Kretinsky speaks

Interesting to read new 27 per cent shareholder Daniel Kretinsky's column in the Evening Standard last week. As a billionaire he no doubt has lots of PR advisers, but he is at least saying the right things. He is opposed to the so-called European Super League and admitting that he rushed things at Sparta Prague, suggests that evolution is the way forward for WHU rather than spending big in January. He also appears to appreciate the work of Moyes and his coaches and the atmosphere generated by the fans, having attended the Leicester and Liverpool games. 

Kretinsky stresses the Czech Republic links with West Ham, citing Ludek Miklosko (who comes from near Moscow), Tomas Soucek, Alex Kral and Vladimir Coufal, though strangely omitting Super Tomas Repka, perhaps due to his run-ins with the Czech Old Bill. It's now been reported that there is a time-limited clause enabling Kretinsky to buy out the two Davids, though it's unclear when this expires. But his initial ambitions for club appear to be on the right lines.

Snow points at Man City

Manchester City 2 West Ham 1

Rather annoyingly this wasn't on TV, so had to listen on Radio 5 instead. Moyes rested Bowen and brought in Masuaku, a move  criticised by some, but it's surely understandable that the gaffer might decide Jarrod needs a break with two home games in a week coming up.

West Ham started well, with Antonio turning Dias and crossing for Benrahma, who failed to control a good chance. Then Michail broke through on the other flank and was foiled by Ederson.

As the snow came down City's passing game kicked in. Walker shot wide, Mahrez had a goal correctly disallowed and then Laporte headed just past the post. City's opener came after Mahrez found too much space on the right and Gundogan stroked home his cross. The marking could certainly have been tighter. Ben Johnson had to make a great clearance off the line before the break as a blizzard ensued and the ball was making tracks in the deep snow.

It looked like the game might be postponed, but a great effort from the City's ground staff saw the pitch swept clear of snow during an extended interval. After that City continued to press with Fabianski having a fine game and Cresswell injuring his back as he collided with the post while clearing off the line.

Once Bowen came on the Irons did pose more of a threat with Rice testing Ederson with a long-range effort. It was sub Fernadinho who sealed the points though with a drive from the edge of the box late on, his first league goal in three years.

There was still time for Lanzini to score an incredible goal from the edge of the box with the last kick. A shame for Manuel that it didn't earn any points as it was every bit as good as his screamer at Tottenham. If he could do that more regularly then surely he'd get more games.

So it's two defeats in a row but not a time to panic. It should be remembered that this City side beat Paris St Germain in midweek and that we kept the game close. They are one of the richest clubs in the world while we only have one striker. What's more worrying is that Antonio has only scored one goal in seven league games and we want him back firing (though he did get two for Jamaica). We need to get a win against Brighton on Wednesday, a team that hasn't won in eight games, though they've drawn six, and then do something special against Chelsea.

Rapid progress

Rapid Vienna 0 West Ham 2 (Europa League)

It's back to the days of lockdown as the Irons take on Rapid Vienna in an empty stadium with a team of squad players while I watch on BT Sport. The lads look at it early on as Masuaku crosses low and Bowen pokes wide. Yarmolenko produces a mixture of one brilliant cross and a lot of running into defenders, but it's the big Ukranian who makes the difference on 40 minutes. Vlasic gets in a decent cross and Yarmy rises above his man to head home. That will do the confidence of both players a lot of good.The game is put to bed before the break as Yarmolenko is foolishly fouled on the edge of the box and Mark Noble steps up to take the penalty and score his first of the season.

The second half sees the Hammers contrive several ways not to get a third as Rapid are restricted to long-range efforts. Bowen wriggles through a group of defenders only to poke the ball at the keeper. Yarmolenko finds Soucek with a fine ball, Tomas hits the keeper when he should score and then Bowen has his shot cleared off the line.

Subs Fornals and Benrahma add some late energy and the game is enlivened by the debut of 17-year-old Sonny Perkins. He almost scores with his first touch, getting his head to Coufal's cross and forcing a good save from Gartler. Sonny looks very eager and might even be a possible long-term deputy for Antonio. 

