Quite a few fans picked up on the way Lucas Paqueta celebrated Danny Ings' second goal against Nottingham Forest, arms outstretched, as if he'd scored himself. Paqueta had done really well to flick the ball over a defender, outmuscle a challenge and find Benrahma, whose run and cross set up Ings. Was that the moment Paqueta showed that he had adapted to the physicality of the Premier League? Lucas had his best game in a West Ham shirt on Saturday. He was unlucky not to score but more importantly dominated the game, being involved in just about everything in midfield. With Rice disciplined in the holding role and Soucek more advanced the central midfield trio all had good games. It's been a long time coming but finally Paqueta's starting to look like the player WHU paid £51 million for.
Tuesday, February 28
Sunday, February 26
Ings can only get better!
On the way to the match Nigel has succumbed to some Moyes kidology, bemoaning the fact that the gaffer has said Danny Ings is, "not ready to start a game for three, four, five weeks." Yet at 2pm the news comes through that Ings is starting and Paqueta is back. Moyes has picked the side most fans wanted, reverting to a flat-back four with Benrahma restored on the left and Ben Johnson, rather surprisingly, replacing Emerson, who has been playing quite well.
Perhaps anticipating another drubbing Michael has bought a pharmacy bag of medication with him, while Matt is chastened to discover that his yellow hoodie is the same as Forest's away kit. There's a tribute to the great Bobby Moore who died 30 years ago this weekend before the kick-off and surprisingly, the Hammers start with great intent. The Irons force a series of corners that Navas punches away, with Benrahma and Bowen looking energetic and Paqueta at last starting to dominate midfield.
Paqueta's low cross is deflected against the outside of the post by Felipe. The Hammers best chance comes when Danny Ings gets a close range header all wrong from Coufal's cross. "If even Ings is missing chances then we're doomed," muses the Vicar's Son.
Having dominated the half there's a scare at the end as Brannon Johnson goes down under pressure from Ben Johnson. The ref rules, correctly, that Johnson tumbled rather theatrically after only slight contact.
OH DANNY BOY
Nigel takes his lucky banana out of its banana case at half-time to try and change our fortunes. The Irons continue to dominate, despite Coufal going off and being replaced by Cresswell. But we know it isn't our day when, after good build-up play from Paqueta and Benrahma, the hard-working Bowen races through to power a shot against the inside of the post. Seconds late Paqueta chips just over the bar. At least the crowd comes alive after that, the mood having been quiet and resigned for much of the game.
There are more problems as Fabianski takes a knock and has to be replaced by Areola. It's drifting towards a goalless draw but on 71 minutes something incredible happens. Ings plays a good ball out wide to Bowen on the right. Jarrod dribbles into the box and Ings sweeps home. It's a great finish as the ball is slightly behind him. Ings looks offside, but after a VAR check it's a goal as Danny has timed his run perfectly and is just onside. It's all very confusing, as we're just not used to seeing well-timed runs at West Ham.
Two minutes later Paqueta shows good determination to feed Benrahma on the left. Said skips over a tackle and his cross is bundled home by Ings, who is on the ground but has somehow managed to flick the ball in with his heel. A real poacher's goal. David Moyes reprises his Manuel Lanzini at Spurs dad dance.
RICE BABY
Then Rice plays a give and go with Benrahma and on the edge of the area scores a sumptuous shot into the top corner to spark jubilation all over the London Stadium. As Graham Taylor might say, "What sort of thing is happening here?"
The crowd start to give every WHU pass some "oles". As an extra bonus we get the chance to boo Forest subs Jesse Lingard and another ex-Hammer in Andre Ayew. Ings is replaced by Antonio and receives a deserved ovation. He's the first predator in the box we've had since Chicharito. On 84 minutes minutes Cresswell finds sub Fornals who stands the ball up nicely for Antonio to head home with his first touch. Fraser who has been known to smoke a cigar for every goal West Ham score, starts to worry as he only has eight cigars with him.
Credit too to Areola, who late on produces a brilliant save from Toffolo to preserve a clean sheet. Ogbonna has kept Chris Wood quiet and with Paqueta starting to look like a £50 million player, Benrahma getting two assists and West Ham finally scoring from crosses it's been a good day all round.
