Managerial merry-go-round

Plenty of speculation in the press about West Ham talking to potential new managers. The Guardian reports that the club has held successful talks with Julen Lopetegu, the former Wolves manager. The Spaniard has previously managed Real Madrid and Spain so might be able to cope with West Ham, though he's probably never had several thousand geezers from Essex calling him a muppet.

Another name mentioned is the Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim who has a buy-out clause in his contract of £13m. Yes, it might be good to have a manager who uses subs more proactively (though interestingly Pep Guardiola also likes to make late-ish subs) and goes for all out attack. But flash foreign managers don't always succeed, and we should remember Manuel Pellegrini arrived having won the title at Man City. A cheaper option might be WHU's former player Gary O'Neil who has performed really well at Bournemouth and Wolves, while Tomas Frank at Brentford has produced a quiet miracle and there is also Graham Potter to consider.

It's hard to know if the club really have decided to part with David Moyes. A strong finish in the final four matches might save him, and finishing eighth would still be a good season for West Ham in historical terms. Whether he stays or goes Moyes can know he's done a fine job overall and made real progress, keeping the club up twice, finishing sixth and seventh, winning the Europa Conference League and reaching the semi-finals and quarter-finals of the Europa League. He certainly hasn't deserved some of the insults directed at him.

But whatever happens with the manager, a rebuilding job is now required. Cresswell and Ogbonna will be out of contract and leaving, Zouma's knees are creaking, Antonio is 34 and the squad is looking dangerously old, while the defence is far too leaky. It's going to be a very important summer for the club and Sullivan and Tim Steidten have to get their decisions right.

Hammer horror show at Palace

Crystal Palace 5 West Ham 2

We knew the side might be tired after Thursday's efforts against Leverkusen but there was no excuse for this. Had to turn off the radio after 31 minutes when it was 4-0. West Ham are a goal down after seven minutes when Fabianski comes and doesn't get Hughes' cross allowing Olise to head home. The second comes after a poor pass out of defence by Zouma leads to Mateta getting behind Ogbonna. Fabianski does well to save with his leg but Eze scores from the rebound with a brilliant overhead kick.

Number three is a comedy own goal from Emerson as Fabianski and Emerson leave the ball to each other. Number four sees Mateta tap home way too easily having got between Zouma and Ogbonna. The Hammers have no answer to Eze and co in midfield, though Antonio does bag a consolation after Soucek wins a header from Coufal's cross.

Moyes looks disgusted on the touchline and could substitute all 11 players, but opts to replace Ogbonna and Soucek at half-time with Johnson and Cresswell. The fifth goal is another embarrassment as Eze nutmegs Zouma to set up Mateta for his second. Thankfully Palace don't make it eight or nine as the game becomes a training exercise. Palace even gift the Hammers a second when Mitchell's back pass is missed by Henderson for another comedy own goal.

David Moyes was at least honest in his post-match apology, saying he was ashamed of the performance. This was absolutely not good enough and the defence is conceding as many goals as the bottom three clubs. We're either very good or very bad. West Ham are not playing like a Moyes side, he is normally capable of making a side resilient and difficult to break down. 

The lack of squad depth and the age of the players is showing, with a big rebuild needed in the summer. And if the side keep playing like this it may well be under a new manager. A big reaction is required against Liverpool.

Hammers go out with battling draw against champions

West Ham 1 Bayer Leverkusen 1 (Europa League)

In the Best Cafe Nigel and CQ have arrived early and been served kebabs, but for Matt, Lisa and myself it's a battle against understaffing and no hot drinks on offer. Matt and Lisa opt for chips in the absence of Halloumi mushrooms, while I go for the falafel. After a lengthy wait we head to the London Stadium in a storm, accompanied by Big Sam, who is wearing just a replica Prague final shirt as he is possibly the hardest (and coldest) man in football fandom. 

We just make the kick-off, but experience a sold-out programme disaster. Our party is joined by Michael the Bard of Stratford, who has possibly been detained in a room full of bad people, or at least political satirists, while Fraser is watching in Romford on a very expensive Now TV feed.

The crowd are up for another impossible comeback telling Bayer that we know what we are. The Hammers start off with real intensity. Fabianski has to parry an early shot from Tella, but the rest of the first half is all West Ham.The Irons take a 13th minute lead when the returning Bowen whips in a fine cross, with Antonio beating defender and pink-clad keeper Kovar to head home and spark pandemonium. 

The side is everything it wasn't against Fulham. Ward-Prowse has his best game in ages, playing further forward and snapping at the Bayer midfield. Kudus is causing the Germans real problems with his dribbling, Alvarez is back to his best mopping up loose balls and  Antonio is so worrying the Bayer defence that the already booked centre back Kossounou is hauled off after 29 minutes. Leverkusen look rattled and repeatedly pass into touch or to claret and blue shirts.

WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE

West Ham's best chance of levelling the tie comes when Kudus does really well to whip the ball in from the left and Bowen volleys against Kovar's leg. Bowen plays in another lovely cross that Antonio misses by a bootlace. Leverkusen are getting battered even if Antonio is getting nothing from ref Martinez. Billy McKinlay is red carded on the bench and a melee erupts among the payers as the ref loses control.

Bayer are definitely pleased to get to half-time only a goal down. Nigel eats a lucky star biscuit but elects to save his lucky banana for later, while CQ unpacks a veritable orchard of apples from her bag. We're joined by Steve the Cornish Postie, who is delivering himself back to Cornwall later by the night train. 

We figure Leverkusen will improve in the second half and they do after bringing on subs Frimpong and Boniface. West Ham's best chance comes from Bowen pouncing on a defensive mistake and crossing across the six-yard line only for the other forwards to arrive just too late. There's a rousing chorus of "You're not fit to referee!" as the ref makes a series of bizarre decisions. Carolyn hands out lucky liquorice, which proves it takes all sorts.

But Bayer are exerting more control on the game and Frimpong forces a decent save from Fabianski. It looks ominous when Frimpong gets behind the defence in na one-on-one only to fire wildly over the bar when he could have squared it. 

Just as it looks like West Ham will at least become the first team to beat Leverkusen this season Frimpong gets in the box in the 89th minute and despite being surrounded by defenders gets in a shot that takes a hefty deflection off Cresswell to nestle past Fabianski. He's clearly relieved as he runs to the bench and the red and white army bounce up and down in the away end.

It's cruel but the fans respond in the right way with a rousing chorus of Bubbles. Sub Ben Johnson has a decent shot wide in added time, so it ends 1-1 and we're out of Europe. But it's a performance to be proud of and the fans rise to applaud the team off. The players have given everything, though again we've lost to a team with a bigger squad.

Nigel and CQ head off to east of Ipswich, while the rest of us yomp in the rain to the Eagle, though Matt has forgotten his waterproofs, compass and survival bag. 

There's only Guinness or Newcastle Brown on offer, but at least Matt gets to reminisce about his latest trip to see Frenford FC play in the Essex Senior League, where the keeper was sent off for handling outside the area. This produces a stream of consciousness as we recall Adrian once going up for a corner and getting sent off for an ill-advised high kick. 

Oh well. We've enjoyed our three years in Europe, which is a credit to Moyes, though to again qualify we're going to need to get a lot of points from a difficult final five games. Paqueta and Emerson will be back at Palace and now we have to give it everything in the league. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 7; Coufal 7 (Johnson n/a), Zouma 7, Aguerd 6 (Ogbonna 6), Cresswell 6; Soucek 7, Ward-Prowse 7, Alvarez 7 (Cornet n/a); Kudus 8, Antonio 8, Bowen 8. 

There's only one F in Fulham

West Ham 0 Fulham 2

The best result of the day is giving four signed copies of Massive to Pete from Philosophy Football at Hackney Wick station. He's a man who has played both walking and three-sided football, a sport where you can lose to two sides, an idea that might interest West Ham. Inside the stadium I'm joined by Michael, Lisa, Nigel and Carolyn, while Fraser and Matt are across the park in the cold shadows of the West Stand. 

