Sunday Fulham Stuff - 09/10/22...

[WhiteJC]

Results

Saturday
Bournemouth	2-1	Leicester
Chelsea	3-0	Wolves
Man City	4-0	Southampton
Newcastle	5-1	Brentford
Brighton	0-1	Spurs

[WhiteJC]

David Moyes is eager for his Hammers side to cap off a positive week with the visit of the visit of Fulham on Sunday after back-to-back victories.

The Hammers boss recognises that his team are on the cusp of turning a big corner this season after a slow start to proceedings in the Premier League, with West Ham in the hunt to make up the points lost with some favourable matches incoming.

Fulham have made a promising start to the campaign after gaining promotion, however they suffered a 4-1 hammering last week at home to Newcastle which could knock the confidence ahead of their trip to London Stadium on Sunday.

West Ham on the other hand look a team who are starting to click, with the new arrivals getting up to speed and others regaining form that had been absent for the opening weeks.

This weekends game presents a huge opportunity for Moyes and his players to show the league we are back in business and ready to climb the table fast, having toppled Wolves last week with relative ease and then gaining a huge victory in a tough encounter against Anderlecht in Belgium.

The victory in the Europa Conference League on Thursday was particularly pleasing in that Moyes was able to flex the quality in the depth his squad now possesses, showing that there is real potential in this side to match or even better the accomplishments made in the last 2 seasons.

Speaking to the press ahead of the game on Sunday, the manager was quick to highlight the importance Sunday is to this season, in that momentum is building and must not be hampered by the visit of the Cottagers in the London derby.

"I think it is huge if we can continue to build up that momentum," said the Irons boss. "We want to try and get on a run. We want to try and go on a run of victories. Clean sheets are always a good start, but we want to build on everything we're doing at the moment."

Marco Silvas Fulham will certainly be no pushovers, but the possible absence of star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic could provide the perfect opportunity for Moyes to get the run of results seriously up and running.



https://www.thewesthamway.com/2022/10/08/momentum-key-ahead-of-derby/

[WhiteJC]

East London faces West London when Fulham are the visitors to the London Stadium to face a West Ham side looking for a third win in a row

After an indifferent start to the season the last week has been a good one for West Ham. A 2-0 win over Wolves which led to the sacking of their manager was followed by a 1-0 win in Belgium, a minor form of revenge against Anderlecht for our defeat in the 1976 European Cup Winners Cup final. Two victories, two clean sheets and an opportunity for most of the first team squad to get minutes on the pitch under their belt, and a chance to show the manager what they can do.

Three points last weekend were badly needed to move out of the bottom three and a game against Fulham is an opportunity to build on that. That is not to say that the newly-promoted West Londoners should be under estimated for they have made a decent start in their return to the top flight. They sit in eighth place with eleven points with wins over Brighton, Brentford and Forest and a draw against Liverpool being the highlights. Their last game a week ago was a bit of a nightmare after having a player sent off in the first few minutes, and they eventually lost 4-1 to Newcastle. They will be looking to bounce back. But this is exactly the type of game we should be looking to win if we want to continue our progress up the table.

Nine changes from the league game gave a lot of fringe players the opportunity to shine on Thursday evening, and in my view one player stood out, namely Flynn Downes. In two European appearances he has been my man of the match on each occasion. Surely he must be given an opportunity soon in the league? I won't get bogged down in statistics here, but he demonstrated his skill in so many facets of the midfielders role. One thing that I particularly admire is his ability to find a team mate with his passing enabling retention of the ball, a skill not necessarily shared amongst all his colleagues.

Areola had very little to do but showed his concentration when making a magnificent save late in the game to confirm the win. The summer recruitment meant that we had the strongest bench seen for a long time, and the triple substitution bringing on Rice, Paqueta and Scamacca was key to taking the lead. I would have liked to see the manager experiment for at least a short period with Antonio and Scamacca on the pitch at the same time but he seems reluctant to do so, preferring just one at a time.

I don't usually publish the team I would like to see playing in a game, but for this game against Fulham I will. I know the manager will not pick this team but here goes.

Areola
Kehrer, Dawson, Zouma, Emerson
Downes, Rice,
Bowen, Paqueta, Antonio
Scamacca

It won't happen of course and I fully expect Fabianski, Cresswell, Soucek and Fornals to be in the starting eleven. I like Benrahma but he appears to be lacking in confidence at the moment. He has the skills to unlock defences but seems to have lost his composure when making the final pass or in front of goal. He needs a manager to have faith in him. I worry about Cresswell, Ogbonna and Lanzini. All three have been great servants but haven't been the same following serious injuries. Fornals and Soucek have some great attributes but both seem to me to give the ball away too easily at the moment.

Apparently Mitrovic is an injury doubt, but if he plays he will be a threat. But I predict a third clean sheet in a row, a 2-0 win. I can't remember the last time that we won two league games in a row – it must be many months ago.



https://westhamway.net/2022/10/08/east-london-faces-west-london-when-fulham-are-the-visitors-to-the-london-stadium-to-face-a-west-ham-side-looking-for-a-third-win-in-a-row/

[WhiteJC]

Match Preview: West Ham v Fulham

In his Fulham preview, Dan Coker looks back at a 7-2 win in 1968 and profiles a Scot who represented both clubs...

Blast from the past

3rd February 1968 – Harold Wilson was Prime Minister, Love Affair were number one with 'Everlasting Love' and Up The Junction was in UK cinemas. Meanwhile, West Ham United secured a 7-2 First Division victory over Fulham in front of 31,248 at Upton Park.

The game pitted two future England managers against each other, Ron Greenwood and Bobby Robson. England captain Bobby Moore was in the Hammers' side; he would later play for Fulham. West Ham's footballing knights, Trevor Brooking and Geoff Hurst, scored two apiece while Martin Peters, Brian Dear and Bobby Moore were also amongst the goals. Allan Clarke and Steve Earle were on target for the visitors.

