West Ham need Anderson on the pitch

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

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

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

More like a football stadium?

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

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

Snoddy shines in Sheffield stalemate

West Ham 1 Sheffield United 1

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

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

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

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

Nigel's not-so-lucky banana

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Should Pellegrini make changes for Sheffield United?

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

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

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

Another brick in the wall

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

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

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

A better weekend for ex-Hammers and loan stars

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

VAR nicks it for Palace

The sad sight of the Boleyn Ground as flats

West Ham 1 Crystal Palace 2

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

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

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

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

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

Haller scores for the Hammers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Noble move forward

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

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

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

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

In praise of Snoddy

You have to admire the character of Robert Snodgrass, who is winning the fans over with his workrate and committed performances. He was asked to replace one of the best players in the world in Diego Payet, which he was never going to do. Slaven Bilic gave up on him after just 15 games and loaned him to Aston Villa for a season. While at Villa, where he did well playing 40 games and scoring seven times in the Championship, he was criticised in public by David Sullivan and Karren Brady, which should never have happened at a well-run football club. He could easily have demanded a permanent move,

But this season Snoddy has won over Manuel Pellegrini and featured in every game, opening his scoring account with a brace against Macclesfield. In the last two away games he's cut back balls that Arnautovic and Ogbonna should both have buried. He's not the greatest player in the world, but he's putting in the effort, and West Ham fans will always appreciate a player who puts in a shift. With the current injury crisis we need squad players like Snoddy. Could this be the season he finally makes an impact in claret and blue?

Point for battling Hammers in game overshadowed by tragedy

Leicester City 1 West Ham 1

This game has been completely overshadowed by tragedy since the crash of the Leicester chairman's helicopter. Thoughts go out to all those affected and the Leicester City fans. And well done to Gary Lineker for presenting what must have been a very difficult Match of the Day in a professional manner.

As for the football, the Irons started without the ill Arnautovic. But it was pleasing to see Fabian Balbuena score his first goal for the Hammers. Grady Diangana, on his full Premier League debut, did well to win a free kick. Rice headed it back and the General first hit the post and then tapped home the rebound, reacting more quickly than Maguire. 

The game then turned again with Mark Noble's sending off. No complaints about this. Sometimes Nobes is so keen to set an example that he lunges in and if you go in with your studs up and miss the ball while connecting with the man, then the ref has no choice. 

For the rest of the game we saw why West Ham have improved defensively and players like Snodgrass really put in a shift. Fabianski is now looking an upgrade on Adrian and made another set of impressive saves. When the 89th minute equaliser came from Ndidi it took a huge deflection off the unlucky Balbuena. There was still time for West Ham to almost win it. Good work from Antonio saw Snodgrass cut it back for sub Ogbonna who blazed over — a real centre back's shot when he should have scored.

But really it's difficult to write about football on a day like this. West Ham go on to play Spurs on Wednesday — for Leicester it won't be anything like as easy. 

Newham Bookshop makes moving appeal

Good to see that the Newham Bookshop raised £3000 towards the cost of its move two doors down to 743 Barking Road at Sunday's auction of signed books at the Wanstead Tap. Among the books on offer was a copy of Robert Banks' An Irrational Hatred of Everything signed by all of the legendary 1980 FA Cup-winning side minus Frank Lampard and Geoff Pike, but with a bonus Tony Gale signature. It went for £55.

London's best independent bookshop needs £25,000 to cover new heating, lighting, power and fittings for 743. You can visit the bookshop's Crowdfunder page to make a pledge, pop in to the shop or post a cheque. Donors will get prizes, £20 gets a bonus bag and if you contribute £250 you even get a shelf dedicated to you and tickets to six events…

Yarmolenko out for the season

More bad news on the injury front. Andriy Yarmolenko has torn his achilles tendon and is now likely to be out for the rest of the season. Pellegrini hasn't had much luck, seeing both his statement £17m signing and the influential Lanzini sidelined with long-term injuries. He's also without Carlos Sanchez for the season, while Wilshere, Carroll (as ever) and Reid have also had serious injuries, while Chicharito contracted glandular fever. Still, a treatment room that's busier than the Stratford station interchange is surely the West Ham Way. 