West Ham have a good eight minutes. Coufal bursts through to fire at Leno and Antonio blasts the rebound wastefully over the bar. Kudus shoots wide and Paqueta hits the side-netting. But Fulham score with their first attack after nine minutes. Dinos Mavropanos does one of his long leg stretches to try and control the ball, but only plays it straight to Pereira, who scores with ease.

That goal deflates both team and crowd. Fulham create a host of chances with Willian crossing for Pereira to shoot wide, Fabianski saving well from Willian and Iwobi shooting wide. Even the applause for the tenth anniversary of Dylan Tombides' death from testicular cancer in the 38th minute sees a header gathered on the line by Fabianski.

West Ham look very jaded after playing in Germany on Thursday. Playing Ings up front with Antonio in a wider role isn't working. Paqueta is having a game where nothing comes off, Alvarez is off the pace, Ward-Prowse is struggling to contain Pereira and Mavropanos has made one of those mistakes that still blight the game of a promising player. 

At half-time Nigel takes a unilateral decision to eat his lucky banana. It doesn't work. The second half sees more Fulham chances, as Muniz tries a clever backheel and Fabianski makes a brilliant low stop to deny the lively Iwobi. 

Sub Soucek adds a little more bite to the West Ham midfield and Paqueta has a header blocked from a corner, before Ings fires way over. But a second goal seems inevitable. It comes when Paqueta tries to beat three players, gets tackled and Iwobi breaks. He crosses for Pereira to stroke home, having lost Ben Johnson.

George Earthy comes on for his league debut and has a couple of good touches, before he collides with Alvarez and goes down with a nasty head injury. He's down for a long time and is stretchered off and taken to hospital, as the Fulham fans show a lack of class by chanting while he's down. Earthy has thankfully now been sent home. 

The inevitable defeat happens and the only good result is we try a new rout to the Eagle via Stratford International, which is a Dave Brailsford-style marginal gain. Here we meet Matt and Fraser, though the bad news is that the fridge is out of East London Pale Ale and it's down to John Smiths or Guinness. A discussion ensues about the last band to play live on Top of the Pops, with Nigel saying he can't explain if it was the Who or not, while Lisa is making her mind up about Bucks Fizz. Matt enjoys himself by asking us to name all the winners of the Bundesliga, which we can't.

This defeat has been easier to take in some ways, as we never looked like winning after the first goal. At least we get to watch Arsenal blow their chance of going top against Aston Villa and learn that Bayer Leverkusen have scraped a 5-0 win to win the Bundesliga. Let's hope they behave thoroughly unprofessionally and go out on the lash all week. A chastening home defeat when we could have gone sixth. Whether Moyes stays or goes, the need for a bigger squad is clear.

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 7; Coufal 6 (Johnson 5), Mavropanos 4 (Zouma 6), Aguerd 5, Emerson 5; Alvarez 5, Ward-Prowse 4 (Soucek 6), Paqueta 5; Kudus 6, Ings 4, Antonio 6 (Earthy n/a, Cornet n/a).

Late errors and bookings prove costly

Bayer Leverkusen 2 West Ham 0 (Europa League)

The armchair fans gather at Mayhem Corner to watch this one on my sofa. Nigel and Carolyn, Matt and Lisa, Nell, Nicola and Vulcan the border terrier are all present as the Hammers try to get a result in Germany without Alvarez and Bowen. The level of hospitality rivals the Eagle, with crisps, peanuts, Matt and Lisa's Neck Oil and Camden IPA, plus Nigel and Carolyn's Peroni and alcohol-free Carlsberg helping up prepare to face a team that hasn't lost in 41 games. Before kick off there's time for some electoral banter and Nigel to quip that the new party campaigning to save Canvey Island's lake must be after floating voters. 

West Ham are sitting deep and do a pretty good defensive job in the first half. Fabianski has to make a flying save from Grimaldo and a low parry from Schick (you're Schick and you know you are?). Antonio is causing Tah problems and makes a great run down the left to set up a chance for Kudus, who shoots rather tamely at the keeper when he could have taken a touch. 

The Hammers do some pretty effective self-sabotage early on with Paqueta and Emerson both getting booked, meaning they'll miss the second leg, leaving Matt to rue our indiscipline. All this on top of Alvarez being suspended tonight for a silly booking against Freiburg.

Antonio has a claim for a penalty when he is tugged going for a Ward-Prowse free-kick. But West Ham's attacks are few and without Bowen we don't have much of a counter-attacking outlet. 

The second half sees more pressure as Fabianski has to make a fantastic fingertip save to keep out Schick's header. The overworked keeper then has to deny sub Hofmann in a one-on one. There's a late pinball flurry as Soucek twice clears from in front of the goalline. 

Just as it looks like the Irons have held out for a draw Bayer score with seven minutes left. A corner is cleared by Zouma, but Hofmann volleys home from the edge of the box with Kudus not getting close to him. 

Leverkusen are a patient side and in the 90th minute their unhurried approach spells disaster for the Irons. Ben Johnson and Coufal don't close down a short corner quickly enough and sub Boniface, who has stolen Maxi Cornet's blonde barnet, heads home, having lost Zouma. 

Right, so all we have to do is beat a team that hasn't lost all season 3-0 in the second leg, and do so without Paqueta, Bowen and Emerson. Leverkusen are going to win the Bundesliga so this isn't unexpected, but the difference in squad depth has told, with Matt remarking that offloading Kehrer, Fornals and Benrahma to pay Kalvin Phillips' wages has proved disastrous. 

We need someone like Cornet or Ings to step up to have any hope of progressing, which is a big ask. As Lisa remarks, out best hope is that Leverkusen win the league on Sunday and spend the next four days in bierkellers.

Swede dreams are made of this

Very pleased to appear on the West Ham Fans Sverige podcast last week talking about Massive: The Miracle of Prague and my life supporting West Ham. Had a good chat with Ulf, Peter and Jesper who are loyal supporters attending several WHU games each season, despite living in Sweden. Ulf even has a signed copy of West Ham: Irons in the Soul, which he purchased at the Newham Bookshop. We spoke about memories of Billy Bonds, Trevor Brooking and Julian Dicks, the Moyes in or out debate, the relevance of the win in Prague and much more. Click on the link to listen. It's good to know that the West Ham family extends all the way to Scandinavia.

The answer is blowin' in the wind

Wolves 1 West Ham 2

Well, West Ham were owed some luck with VAR after that ignored handball and dodgy penalty against Sheffield United, the blatant handball away to Freiburg, Ings' disallowed goal and the ignored handball against Burnley, and those two disallowed goals against Aston Villa. Ruling out Kilman's 99th minute equaliser for Wolves was harsh, if technically correct, and you can understand why Gary O'Neil was so incensed. Still, we'll take the win and VAR didn't go for us earlier in this game either.

It was a classic game of two halves with Wolves dominating the first and taking the lead with Sariba's penalty, though to my mind Emerson got a nick on the ball before Ait-Nouri fell to the ground. Doyle also goes close for the home side. The Hammers' only chance comes when Soucek treads on the ball after being set up by Bowen. 

West Ham improve dramatically in the second half with Antonio coming on for Soucek and Johnson replacing Coufal. Should Moyes have played Antonio from the start? Caution got the better of him, though it has to be said Paqueta, Bowen and Kudus looked effective as a trio before Christmas and there's no rule against keeping it tight in the first half in away games. When Bowen has to go off suffering a dead leg Moyes brings on Aaron Cresswell and moves Emerson into midfield, a move which brings dividends. 

Emerson had a seemingly good header disallowed for what seemed no more than a coming together with the Wolves man. But the equaliser comes when Emerson's cross is handballed by Max Kilman and Paqueta strokes home the penalty. 

Antonio makes a difference and Ben Johnson has a volley well saved by Sa. An unlikely winner arrives when James Ward-Prowse's corner drifted over Sa directly into the net, ably assisted by Storm Kathleen.