By the end of the 1967/68 season, Manchester United had recorded their first European Cup triumph, Manchester City won the First Division title and West Brom won the FA Cup. Greenwood's West Ham United claimed 12th place in the top flight while Robson's Fulham finished bottom and were relegated. Bobby Moore was voted Hammer of the Year, with Brooking runner-up. Hurst was the Irons' top goalscorer with 25 goals from 44 matches.

West Ham United: Bobby Ferguson, Billy Bonds, John Cushley, Bobby Moore, Frank Lampard, Ronnie Boyce, Martin Peters, Trevor Brooking, Johnny Sissons, Geoff Hurst, Brian Dear.

Fulham: Tony Macedo, John Ryan, John Dempsey, Bobby Drake, Stan Brown, Jimmy Conway, Les Barrett, Joe Gilroy, Johnny Haynes, Allan Clarke, Steve Earle.

Club Connections

Alphonse Areola welcomes his former club, while Issa Diop visits his old side. A decent number of players join the pair in representing West Ham United and Fulham over the years. These include:

Goalkeepers: Bill Biggar, Jan Lastuvka, Tony Parks.

Defenders: Paul Kelly, Bobby Moore, George Horler, George Redwood, Kevin Lock, Tony Gale, Ryan Fredericks, Jack Hebden, Rufus Brevett, John Paintsil, Paul Konchesky, Ian Pearce, Wayne Bridge, Jon Harley, Alan Stephenson, Andy Melville.

Midfielders: Luis Boa Morte, Dick Richards, George Carter, Papa Bouba Diop, Fergus Hunt, Ray Houghton, Havard Nordtveit.

Strikers: Johnny 'Budgie' Byrne, Brian Dear, Alf Harwood, Jack Fletcher, Roger Cross, Iain Dowie, Fred Harrison, Billy Brown, Danny Shea, Kenny McKay, Leroy Rosenior, Bobby Zamora, Mladen Petric, Bill Davidson.

Scott Parker played for both clubs and was also manager at Craven Cottage.

Today's focus though is on a player who represented West Ham before playing for Fulham later in his career. Archibald Renwick Macaulay was born in Falkirk on 30th July 1915. He joined Glasgow Rangers in 1933 and soon found himself playing at inside-right in the first team, winning a Scottish Cup medal in 1935/36 and a Scottish League Championship medal in the following season.

In 1937 Charlie Paynter managed to persuade the 22-year-old Macaulay to join Second Division West Ham United for a fee of £6,000. A volatile, red-haired Scot, he made his debut in a 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa on 28th August 1937 but soon made his presence felt, scoring his first goal in claret and blue in front of 22,467 supporters in a 3-1 win over Bradford Park Avenue at the Boleyn Ground on 4th September 1937. Macaulay bagged his first brace for the Irons in a 2-1 home win over Nottingham Forest on 19th March 1938. The Hammers went on to finish in ninth place in the second tier in 1937/38 with Macaulay joint top-scorer with Stan Foxall having scored ten goals in 39 games. On 24th September 1938 he scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 victory against Tranmere and ended the 1938/39 season as top-scorer with 16 goals in 36 games.

With the outbreak of war in September 1939 the government imposed a ban on the assembly of crowds and as a result the Football League competition was brought to an end. Macaulay joined the Essex Regiment and eventually became a Sergeant-Major Physical Training Instructor at Aldershot. The Football League War Cup was set up though and, despite the fears that London would be bombed by the Luftwaffe, over 42,300 fans decided to take the risk of visiting Wembley on 8th June 1940 to see West Ham beat Blackburn 1-0, with Macaulay winning the third medal of his football career. As he was based in England for the duration of the war, Macaulay was able to make 59 appearances for the Hammers during this period, scoring 17 goals.

In the 1945/46 season he played for West Ham United in the First Division South league. However, he found it difficult to settle after hostilities had ceased and only played in eight games the following season before being transferred to the then more glamorous First Division Brentford in October 1946 for a fee of £7,500. His new manager, Tom Whittaker, later recalled: "Macaulay, a brilliant ball player and magnificently balanced, had the reputation of a temper in keeping with his red hair".

Macaulay made his official Scotland debut against England at Wembley on 12th April 1947, having been converted to a wing-half. He was also selected to play for Great Britain in a one-off match against a Rest of the World team in May 1947. Macaulay then moved on to play for Arsenal, with whom he would win the First Division title in 1948 and the majority of his seven Scotland caps, and Fulham before joining Guildford City as player-manager. Macaulay scored four goals in 48 league appearances during his time at Craven Cottage, between 1950 and 1953.

In 1957 he was appointed manager of Norwich. He led the Third Division side to the FA Cup semi-final in his first season and won promotion to the Second Division in his second campaign. He was one of the first managers to implement the 4-3-3 system and generally regarded as being tactically ahead of his time. In 1961 he moved on to West Bromwich Albion; however, this was not a success and after winning only 26 of 67 games he was sacked in 1963. Macaulay's next appointment was as manager of Brighton, leading the club to promotion from the Fourth Division in 1965. He also worked with Dundee in an administrative capacity and was connected with Liverpool in 1970. Macaulay left football management and retired from the game; he later worked as a traffic warden in Chelsea. Archie Macaulay died, aged 77, on 10th June 1993.

Referee

The referee tomorrow will be Chris Kavanagh. The Manchester-born official has refereed the Hammers on 16 previous occasions, most recently for our 1-1 home draw with Newcastle in February in December. He also took charge of the Hammers for our 4-1 victory at Aston Villa in October 2021, a match which saw controversy involving a red card for Ezri Konsa and a potential red card for Kortney Hause. He also officiated in our 1-1 draw with Brighton and our 2-1 League Cup quarter-final defeat at Tottenham, both last December.

