Although West Ham have gone a little off the boil in the last couple of games, David Moyes’ side have still enjoyed a reasonable start to their 2023/24 campaign.
The Hammers go into their weekend match against Everton in ninth position, however, they’re only six points away from fourth.
If European football is again the aim for next season, staying in touch with the teams at the top of the table is a must.
For that, Moyes knows that he needs players he can rely on to dig deep in every match and go to war if he needs them too.
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There’s certainly never been a problem with Tomas Soucek’s commitment to the cause, and that’s perhaps why he’s already, apparently, signed a new deal with the east Londoners.
According to talkSPORT, he’s put pen to paper and everything is agreed, however, the club just haven’t made an official announcement at this stage.
That’s a highly unusual move in this day and age as clubs and their social media departments appear to have a huge fanfare when contracts are signed.
West Ham undoubtedly have their reasons for keeping things quiet, though nothing should be read into it, particularly as Soucek remains with the club for the foreseeable future now.
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West Ham head into the lion’s den and a Europa League date with Olympiacos on Thursday evening, but manager David Moyes has suggested that his players need to “embrace the challenge.”
At present, the Hammers are on an epic record-breaking unbeaten run in Europe but they’re credentials are sure to really be put to the test during the encounter at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.
It’s believed that visiting fans will all be escorted to and from the ground for fear of crowd trouble, evidencing just what a white hot atmosphere there’ll be come kick-off.
“It’s always tough coming to Athens and Olympiacos will be a tough game. They are always in Europe and they’ve got lots of experience,” he said in his pre-match press conference, cited by Vavel.
“You have to embrace the challenge and enjoy it. As a football man, you want big atmospheres. They’ve got great support here, fantastic enthusiasm, and it’s fantastic to come to a football city.”
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A win would virtually guarantee West Ham’s passage into the knockout rounds, given that they’d only need one more point from their remaining three games to be mathematically certain of qualification.
It’s perhaps with that in mind that the visitors will likely take the game to their hosts, embracing their challenge just as they manager has requested.
Of the remaining games that they have left, the trip to Athens is arguably the most difficult.
Olympiacos may be bottom of the Group A table, but it’s worth noting that they’ve only lost one game out of the 13 that they’ve played this season, (14 if you count the game against Panathinaikos which was suspended at 1-1), to Freiburg earlier in the competition.
They’re top of the Greek Super League by two points and with a game in hand, so if West Ham are to emerge with at least a point, Moyes will need his players at their very best.
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The Jumps season is underway which means, love it or hate it, so is the build-up to the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.
Once a week for the next 20, I’ll be casting my eye over the ante-post markets, adding a new selection to the book – which I’m hoping will feature several winners come March – each time.
To start, I’m suggesting one for the Festival’s curtain-raiser. First tip, first race. Fitting.
The stable tours are imminent, so now’s the time to get those exciting prospects onside. Those who, in a matter of weeks if not days, will be talked up by their trainers and backed accordingly.
I had a few on my radar, but none excite me more than Willie Mullins’ Mirazur West, who I’m tipping for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
The five-year-old is a full-brother to 2020 Champion Bumper hero Ferny Hollow with the reputation to match. He was bought by JP McManus after falling at the last in a PTP he was highly-likely to bolt up in late last year, before making a winning debut under rules at Naas in March.
As you can see from the replay above, he made quite the impression in what looked a strong contest, with the runner-up He’s My Hero and Mahon’s Way, who finished third, costing £120,000 and £360,000 respectively.
I know that Derek O’Connor, who’s ridden him twice, is a massive fan of the horse – and clearly they’re in agreement at Closutton, as he was backed off the boards the last day.
I’ve seen people knock the form, but I think that’s unfair. He’s My Hero ran very respectably in a bumper at the Punchestown Festival a month later, while at the same meeting, just a couple of days prior, the fifth-placed Rhaenyra (who was was over 30L behind Mirazur West at Naas) was second in a Grade 3.
Even so, let’s not forget how easily he won. It was like the son of Westerner was doing a piece of work, frankly. Clearly there’s a lot more in the tank.
So, that’s my case for the horse itself, but what about the chosen race?
First of all, I think he shapes like a two-miler. He seems to possess a high cruising speed and isn’t short of stamina – two traits we know Mullins looks for in a Supreme horse.
I also don’t think it looks a vintage division, at least at this early stage. I’ve got major reservations about current antepost favourite A Dream To Share, who also sports the iconic green & gold, over hurdles – while Ballyburn, Tullyhill and Fact To File, who are all shorter in the betting, look like stayers to me.