The downside is Bowen going off injured. But as this stage of the season any win is welcome and it's also our first double against a PL club. While on 48 points we're definitely safe...

Clyde Best's old digs

Thanks to my Swansea supporting pal Huw for sharing this picture of Clyde Best's old digs in Dongola Road, Plaistow. This was his first house after arriving from Bermuda in the early 1970s. A bit different to Beckingham Palace or the Chigwell or Canary Wharf gaffs of modern West Ham players.

King Kurt earns hard-fought draw against Spurs

West Ham 1 Spurs 1

It's to the Eagle pre-match to meet Fraser, with Matt, Lisa and Nigel delayed by an ordering debacle at the Best Meze Cafe. Our party has been boosted by a recent tour of the London Stadium, viewing the hairdryers in the dressing room, which Nigel quips must be for the fringe players. We set off in a Borrowdale-style downpour to the ground, with Matt proving he is the hardest man in football by taking on the elements in just a skimpy hoodie.

There's a decent atmosphere for the visit of our fierce rivals and early on some good closing down by Kudus sees Bowen scuff wide from a good position. But after four minutes comes disaster. Maddison feeds Werner, Coufal backs off and the winger's cross is turned in by Johnson, who has escaped the attentions of Emerson. 

Spurs have an interesting throwback formation with a high back line and Johnson and Werner hugging their touchlines. Porro fires just wide as West Ham have a dodgy opening fifteen minutes.

But slowly the Hammers come back into it, with Paqueta and Maddison enjoying a lively battle. A tardy Michael arrives after a read-through with his cast in the wilds of north London, bringing some much-needed fortune. Bowen wins a corner, which he takes. His inswinger bamboozles the Spurs defence, Vicario is pre-occupied with Antonio, and Kurt Zouma tries to head home but sees the ball bounce into the net off his back. "ZOOOOOOM!" booms the crowd as the Spurs fans are not singing anymore.

Ward-Prowse gets a decent free-kick on target, only it's straight at Vicario, as the half ends 1-1. Strangely nobody is very keen on bringing on Kalvin Phillips to shore it up, while Nigel and Fraser opt to leave Nigel's lucky banana uneaten.

It's a lively start to the second half from West Ham. A poor pass from Bentancur sees Antonio's snap shot well-saved by Vicario. A key moment comes when, with Maddison claiming a free-kick, Ward-Prowse plays a great long ball to Antonio. Van de Ven slips and Micky is through, but seems to run out of puff and shoots at the keeper. Dinos has a header cleared off the line, though Antonio misses the rebound and is given offside.

Spurs have a lot of possession but at times try to walk the ball into the net. It's an enjoyably competitive game as the Hammers'  look determined to erase the memory of Newcastle. Zouma has a storming game and dominates Son throughout, while Mavropanos also defends well. Sours make five substitutions, while Moyes, perhaps stung by Saturday's mishaps, doesn't make a single change.

The four minutes of added time is end to end schoolboy stuff. A couple of dangerous West Ham corners, Udogie almost winning it for Spurs with a shot that is straight at Fabianski and a goalmouth melee with Bowen and Kudus. The last action of the game sees Soucek release Paqueta, who runs at the Spurs defence but instead of playing in the advancing Antonio, opts for a fancy dink that comes to nothing.

Still, a good point and the team played for each other tonight, with the tackles flying in and a lot of commitment against a top five side. We head to the Eagle, where Sinead has East London Pale Ale, Guinness, Corona and a half of John Smiths lined up on the bar. There's only time for one drink after the too late 8.15pm kick off, but there is time for our party to share Glenn Hoddle and Emma Freud anecdotes, as you do. Four points from Spurs this season isn't bad. Wolves away next and then the small matter of Europe. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 6; Coufal 6, Zouma 8, Mavropanos 7, Emerson 6; Soucek 6. Ward-Prowse 6, Paqueta 6; Bowen 7, Antonio 7, Kudus 7.

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

Newcastle United 4 West Ham United 3 

It's not the despair... After attending to my hedge fund (or at least cutting my hedge) it's a 12.30pm kick-off on TNT for the game at St James's Park. It's a terrible start from West Ham with Coufal bringing down the lively Gordon for an early penalty. Gordon has run back from an offside position but again VAR decides against the Hammers. A silly lunge from Vlad though, as Isak dispatches the penalty past Areola.

But West Ham improve after this early setback. Newcastle are disrupted by Lascalles going off injured and a great through ball from the unmarked Paqueta sees Antonio breach the Geordies back-line to score. Guimaraes hits the bar for the home side but West Ham take the lead just before the break as Paqueta takes a quick free kick and Bowen's cross is thumped home by Kudus.

Fabianski comes on for the injured Areola. An away win seems inevitable when a great run down the left by Kudus sees him find Jarrod Bowen, who scores a fine breakaway goal on 48 minutes.

But the game turns on substitutions. Moyes brings on Kalvin Phillips for Antonio after 69 minutes. Shoring up the midfield at 3-1 isn't necessarily a bad idea, but you need a player like the suspended Alvarez to do it. Unfortunately Moyes does it with Phillips, who is increasingly looking like the accident-prone Frank Spencer of football. The anti-Moyes fans have a point in that Antonio is surely now match fit and can last the full 90 minutes and with his strength offer some respite to the defence.

Newcastle's injuries continue to mount, but the worst thing possible for West Ham is sub Almiron getting injured and being replaced by Harvey Barnes. The Toon are right back in it when the hapless Phillips is adjudged to have given away a penalty, though not by the ref. You've got to feel sorry for Kalvin as Gordon puts his foot in front of the West Ham man as he's about to kick the ball. It's certainly not deliberate and if anything a foul by Gordon. But again VAR decides against the Irons.

West Ham's collective nerve seems to go at this point as the Toon scuff a number of presentable chances. But the inevitable happens on 83 minutes as Barnes' bending run fools our centre backs and he beats Fabianski in a one-on-one finish. The home crowd go mental. There are still hopes of a point until the 90th minute. Gordon plays a short pass to Barnes and Phillips, trying to over-compensate for the penalty, dives in and allows the winger to swerve past him. Barnes sends a cracking finish into the far corner. Sod it.

There's still time for Gordon to get sent off for two yellows and West Ham to almost equalise as Kudus's cross eludes the keeper but Soucek can only chest wide when he should probably have headed it home. So  some good things for 60 minutes and a terrible last half hour. It's not entirely Phillips' fault, our defence is conceding far too many goals, with Zouma injury-prone, Dinos promising but inexperienced and both full backs better going forward than defending. While Paqueta, Kudus and Bowen needed to do more to relieve the pressure in the final quarter.

At least there's a chance to redeem ourselves against Spurs on Thursday but it's another game lost without Alvarez. And poor old Kalvin Phillips' confidence is just so shot we can't afford to bring him on unless we're wining 5-0. It would have been a lot easier to have just lost this one 1-0. Nurse, the screens.

Irons on international fire

It's been a decent break for Hammers on international duty. Jarrod Bowen had a couple of good games for England and must have given Gareth Southgate a few issues to ponder. Jarrod had a fine game against Belgium, he was unlucky to have a header disallowed and set up a great chance for Phil Foden with some quick footwork. This was the West Ham Bowen finally emerging for England. 

Lucas Paqueta played well for Brazil against England too, setting up Vinicius Junior for a chance he mishit and almost scoring with a great first time effort. He also scored a late equaliser with a penalty against Spain in the 3-3 draw. While Hammers' fans should also be proud that Declan Rice, an Academy product, captained England on Tuesday night at the age of 25, even if he does now play for a small team in north London. 

Massive in Blowing Bubbles

My piece on the writing of Massive: The Miracle of Prague is in the latest excellent issue of Blowing Bubbles. It's been a busy time since the launch of the book: a signing at the Newham Bookshop, the launch at Daunt Books in Holland Park, podcasts on the Talking Sports Books series and Stop! Hammer Time, a guest post on West Ham 'Til I Die, an interview with Hammers' fan Paul Ross on talkSPORT and a nice plug from Iain Dale on LBC. While Massive even got a mention on the official West Ham website as a potential Valentine's Day gift - always knew it was a romantic read. Thanks to all who have helped spread the word.

