The mystery illness that has been raging through Hammers squad shows no sign of abating, in fact such has been the effect that assembling a team that is well enoigh to face Manchester United this evening is proving to be such a difficult task that there is a rumour that the cllub may try to get the game postponed due to a lack of fit players!
Man City : Ortega; Walker (c), Stones, Dias, Ake; Alvarez, Rodri, Silva; Mahrez, Grealish, Haaland. Subs: Ederson, Phillips, Gundogan, Laporte, Gomez, Akanji, Perrone, Foden, Lewis.
West Ham : Fabianski; Coufal, Kehrer, Ogbonna, Cresswell (c), Emerson; Paqueta, Downes; Bowen, Fornals, Antonio. Subs: Areola, Anang, Johnson, Lanzini, Cornet, Ings, Benrahma.
With so few games remaining of the season West Ham United's back room staff have told players that they no longer need to wear their performance 'bra's' for the remaining fixtures. The monitoring singlets that do resmeble brassiers are a vital part of acquiring fitness information but are uncomfortable to wear and so have been deemed unnecessary for the remainder of the season.
News that Sam Allardyce will most likely become Leeds United's next manager will come as no surprise to some whereas he is the obvious choice to others as the club look to rescue what looks like an inevitably sinking ship. Realistically, Leeds have the hardest run in of ALL the relegation threatened clubs, but he is known for his defensive organisational abilities and will most definitely stop the flood of goals the club has been shipping on an industrial scale.
Last night's frenzied game between relegation battlers Leicester City and Everton could not have worked out better for West Ham United's struggles at the wrong end of the table, victory for either side would have seen Hammers slender points advantage sliced away to just one point had the hosts held on to a possible victory, one that seemed nailed on as James Maddison strode forward to take the penalty that would have seen the hosts gain a 3-1 advantage.
With so much riding on the result Hammers fans expected a lot from their side for the trip to face Palace at Selhurst Park, instead they saw an insipid and uninspiring performance. The 4-3 scoreline does not truly reflect the game, as the home side could have won 7-1 had they taken all their chances!
Palace: Johnstone, Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Doucoure, Schlupp, Olise, Eze, Zaha (c), Ayew. Subs: Guaita, Milivojevic, Tomkins, Lokonga, Mateta, Hughes, Edouard, Richards
West Ham: Fabianski, Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson, Rice (c), Soucek, Paqueta, Fornals, Antonio, Bowen. Subs: Areola, Cresswell, Lanzini, Downes, Cornet, Ings, Ogbonna, Benrahma, Kehrer.
Ollie Scarles is a very special young talent, the 17-year-old has already played at senior level, making his debut appearance for the first team against FCSB last year. Along with captain Gideon Kodua Ollie was the star of the show as Hammers U-18's beat Arsenal 5-1 in their own back yard.
Although completely different players there is something of the Declan Rice about Scarles, he plays well above his years and would look comfortable in a first team situation, the way he handled himself against the provocation aimed at him during the win over the Gooners.
First of all losing to Liverpool yesterday hurt, make no mistake about it, the ridiculous non use of VAR at the end of the game was pretty scandalous and has already been covered by many media outlets. It worked 'perfectly' for the visitors in order for Jarrod Bowen's goal to be written off, correctly as it happens, but was NOT USED at all despite one of the most blatant hand balls you will ever see from Liverpool, albeit despite being an 'accident'.
West Ham: Fabiański, Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Cresswell, Souček, Rice (c), Paquetá, Benrahma, Antonio Subs: Areola (GK), Cornet, Downes, Fornals, Ings, Kehrer, Lanzini, Ogbonna, Emerson
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson ©, Jones, Gakpo, Jota, Salah Subs: Kelleher (GK), Gomez, Tsimikas, Milner, Thiago, Elliott, Díaz, Carvalho, Núñez