot of play-acting and time-wasting, culminating with Saka refusing to retreat at a free kick and a big handbags melee. The Gunners hang on and WHU's league season is fizzling out. We'd have got at least a point from this if Dawson had played, but as we all said in January, the squad is way too small. At least Gunner Carolyn has enjoyed her first away game and survived Matt and Michael's somewhat irate commentary on her team's gamesmanship. 

We head to a new pub the Sportsman which is reputedly quiet after matches. It isn't, as the punters sing "Tottenham get battered!" (they didn't today actually) and "You're fucking shit!". At least it has Camden Pale and Tribute. We're joined by The Gav and I mention that we were rubbish against Brentford before beating Lyon. Can the Irons make one final surge to do it on Thursday? It's unlikely but we live in hope. Whatever happens, WHU have to make several signings this summer.

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 7; Coufal 6, Cresswell 5, Zouma 6, Fredericks 5; Rice 8, Noble 6 (Soucek 5), Lanzini 6 (Antonio 5), Fornals 5, Benrahma 5 (Yarmolenko 5); Bowen 7.

Tony Carr and the Academy production line

Enjoyed reading Tony Carr's A Lifetime in Football at West Ham United. It contains interviews with Tony's Academy proteges Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steve Potts and Mark Noble, all with their own views on life at West Ham. We learn about Carr's youth growing up in the East End and playing football at Victoria Park, his early days in youth football coming up against the likes of Charlie George and then his apprenticeship at West Ham where he gets to train with Moore, Hurst and Peters and is awestruck to be offered a lift by the great Bobby Moore. 

After breaking a leg he never made it at West Ham and spent an unsuccessful season with Barnet. By that time his heart was set on coaching and he worked his way up via teaching at schools and eventually at West Ham where he learned a lot about seeing a picture of where you are going to play the ball before you receive it under Ron Greenwood. Some of the most fascinating material is on the players who had the ability but didn't make it; Lee Hodges apparently had all the skill but suffered a bad injury while Bertie Brayley, who had a very good non-league career, is another player Carr feels could have achieved more. Adam Newton and Izzy Iriekpen are two others who might have had better careers and Carr also regrets the premature sale of Chris Cohen. 

The sad note of the book is the way Carr was shuffled sideways and let go by West Ham after 43 years of service. He should surely still be with the club mentoring the youth coaches. This is a rewarding read for any West Ham fan with plenty of anecdotes about the various managers Tony has worked with.