Victory denied by record-breaking VAR check

West Ham 1 Aston Villa 1

It's the third home game in a week at the London Stadium, with a positive crowd after Thursday's 5-0 win. I'm joined by Matt, Lisa, Nigel and Michael's pal Nick, with Michael and Fraser sitting in the stand opposite us. Steve the Cornish Postie makes another cameo appearance having missed the Chopin piano recital in favour of The Play That Goes Wrong during his London sojourn. 

Bailey sets up the in-form Ollie Watkins for a low shot early on that Areola does well to block with his foot and Vila have a hopeful penalty appeal denied after the ball is scooped from close range on to Emerson's hand.

But West Ham set about their task well as Antonio again causes problems. Coufal almost scores, blasting Bowen's cross at Martinez. Villa's love of playing it out from the back is causing them problems and good closing down by Antonio sees West Ham win a throw in. Soucek feeds Coufal out wide and Vlad gets in an excellent cross which Antonio converts with a diving header for his third goal of the season.

West Ham play well against the fourth-placed side and are unlucky when ref Jarred Gillet blows for an infringement just before Kudus puts the ball in the net.

It seems to be two after the break when Martinez misses Bowen's cross and Antonio bundles home. But VAR intervenes as the ball has inadvertently struck Antonio's arm, so it's unlucky but probably the correct decision to disallow it. 

Emery has bought on Cash and Zaniolo, who make a difference as the Brummies start to threaten. Meanwhile the sun emerges as we squint to see the play, while there must be the possibility that the dressed-as-a vampire Unai Emery might turn to dust with too much sunlight. 

Johnson comes on for Antonio, who is still not fit enough to last 90 minutes. The Moyes Out set will see this as a defensive move, though Ben does pretty well in a right-sided role and we know Bowen and Kudus can still threaten as a pair up front. 

Paqueta has a free kick parried by Martinez while Areola has to make a fine stop from Konsa to keep the Hammers in it. But an equaliser has been coming and when Tielemans brushes past Paqueta and gets to the byline to pull back, Zaniolo strokes home the equaliser in the 79th minute.

In the second minute of added time Bowen and Kudus do well to break on the left, Kudus gets in a great pull back and Ward-Prowse's goal-bound shot is denied by a fine block from Cash. 

ALWAYS CRASHING IN THE SAME VAR

In the fifth minute of added time West Ham seem to have won it. Kudus wins a free kick and sub Ward-Prowse delivers a great ball in to the box. Mavropanos gets his head to it and Soucek and Bowen manage to bundle the ball over the line. But VAR again kills the celebrations. 

The VAR check takes a record-breaking five minutes 37 seconds, probably enough time for Michael to read through the folios of his entire body of work and the complete works of Shakespeare. The ref is sent to the monitor and rules it's a handball by Soucek, though even after watching it on TV it still doesn't seem clear. If it takes that long to check then surely it's not a clear and obvious error? That's the fourth handball VAR decision to go against West Ham in the last couple of weeks.

Still, a point against a flying Villa side is not a bad result. We head off to meet Fraser and Michael in the Eagle where St Patrick's Day is in full swing, with Guinness flowing, Sinead and the staff clad in green and When Irish Eyes Are Smiling playing at loud volume. We discuss the sad passing of Steve Harley. Nigel's schoolfriend's dad was once the Cockney Rebel's bank manager in Chelmsford. He suggests the ref today was Mr Soft while VAR certainly failed to make us smile. Though to be positive, on 44 points we could finally be safe. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Areola 7; Coufal 8, Mavropanos 7, Zouma 6, Emerson 6 (Cresswell 6); Alvarez 6, Soucek 6, Paqueta 7 (Ward-Prowse 6); Bowen 6, Antonio 8 (Johnson 6), Kudus 7.

More Kudus for Hammers in Europe

West Ham 5 Freiburg 0 (Europa League)

There's something special about these European, erm, afternoons. The fans have done well to get off work early and it's very nearly a full house at the London Stadium for the bizarre 5.45pm kick-off. 

The big team news is Alison and Scott (braving an ACL injury to spectate through the pain barrier) have left retirement in Clacton to join us in their old seats, while Steve the Cornish Postie is up taking in London culture and hopefully delivering my Christmas cards. Making up our party are Nigel, Michael, carrying a mysterious hard-backed envelope, Lisa and Big Sam, who has travelled up from Pontypridd. Fraser and Matt are in the West Stand.

The pre-match build-up sees the usual pyrotechnics with Alison wondering why the flame throwers are in wheelie-bins. West Ham set off with some intent and Antonio is a mobile and quick target man taking the pressure off Kudus and Bowen. The crowd is also up for it, regaling us with "West Ham are Massive".

It's the perfect start after nine minutes. Aaron Cresswell's corner is headed across goal by a diving Tomas Soucek and Lucas Paqueta prods home at the back post. Tie level. Antonio makes a great run into the box and pulls back for Kudus to shoot wide of an inviting goal. After half an hour it's two when Bowen does really well to outmuscle a defender, beat another and fire a low shot past Atubolu.

Freiburg have a spell of possession without really testing Fabianski and it's 2-0 at the break. Things are going so well that Nigel doesn't even need to eat his half-time lucky banana.

The tie is settled when the ball falls to Cresswell on the edge of the box, he takes a touch, and fire a powerful left-foot shot onto the corner. It's a hugely popular goal and Cressy is mobbed by team-mates in the corner as he celebrates his first goal in two years. He's done really well while Emerson is injured and looks rejuvenated after a spell on the bench. "We know what we are! Champions of Europe!" sing the crowd. 

WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE!

Alvarez heads just wide from Coufal's cross but the Hammers aren't to be denied. Mohammed Kudus picks up the ball halfway inside his own half, glides past three defenders and scores a brilliant solo goal from the edge of the area. He then picks up a plastic stool and has a deserved sit-down. What an effort and Mo's first goal since returning from Africa. 

It's five when Bowen's short ball finds Kudus who fires another thumping effort into the corner. We've made the team that is sixth in the Bundesliga look pretty ordinary. 'Moyes In' anyone?

There's still time for sub Danny Ings to play in Coufal, whose effort is deflected just wide by Atubolo and George Earthy to make his debut as a late sub. It's rare to have experienced such a comfortable evening in European football and it's also West Ham record win in Europe.

We head off to the Eagle to meet Matt and Fraser. Nigel is looking forward to going to the local derby that is Hornchurch versus Billericay, while Matt reveals that Hornchurch's nickname is the Dickensian sounding, "The Urchins". In fact Matt is on fire with trivia, revealing that Truro have had to play a home game at Gloucester City, just in case we were interested. Big Sam also tells us that Pontypridd FC have been deducted a record number of points in the Welsh league. In other news West Ham have won 5-0.

So it's Bayer Lerverkusen next as the Hammers reach a quarter final for the third successive season in Europe. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 6; Coufal 7, Zouma 6, Mavropanos 6, Cresswell 7; Alvarez 7 (Phillips n/a), Soucek 7, Paqueta 7 (Ward-Prowse 6); Kudus 9 (Ings n/a), Antonio 8 (Johnson n/a), Bowen 8 (Earthy n/a).

Ings can only get better!

West Ham 2 Burnley 2

"The rain it falleth every day," as the Great Bard of Stratford might say, but that's enough about Michael the Playwright. Hackney Wick is very wet indeed and it's poor conditions for football as West Ham play a sodden bad first half against struggling Burnley. I'm joined in the stadium by Nigel, CQ, Michael and Lisa, while Matt and Fraser are under the scoreboard near the away fans ready to launch a pitch invasion should we lose 3-0 at home to Burnley.