OVER THE RAINBOW
When did we last score four? Statto Nigel thinks it was away to Norwich last season. There's a long way to go, but this result brings Forest back into the pack and takes West Ham out of the bottom three. If we can keep playing like this then we'll surely rise up the table. Irons!
PLAYER RATIUNGS: Fabianski 6 (Areola 7); Coufal 6, Ogbonna 7, Aguerd 6, Johnson 6 (Cresswell 6); Rice 8, Soucek 7; Benrahma 8 (Fornals 7), Paqueta 8 (Lanzini 6), Bowen 8; Ings 9 (Antonio 7).
Friday, February 24
Downes, Downes, deeper and Downes
Nothing against Flynn Downes. He's a promising young midfielder and can do a job as a ball-winner deputising for Soucek or Rice. But Moyes seems to have a bizarre penchant for starting him in big away matches. Downes has only started in four matches this season and three of those were Man United away, Liverpool away and Tottenham away. His other start was at home to Bournemouth. If you want to give him experience then why not try some easier games?
When Downes does come in it's as part of three holding midfielders, which negates the scoring chances of the team as a whole. Downes was a decent tackler and passer at Swansea, but has no goals and no assists this season and has never been known as a goalscorer. He prefers to keep possession rather than try a through ball. Against Spurs only Antonio and Bowen were out and out attackers. Nor has the tactic worked, in all three of these big away matches the team has lost.
Moyes brings in Downes when he wants to keep things tight, but a team that has spent £160 million in the summer should be better than just trying to keep the score down and nick a late goal. Benrahma, Fornals or Lanzini (and Paqueta when fit) have to return to the side to offer some much-needed creativity.
Tuesday, February 21
Where have all the goals gone?
Some pretty damning statistics in the media after the Spurs defeat. Sky Sports reports that West Ham have yet to score from a cross this season despite having the third highest total of crosses. While WHU were the top PL scorers from headers in 2020-21, but have only scored one header this season, the worst total in the division. The Daily Mail also points out that we were the second best team at scoring set-piece goals in 2020-21 but are now ranking 18th. Though we are the best team at not conceding from corners.
Jarrod Bowen has shown signs of improvement recently, but has been disappointing overall. Michail Antonio, while always putting in a shift, has only scored two league goals. The time has come to start Ings against Forest and maybe even ditch the back five and pair him with Scamacca. Should Zouma be fit, Zouma and Aguerd would finally be Moyes' preferred centre back partnership. Paqueta seems likely to be out so Benrahma and Fornals or even Lanzini could come in to provide some creativity.
The Times reports that Moyes could be sacked should West Ham lose at home to Forest. Though sacking the manager could result in a Southampton or Leeds situation where there is no obvious replacement. Rafa Benitez is reported to be interested and has a proven track record, though would the crowd take to another defensive gaffer? Meanwhile Moyes needs saving from himself. Surely Kevin Nolan and Mark Warburton should be using their influence to persuade him to not play three holding midfielders at once and make earlier substitutions? His teams can attack, back in 2020-21 we looked lethal counter-attacking away from home. But that all seems like a long time ago.
To be positive, there have been signs of improvement in the performances against Everton, Newcastle and Chelsea and of the final 15 matches only four are against the current top six. But we desperately need goals otherwise Moyes could be gone and the Hammers plummeting towards relegation.
Monday, February 20
Defensive Hammers come unstuck at Spurs
Tottenham 2 West Ham 0
Another miserable afternoon in front of Sky for this one, though Agent Nigel has infiltrated the home fans with his 'lucky' banana. It's a strange defensive line-up with the limited Flynn Downes in midfield alongside Rice and Soucek. Surely Fornals or Benrahma would have offered more going forward? Playing for a goalless draw is far too unambitious against side that has lost its goalkeeper, best defender and manager.
The Irons start well, with Soucek playing in Bowen for a volley wide in the first minute. The Hammers force a few corners but still look unthreatening from set-pieces, while Spurs have a penalty appeal waved away after the falling Kehrer touches the ball with his hand.The Hammers frustrate Spurs in a dull first half and the only real action is a late shot from Richarlison that Fabianski saves with his legs.