All in all a fine professional performance from a much-changed side, against a dispirited Vienna side who have sacked their manager. We win Group H while Spurs got battered in the Europa Conference at NS Mura. A good night all round. Irons!

Ben Johnson will play right

It's not often Moyes changes his best PL team, but it's significant that Coufal can't get his place back at the moment. Ben Johnson has come in and done brilliantly in his unfussy way. As befits the nephew of Paul Parker and cousin of Ledley King he's strong in the tackle and rarely has a player go past him. 

Perhaps Vladimir Coufal offers more going forward as he's such a good crosser of a moving ball, but Johnson is improving there too and he's still only 21. What is clear is that WHU now have really good competition for the right-back spot. Coufal will probably get a game at Rapid Vienna and his experience will be vital for the remainder of the season; but Johnson is clearly going to be one for the future. And who will get the nod for the away game at Man City? Will it be Coufal after having Jack Grealish in his pocket last season? And in the long term is there a way of playing both players in the same team?

Hammers savaged by hungry Wolves

Wolves 1 West Ham 0

Big news for this one is that Nigel has infiltrated the home fans and has made the game despite a flat battery and then relying on Millwall-supporting builders to help jump-start his motor. Presumably he's had a few pre-match pints with Noddy Holder, Robert Plant and his mate Adrian. If the Irons win we go second. What could possibly go wrong? 

West Ham start off quite encouragingly as Bowen heads just wide from Cresswell's cross. But after that it's mainly Wolves as Jimenez jinks wide when through and Fabianski has to tip over a Moutinho effort. Agent Nigel reports that Matt would enjoy the "Mike Dean's a w**ker!" chants and that Antonio looks isolated up front.

The second half sees Wolves all over us according to Nigel. Podence has a low effort saved by Fabianski and then the keeper has to make a fantastic flying save to deny the same player. The deserved breakthrough comes on 58 minutes as Podence pulls back to Jimenez who cleverly passes the ball into the corner from just outside the box.

At least West Ham have some sustained pressure towards the end as Vlasic, Lanzini and Yarmolenko come on. The best chance is when Antonio finds Bowen and after some neat footwork Jarrod fires over the bar when he should score. Vlasic just fails to connect with a Johnson cross and that's it.

Is this where so many games have finally caught up with WHU? Or is it simply a result of lots of our players being away on international duty — Antonio has scored a couple of cracking goals for Jamaica but has then had to be flown back by David Sullivan's private jet (never mind COP26) and must be tired. Our winning run couldn't last forever, Ogbonna is a big miss and Wolves have played well. But looking at the big picture we're still in a great position. Though with tiredness a factor Moyes will now need to shuffle the squad for Thursday's trip to Rapid Vienna.

The Boys of '76

It's best not to get too carried away. Thanks to Mystic Matt for pointing out that the last time West Ham had this successful a start to a season was in 1975-76 when West Ham ended up finishing 18th. WHU were unbeaten in their first nine league games but astonishingly didn't win for the final 16 matches, picking up only five points. The last victory that season was on January 24. The side did reach the Cup Winners Cup Final, losing 4-2 to Anderlecht, but it was a classic case of a team being distracted by a European run. I still have painful memories of watching the 6-1 away defeat at Arsenal on The Big Match. Had social media been around there would have been a lot of meltdowns. It was just the sort of flakiness that David Moyes has seemingly eliminated. Hopefully this time round we'll keep going!

Rapid decline

UEFA's decision to ban West Ham fans from attending the Europa League game at Rapid Vienna is mystifying. It seems there was a flare thrown on the pitch at Genk, but no other trouble was reported on the TV or in the press, bar a couple of Herberts singing anti-semitic songs on a plane, who have now been banned. While the trouble at the home match against Rapid Vienna appeared to be started by the Vienna fans trying to break out of the away section — and Rapid have remained unpunished. It's also very hard on the 1700 West Ham fans who have already bought tickets and booked transport. Perhaps it is a pre-emptive ban to prevent possible trouble but 1700 fans can't be that difficult to police or protect. West Ham have asked for clarification and surely this will be overturned.