The Clarets take the lead after 11 minutes. The lively Fofana gets a ricochet off Aguerd, glides past Phillips and fires home a stunning long-range effort into the top corner. West Ham look strangely jaded after their European trip and toil without much intensity. We don't test Trafford at all and in added time Josh Cullen's cross is prodded over his own line by a stretching Mavropanos. "How shit must you be we're winning away?" chant the small contingent of away fans as the home side are booed off. 

At half time we're joined by The Gav and his joint Hammers and Orient season-ticket holding pal Mike. After some debate we elect to unleash the power of Nigel's lucky banana by getting him to eat it in the concourse. 

Moyes also takes decisive action, taking off the toiling Phillips and Ward-Prowse and bringing on Antonio and Alvarez. The improvement is immediate. Thirty seconds into the half Paqueta gets past a challenge from Assignon and ruins at goal to calmly slot past Trafford. Game on and the crowd at last get going.  

Suddenly West Ham play with passion and Antonio provides a focal point in attack. From Cresswell's corner Bowen's goalbound shot is blocked by Paqueta's body. Kudus does well to cut inside only to slip and fire over a gaping goal. Coufal's cross is deflected on to the Burnley bar. We predict that it's going to be one of those games where we'll do everything but score. 

Michael sagely suggests that when we're dominating possession it might be an idea to bring on a predator like Danny Ings. Moyes then decides to throw the metaphorical kitchen sink at Burnley, bringing on Ings in the 82nd minute. 

"Ings can only get wetter," suggests Nigel as the rain continues to fall. Antonio wins a header and Ings prods home, only to be denied by VAR. The lines are ridiculously tight and it seems to be guesswork that Antonio is offside by a shoulder.

It's a cracking half of football with four strikers on the pitch, surely providing the chaotic entertainment the Moyes Out fans have been demanding. Trafford winds up the crowd by time wasting at every goal kick and Lisa pleads "No, Pacqsy!" as Lucas is booked for retaliation after another heavy tackle from Burnley. 

OH DANNY BOY

We move into eight minutes of added time. West Ham have played like a different team in the second half. Just as I'm wondering why do we put ourselves through this, Ings controls with his back to goal and spins to score a fine poacher's goal and his first of the season. 

Berge then fires just over for Burnley. Antonio rolls the ball across the box but no-one can prod it home. Blimey. Danny Ings, who looks rejuvenated, fires another great effort against the bar.

With a minute or so left Berge's arms are raised and he heads the ball against his hands. Bizarrely neither the ref or VAR give a penalty for the second time in three days. There's still time for Burnley to almost snatch the points as Areola parries Fofana's cross and then has to dive to deny Brownhill, before the whistle finally goes. 

Hard to know what to make of this, a poor first half followed by a great second half. On another day WHU could have won this 5-3 and Danny Ings could have scored a hat-trick.

Gavin heads off to buy a West Ham T Rex for Lizzie from the club shop, as she wasn't happy with the last game's triceratops. We march through the downpour to the Eagle, where we're joined by Fraser and Matt. Nigel and CQ have a Cuban cigar for Fraser and we learn that Nigel and Gavin are soon to see Judas Priest. While Michael has been hanging out with Bananarama at HMV, which is really saying something. Sinead keeps us stocked with East London Pale Ale as Liverpool and Man City draw on the box. A disappointing result for the Irons, but you can't argue with the entertainment value. Now we need the side that played in the second half to turn up against Freiburg.

PLAYER RATINGS: Areola 7; Coufal 6, Mavropanos 5, Aguerd 5, Cresswell 6; Phillips 4 (Alvarez 6) (Ings 9), Soucek 6, Ward-Prowse 5 (Antonio 7), Paqueta 7; Bowen 6, Kudus 7.

Reffing hell: Hammers lose out in Germany

Freiburg 1 West Ham 0 (Europa League)

Sat this one out at home with TNT, Michael Owen and Steve Sidwell (where are the Cole brothers?). The Hammers looked to have the game under reasonable control in the first half. Freiburg sent a one-on-one chance straight at Fabianski and then Bowen mistimed his volley after a fine cross from Kudus.

West Ham showed more intensity in the second half with Kudus getting a shot off straight away. A series of chances follow. Bowen forces a fine fingertip save from Atubolu, Paqueta misses a great headed chance from an inviting Kudus cross and Mavropanos heads against the outside of the post from a corner.

But missed chances came back to haunt the Hammers with nine minutes left. Alvarez plays a loose ball and Freiburg break quickly. A miscued shot from Sallai comes across the box, Zouma has lost his man, and Gregoritsch taps home.

The Irons look to have salvaged something in the last minute of added time when Weisshaupt handles in the box under pressure from Soucek. After four minute of VAR deliberation the ref is sent to the monitor which always means he'll give a penalty. Except this ref doesn't, even though the defender's arm is up high in an unnatural position. And he doesn't give a free kick so can't think Soucek has fouled his man. Infamy, infamy...

It's been a half-decent performance apart from the missed chances at an intimidating venue  and Freiburg don't show a lot to scare us. A one-goal defeat in the first leg isn't a disaster even though we should have at least drawn, though the Hammers' finishing will have to improve next week. 

Soucek stunner earns smash and grab win for Hammers

Everton 1 West Ham 3

It's rather a nervous two hours in front of BBC Sport's live text for this one. In a bid to provide blog colour Matt is at a Faroese theatre production, Nigel is at Wrexham versus Accrington where Reg is completing his 92 League grounds, Michael is promoting his play in deepest Worthing and Fraser is watching on his Moyesian fluid link.

Areola produces a good save from Beto in the first half, but it all seems to be going wrong before the break when Zouma rather unluckily concedes a penalty for a point blank handball. Beto opts to take it, but Areola makes a smart save to his left to defy the Everton striker.

We go in level at the break but a familiar away defeat seems to beckon when Garner plays in a great curling cross and Beto gets beyond Dinos to head home. After Mavropanos loses possession Areola then has to make a fantastic save from McNeil, somehow holding the winger's close-range effort.

But the Hammers are suddenly level on 62 minutes. Kudus' shot is deflected for a corner. James Ward-Prowse curls in his usual pinpoint delivery and King Kurt rises to head home. Zouma declines to celebrate against his former club.

Desperate Everton still press. Areola has to make his best save of the day, tipping over a deflected effort from Beto. Soucek has to clear Doucoure's effort off the line. This is gritty stuff from the Hammers and Areola next defies Calvert-Lewin's low effort. Phillips comes on for Ward-Prowse and manages not to give anything away.

The game is a minute into added time when Kudus crosses from the left. Tomas Soucek chests it down and then sends a sensational effort into the top corner with the outside of his boot. What a goal. Tomas whips off his shirt, does a twirl, and looks like he's going to celebrate with double potato salad. It was also pleasing to see Kalvin Phillips involved in the initial move to feed Kudus. 

"West Ham are Massive!" sing the away fans as West Ham break from an Everton corner in the 95th minutes. Bowen runs the length of the pitch and feeds Alvarez, who chips expertly over Pickford. Wow.

This never looked like being a 3-1 away win, but it's a great resilient performance from West Ham, inspired by Areola. And It's pleasing to see Moyes silence with doubters with two wins and seven goals in a week. This result will be a real boost for the trip to Freiburg. Irons!

Oh, Said Benrahma

My pal Matt points out that Said Benrahma scored the winner for Lyon against Metz last week, which is one more goal than he's scored for WHU this season. Said is still only out on loan, but will surely move on in the summer. He's been a frustrating player at West Ham overall, always on the verge of  greatness but never quite getting there. He actually had a decent season last time round and had he not hit the post several times could have ended up with a lot more goals. Though he did score 12 times, six of them penalties in 2022-23.