Kavanagh also refereed our 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea in April 2021, when he sent off Fabian Balbuena, a red card which was later rescinded. Kavanagh also refereed the Hammers in a 4-1 win at Watford in May 2019, when he sent off the Hornets' Jose Holebas and awarded the Irons a penalty, converted by Mark Noble after a foul on Michail Antonio. Prior to that, Kavanagh officiated our 2-0 home win over Newcastle in March 2019, a game in which he also awarded the Hammers a penalty for a foul on Chicharito which was again converted by Noble. He also issued Arthur Masuaku with a red card for spitting in an FA Cup fourth round defeat at Wigan in January 2018.

The VAR Official is Michael Salisbury.

Possible line-ups

West Ham United will be without Nayef Aguerd and Maxwel Cornet. The Hammers are looking to win consecutive league matches for the first time since January. The Hammers are unbeaten in the past 11 meetings between the sides in east London, winning seven and drawing four.

Fulham are without the injured Layvin Kurzawa, Harry Wilson and Manor Solomon, while Nathaniel Chalobah is suspended. Joao Palhinha is available but Kenny Tete, Antonee Robinson, Willian and Aleksandar Mitrovic are doubts. Fulham have kept just one clean sheet in the past 21 top-flight away meetings, conceding 49 goals. They have also won just one of their past 27 top-flight matches against fellow London sides, drawing five and losing 21. Fulham won their first Premier League game away to West Ham in 2001 but are winless in 11 subsequent league visits, drawing four and losing seven.

Possible West Ham United XI: Fabianski; Kehrer, Dawson, Zouma, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Bowen, Paqueta, Fornals; Scamacca.

Possible Fulham XI: Leno; Mbabu, Adarabioyo, Ream, Kurzawa; Palhinha, Reed; James, Pereira, Decordova-Reid; Mitrovic.

Enjoy the game – Come On You Irons!



https://www.westhamtillidie.com/posts/match-preview-west-ham-v-fulham-3819c786-2d13-4d53-be19-3cc9f3c84443

[WhiteJC]

West Ham: Maxwel Cornet to miss Fulham

West Ham United have suffered an injury blow after David Moyes confirmed that Maxwel Cornet will miss the Premier League game vs Fulham on Sunday.

The Lowdown: Cornet's injury concerns
The Irons recently secured a 1-0 victory over Anderlecht in the Europa Conference League so will be full of confidence heading into the home fixture at the London Stadium.

The 26-year-old was forced off the pitch in the win over Wolves last weekend which also saw him sidelined against Felice Mazzu's side, and the problem doesn't seem to be going anywhere heading into the weekend's action.

The Latest: Moyes' fitness update
Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Moyes confirmed that Cornet wouldn't be available to face the Cottagers, but was optimistic that he would only be out for a short period of time.

As quoted by West Ham's official website, he said:

"Maxwel isn't available for the game. We think he's got a small calf strain. I don't think it's as bad as maybe we first feared, but it's still gonna keep him out for certainly a few days.

"Hopefully, he's back next week, but we'll need to see how he is."

The Verdict: Blow for Moyes
Cornet not being at Moyes' disposal once again will come as a massive blow to the Scotsman, who will have recognised the instant impact his summer signing has made.

The Ivorian, labelled a 'cheat code' by sports journalist Josh Bunting, has made an impressive five assists in just four European appearances this term.

The forward has played a significant role in the club's success on the continental stage, and he will also be hoping to ease his side's struggles in the top flight upon his return.



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-news/west-ham-maxwel-cornet-fulham-latest-injury-news-rumours-updates/

[WhiteJC]

Doubt over Fulham goal sensation

Fulham boss Marco Silva says Aleksandar Mitrovic is doubtful to face West Ham on Sunday.

It could – as is so often the case – be smoke and mirrors of course buy given the striker's extraordinary record this season the Hammers will be having everything crossed that is the case.

For the player – linked with us three or four years back – has hit the net six times in the Cottagers games this season from a total of nine in the club's total.

It would be a big miss for the southwest London outfit currently sitting seven places above us in eighth and 11 points against our seven.

They have been in pretty decent form until suffering a 1-4 defeat in their last game against Newcastle when Mitrovic was forced to leave the action with a foot injury he initially picked up on international duty for Serbia.

Discussing Mitrovic Silva said: "He was out (on the training pitch) today (Friday) but we will have to assess again him tomorrow.

"He is still a doubt but he is getting better. He has small some small damage in his foot. We are working with him and while it is not serious, we need to get him fit."

Silva said defender Kenny Tete will also be assessed on Saturday along with Antonee Robinson and Willian, who are all carrying knocks, while Layvin Kurzawa is unavailable again.

However, Palhinha will definitely be back to face the Hammers at the London Stadium, having sat out the Newcastle match due to suspension.




https://www.claretandhugh.info/doubt-over-fulham-goal-sensation/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham To Visit LCFC Training Ground For PL2 Clash
Leicester City's Development Squad turn attention back to Premier League 2 Division 1 on Monday evening, tackling Fulham Under-21s.

- Leicester City's Under-21s to meet Fulham at LCFC Training Ground
- Monday's Premier League 2 Division 1 fixture is a 7pm kick-off
- The Foxes youngsters drew 2-2 with Chelsea last time out
- Follow live updates and reaction via @LCFC on Twitter

Leicester are set to face the Cottagers in a 7pm kick-off at LCFC Training Ground, as PL2 resumes following their midweek Papa Johns Trophy exploits, beating Bradford City 4-2 on penalties to claim two points after a 2-2 draw during normal time.

Speaking to LCFC TV at The University of Bradford Stadium, coach Ben Petty commented: "We are going to be fully focused on Monday night against Fulham in Seagrave.

"We need to get a win on the board in PL2. It's been difficult this season and hopefully that gives us the impetus to go forward for Monday."

McAteer Double Secures Chelsea U21s Draw


A look at the goals from the Leicester City Development Squad's 2-2 draw with Chelsea in Premier League 2 Division 1.

The Foxes youngsters also drew 2-2 in their previous league encounter, against Chelsea, twice coming from behind courtesy of Kasey McAteer's double at Kingsmeadow last Saturday.

That result leaves City ninth in the standings, on eight points after seven matches, while Monday's visitors sit fifth. A win over Fulham could move Leicester as high as sixth, however.