There are options to replace Yarmolenko. I liked Diangana's confident attitude against Spurs and he's not afraid to try fancy stepovers against international defenders from a top four side. Antonio could be another option, if he ever manages to regain his pace and full fitness, or we could play Anderso behind Arnie in a more central role. While there were signs that Arnautovic and sub Javier Hernandez were linking up well late on against Spurs. West Ham's big problem is not scoring when we get the opportunities, so my own choice would be to give Hernandez a run alongside Arnie with Anderson feeding them— Chicharito might not do much apart from score, but that's not a bad knack to have.

Lloris heroics edge it for Spurs

West Ham 0 Tottenham 1

It's in to Westfield where daughter Nell spends a long time seeking out Urban Outfitters and gets a new pair of trousers – the best result of the day. Inside the stadium we find Fraser (whose gag about a half and half England/Ireland scarf for Declan Rice I've shamelessly recycled in the Observer), Matt, Lisa, Nigel and Alison and Scott, who are enjoying life in 'middle-class' Clacton. Michael's away giving a Memorial Lecture, presumably on West Ham's Europa League hopes.

For the first 25 minutes it's fairly even, with West Ham's best chance being when Yarmolenko's cross is pulled back to Snodgrass, whose goalbound shot is cleared by Alderweireld. A couple of terrible Anderson corners don't help WHU's momentum. The Spurs fans amuse themselves by chanting, "you're not West Ham anymore!"

Yarmolenko suddenly collapses in the box when there's a half-chance having caught his studs in the turf. He's stretchered off and it looks like yet another long-term injury to go with Lanzini, Wilshere, Reid, Carroll and Sanchez. Pellegrini makes a bold substitution, bringing on young Diangana instead of Antonio.

We're missing the influence of Obiang in midfield and Spurs come into towards the end of the half. Two minutes before the break the impressive Sissoko glides past a toiling Anderson and crosses on to the head of Lamela, who has got ahead of Zabaleta. The Spurs man glances it home. It should be two a couple of minutes later as Fabianski makes a superb double save to deny Lamela and then Sanchez. 

West Ham start strongly after the break, as Cresswell does well to win a loose ball and cross for Arnautovic's looping header to force a fantastic tip over from Lloris. Spurs look dangerous on the break and strong at the back, but we give it a go, despite the central midfield of Rice and Noble being overrun at times. Diangana shows confidence in his ability to take on a man and draw fouls and is a little unlucky with a penalty claim after a tackle from Winks.

THE SUN ALSO RISES
It's a bit sunny for the lads, and the fans too, as we struggle to see through the glare. What idiot purchased these seats? Matt quips that the bloke at the reservation centre also said we'd be getting £350m to spend on the NHS.

The Vicar's Son next to me helpfully advises Martin Atkinson to take early retirement while the geezer behind us, who is probably not a vicar's son, lays into Anderson with a set of expletives. When Anderson lets a ball drift into touch he's finally substituted. He looks jaded again and is such a frustrating player, either brilliant or a bit rubbish from week to week. 

Arnautovic forces another good low save from Llloris after getting in a shot from the edge of the box. Sub Javier Hernandez and Arnautovic link up well to allow Hernandez to score only for he goal to be correctly disallowed for offside. The WHU fan who chucked a smoke bomb feels a bit silly. Still, the crowd do their bit and it's one of the louder games at the London Stadium.

ARNIE WOE
Sub Antonio causes some problems by getting down the left wing, though his crosses fail to find a man. But a chance will surely come, and it does in added time as Chicharito and Arnie play a nice give and go to leave Arnie one-on-one, only for Lloris to charge out and save with his face. There's still time for Antonio to shoot just over from distance before the whistle.