When he first arrived he seemed to pass when he should shoot and shoot when he should pass. He improved after scoring a cracking first goal against Brighton, though at times seemed to have perfected the art of shooting just wide. Still, he left us some good memories, such as his penalty in the Europa Conference Final and embarrassing David De Gea when we beat Man United, plus a lot of assists. This season he seemed way off form, not helped by Moyes never really trusting him. That sending off at Bristol City was a sad final act as a West Ham player. At 28 Benrahma still has a lot to prove, but there's definitely a player in there and the French Ligue 1 may suit him.

Hat-trick hero Bowen blasts Bees

West Ham United 4 (four) Brentford 2

It's off to the Best Meze Cafe where Matt is possibly having himself in a yellow hoodie drinking red wine and eating halloumi mushrooms. After my hasty falafel and chips, purchased for the price of a small house, we head to the London Stadium. We're joined by Nigel and CQ back from watching Havana Clue FC in Cuba, newly-Welsh-resident Big Sam and Charlton Iron Gavin.

West Ham start with intensity, which is a shock, and the crowd are getting behind the side, suggesting the reported anti-Moyes sentiment might have been a little exaggerated. 

The return of Paqueta gives the whole side a boost and his partnership with Emerson and ability to keep the ball soon has the crowd purring. Ward-Prowse nods on Coufal's cross and Soucek fires a great chance over the bar.

It's the perfect start after five minutes. Ward-Prowse finds the overlapping Emerson who plays the ball inside to Bowen. Jarrod takes a touch to control and fires home a left-foot shot with the outside of his boot. A great finish. The relief is palpable after three goalless games and it's Jarrod's first goal since returning from injury.

Two minutes later Soucek picks up a loose ball to feed Bowen. He finds Kudus, who plays in Coufal on the right. Vlad's low cross is turned in by Bowen for a lovely team goal. What sort of thing is happening here?

Though this being West Ham the Irons lose the ball in midfield, Lewis-Potter gets between Zouma and Enerson to play in Maupay. Mavropanos isn't close enough to the striker and the man who always scores against us chips home. Three goals in thirteen minutes. 

West Ham have a good half, with Paqueta having a couple of chances, Kudus testing Flekken and then firing wide after a storming run. Mo looks in the mood and Reguilon is booked for a cynical foul. 

At half-time I dispense ny five copies of Massive smuggled past security, three for Gavin, one for Nigel and one for Fraser's mate Keith. The consensus is it's too delicately poised for Nigel to eat his lucky banana. 

FOREVER BOWEN'S BUBBLES

Brentford have a lot of possession at the start of the second half, but Mavropanos, in for Aguerd, impresses with some fine crunching tackles and interceptions, while Zouma wins a lot in the air. The Hammers' best outlet is Kudus. On 63 minutes Mo gets away on the left, bamboozles Reguilon, and dinks a cross in for Bowen to head home. That's Jarrod's first ever hat-trick after 16 career doubles. He runs to the Bobby Moore Stand brandishing three fingers. That's 17 goals this season for the ignited Bowen, and 14 in the league.

"Champions of Europe we know what we are!" rings around the stadium after a dismal start to 2024. Areola has to make a fine low stop to deny Onyeka. But Kudus gets another cross in which is headed out to Emerson on the edge ofd the box. The progressive left-back fires home a fantastic shot into the top corner. Best goal of the night.

"West Ham are massive!" sings the crowd. Paqueueta gets an ovation when he is sensibly replaced by Antonio. Though on 82 minutes poor concentration allows Wissa to fire home a fine finish from the edge of the area. Areola has to make two excellent saves, including a brilliant one-handed parry from Toney's header. But West Ham hold on for a deserved three points. Moyes does tend to win these must-win games and we go back up to eighth.

After the match Gavin has to dash off to the shop to buy a WHU stegosaurus for Lizzie (please insert your own Moyes dinosaur jokes here). The rest of us head off to the Eagle to meet the crocked Fraser who has been in the wheelchair section with Sinead and rather enjoyed this feast of Moyesball in a six-goal thriller. It's Tayto crisps and East London Pale Ale before a late night dash to Maryland and the Elizabeth line. This was a very welcome result and a much better performance taking WHU to 39 points. One more point and we're safe. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Areola 8; Coufal 7, Mavropanos 7, Zouma 7, Emerson 8; Soucek 7, Alvarez 6, Ward-Prowse 7, Paqueta 7 (Antonio 6); Bowen 9, Kudus 8 (Johnson n/a). 

Moyes' achievements deserve respect

It's quite weird the way the David Moyes issue has become some kind of culture war. Social media encourages binary positions but whatever your view, the achievements of Moyes are fact rather than conjecture: two relegation battles survived, sixth place; seventh place and a Europa League semi-final; winning the Europa Conference League. He's a decent man who has put everything into the job and deserves some respect for that.

Personally I don't mind counter-attacking football when it works, though it all depends on sound defence and swift counter-attacking as at Brighton and Arsenal away. When it doesn't work it can be really poor, as at Forest. But when Paqueta, Bowen and Kudus have been on form this season there has certainly been entertainment, as there was when Lingard and co were winning away at Villa and Wolves back in lockdown. 

Yes, if we played as we did against Arsenal at home every week, then Moyes would have to go. But he's experienced and has a history of success in his must-win matches. And those who want Moyes out should ask themselves if they would exchange the current regime for more attacking football with a series of relegation struggles. And if Graham Potter came in how long would it be before the "Potter Out" campaign began if things went badly and we lost three in a row?

I'd rather judge Moyes on the evidence at the end of the season. Both pro and anti Moyes fans are all on the same side and we should be fighting the real enemy - the Judean People's Front, obviously, and also Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea and Brentford on Monday.

Another defeat sparks Forest ire

Nottingham Forest 2 West Ham 0

At least I'm at the British Museum looking at the Legion exhibition while the Barbarians storm West Ham's defensive structure. Antonio returns, which is good news, though he looks rusty when he gets a run at goal allowing the defender to make a recovery tackle. Forest have the better of the first half with Areola having to make good stops. Just when it looks like being goalless at the break Awoniyi outmuscles Aguerd to turn and slot home.

Looking at the highlights Forest, fighting to survive, are the deserved winners. Areola has to make a couple more good saves from long-range volleys from Elanga and Danilo. What chance the Hammers have of salvaging the game disappears when Kalvin Phillips is booked for a silly retaliatory push, and a few minutes later picks up a second yellow for a foul on Gibbs-White, perhaps a little unluckily, though there was no excuse for the first booking.

In added time Hudson-Odoi adds a second to make it game over. A "Moyes Out" banner is unfurled in the away end. We've been here before at the Fulham game last season. Moyes managed to win three must-win El Sackico games that season and now has to try again against Brentford. 

Recent form has been terrible, though we must also remember that Moyes is the same manager who has overseen a good first half to the season and beaten Chelsea, Brighton, Spurs, Man United and Arsenal. Though questions do have to be asked of Moyes and also Tim Steidten, who has allowed Benrahma and Fornals to leave without replacing them. Much of the problem seems to be that Bowen and Kudus have stopped scoring and they desperately need any sort of tap-in to boost their confidence. We have to hope that Paqueta returns against Brentford and our season can turn once more.

How to get a result at Forest?

Something better change, as the Stranglers once sang. After the Arsenal match West Ham have to get a reaction at Forest. I'd bring in Mavropanos for Zouma, who appears only half-fit and consider recalling Ogbonna too. A big problem is that without Paqueta we don't have anyone who can play on the left of midfield. Ben Johnson looked lost there so Moyes could either stick Ward-Prowse out wide with a brief to get crosses in or give Cornet a chance. 

Phillips has played three games now so must be getting fitter, so we could play Phillips and Alvarez as twin defensive midfielders to shield the defence. Perhaps Soucek should be rested and used as an impact sub. While there could also be a case for playing Kudus wide on the right and bringing in Danny Ings in a number ten role behind Bowen. The options are limited with such a small squad, but Moyes has to try something different. 

Six-nil! Six bloody nil!

West Ham 0 Arsenal 6

Move along. Nothing to see here. Just a routine joint record home defeat. The Overground and Elizabeth lines being down suggests it's going to be a bad day. Matt has left his bag at the Best Meze cafe but unfortunately manages to retrieve it and make the kick-off. 