Supporters can follow Monday's PL2 action via the Club's official Twitter feed - @LCFC - with live match updates set to be provided from Seagrave. Post-match interviews and extended highlights will follow on the Club's official website.

All times BST.



https://www.lcfc.com/news/2840966/fulham-to-visit-lcfc-training-ground-for-pl2-clash

[WhiteJC]

If David Moyes doesn't start 29-year-old West Ham ace against Fulham there's something seriously wrong

West Ham United manager David Moyes absolutely has to start French goalkeeper Alphonse Areola against Fulham tomorrow.

The Hammers play host to Fulham at the London Stadium in the 2 o'clock Premier League kick-off tomorrow afternoon.

And in order to give his side the best chance of winning the game, Moyes cannot afford to start Lukasz Fabianski ahead of Areola agin.

The 29-year-old was absolutely sensational for West Ham during our win over Anderlecht in the UEFA Europa Conference League on Thursday night, and he produced an unbelievably good match-winning save.

The French World Cup winner is on another level to the ageing Fabianski in every single aspect as far as I'm concerned.

Moyes brought Areola to West Ham for around £8 million in the summer, after he spent the previous campaign on loan at the London Stadium.

The Scot has chosen to ease him into action once again, however, keeping Fabianski as his main number one goalkeeper in the league.

That all has to change now though, after Areola's superb display against Anderlecht...

Alphonse Areola must start for West Ham vs Fulham
The time has come for the former Paris Saint-Germain stopper to establish himself as the Hammers' number one goalkeeper.

There is absolutely no reason why Areola should not be between the sticks for us in every single Premier League game. We're so much more of a better team defensively when the plays.

The 6ft 5in stopper is one of the best around, as far as reflexes and shot-stopping are concerned.

The £8 million that the Hammers paid for Areola is an unbelievable bargain in my opinion.

The 29-year-old is so much better than Fabianski with the ball at his feet and his passing ability is on another level to the Pole's.

The French World Cup winner's best asset, however, is his shot-stopping, especially when he has to use his reflexes to save close-range strikes.

This kind of ability will keep us in games more often, and should enable us to get more points on the board this season.

The decision should be an easy one. David Moyes must start Alphonse Areola for West Ham against Fulham. If he doesn't...there is something seriously wrong in my opinion.



https://www.hammers.news/match-preview/if-david-moyes-doesnt-start-29-year-old-west-ham-ace-against-fulham-theres-something-seriously-wrong/

[WhiteJC]

Marco Silva hopes for Fulham win in London derby at West Ham
Marco Silva has challenged Fulham to end their miserable record against West Ham when the two sides face off in Sunday's London derby.

Fulham will make the short journey across the capital bidding to bounce back from their 4-1 defeat at Newcastle last weekend.

The Cottagers have failed to win a league game at West Ham in more than two decades, their last triumph coming back in 2001 when Sylvain Legwinski and Steed Malbranque found the target in a 2-0 victory.

Fulham have won just four of their 24 Premier League meetings against the Hammers, but, speaking ahead of Sunday's clash, Silva said: "This type of thing that didn't happen in the past, we are here to change.

"When we played against Brentford I was told our record at home was not good enough in the last few seasons.

"Every time we played them at Craven Cottage the result wasn't the best for us, and always good for them, and we changed it and won 3-2. We take the same mentality for the West Ham match.

"It will be a tough one for us. It's a very good atmosphere, a good stadium, to play football against a good side, but we want to enjoy it, embrace the challenge, and go there to fight for the three points, and change the facts that we are talking about."

Silva is sweating over the fitness of Aleksandar Mitrovic, the Serbia international who has scored six of Fulham's 13 goals on their return to the top flight, while Nathaniel Chalobah is banned after he was sent off against the Magpies.

But Wales international Harry Wilson could return to the fold following a knee injury sustained in pre-season.

West Ham have endured a challenging start to the season but have tasted back-to-back victories - in the league against Wolves last weekend and 1-0 away to Anderlecht in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.

Silva added: "You have a bad result and then the second one doesn't come in the way you want it, and after you have to get some confidence again.

"They signed very, very good players during the market - they spent a big amount of money as well - but some players have to adapt for the Premier League, even if they have high quality.

"Even without the best start I think everyone realises and recognises the quality they have, and the individual quality they have.

"You are talking about a team that in the last few seasons fought always to be in the European competitions. Two seasons ago they fought to be in the top four.

"So, in my opinion, what they are doing now was a matter of time for them to get good results again, because the quality is there."



https://www.planetsport.com/soccer/news/marco-silva-hopes-fulham-win-london-derby-west-ham

[WhiteJC]

Barnsley 0 Exeter City 2 - Jay Stansfield double gives Grecians win

Two goals from the striker were enough to claim all three points and a 2-0 win

Jay Stansfield scored his first Exeter City goals in an impressive 2-0 win away to Barnsley. The strikes came in the opening moments of each half as interim managers Kevin Nicholson and Jon Hill led them to all three points.

There was less than 60 seconds on the clock the Grecians went ahead through the academy product's first goal for the club. The striker found the back of the net from the edge of the box with a sweetly struck finish.

Early in the second half it was two, and a second for the 19-year-old, tapping home from close range after great work by Sam Nombe. A third didn't come, but defensively City were excellent, snuffing out all the danger, and never really looked like conceding.

The Tykes were looking to make it four wins in a row, but found the Grecians far too good for them at Oakwell. Despite the loss, the side relegated from the Championship last season remain in fifth place and in the play-off spots, but back-to-back away wins for City sees them rise to eighth.

For the hosts, manager Michael Duff made just the one change from the side who beat Fleetwood Town 1-0 last Saturday. Out went the injured Luke Thomas, and in came Jack Aitchison, who scored that stoppage-time winner.