After the break Spurs come out with greater purpose. Mistakes from Aguerd and Rice present chances to Richarlison and Kane. The breakthrough comes when Hojbjerg plays a through ball to to Davies which dissects Coufal and Ogbonna too easily. One full-back lays it off to the other, Emerson Royal, who calmly side-foots home.The Hammers have an instant chance to equalise as Antonio's knock-on finds Bowen who fires against the feet of Forster.
The game is effectively over when Kane manages to find a little space after a tussle with Ogbonna and plays in substitute Son, who scores with another calm finish after getting beyond Coufal and Kehrer. Moyes waits too long to bring on Benrahma and Ings and later Fornals and Johnson and the Irons never really look like getting a goal back as the Spurs fans sing, "West Ham get battered..." Bowen does well on the right to set up Benrahma who shoots way wide.
It's not a terrible performance, but it was as the Guardian put it "doggedly mediocre." We need to win some away games and we're not going to do that set up to take a point.The Irons need Zouma and Paqueta fit, Scamacca back firing and to give Ings a chance. Now Nottingham Forest on Saturday becomes yet another must-win game.
Tuesday, February 14
London Stadium from the Legacy Loop
Her Indoors is a keen stand-up paddleboarder and recently completed the Legacy Loop, a circular route around the Olympic Park. Here are a couple unusual views of the London Stadium from water level on the City Mill River. Thanks to Nicola Baird and Peter Brooks for the pics.
Sunday, February 12
Emerson earns point for Irons as Soucek saves the day
We're in the Best Cafe at the slightly unreal time of 11.30am for a 12.30pm kick-off. The omelettes are off, but Lisa and myself opt for mushrooms on toast and Michael braves a full breakfast. Nigel is looking forward to seeing Girlschool later (though surely they must be sixth-formers by now?) and Matt manages to namedrop that he's read some good trivia about Jock Stein in the Northwood United versus Hanworth Villa programme. Lisa and Matt have already seen West Ham Women lose 7-0 to Chelsea this week, so hope it might not happen again today.
It's on to the London Stadium where there are big queues and almost a programme disaster before Nigel and myself find one at the tent past the security checks. We miss the first four minutes but get in just in time see Paqueta get fouled, fall over and then go off with a shoulder injury. Soucek replaces him. Chelsea are fielding a £200m forward line and a side of young players selected from their massive squad.
Early on Felix gets behind West Ham's defence very easily to hit the post and tap home the rebound. It's disallowed for offside, correctly, but it's a warning. The Hammers start slowly and when £107 signing Fernandez has time to chip a through ball to Joao Felix, who has got behind Aguerd too easily, it's 1-0 legitimately. Bowen might have been fouled in the build-up but it's still a sloppy goal to concede. Havertz thinks he's made it 2-0 only to be ruled offside again.
After a poor opening 20 minutes the Hammers come to life and realise that pressing Kepa and his defenders as they try to play it out of defence can reap dividends. Bowen gets a low cross in from the left and Antonio flicks it against Kepa's body to raise the hopes of the home crowd.
The equaliser arrives on 28 minutes. Kehrer finds Coufal in space on the right, and the wing-back's cross is flicked on by Bowen. Antonio can't reach it but Emerson is at the back post and the old prog rocker scuffs it home. Emerson refuses to celebrate against his old club but everyone else does.
STICK YOUR BLUE FLAG…
Before the break Fabianski has to produce a good save to deny the £30m Madueka and it's level at half-time. The second half sees a resilient performance from WHU. Rice shoots narrowly wide, while Antonio almost heads a Chelsea free kick just wide of his own net. "Stick your blue flag..." reverberates around the London Stadium.
Nigel wonders if Chelsea's Cucurella could be in Metallica. The hirsute left-back is replaced by Chilwell, who whinges at the ref and lino for much of his cameo. Soucek is having a decent workmanlike game and it could go either way. It seems like Tomas has won it for the Irons after 81 minutes. Sub Danny Ings wins a free kick, taken by Emerson. Rice's header is saved by Kepa and Soucek taps home the rebound. But VAR intervenes and deems that Rice's shoulder is marginally offside.
Worryingly Aguerd goes off with a knock, so we have to hope he and Paqueta are not too badly hurt. At least Kehrer has a decent second-half. There's still time for more controversy. Gallagher's shot is blocked by a falling Soucek and hits the non-bouncing Czech's hand. It should be a penalty but after Cornet-gate at Stamford Bridge we deserve some luck with VAR.