We're joined by Lisa and Michael plus a ticket exchange punter replacing Nigel, who is returning from a scouting mission in Cuba checking out Havana Clue FC, according to Matt.

West Ham keep it goalless for 32 minutes, though Areola makes a brilliant save to keep out Trossard's volley. Ben Johnson is playing alongside Emerson on the left but neither player is getting really close to the flying Arsenal winger. 

Declan Rice swings over a corner and Saliba outmuscles Alvarez and Emerson at the back post to head in. Nine minutes later a simple ball over the top sees Saka free and Areola brings him down for a penalty. Saka looks offside, but VAR deems him onside and he duly scores, 

The West Ham defence appears to be having Joe Biden-style memory lapses. Next Rice's free kick sees  Ben Johnson drift back and play a line of attackers onside. West Ham's line is too deep, Areola is stuck on his line, and Gabriel heads home. In the second minute of added time Arsenal ping some passes around and Trossard in front of a minimal challenge from Zouma, curls home a great shot into the top corner.

Four-nil down at the break and thousands of West Ham fans leave. "There's nobody here!" chant the gleeful Arsenal fans. The lack of fight and leadership has been deeply worrying. While we're not getting anything forward to the isolated  Bowen and Kudus.

Zouma is hooked at the break, which suggests he has been playing while not fully fit, while Phillips comes in for Alvarez and at least gets 45 minutes of football to aid his match fitness. 

Mavropanos improves things slightly at the back though Areola is soon saving from Saka. The home fans who haven't flounced out sing some defiant choruses of "We are West Ham's claret and blue army!".

Saka then cuts inside Emerson and Areola far too easily and fires home the fifth. On 65 minutes Declan Rice fires home a long range screamer. At least he doesn't celebrate and then gets applause from the home fans after he's subbed. 

HOME ALONE

Thankfully the Gunners ease up and it stays at six. Kudus even has a shot saved by Raya's legs. Arsenal have played like prospective champions and West Ham have been terrible. For the Hammers it's the sort of bad day at the office where the photo-copier catches on fire, you get made redundant, the Inland Revenue presents a huge tax demand and there's a heavily-armed ex-employee with a grudge at reception.

Declan Rice comes over to applaud the diehard West Ham fans at the end and gets a good reception. We trudge like shell-shocked WW1 veterans to the Eagle. Nigel is soon to be home re-enacting Michael Palin's Ripping Yarns' "Eight bloody one!" sketch. At least he's been paid £61 not to go to the game, which is the best result of the day. 

Matt suggests we've moved from a low block to a no block. He's on the whisky, though it's tempting to ask for absinthe. Michael muses on his Tainted Love for West Ham over a pint of Guinness. Our collective line is that we have won the series of three games against Arsenal and this was a dead rubber.

Hard to believe the same side beat Arsenal six weeks ago. The sales of Fornals and Benrahma look even stranger with the squad so stretched. It's been a good season up to January, but now is the time to show some character. We need a massive reaction at Nottingham Forest. 

PLAYER RATINGS: Areola 6: Coufal 5, Zouma 3 (Mavropanos 5), Aguerd 4, Emerson 3 (Cresswell 4); Johnson 3, Soucek 3, Alvarez 3 (Phillips 4), Ward-Prowse 3; Bowen 4, Kudus 4.

Out to launch

Thanks to everyone who came along to the launch of Massive: The Miracle of Prague at Daunts bookshop in Holland Park. Great to see so many old Hammers friends and the odd supporter of other teams offering solidarity. No sign of the Chelsea Headhunters even though we took their bookshop. Look out for the sequel to Massive in 43 years' time.

Hammers pay for missed chances

Manchester United 3 West Ham 0 

The formation looks better for this one with Phillips dropped, Aguerd back and Emerson and Coufal/Johnson playing as wing backs. The Irons start pretty well with Onana making a fine save to deny Alvarez's header from a corner that Soucek has headed across goal. Areola has to make a flying save to deny Bruno Fernandes from distance and a JWP free-kick hits the wall from a promising position.

But we're behind after 23 minutes.Casemiro wins a tackle in midfield and Hojlund twists inside Aguerd to fire a powerful shot into the corner. There's a decent response from West Ham but without the killer touch. Soucek has an effort deflected wide. Ben Johnson, who is seeing a lot of the ball and having a good game, has a low short saved by Onana. While Avarez's header flashes across goal from a late corner. 

Areola goes off at half time having been caught by Zouma, and on comes Fabianski. The key moment sees Emerson get through after a mistake by Maguire and blaze wide when he could have shot on target or crossed. United go straight down the other end and score, Garnacho's shot taking a wicked deflection off Aguerd. Emerson could certainly have been tighter. Garnacho then makes it worse by nicking Mo Kudus' celebration and sitting on the hoardings.

Rashford fires wide then two more chances arrive for the Irons, Emerson gets through again but fires straight at the keeper. Alvarez has played well and sends a great ball through to Bowen, who hesitates a second too long in front of goal and allows Dalot to make a great block.

Kalvin Phillips comes on for Soucek and is caught in possession, allowing Garnacho to be set up for number three and it's all over. Phillips will get sharper but again a mistake has been punished with a goal. United have played well, but this wasn't a 3-0 game. With better finishing WHU could have got something from this. Improvement is needed in both boxes but for long periods we actually played quite well.

Booked in Newham

Massive book signing at the Newham Bookshop yesterday. Some punters came from as far afield as Southend and Herts so thanks to all who attended and to Vivian, Tom and Finn. And a fine pint in the refurbished Boleyn Tavern afterwards. Here I am with fellow Hammers author Robert Banks, who has an irrational love of trophies.

Computer says no: peak West Ham on deadline day

Well, Said Benrahma's move to Lyon seemed to have fallen through because West Ham didn't send the right papers to Uefa by 11pm. Lyon accused West Ham of a "profound lack of respect" as it all got rather heated, but it's finally been announced that the loan has gone through. Though looking at the lack of width last night Benrahma staying would have been no bad thing for the stretched squad. 

For a long time we didn't know if the club had sold Pablo Fornals due to a "computer problem" but now the move has finally gone through for £6.8 million. Pablo's form had declined but he'll forever be remembered for his winner at Alkmaar and his part in the seasons where we finished sixth and seventh, as well as singing "West Ham is massive!" Adios Pablo. 

Meanwhile the club has missed out on rumoured targets Osman and Jota. Tim Steidten was meant to have professionalised WHU's recruitment, but the glitches on deadline day hardly suggest that. Maybe the club fax just run out of paper. It's one in and three out this window which leaves a too small squad, though Kalvin Phillips should eventually prove a good signing. Hopefully the dealings will be smoother in the summer.

Ward-Prowse earns point for lacklustre Hammers

West Ham 1 Bournemouth 1

It's down to just Michael and myself in the Billy Bonds stand as the game kicks off, with Matt and Lisa delayed at work, Gavin fighting a battle with the West Ham ticket office over a mislaid email with Nigel's ticket, Nigel away on a scouting mission and Fraser watching at home.

Within three minutes West Ham are behind. Zouma plays a poor backwards pass to Kalvin Phillips in a dangerous area. Phillips, lacking match fitness, is indecisive under a challenge from Christie and toe-pokes it straight to Solanke, who scores the easiest goal of his career. Ref Tim Robinson disallows it for offside, only for VAR to show that Phillips got the final touch and the goal stands.

West Ham look way off the pace and playing four central midfielders in Alvarez, Phillips, Soucek and Ward-Prowse just isn't working, while poor Zouma runs with a limp looking increasingly like a centre back held together with gaffer tape. At least Matt, Lisa and eventually Gavin join us. The Irons can't cope with Bournemouth's pressing game and soon Cook is shooting narrowly wide.

