West Ham 0 West Brom 1

Haller disappointing once again

Not unexpected but entirely unacceptable!

The disasters are piling up on top of each other in terms of team performance but an admission first…I missed the first half for important domestic reasons although I understand we were horrendous.

The second 45 minutes could have seen the Championship outfit go further ahead before going down to ten men.

Sadly the non creative Hammers found it impossible  to break them down despite producing a series of  non threatening  half chances.

It can be argued that our FA Cup exit is a good thing given the injures and the importance of PL survival but the level of performance in the second half, though obviously better than the first, is way short of what we should be expecting.

This result pours more pressure on the players and manager but chiefly the owners who clearly need to sort out player/s by the end of the month.

We simply can’t go on as we are with the present squad in such awful form but how do you attract players to club which is in its current state?

All that’s left is hope and that’s evaporating fast.

Haller was poor again and missed one excellent chance, Ajeti looked lively at times and Rice was about the best of a bad lot.

There is much to worry about!

According to a report by Italian Journolist  Gianlucadimarzio.com  The Hammers have shown in interest in signing  Seko Fofana from Udinese.

It has been reported that the Italian club value the 24-year-old Ivory Coast international at €20 million (£16.85 million).

Fofana joined the Udinese from Manchester city in 2016. The Ivory Coast international midfielder has made 11 starts and four substitute appearances in Serie A for Udinese so far this season, scoring one goal and making four assists.

The midfielder failed to break into the Manchester City first team after spending three years there, but he did have a loan spell at Fulham in 2014-15 when he made 13 starts and eight substitute appearances in the Championship, scoring one goal.

The is reported to be very versatile, capable of playing as a deep-lying midfielder as well as a box-to-box player.

German side Schalke 04 and Turkish giants Galatasaray are also said to be closely watching the ex-Manchester City man.

A second bid by West Ham for Nottingham Forest’s Matty Cash now seems unlikely with the Championship side determined to keep hold of their important player. Club insiders have this morning confirmed an offer totalling £12m was rejected by Forest who are fourth in the second-tier league as they push for promotion to the Premier League.

If they fail to gain promotion they will listen to offers in the summer from West Ham.

Meanwhile, Sky Sport Kaveh Solheekol claims ‘West Ham in talks to sign Amiens striker Serhou Guirassy on loan. Amiens paid Köln £5m for him last summer.’

David Moyes admitted nothing close at the moment saying it could all come down to transfer deadline day.

The manager told reporters at yesterday’s pre-match press conference “Sometimes it does go to the last day, sometimes that’s what you have to do. That’s why the deadline is that way. We’ve been linked with loads of players, it’s incredible the number we’ve been linked with.We’re always interested in players out there but we have nothing definite, nothing imminent that’s going to happen. But we are trying.”

West Ham’s line up for this afternoon’s game could look more than a little strange with the likes of Ajeti Sanchez Goncalo Cardoso or Winston Reid involved.

And whether the manager decides to stick with Manuel Lanzini despite his current lack of form is another question he has to solve as maybe this is the type of game in which the Argentine could finally gain some form and confidence.

We now have a new bunch of injuries surrounding Robert Snodgrass, Felipe Anderson, Angelo Ogbonna and with Noble, Haller and Antonio being held back  the game is starting to look more than difficult.

And odds of around 3/1 with some bookies against West Brom winning look more than generous if we are brutally frank about things.

I can’t fancy us strongly should Slaven decide to put out a decent side but the odds may possibly be that he too won’t take many risks as he appears to be sitting on a PL pot of gold next season.

A draw looks a likely result from where we are sitting.

West Ham could have eight senior players out injured today for the FA Cup clash against West Brom the London Stadium.

David Moyes has admitted that the Hammers picked up a couple of injuries in the midweek game against Leicester City telling reporters at Rush Green “We’ve got injuries to (Rober) Snodgrass and Arthur (Masuaku) which I think will both rule them out of the game at the weekend. We’re looking at Angelo (Ogbonna), who fell heavily on his back. They are the ones we have difficulties with as well”

On Masuaku the manager said, “He’s had fluid drawn out of his knee a couple of times, and I knew that on Wednesday night he was only going to ever be able to play 60 minutes.”

On Snodgrass, he added, “Snodgrass is an inflamed tendon in his knee, which I think is going rule [him] out of the weekend.” while Ogbonna faces a late fitness test saying “We’re having a look at Angelo just now, who fell heavily on his back.”

The three fresh injury doubts came on top of five senior players already in doubt. Fabianski returns out with a thing injury until early February, this week also probably comes too early for Ryan Fredericks also recovering from a thigh injury.

Andriy Yarmolenko also suffering from a thigh is likely to be out until late February as is Jack Wilshere groin and hip problem.

Felipe Anderson is also likely to be out until late February with an injury to his back with Moyes saying last week “A problem with his back from the landing which he had [vs SUFC] which looks as if it’s going to keep him out for a while, probably four weeks, we think:

West Ham’s initial bid of £10 million for Nottingham Forest’s Matty Cash – if true – is a big error of judgement and needs to be upped immediately to land a player who looks exactly what we need .

We all understand how the Hammers negotiate, going in as low as possible before getting closer to what’s required. It worked with Felipe Anderson and Seb Haller but we are now entirely different circumstances and need to get a player such as Cash in NOW.

This is not the time to be messing around notably when Milan have already offered £15 million for the 22 year old.

We share the terrible anxieties surrounding the Hammers right now and Cash – despite excelling for Forest at right back – is essentially a right sided midfielder with a big reputation and who apparently is keen to join the Irons.

He appears to be exactly what we need and with anger growing among the fans this can do nothing but cause more of the same.

Cash is part of a Forest side currently fourth in the Championship under owners who aren’t too short of dough so there’s no chance them selling on the cheap.

Reports say Cash is rated an £18 million player by Forest and had the Hammers gone in with £15 million plus extras this piece would not have been written.

A realistic bid needs to be place right now and no messing.