Mirazur West could easily shorten off the back of Willie’s first stable tour alone. Then I make it odds-on that he starts off in a maiden over two miles and makes light work of it – then it’s up to him to prove he’s good enough to be a Grade 1 horse at the distance. I’m betting he will be.
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2024 ANTEPOST BOOK
Mirazur West @ 16/1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Ever since he arrived at West Ham United, Vladimir Coufal has been a fan favourite, something the official club website even noted when paying tribute to him achieving a century of games for the club.
The east London faithful like nothing more than seeing their players give 100 percent every week, and Coufal can’t ever be accused of not putting everything on the line for the Hammers cause.
Such commitment is coveted by football managers the world over, though David Moyes will be aware that the player will be 32 at the beginning of next season.
Not to mention that his current contract will finish at the end of the current campaign.
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There is the opportunity for the Hammers to extend Coufal’s deal by 12 months, however, rumours have been swirling as to what the club are actually going to do next regarding the Czech defender.
According to Claret and Hugh, it seems they’ve already made a definitive decision.
“He has a year left (this season) and we have a year’s option that we will take up in due course,” the outlet report a club source as saying.
That’s bound to delight both Moyes and the supporters as the club look to ensure stability over the coming years.
Whilst the squad will almost certainly evolve and some players will leave, Coufal can at least now be safe in the knowledge that he will get the contract that Claret and Hugh mention that he ‘is near certain to accept.’
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Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has commented on a slightly concerning performance by the Magpies in their frustrating 2-2 draw with West Ham on Sunday.
Having enjoyed a famous win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in midweek, Newcastle weren’t quite at their best in their trip to the London Stadium.
Shearer feels Alexander Isak showed his frustration at one point, as things were going so badly for Newcastle.
“It was a really slow start in the first-half, they never got going at all,” Shearer said.
“There was no intensity, there was no support, no energy, no press.
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“Everything that was about Newcastle’s game that was impressive, it includes all of those things, but it just didn’t happen.
“Just watch Isak’s reaction here, he is looking around, crying out for some help and, look, he’s saying is there any chance of some support up there.”
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West Ham United are reportedly likely to be among the transfer suitors for Arsenal attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe if he ends up making a move this January.
The 23-year-old has struggled for playing time at the Emirates Stadium for a while now, with fitness issues holding him back last season, while he now faces more competition for his place in the side.
According to Football Insider, there could be a lot of interest in Smith Rowe if his situation doesn’t improve by January, with West Ham mentioned as being among the clubs interested in him.
One imagines the Hammers would definitely take a talent like Smith Rowe in their squad, with the England international surely having the potential to shine at a mid-table Premier League club if given the chance.
Emile Smith Rowe to West Ham?
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Some Arsenal fans will even feel Smith Rowe is good enough to be starting ahead of struggling stars like Kai Havertz or Fabio Vieira, but it’s just not happening for him at the moment.
This surely can’t go on for much longer or Smith Rowe risks wasting a very promising career, so a switch to the London Stadium could be an ideal next step.
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West Ham’s positive start to the season continued on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Sheffield United but former Hammer Tony Gale was not impressed with the performance of one particular star.
David Moyes’ side got the job done in front of their home fans and the three points put them seventh in the Premier League table.
The Scottish coach was happy with his team’s performance but one player who quite simply didn’t show up was Said Benrahma, who came on as a second-half substitute but failed to make any kind of impact on the game.
Tony Gale was not happy with the winger’s showing and said on the co-comms: “He’s very frustrating Benrahma, he gets the ball in wide positions but very rarely does anything with it. It’s too easy (for defenders) he’s got to do more.”
Benrahma’s time with the London club has fluctuated ever since joining the Hammers from Brentford for around £25m in 2020 and the star could be a great player if he could find some consistency in his game.
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It’s not quite all change at West Ham United at present, but the addition of Mohammed Kudus and others during the summer transfer window has certainly shaken things up a bit.
There’s nothing like some gold standard signings to up everyone’s game, with players that may have been coasting previously all of a sudden getting worried for their place in the starting XI.
Despite losing their two matches against Liverpool and Man City, David Moyes and his Hammers squad can be pleased with the way in which they’ve started the 2023/24 campaign.
After six games, the east Londoners are in seventh place but only five points behind Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton and Hove Albion in third.
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Next up is Sheffield United at the London Stadium, with the Blades fresh from an 8-0 battering against Newcastle.
Coincidentally, it’s the Magpies they face in the following game, and in the wake of Newcastle’s expected Champions League epic against Paris Saint-Germain, the fixture calendar might just be working in West Ham’s favour.
