Leicester: Schmeichel, Justin, Soyuncu, Amartey, Evans, Castagne, Mendy, Perez, Tielemans, Barnes, Vardy Subs: Ward, Albrighton, Iheanacho, Under, Choudhury, Fuchs
West Ham: Fabianski, Coufal, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Masuaku, Bowen, Soucek, Rice, Fornals, Antonio Subs: Randolph, Yarmolenko, Anderson, Lanzini, Noble, Haller, Johnson
Having been snubbed by Olympic Marseille centre back Duje Caleta-Car, David Moyes is having to look elsewhere in an incredibly tight time frame, this is a direct result of putting all your transfer eggs in one basket. The flotsum left available is unappealing in various degrees.
Talk about being the unwanted', having submitted a bid that was accepted by Olympic Marseille for centre back Duje Caleta-Car, the Hammers' hierarchy were then informed the 24-year-old Croatia international had elected to stay at Marseille and enjoy Champions League football instead. Another Irons target, Daniel Rugani, has joined Ligue 1 side Rennes on a one year loan from Juventus when at one point he was destined for East London.
David Moyes’ relentless search for a centre-back has taken West Ham representatives to France in order to try and sign Croatian defender Duje Caleta-Car from Marseille. The Irons have tabled a substantial bid of around €22m for the centre-back and are hopeful of successful talks to bring the defender to the London Stadium.
West Ham United have finally signed a player, and a decent one at that, Czech Republic right back Vladimir Coufal has signed from Tomas Soucek's former club Slavia Prague for £5.4m, Coufal, who has eight international caps, has arrived at the London Stadium on a three year contract, with a very useful option of a further two year extension.
West Ham went in to the fourth round of the 'Moose' Cup knowing that progression would be against one of several top clubs, consequently when they went 1-0 down against Everton the writing seemed to be on the wall, after all, apart from the Kudos, the EFL Cup or whatever you wish to name it has become increasingly worthless.
Everton: Pickford, Kenny, Keane, Digne, Nkounkou, Allan, Delph, Sigurdsson (c), James, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin Subs: Lossl (GK), Coleman, Mina, Davies, Doucoure, Bernard, Iwobi
West Ham: Randolph, Johnson, Rice, Balbuena, Cresswell, Noble (c) , Snodgrass, Yarmolenko, Lanzini, Felipe Anderson, Haller Subs: Trott (GK), Ashby, Masuaku, Ogbonna, Soucek, Fornals, Bowen
As the transfer window is about to close, fans from all top flight clubs but particularly those of West Ham United, are constantly scanning sports news media to see what progress, if any, is being made in bringing in reinforcements. Having missed out on some 'real' bargains from the lower leagues, the Irons seem to be concentrating on players available from the European leagues instead of the domestic one, but why?
We at the Org never claim to know all the correct current legislation, FIFA, The FA and the Barclays Premier League rule changes are like shifting sands, recent controversies over the 'ludicrous' hand ball rules hoicked on teams are a classic example. However one 'law' that has existed, but has been constantly flouted, is the 'Tapping Up' ruling, generally the larger and better financed 'elite' clubs have managed to get away with 'cheating' for years.
Doom and gloom prevailed at the London Stadium ahead of what was supposed to be a mauling of the Irons by the Nuno Spririto's predatorial Wolves, having just acquired even more expensive 'Portugeezers', the midlands outfit were here to compound what had been an entirely miserable week off the field for West Ham.