Exeter City interim boss Kevin Nicholson named an unchanged line-up from the one Matt Taylor picked for his final game in charge last weekend in the 2-2 draw with Bristol Rovers, with Jevani Brown, Nombe and Stansfield again the front three. There was no Matt Jay in the matchday squad, as the captain's partner was due to give birth to their first child.

And inside the opening minute, the Grecians had taken the lead, it was a dream start. Archie Collins broke up an attack from the Tykes and slid the ball to Nombe. He got a touch on the ball to Stansfield, and the Fulham loanee curled the ball home from the edge of the box. It was his first goal in the red and white – and one no City fan will forget – and the first time a Stansfield has scored for City since Adam's final goal on January 26, 2010.

It could have been two not long after. Jake Caprice found Rekeem Harper on the edge of the box in a good shooting opportunity, but his touch was heavy and he couldn't get a shot away. But the Grecians were on top, winning a succession of corners in the early stages.

It took 20 minutes for the hosts to create anything – and when they did, they fluffed their lines. Nicky Cadden found a bit of space to swing in a cross, but Devante Cole completely missed the ball in the middle, and former City striker James Norwood couldn't react quick enough and he poked the ball wide. Mads Anderson headed over from a corner on the half hour mark when he should have done better.

The Tykes were slowly growing into the game though, and Aitchison's shot from distance forced Jamal Blackman into a smart save – and while he fumbled the effort, he recovered quickly to grab the loose ball before Cole could pounce. And the goalkeeper needed to be sharp to recover from his own mistake as he tried to play out from the back straight to Cole, but he was equal to the task and made the save.

But just before the break, City nearly doubled the lead as Brown found Caprice with a reserve ball, only to fire just wide of the post. Exeter went in ahead though, and good value for the lead.

Having lost James Norwood to injury in the first half, replaced by Adam Phillips, Duff made a second change at the break, bringing on Tom Edwards for Jordan Williams. And the Tykes had a good chance in the early moments when the ball broke to Cole, but his attempt from 12 yards was high, wide and handsome – and the miss was costly.

The Grecians went straight up the other end and doubled the lead. Nombe did all the hard work on the right hand side, and outmuscled Anderson. He squared the ball to Stansfield, who from three yards out, had the simplest of tasks to tap into the empty net and made it 2-0.

Nicholson's men were hunting a third, and Brown nearly got one. The Jamaican twisted and turned to create an opening, but from just inside the box, curled narrowly wide of the far post, while at the other end, Blackman's fingertip save from Cadden kept the lead at two.

There would be no hat-trick for Stansfield as he was replaced by Harry Smith with 20 minutes to go. And Duff's men were being kept at arm's length, Josh Martin from 35 yards tamely placing one straight at Blackman epitomising their lack of real goal threat, while Aitchison fired over after a long throw dropped to him.

Smith nearly capped the afternoon late on, but the Leyton Orient loanee's volley flew inches over the bar, before only finding the side netting when one-on-one. It mattered little though, as City had long since done enough to claim all three points – and three that they thoroughly deserved.

Exeter City are back in action on Tuesday night, when they are away to Charlton Athletic. Next Saturday, the Grecians are at home at St James Park to Oxford United.

Barnsley: (3-4-3) – Bradley Collins, Robbie Cundy, Mads Anderson, Liam Kitching, Jordan Williams (Tom Edwards, 45), Josh Benson (Luca Connell, 70), Herbie Kane (Josh Martin, 62), Nicky Cadden (Ziyad Larkeche, 62), Jack Aitchison,, Devante Cole, James Norwood (Adam Phillips, 39).

Subs: Jack Walton, Slobodan Tedic

Exeter City: (3-4-3) – Jamal Blackman, Josh Key, Pierce Sweeney, Alex Hartridge, , Jake Caprice, Rekeem Harper, Archie Collins, Jack Sparkes, Jevani Brown (Sonny Cox,90), Jay Stansfield (Harry Smith, 70), Sam Nombe (Kegs Chauke, 90).

Subs: Scott Brown, Ed James, Harrison King

Booking: Brown



https://www.devonlive.com/sport/football/match-reports/barnsley-0-exeter-city-2-7680983

[WhiteJC]

❤️ pic.twitter.com/R0t9AEnd3H

— Exeter City FC (@OfficialECFC) October 8, 2022

[WhiteJC]

Barnsley 0-2 Exeter: Jay Stansfield scores first league goals of his career to seal win at Oakwell

Jay Stansfield scored two poignant goals for Exeter – the first league goals of his career – as they won 2-0 at in-form Barnsley.

Stansfield is on loan at Exeter from Fulham and is the club's first number nine since the death of his father, Adam, who previously wore the shirt.

Jay Stansfield kicked things off in the first minute, latching on to a cushioned header from Sam Nombe on the edge of the box and seeing his effort divert in off the post past Brad Collins.

Barnsley had the chance to equalise in the 24th minute when Nicky Cadden's corner found the head of Reds' skipper Mads Andersen, but his header cleared the crossbar.

Exeter - under the caretaker charge of Kevin Nicholson - doubled their lead three minutes after the break. Nombe broke into the box from the right and found Stansfield in plenty of space at the back post who tapped home in front of the 475 travelling fans.

Harry Smith should have added a third in the 87th minute. He found himself one-on-one with Collins and let fly, but his effort struck the side netting.



https://www.skysports.com/football/barnsley-vs-exeter-city/report/469073

[WhiteJC]

Beautiful Moment As Exeter City Player Scores First Goals Wearing Late Dad's No. 9 Shirt

A heart-breaking but beautiful story has emerged from League One today, when Jay Stansfield scored two goals in Exeter City's 2-0 win over Barnsley.

They were the 19-year-old's first league goals, as he wore his late father's no. 9 jersey. His dad, Adam Stansfield, was an Exeter City stalwart from 2006 until his death from cancer in 2010. His jersey was retired until this season, when his son joined on loan to the club from Fulham.

Stansfield already has Premier League caps to his name, and his dad will undoubtedly be looking down on him with a proud smile on his face, after getting off the mark in the English league.