It will be interesting to see who Moyes starts with over the next few games, as journalist Paul Brown has noted that one particular Hammers star should be looking over his shoulder.
“I think if you’re Said Benrahma, you should be spurred on really. It should show you that you are going to need to find some consistency and perform every week to stay in this team. And I think that raises standards across the board,” he said to Give Me Sport.
“It’s not just Benrahma who should be worried about the fact that players like Mohamed Kudus are coming to the club, I think it lifts everyone when you bring in players of quality and the squad has a bit more depth now than it did last season.”
It’s about time that the standards were raised in east London, and with money still to spend after the sale of Declan Rice in the summer, January could see even more competition for places.
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Liverpool beat West Ham 3-1 at Anfield, with goals from Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, to take all three points.
A Salah penalty, followed by goals from Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota secured a comfortable victory in the end for the Reds. This felt like a complete performance from Liverpool, with everyone pulling their weight and fulfilling their roles.
Read on for our Liverpool player ratings, and who performed best in this team performance…
Alisson – 7 – The Brazilian made 3 saves for Liverpool, and 1 high claim. There wasn’t much he could do about the goal, which went in off the post.
Andrew Robertson – 7.5 – Robertson continued to play that slightly unfamiliar role, inverting into midfield at times to help Liverpool in their build up. He is still offering attacking threat down the left with overlaps, but is also adding this ability to invert to create overloads centrally when needed.
Virgil van Dijk – 8 – Dominated with defensive actions, and got himself an assist for Liverpool’s third goal. The Dutchman made 5 clearances, 1 block, 3 interceptions and 2 tackles.
Joel Matip – 7 – Matip also did his job defensively, winning his aerial duels (4 out of 5) and making clearances when West Ham looked to be direct.
Joe Gomez – 7 – Gomez was strong defensively down the right flank, and also offered some attacking threat on the overlap at times. He made 1 key pass, and made 3 tackles and 2 interceptions.
Curtis Jones – 6.5 – Jones didn’t do anything particular wrong, but it was a quiet game for the midfielder. He had the one shot on target, and was winning his ground duels in midfield when sweeping up around Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, but nothing stood out about his game.
Alexis Mac Allister – 7.5 – Mac Allister seemed to be everywhere in midfield, covering a lot of ground for Liverpool and getting on the ball a lot in build up. The Argentine had 103 touches, made 86 accurate passes and completed 2 out of 3 dribbles.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 7 – Szoboszlai was the most advanced of Liverpool’s midfielders, making 4 key passes and taking 3 shots. Whilst the Hungarian didn’t get on the score sheet, or get an assist, he was influential in attacking areas for the Reds.
Luis Diaz – 7 – Diaz looked to hold width on the left which saw him less involved for Liverpool. He had 41 touches and still made 2 key passes, and completed 1 successful dribble.
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Mohamed Salah – 8 – Salah converted from the spot to give Liverpool a 1-0 lead, and could have had more with his 5 shots (2 on target). He also completed 2 successful dribbles and made 2 key passes.
Darwin Nunez – 7.5 – Nunez was menacing in attack, making forward runs which resulted in Salah winning the penalty for Liverpool’s first and Nunez adding a second himself with a lovely lofted finish over Areola.
Subs: Ryan Gravenberch 4, Cody Gakpo 4, Diogo Jota 6, Wataru Endo N/A.
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Though West Ham have started the 2023/24 season exceptionally well, their players aren’t immune from enquiries from other interested parties.
How well the player does in David Moyes’ side over the next few months will indicate to the Scot and the management team whether they’ll accede to any offers or decide to extend the player’s contract.
The man in question is their reliable battering ram of a striker, Michail Antonio.
Though the Jamaica international is getting no younger, he’s once again showing that he has what it takes to be an asset in the 2023/24 Hammers vintage.
According to Football Insider, Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers and one of Antonio’s previous clubs, Nottingham Forest, have all shown an interest in taking the player away from the London Stadium.
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The 33-year-old is believed to be happy to stay at with the Hammers and the club have opened talks over a new deal, given that the current one ends in 2024.
If they’re unable to reach agreement, however, this would allow interested clubs to start talking with Antonio from January.
With two goals already in five Premier League appearances this season, per WhoScored, age isn’t wearying him.
The term ‘impact player’ is often used in a derogatory manner, though this might be where Moyes sees his front man in future.
Antonio himself may prefer to start each game but at his age that’s not realistic.
Given the service he has given to the club over the years – he is their highest ever scorer in the Premier League era – supporters will surely be hoping he signs on the dotted line again soon.
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