Zouma meeting

Some better news on the injury front is that Kurt Zouma might be back at the end of January and Aaron Cresswell is also close to returning from his back injury. So the need to sign a centre-back is slightly less urgent, though Dawson and Diop have wobbled at times in recent weeks. Moyes will have to decide if Alese and Baptiste are good enough to do a job if called upon or sign a fourth centre back. The big need is still for another striker. Interesting to see that Newcastle are moving for Burnley's Chris Wood who has a release clause in his contract. Could the Irons identify players who might have a release clause and benefit from this in similar fashion? 

All's well that's Cresswell

Interesting to note that Aaron Cresswell is currently the fourth best defender in the PL according to Fantasy Football's points system. Aaron's certainly getting a lot of points for assists. He crossed for Antonio to head home against Leicester and then it was his clearance that led to Fornals scoring the second. While at Spurs it was Cresswell who crossed for Balbuena to head home to start the Hammers' revival. It was also Cressy's free-kick into the box that resulted in a hurried clearance falling to Lanzini for a goal that is going to go down in WHU folklore.

At the start of the season many of us felt that as Cresswell will be 31 in December he was in need of replacing. But playing in a back five had left him much less exposed as a third centre back, while he's never lost his ability to cross with his left foot. He still has weaknesses, such as when he was outjumped by Kane for the third Spurs' goal, but Cresswell's form is so good that he's now one of the side's biggest assets with his free kicks and crosses.

During the last two matches West Ham gave looked really well-coached and it's not just Cresswell who has improved. It's surely no coincidence that Alan Irvine, Kevin Nolan and Stuart Pearce have all had spells as managers, and they are aided by two more coaches in Paul Nevin and Xavi Valero. David Moyes has surrounded himself with a solid team and the results are showing