We'll play worse than this and win. Spurs look what they are, a top four side, but Diop and Balbuena have made some excellent tackles and kept Kane quiet, while Lloris has had to be at peak form to deny Arnie. The injury list is worrying, but now is the time to realise it's a work in progress and for Pellegrini to keep faith. We could have got more from both Brighton and Spurs. With a little bit of luck things should turn again. 

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 6; Zabaleta 6, Diop 7, Balbuena 7, Cresswell 6; Rice 6, Noble 5 (Antonio 5), Snodgrass 6; Anderson 4 (Hernandez 6), Arnautovic 7, Yarmolenko 5 (Diangala 6).

Review: An Irrational Hatred of Everything

Robert Banks’ An Irrational Hatred of Everything looks at West Ham from 2003-2018 and reminds us all just what an irrational (and familiar) ride it’s been. It starts off in the Championship with West Ham flogging most of the England team under Terence Brown and fan group Whistle protesting against the board.

Under new manager Alan Pardew Banks reminisces about scattergun loan signings such as Robbie Stockdale, Malky Mackay and Jon Harley. But then come the kind-of glory years of three successive appearances at the Millennium Stadium and a return to the Premier League. What could possibly go wrong?

This work by Banksy won’t shred itself, but he recalls plenty of times when the club itself was nearly shredded. I’d almost forgotten that West Ham fans had been sold a dream and delivered a nightmare before. Only the Hammers could have been bought by one of the richest men in the world who then became one of the poorest. Banksy chronicles the Icelandic years of Gudmundsson and Eggy the Egg Man: these involved the Great Escape, splurging a fortune on Dyer, Ljungberg, Lucas Neill and co and then spending a whole season under Alan Curbishley when we were contractually obliged to be tenth every week. We lost 4-0 three times in a row and still remained tenth.

Then came the strange years under Zola of being so Brassic we played in patches sewn over the name of our bankrupt sponsor XL. Banks helps recall Zola’s teams eking out Premiership survival through jobbing temporary strikers like Di Michele, Tristan, Ilan and Franco and more heroically the spirit of the indefatigable Scott Parker.

Gold and Sullivan arrive and install Avram Grant, who expertly steers us to relegation (anyone remember Victor Obinna and Pablo Barrera?) The author sums up the Allardyce years well, being torn between the desire to see us actually getting some results and going up, but also cringing at the ear-cupping episode and the lack of a Plan B if we go a goal down.

Under Bilic he’s goggle-eyed at the away wins and emotion of the final season at the Boleyn before being dismayed at the infighting at the London Stadium, a move that he’s clear we were not consulted about. Although Robert feels part of the club has died, he’s still optimistic enough to see hope in a rare victory over Spurs and the atmosphere at Moyes’ first home game against Leicester.

This is Banks' fourth West Ham book, continuing the series that began with An Irrational Hatred of Luton. He makes a good everyman fan. Like most of us he has to juggle his life and the Hammers. He doesn’t go to every game, misses out on finals and for a long time he’s restricted to northern outings while living in Bradford. We hear a lot about his problems with his ex-wife, then a new relationship with Elaine from Brazil (missing the play-off final to get married in Brazil is a fair excuse). There’s a moving section on his dad dying and Andy Carroll seeming to score that overhead kick in his memory.

Robert also has a lot to say about the shouty nature of social media, and sees West Ham fans start to become divided in the toxic Allardyce debates. Banks covers the Real West Ham fans on/off march, likening the ICF to a drunken uncle at a wedding, and despairs at the abuse of WHUISA and others, while making a heartfelt plea for some online respect and tolerance of opposing viewpoints.

Like most of us, Banks seems to understand that the West Ham Way is both irrational defeats and irrational victories and that, “it’s about our heritage, playing the right way, sportsmanship, winning through superior skill and endeavour and losing with grace.”

An Irrational Hatred of Everything is a rollicking, passionate read that emphasises that while permanent chaos (and the odd moment of glory) is the natural order at West Ham, it’s the fans that endure.