So the Hammers are unbeaten in four matches and have drawn against Newcastle and Chelsea, games we were expected to lose. We head to the Eagle where Sinead has laid on bottles of Whitstable Bay organic ale for me and cheese sandwiches for Fraser as we wonder whatever happened to Maxwel Cornet. It's packed for the rugby but we sit in the beer garden waiting for Matt and Lisa to arrive from the club shop, probably laden with West Ham dog bowls and the last few Arthur Masuaku mugs.
Chelsea should always beat us having spent so much on players (are they part of Liz Truss's left-wing economic establishment?). So a point is a decent result thanks to Soucek's save of the day. Agent Nigel is heading to Tottenham next week, where we have to hope it happens again. Irons!
PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 6; Coufal 7, Kehrer 6, Ogbonna 6, Aguerd 6 (Johnson 6); Emerson 7; Rice 6, Paqueta n/a (Soucek 6), Benrahma 5 (Downes 6); Bowen 7, Antonio 6 (Ings 6).
Sunday, February 5
Paqueta earns deserved point at Newcastle
Newcastle United 1 West Ham United 1
When Newcastle score after 40 seconds it looks like being a long afternoon. Willock's effort is correctly disallowed by VAR as the ball has gone out of play, but from the resulting goal kick Newcastle score a legitimate goal. Paqueta isn't strong enough in midfield, Longstaff nicks it and plays a through ball to Callum Wilson. He has managed to get between Ogbonna and Kehrer for a simple finish. It's a poor goal to concede.
Schar flicks a free kick over the bar but the response from West Ham is good.The players look angry and driven on by the excellent Rice the Irons start to have the better of the half. Emerson makes a number of surging runs and after good work by Antonio, Benrahma shoots on his right foot instead of taking it on his left.
When Paqueta has an effort deflected narrowly wide the Irons win a corner. I'm wondering why Rice is taking it when he would surely be more use in the box. Declan answers my doubts by whipping in an excellent inswinger, which is flicked on by Aguerd. Paqueta is on hand at the far post to control and calmly poke over the line. He celebrates with a double somersault, something not even Antonio (or the balletic Iain Dowie) attempted after scoring for WHU.
Benrahma cuts inside only to fire wide from a good position and then Aguerd puts a free header over the bar from Coufal's free kick. So it's 1-1 at the break.
The Hammers start the second half well, with Johnson on for the injured Kehrer. The last half an hour is Newcastle pressure though as Coufal blocks Saint-Maximin's goalbound effort. Joelinton is booked for a terrible dive and Newcastle's best chance is a Wlson header straight at Fabianski.
Aguerd has a great game at the back and his best moment is a sprint back to make a superb tackle on Wilson just as the forward is about to shoot. Credit to Coufal too for another well-timed tackle on Saint Maximin in the box.
In the end it's a very creditable away point and one of the best performances of the season. Newcastle looked a little tired after reaching Wembley in midweek and missed Guimaraes. But this was a solid team performance from West Ham. Even my fellow season ticket holder Matt is impressed, and for the first time in his life says on WhatsApp that he thought the ref had a good game.
This was more like last season and gives the side something to build on. Now all we have to do is beat Chelsea and their 57 new signings. Irons!
Thursday, February 2
Stick your blue flag up your transfer window
Let's hope for the sake of football that West Ham beat Chelsea in our next home game. Chelsea have signed 17 players and spent a total of £550 million this season. Their gross transfer expenditure of £289 million in the window was more than all the combined clubs of La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga. Owner Todd Boehly's strategy is to use creative accounting to spread the cost of the deals over eight-year contracts (next season they'll only be allowed to spread costs over five years) and keep within the financial fair play rules. It's a risky game as you can end up with a lot of dud players on long-term contracts. Imagine if West Ham had signed Anderson, Haller, Hugill, Roberto, Ajeti and Jack Wilshere on eight-year deals... It's surprising to see Graham Potter mixed up in all this as at Brighton he was known for sensible management. His biggest problem will be keeping a massive squad happy. And the good news is that only 16 of them can play against the Irons.