Jay Stansfield Wears His Dad's Number As He Scores His First League Goals

Adam Stansfield lost his battle with cancer 12 years ago at the age of 31. Today, his 19-year-old son Jay scored his first league goal for Exeter City, wearing the shirt number that had been retired for his late father ❤️pic.twitter.com/fsty4U8hpK

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 8, 2022

Jay Stansfield also told a lovely story to The Guardian recently, about finding his dad's old boots.

"When it was lockdown I was out in the garden playing with my brothers and I found a pair of boots under the bed. They were old [Nike] Tiempo 90s. I asked Mum: 'Can I wear them?' I went out in the garden and wore them and in my head I was going to wear them in the next game.

"I thought it would be a nice touch but they didn't last, the bottom fell off. I've got a lot of his boots in glass boxes. It is nice to have things around. Mum gave me his watch to wear to prom when I finished school. I like looking at photos but obviously it makes me upset, and I don't always want to be upset.

There are positives in life that I can take from it. I try to be as strong as possible and look like I'm OK when sometimes I'm not."



https://www.balls.ie/football/jay-stansfield-exeter-city-league-one-527639

[WhiteJC]

Opposition Q&A with Fulham
Fulham fan Jan du Boulay gives his thoughts on the weekend's big game...

This weekend West Ham follow up their midweek victory over  Anderlecht by welcoming Fulham to The London Stadium for an early Sunday afternoon kick-off. Ahead of the game I chatted to Fulham season ticket holder Jan du Boulay to get his deliberations on the game and the season.

Hi Jan, Fulham seem to have perfected the art of following relegation by promotion, having repeated this three times in a row now. Can't you make your mind up which division you want to play in?

Ha, well yes it is a good question my friend Chris who I sit with would happily stay in the championship, more games more chance of winning though I think the past few promotion seasons had a big impact as there is nothing more depressing than going to games knowing you will more than likely lose. The seasons under Silva have changed that and with the players the club has bought and the manager we have I can see a lot more enjoyment in the Premier.

At least you are spreading your joy around, getting promoted automatically must have almost made up for the previous season. At what stage of the season were you confident of going up?

When we statistically had enough points that no one would catch us!

Presumably Fulham fans are pleased with Marco Silva's performance as manager, how do you rate him, and what does he need to do to avoid the date of previous incumbent Scott Parker?

I think he is fantastic, he has brought the best out of the players he inherited and has made some great signings.  The difference with Silva is that he plays a system to the strength of the squad he has, Parker stuck with his system that didn't suit his players and couldn't adapt when it clearly didn't work.  Playing Cavaleiro instead of Mitrovic up front was a prime example.

Fulham have bought and loaned a few players over the summer, most notably Joao Palhinha, Andreas Pereira, and our own Issa Diop, are these additions going to be enough to keep you up?

Palhinha has been immense and am very happy and a bit amazed we managed sign him!  I think a lot of clubs will be sniffing around him come the summer, Pereira who initialliy didn't seem keen to come has also made a fantastic start so am really hopeful that they will.  Diop I know didn't have the best reputation at West Ham, he is imposing and has the ability, so I hope he comes good.  It was a position we were very concerned about though Tim Ream has proved all the doubters wrong, including myself, by having a fantastic start.  He was just so below the level needed for the premier last time round Iam not sure what has happened(more praise for Silva) but either way it's fantastic.

Aleksandar Mitrović had a great season last year in the championship, is he going to be able to replicate his level of goalscoring in the Premier League this year?

I think he is already showing that, with 6 already. The first game of the season set down a marker for how he would perform against some of the best defenders in the league.

Fulham currently sit in 8th position after a reasonable start, but where do you think/hope Fulham will end the season?

I would be very happy to end the season in safety before the last game or two, anything more than that would be great (for my nerves).

While we're in the prediction mood, who will fill the top 4 positions in the table come the end of May?

City I can see pulling away with Haaland adding a direct lethal finisher, Arsenal's form has been great so I can see them staying in the top 4.  Spurs much to my own and West Hams annoyance I think will be up there too and if Chelsea with Potter carry on a decent start it could be them.  Am very happy to see BHA in the top 4 and think they have replaced a great manager with, from what I have read possibly an even better one. I have a lot of ties there so keep an eye on them too.

Likewise, who are your early picks for relegation?

Forest would be in there, they have spent so much and do play some nice football but that doesn't matter without points.  Leicester have had a shocker but they could still turn it around, it's still tight down there and I thought Bournemouth would be in amongst it but they took a good decision early with Parker.  It's a hard call to make so will say Forest, Southampton and Leicester based on current form.

It's only 6 weeks until the start of the World Cup, are you looking forward to it? Which teams will qualify for the semi-finals, and what chance do England have of winning?

It feels so odd to have a winter world cup, I think the whole thing is pretty awful to be honest and I don't think it should be happening in a country with such an awful human rights record. It seems awful to be watching games played in stadiums that so many people died building.  I don't think there will be the atmosphere either for these reasons which will make for a very flat tournament.  Brazil will be up there, their forward line is amazing.  France as defending champions then Argentina and Germany.  I would love to see England there and they have the players to do so, Kane playing well and then players like Bellingham who is fantastic really could make their mark.  But am never able to be confident with England, sadly.

Fulham have had some all time greats, gracing their shirts towards the end of their careers, the line of George Best, Rodney Marsh, and of course the great Bobby Moore, but who do Fulham fans rate as their greatest 3 players?

Mousa Dembele, he was amazing and had everything I don't think I ever saw him lose the ball, it was stuck to his feet.  Johnny Haynes would be top of the list for most fans even those that didn't see him play and Edwin Van Der Sar one of the best goalkeepers of all time, I will never forget how amazed I was when he signed.  Chatting to my brother, the list gets longer: Louis Saha, Mitrovic there have been so many.  Zamora and Gera for goals in the Europa and then Dempsey for many things but the goal against Juventus in the Europa which brought tears to many eyes.

How will Fulham line up against us this weekend? Players/formation?

