NOTE FROM IAIN: The Predictor League for Leicester City on Sunday is ready to enter HERE . The deadline for entries is 10am on Sunday morning.
Thursday
The Chase was on. No, not West Hams pursuit of some non-existent footballer we may or may not be hoping to sign, But my appearance on My Hammers XI YouTube channels version of the chase.
When asked by the host Russ to be the chaser I didn’t know the calibre of opponents I would face. It is one thing being a perceived know all about West Ham, it’s another proving it, and when faced with the 3 other contestants it was obvious the one who would give me most trouble the author Rob Banks.
No disrespect to Mike Manera and my mate Stelios from Irons United, I didn’t see them as putting up much trouble to me, especially as poor old Stel was texting me trying to take his place on the show, not knowing he was facing me. I didn’t give the game away to the point I convinced him not to pull out of taking part. It’s just for charity mate. To be honest, I didn’t want him replaced with someone that may be more difficult.
As I thought, Rob Banks would be the one to give me a good run for my money. The main reason for the show was of course to raise money for the Irons fans Foodbank and high lite the great work they are doing in these times.
John Ratomski who is the driving force behind it needs to be held up high and acclaimed for the great achievement of the Iron fans Group in supporting the local foodbanks in East London and South West Essex, with fans missing from football games, that dried up the donations but John in conjunction with the bigger group of Fans supporting foodbanks, he has made sure the flow of support has been coming in. This week John personally delivered hundreds of boxes of Pizzas and frozen bread that had been donated down to Newham and Ilford – no mean feat when you live in Cheshire (or somewhere near there? Basically up norf) as John does.
My vote for West Ham fan of the year, if the club does it.
For those interested, you can watch the show here
Sunday v Wolves
When the chips are down, it’s great to see West Ham still have the ability to surprise us. As per usual recently most games are preceded with doom and gloom comments, ranging from players picked, players not picked, the formation of the team, the manager generally does not have a clue. All those comments you will see game after game across many of the West Ham platforms and yet despite that negativity we witness another great performance from this team. One swallow does not make a summer, and one victory does not define a season, but surely after the 3rd 4 goal haul since David Moyes started his second stint we can at least acknowledge that perhaps this team is not as bad as is the perception.
One area where it seems I am at odds with many of the fanbase is what the formation of the team is at the moment. Before we lost Noble to his toe injury, Moyes favoured a 451 line up. With Noble out, he moved Fornals into Noble’s position and brought in Arthur to the left side vacated by Noble.
Many, though, seem to think Moyes has changed to a 3 at the back with Arthur and Fredericks as wing-backs. Basically a 352 formation or is it 361, or even 343.
Whatever it is, when I question those who claim we play 3 at the back with 2 wing backs out wide they seem to fail to answer, where is Bowen in that formation as predominately against Wolves he was still wide right, in front of Fredericks, as was Masuaku in front of Cresswell. If it is 2 upfront, who is there with Antonio.??
My favourite moment on twitter for ages happened during the early part of the game. A budding young journalist tweeted he would have played Yarmalenko, as he brings goals.
I asked him who he would drop, Bowen he replied.
The rest, as they say, is history.
To be honest, I don’t get hung up too much with formation, though its obvious Moyes hasn’t changed his way of playing. Personally, I feel we need to break the negativity surrounding the team, this for me is not a bad team, on its day it will give some of the best teams in the league a good game and will go on to surprise us. Yes, there are areas that need strengthening but if this is the hand we are dealt once the transfer window has closed I for one won’t be pulling my hair out in frustration and predicting certain relegation battle.
Wednesday v Everton
Apparently, we have a weak squad, and yet our midweek cup team cost more to assemble that the current first 11 picks. That, of course, is helped by the fact our two record transfer buys are deemed not to be first 11. Throw in Yarmolanko and Lanzini and as much like the first team, going forward should be able to cause them trouble. I’m pretty confident, for a change, of us, being able to progress to the quarter-final of the league cup, Everton has made a cracking start this season, but at some point that run has to end and I imagine they will be more interested in the league rather than the league cup.
As I write that Everton go 1-0 up. Oh well, don’t want to win this Micky Mouse cup anyway, not with fans probably missing from the final, though imagine if West Ham did make the final at Wembley with no fans allowed. I know where ill be watching it, Wembley Way on my phone. probably with another 30,000 Hammers fans. We can all but dream.
Until next week.