It should be two for the Cherries when Areola makes a brilliant save to foil Semenyo. Towards the end of the half the Hammers improve a bit. Ward-Prowse has struggled on the left but gets in a great cross for Bowen to head against Neto. But in another dangerous break, Semenyo has a shot deflected just over.

At half-time we're joined by Garry the son of Ken and Carol of Ken's Cafe fame, plus his daughter Millie. They collect a couple of copies of Massive: The Miracle of Prague and Millie even has a photo taken with the author. The best moment of the game so far.

JUST SOLD MY HOUSE TO JAMES WARD-PROWSE

The crowd do their best to get West Ham going in the second half, with the returning Mo Kudus our best hope. He makes a surging run into the box and is brought down by Kelly. The ref doesn't give it, but VAR intervenes. The ref appears to be time-wasting as he slowly walks to the monitor, but eventually gives the penalty. Ward-Prowse puts it straight down the middle and scores. 

Ings comes on for Phillips but it's still a struggle as the Cherries threaten. Bowen heads wide from a Ward-Prowse free-kick but chances are few. Zouma has shown character to play through his dodgy knee problem, as he makes a lumbering charge forwards inspiring some literary comparisons from Michael. Dinos has a pretty good game at the back. 

The Vicar's Son becomes increasingly exasperated by the ref giving us very little, the play-acting of the Bournemouth players going down with cramp and a late flag, at which point he accuses the lino of being an anchor, or something like that.

Late on Areola has to make another fine save to deny Kelly. Christie is booked for a cynical foul on Kudus, while Bowen plays like he's not yet fully fit. "What is the point of that!" howls Matt in a fit of existential despair when Cornet comes on the the 96th minute. 

We head off down the walkways to the Eagle, past the flats that Matt says are used as the setting for the film All Of Us Strangers. At least the East London Pale Ale is refreshing. I'm grateful for a point in a game where we played badly. West Ham haven't won this year in five games, though to be fair we're unbeaten in the league with three draws. Things might get better with Coufal and Aguerd to return to the side, plus maybe even Antonio and eventually Paqueta, though currently we really struggle without Lucas. Phillips will get match fit and Bowen will get sharper after his injury. 

Then comes the deadline day news on the TV and it seems we can't even sell players effectively, though that might help our small squad. Time for another drink. 

PLAYER RAINGS: Areola 8; Johnson 6, Zouma 5, Mavropanos 7, Emerson 6; Phillips 5 (Ings 5) , Alvarez 6, Soucek 5, Ward-Prowse 6; Kudus 7 (Cornet n/a), Bowen 5.

Massive signing at the Newham Bookshop

Looking forward to signing copies of Massive: The Miracle of Prague at the Newham Bookshop on Saturday. It's also a chance for fans to relive a few memories of the Boleyn Ground. Ken's Cafe might have gone, the stadium is no more but at least the Boleyn is now a rather classy gastro pub with some great Victorian fixtures and fittings. While the Newham Bookshop remains a great community asset and purveyor of all that's best in the book world.

Massive: The Miracle of Prague is now out

My new book Massive:The Miracle of Prague is now officially published. It's the story of the 2022-23 season and the basis of the book was the match reports from this very blog. It was certainly a strange season with David Moyes three times said to be one game from the sack, with the El Sackico games against Everton, Notts Forest and Fulham. 

Yet a bit like Withnail and I, West Ham went to a cup final by mistake and the season ended with the club's first trophy in 43 years, in what just might have been the biggest triumph of the human spirit since the Moon landings and the discovery of DNA. Jarrod Bowen was on fire and dating Dani Dyer and we all just sold our cars to Lucas Paqueta. Hope you enjoy it. Trigger warning: this book may contain trophies.

Stop! Hammer Time: Mr Moyes vs the PGMOB

Here's a bit more WHU podscasting with myself rambling on with Phil, Jim and Pete on the latest Stop! Hammer Time podcast. Click on the link to play. Great idea of Phil's for Toby Jones to play David Moyes in the latest miscarriage of justice series after the Sheffield United game.

Massive on the Talking Sports Books podcast

Good fun speaking to Tim Caple about Massive: The Miracle of Prague on the Talking Sports Books podcast. We seemed to spend a lot of the time discussing favoured pubs around the London Stadium and my pal Nigel's taste in classic rock as well as redemption for David Moyes and winning a trophy, if that doesn't spoil the ending. Click on the link to play. 

Loan arranger brings Phillips to the Irons

Well, a big boost to the Hammers' squad with the arrival of Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips on loan for the rest of the season. A couple of years ago he was the mainstay of the England midfield with Declan Rice. He's been frozen out by Guardiola at City, but once he's match fit Phillips should be a real asset. Yesterday's Evening Standard pointed out that all the club's recent defeats, against Brentford, Fulham, Liverpool and Bristol City, were when Edson Alvarez was absent. Phillips gives WHU a ready-made alternative to Alvarez as a defensive midfield shield. And if Moyes plays Phillips and Alvarez together then Ward-Prowse can play in a wider role and get forward more, as can Tomas Soucek. Hopefully we'll be getting a hungry player desperate to get back in the England squad. This seems like a good move for both parties.

Penalty chaos sees Hammers drop points

Sheffield United 2 West Ham 2

Matt and Lisa visit Mayhem Corner for this one to watch the game onTNT, before setting off for Dagenham to watch the WHU women's side at 6.45pm. We're joined by lucky dog Vulcan on the sofa, though much of the first half sends him to sleep. 

At least Bowen is fit, if isolated up top. Both sides misplace passes on the windy Sheffield pitch with Ings hesitating in front of goal and then Cornet crossing to no-one in the box. But the Hammers take an unexpected lead when Ings' shot falls nicely to Cornet on the left, who volleys home with a crisp finish for his first Hammers goal. Matt has absolutely never doubted him. That goal should give Maxi some confidence.

We look to be holding out until just before the break when a big header across the box  sees Sousa's header well saved by Areola. But Brereton Diaz is quicker than Ward-Prowse to react and power home the rebound.

Sheffield put the Irons under pressure early in the second half as Brereton Diaz scuffs a one-on-one chance wide, but the Hammers stay solid even with a limping Zouma. Ings twists to fire a shot on target and is having a better game than of late. Moyes gets an undeserved chorus of "You don't know what you're doing!" from some away fans when he brings on Johnson for Cornet, but actually Ben does quite well in an unfamiliar midfield role.

Fornals has been poor, but finds Ings who turns well to move past Robinson into the box and is bought down. Ward-Prowse dispatches the penalty with 11 minutes left. Ings then has two goalbound shots blacked by defenders in a good chance to make it 3-1.

But it all kicks off in 14 minutes of chaotic added time. Sheffield's Brewster is sent off for a two-footed lunge at Emerson, but Coufal is booked for telling the ref to send him off, which is a stupid booking. 

Johnson dawdles on the ball, Sheffield break on the left and Coufal gets a second yellow for a foul. From the free kick the ball gets recycled and Areola and McBurnie collide going up for a cross. The ref gives a penalty even though McBurnie's arm is across Areola's face and the keeper needs treatment. 

The Hammers bring on Fabianski for the penalty, but after an age of delay he can't keep out McBurnle's calm finish. It's the latest goal ever scored in the Premier League at 103 minutes. 

But there's still a minute left and Ben Johnson does really well to get in a cross from the right. Jarrod Bowen is pulled down by Ahmedhodzic in a tackle straight from Twickenham. It's the most blatant penalty in the history of football, but while being hauled to the floor Jarrod's hand has touched the ball and ref Michael Salisbury gives a free kick to United. Where was sodding VAR? Moyes gives the ref his Glasgow death stare and is too angry afterwards to comment. 

West Ham haven't played well and have dropped two points, though credit to Sheffield for their resilience. The Irons really have to be much more professional in closing out games, though in fairness an away point isn't a complete disaster without Alvarez, Aguerd, Kudus, Paqueta and Antonio. On 35 points we might be safe. And but for a VAR clanger it should have been a late penalty winner after 104 minutes.