Left back is the worry, we were really unsettled last weekend losing defenders and Paulhinha which threw out the consistency we had.  Mitrovic is a maybe so I think a lot rests on whether plays.

Finally, will Fulham be able to stop West Ham from gaining successive Premier League wins? Prediction for score?

I think a tough game away, West Ham haven't had a great start but are a strong side with dangerous forwards, Bowen impresses and will be looking to push on from recent wins. I'm going for 2-2. 

Well many thanks to Jan once again for putting forward the Fulham view. I'm going for a nice tidy 2-0 win, although I will take an ugly one. COYI.



https://www.westhamtillidie.com/posts/opposition-qa-with-fulham

[WhiteJC]

West Ham can end utterly ridiculous record in Fulham clash which fans could never have predicted this time last year

West Ham can end an utterly ridiculous record in the Fulham clash which fans could never have predicted this time last year.

West Ham welcome Fulham to the London Stadium on Sunday looking to make it a nine-point week at home and abroad.

A 2-0 win over Wolves last weekend alleviated pressure that had been building on West Ham boss David Moyes.

And the Hammers followed it up with a 1-0 win at Anderlecht to maintain a perfect start to this season's European adventure.

Meanwhile Fulham, who have made an excellent start to life back in the top flight, were beaten 4-1 by Newcastle last time out.

As reported by Hammers News at the start of the week, Fulham have several doubts for the clash including star man Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The in-form Serbian lasted just 34 minutes of the defeat to Newcastle and had to be withdrawn through injury. Cottagers boss Marco Silva has admitted he is a major doubt for the trip to West Ham.

Having spent £170m on eight quality signings, the Hammers were not expected to struggle. And there have been signs things are slowly but surely coming together for Moyes' boys.

West Ham can end utterly ridiculous record in Fulham clash which fans could never have predicted this time last year
And West Ham can end an utterly ridiculous record in the Fulham clash which fans could never have predicted this time last year.

Rewind 12 months and West Ham were in the middle of a superb run which saw them in the Premier League's top three in November.

Back then nobody could have predicted West Ham's form would drop off a cliff so drastically.

Before beating Wolves, West Ham had a points per game ratio among the bottom three in the league since November with just 37 points from their previous 34 league matches.

The game against Fulham now presents the Hammers with a real chance to record rare back-to-back Premier League wins.

So rare in fact West Ham have not done it since way back at the turn of the year!

Then West Ham actually sealed three Premier League wins in a row when they beat Watford 4-1 on December 28th before a 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace on New Year's Day and a 2-0 triumph over Norwich.

Those results sandwiched a 2-0 FA win over Leeds too.

Here West Ham stand searching for their first back-to-back league wins for 10 months – a scarcely believable statistic had it been predicted this time last season.

The Hammers have it in their grasp to end that almost ludicrous record when Fulham visit the London Stadium on Sunday.

Paul Merson predicts West Ham will do just that.

And Cottagers boss Marco Silva is running scared as West Ham start to show some long overdue form.



https://www.hammers.news/analysis/west-ham-can-end-utterly-ridiculous-record-in-fulham-clash-which-fans-could-never-have-predicted-this-time-last-year/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham 'suddenly' face major problem at Craven Cottage

Fulham are set to face a 'test' of their squad depth over the coming weeks due to several injuries and suspensions, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The Cottagers have made an impressive start to the season following their promotion from the Championship last term but could be in for a difficult few weeks ahead.

What is the latest news involving Fulham?
After losing just three of their opening eight Premier League games, Fulham are sitting in eighth position in the top-flight standings, much to the delight of manager Marco Silva.

However, the Portuguese tactician will surely be concerned at the ever-increasing number of first-team players occupying the treatment table in west London.

Harry Wilson is yet to play a single minute for Fulham in 2022/23 after injuring his knee in pre-season, while summer signing Manor Solomon is out until the World Cup after having surgery on his knee.

Left-back Antonee Robinson has been absent from the capital club's previous two outings due to an ankle problem, while right-back Kenny Tete was also left out of the matchday squad last time out due to a knock.

And Fulham are experiencing a major issue at full-back after both Layvin Kurzawa and Kevin Mbabu were withdrawn before half-time against Fulham at the weekend.

What has Jones said about Fulham?
Former Chelsea winger Willian also played no part against the Magpies due to a knock and star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic left the field of play after 37 minutes due to an ankle issue, and Jones believes they could find it 'difficult to cope' with the absences.

He told GiveMeSport: "It has been a great start to the season, and I think that probably gives them some breathing space when it comes to moments like this and dropped points, but it also becomes a test of the squad depth.

"Any promoted team, in any season, is going to find it difficult to cope once you start to lose that top player of talent. And that's where Fulham are suddenly starting to find themselves now. You hope that you can recover from that as quick as possible."

Can Fulham cope with their injury issues?
Joao Palhinha, who arrived from Sporting CP for around £17 million back in July, will be a welcomed returnee for the trip to West Ham United on Sunday.

The Portugal international was suspended after picking up five yellow cards in just seven league games, but Nathaniel Chalobah's sending off against Newcastle will mean he is unavailable for selection.

Silva will be hoping Willian and Tete recover in time from their respective knocks, and praying that Kurzawa, Mbabu and Mitrovic haven't sustained serious issues.

Carlos Vinicius could make his first start for Fulham if Mitrovic is unable to feature from the off, though, allowing him an opportunity to showcase his true ability.



https://www.givemesport.com/88067775-fulham-suddenly-face-major-problem-at-craven-cottage

[WhiteJC]

NUMBERS GAME Moyes' personal record against Fulham to secure West Ham back-to-back wins

In one of London's less famous derbies, West Ham take on Fulham in the hope of keeping their newly-found momentum going.

Following back-to-back losses to Chelsea and Everton, the Hammers outplayed Wolverhampton last weekend to escape the relegation zone.

With only two wins out of their seven games in the league, there is no doubt that there is still work to do for the east London club in order to stay away from the danger zone.