An Irrational Hatred of Everything is published by Biteback, price £12.99.

We've got our carpet back — and West Ham would consider buying London Stadium

Some interesting revelations from Karren Brady's appearance before the London Aseembly. The Daily Mail reports that an agreement has finally been reached about the carpet round the pitch. Sadly we can't have leopardskin, but it is going to be claret with a WHU badge and a dark blue border — something the LLDC could have agreed to a year ago. 

Brady also said that West Ham would definitely be interested in buying the London Stadium, "if it became a dedicated football stadium" with the odd concert and rugby match, but no athletics. She pointed out that West Ham originally offered to buy it during the bidding process, and that is surely Sullivan and Gold's long-term plan. You do wonder how long the LLDC can afford to lose around £20 million a year. 

Brady also claimed that the LLDC's estimate of the cost of staging each match had gone down from £250k a game to £43k a game, a figure she still disputed. At least relations with the LLDC appear to have improved slightly with the appointment of Lyn Garner as chief executive. 

Hopefully all this scrutiny from the London Assembly will ensure a better relationship between tenant and landlord — and better value for the taxpayer.

West Ham has to be be an inclusive club

West Ham have been right to suspend under-18s coach Mark Phillips for being on the Democratic Football Lads Alliance march and subsequently tweeting in defence of it. The DFLA's stated aims of protesting against "returning jihadists", "thousands of awol migrants" "veterans being treated like traitors" and "rape gangs and groomers" suggest the sort of whistles my border terrier would be able to hear. The Premier League has already condemned the Football Lads Alliance (the Democratic Football Lads Alliance is a splinter group) for its far right links and anti-Muslim agenda.

Many of West Ham's young players will be Muslim, black, Asian or the children of migrants (a less pejorative term for migrants is human beings). They need to know that West Ham is an inclusive club, particularly after Tony Henry's ill-judged comments about not signing African players last year. Yes, Phillips might have simply been naive, and some people on the march might be there out of a misguided sense of patriotism and not regard themselves as racists, but they are keeping some pretty unsavoury company. Let's Kick it Out at West Ham.

Headbanging Hammers

West Ham are in danger of having a back four of headbangers. Fabian Balbuena recently revealed himself to be a fan of punk and heavy metal in the programme's Play List column. He chose a song by Paraguayan nu metal band A tu ladu, two Green Day songs, Sweet Dreams by Marilyn Manson, Somewhere I Belong by Linkin Park and Californicaton by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. 

When Pablo Zabaleta was interviewed for the same section last season he chose AC/DC's Highway to Hell, Iron Maiden's Number of the Beast and Metallica's excellent cover of Thin Lizzy's Whiskey in the Jar. The Argentine full back even knows that Iron Maiden are a local band and that Stevie Harris is a West Ham fan. While to add to add a bit of punk credibility he also chose a Ramones song.

It's a shame that Zabaleta and Balbuena can't play together under another metal fan, Slaven Bilic. Footballers have come a long way since the days of Lionel Richie. 

Bike From Boleyn before the Spurs match

Celebrate saving the World Cup statue by joining Bike From Boleyn before the Spurs game on October 20. Celebrations from 10am, bike ride to Stratford from 12.30pm. Sign up for the bike ride and win free tickets to the match. Details from bikefromboleyn18.eventbrite.co.uk.

A roundabout route to Manuel Pellegrini

Interesting to note that Manuel Pellegrini has just had a roundabout named after him in Malaga. Pellegrini took Malaga to the quarter finals of the Champions League in his three-year spell there and has been back to Spain for the unveiling of the roundabout called Glorieta Manuel Pellegrini. Perhaps we should have more road features named after West Ham stars. Maybe Dicks Drive, Bonds Boulevard or Psycho Parade? The Big Sam Flyover could be on the Highway to Hull. While Rue de Payet would be a cul-de-sac. All vehicles on these roads would of course be made by The General Motors.