Among the raft of coaching staff being shown the door from West Ham yesterday one name does stick out and will have many feeling at least a tinge of sorrow, Kevin Nolan has left the building. Nolan of course, captained the Irons promotion winning team and became part of the fabric of the club.
So 'Lord' Southgate has included Jarrod Bowen in his initial squad for the upcoming Euros, well he had to didn't he, although plenty of established players found out to their cost that they weren't guaranteed a place.
Man City: Ortega, Walker(c), Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol, Rodri, De Bruyne, Foden, Silva, Haaland, Doku.
Subs: Carson, Stones, Ake, Lewis, Nunes, Bobb, Kovacic, Grealish, Alvarez.
West Ham: Areola, Coufal, Zouma(c), Mavropanos, Cresswell, Emerson, Ward-Prowse, Soucek, Paqueta, Kudus, Antonio.
Subs: Fabianski, Johnson, Alvarez, Cornet, Ings, Earthy, Casey, Mubama, Ogbonna.
As you can imagine, the media information and rumour machine regarding West Ham are running at full chaff ahead of the arrival of Julen Lopetegui. Names of incoming players have been arriving from all directions and sources with the 'information; being lapped up by supporters lusting for some positive news about the rebuild of the Premier Leagues oldest and smallest squad!
As if it isn't embarrassing enough for ex-Arsenal player Paul Merson to constantly get teams and players names mixed up while attempting to be a pundit on Sky Sports, he has now descended into downright insults that have absolutely NO substance!
West Ham: Areola, Coufal, Zouma ©, Ogbonna, Emerson, Ward-Prowse, Souček, Paquetá, Kudus, Bowen, Antonio Subs: Fabianski, Johnson, Casey, Cresswell, Álvarez, Earthy, Cornet, Ings, Mubama
Luton: Kaminski, Osho, Mengi, Burke, Doughty, Lokonga, Onyedinma, Chong, Barkley, Adebayo, Morris © Subs: Krul (GK), Ogbene, Berry, Woodrow, Ruddock Mpanzu, Clark, Hashioka, Townsend, Johnson
Players out
Veterans Aaron Cresswell and Angelo Ogbonna will NOT be signing contract extensions, while Nayef Aguerd could also be sold along with Kurt Zouma. Ben Johnson won't stay unless Steidten can weave his magic, while Thilo Kherer and Said Benrahma Wil most likely be snapped up by the clubs they have been on loan with. Finally Lucas Paqueta who will need to be sold in order to finance some of the deals!
In an ideal world Hammers would have the resources to try and negotiate for TWO additional strikers to replace the ageing Miley Antonio and the off form Danny Ings. Ings is on massive money and has to go down as one of David Moyes' worst signings since Jordan Hugill!
Mikey Antonio isn't getting any younger and while he could still be a brilliant impact sub probably feels that he has a season or two left in his legs at a club that where he would be starter week in week out, something that is very unlikely when Lopetegui takes over the managerial reins at the club.
Thilo Kehrer is a top Hammers player currently out on loan at Monaco, he gave his all for the club when called upon and helped glue the defence and midfield together for the last half hour of the club's glorious Conference European Cup Final victory over Fiorentina.
Another player that exiting manager David Moyes didn't 'fancy', and there have been many, Thilo oozed class and although he had the odd ricket in his game had the speed generally to recover his mistakes.
A friend of the site who works for TNT, (formerly BT Sport) has confirmed to us that there has been a flurry of activity in West Ham's press and PR offices at the Stratford stadium where TNT are also based.
News leaked by Fabrizio Romano appeared to take the PR machine of balance, with the general assumption being that an announcement was due to be made on Friday ahead of this week's final home game against Luton on Saturday.