However, their fans will be pleased to know that their boss David Moyes has quite the record against Fulham.

The 59-year-old has won 13 of his 14 home Premier League matches against their visitors, with his first game in the competition a 2-1 home win as Everton boss in March 2002.

Among managers to face an opponent more than 10 times on home soil, only Arsène Wenger vs Leicester (100%, 11 wins from 11) has a higher win ratio than Moyes vs Fulham (93%).

And not only is Moyes' record appealing, West Ham's own winning record is incredible.

The Hammers are unbeaten in 11 home matches against the Cottagers in the campaign, winning seven and drawing four.

Can West Ham's Premier League journey finally take off?

talkSPORT EDGE takes a look...

    Fulham have kept just one clean sheet in their 21 away top-flight matches against West Ham United, shipping 49 goals in those other 20 games

    West Ham have lost more Premier League London derbies than any other side (113), while Fulham have the lowest win rate in such games (18% – 26 wins from 141 games)

    Fulham have alternated between victory (3) and defeat (3) in each of their last six Premier League games, losing 4-1 at home to Newcastle last time out

    West Ham have scored a league-high 40% of their Premier League goals from outside the box this season (2/5) – however, Fulham are one of just three sides (along with Liverpool and the Hammers themselves) who are yet to concede from distance this season

    Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored in each of his three Premier League London derby matches this season (vs Brentford, Arsenal and Tottenham), having scored in just one of his first 17 such games in the competition

    Including his time in the Championship with Nottingham Forest, Michail Antonio has been involved in four goals in his five league games against Fulham (3 goals, 1 assist). The Jamaican has also been involved in more London derby goals than any other West Ham player in the Premier League (13 goals, 12 assists)



https://talksport.com/edge/1212924/

[WhiteJC]

West Ham: Moyes must unleash Angelo Ogbonna

West Ham United head into today's Premier League clash against Fulham off the back of some recent good form.

A 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers last Saturday was followed by an excellent 1-0 win away to Anderlecht in the Europa Conference League, and it means that David Moyes' men are going for three straight wins today.

There will more than likely be a number of changes to the starting XI ahead of the Fulham clash, but Moyes must unleash Angelo Ogbonna, who was excellent against the Belgian side but has yet to start a Premier League game in 2022/23.

Playing just his sixth match of the season, the defender was excellent on Thursday evening, receiving a SofaScore rating of 7.6, making him the highest-ranked player on the pitch in Brussels.

The £70k-per-week brute featured for the full 90 minutes and contributed by making two clearances, blocking three shots and making one tackle. He also won 80% of his duels during the game, showing his strength in one-on-one scenarios, and he wasn't dribbled past once by Anderlecht players.

Even at 34 years of age, Ogbonna still has the necessary physical attributes to thrive at the highest level.

The Italian could be a better option against Fulham than Kurt Zouma, as he could be able to cope with the presence of Aleksandar Mitrovic. Indeed, Billy McKinlay praised Ogbonna earlier this season, saying that the veteran defender "brings a good physical presence" to the team.

With West Ham conceding nine goals in eight league matches, losing five of them, Moyes might fancy a change at the heart of the backline.

Summer arrival Thilo Kehrer was impressive against Wolves last weekend, making five tackles and four clearances from right-back; and with Zouma being the lowest-rated starting West Ham defender against the Old Gold with a SofaScore rating of 6.9, Ogbonna could be the ideal partner for the German today.

Whatever team the manager selects this afternoon, the Irons boss will expect his side's good run of form to continue as they aim for their third consecutive win for the first time this season.



https://www.footballfancast.com/west-ham-united-news/west-ham-must-unleash-angelo-ogbonna-premier-league-zouma-fulham-moyes-ogbonna

[WhiteJC]

Scamacca to Start – Team News, Predicted 4-2-3-1 West Ham United Lineup vs Fulham

West Ham United will host their city rivals Fulham to the London Stadium on Sunday hoping to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League.

The Hammers beat Wolves 2-0 in the Premier League last weekend before following it up with an impressive 1-0 away win at Anderlecht in the UEFA Europa Conference League in midweek.

Two wins in as many games across all formats should give David Moyes' side some confidence ahead of the visit of Fulham, who are eighth in the table with 11 points and heading into this tie on the back of a 4-1 home loss to Newcastle United.

West Ham Team News
Maxwel Cornet is ruled out of the game on Sunday with a small calf strain, confirmed Moyes in his press conference. Other than Cornet, Moyes will have a fully fit squad to select his side against the Cottagers.

Predicted West Ham Lineup vs Fulham (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper
Lukasz Fabianski should return in goal on Sunday after Alphonse Areola played in the Europa Conference League clash with Anderlecht. The Polish shot-stopper's aim will be to keep back-to-back clean sheets at home.

Defence
David Moyes is expected to revert to a 4-2-3-1 system against Fulham, after using a back three at Anderlecht. Kurt Zouma should walk into the side after enjoying some rest in midweek, with the Frenchman expected to partner Craig Dawson at the heart of the Hammers' backline.



Aaron Cresswell, who was an unused substitute against Anderlecht, will start at left-back, with Vladimir Coufal a certainty at right-back. The West Ham back four will need to be focused throughout the game to keep an exciting Fulham attack at bay.

Midfield
Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek will make up the West Ham midfield as the duo focus on winning the battle in the middle of the park and orchestrating some significant openings in the final third.

Lucas Paqueta will function ahead of the double pivot of Rice and Soucek, hoping to carve open the Fulham rearguard with his incisive passing, movement and flair. Moyes will want Paqueta to be more decisive in the final third.

Attack
Jarrod Bowen will function as the right-sided wide player while Pablo Fornals hopes to catch the eye on the right flank. The creativity and movement of Bowen and Fornals could play an important role in opening up the Fulham defence.

Gianluca Scamacca came off the bench and scored the winner against Anderlecht on Thursday, so he will be hungry to make a difference again on Sunday afternoon. Moyes could hand Scamacca a start up top ahead of Antonio against the Cottagers.



https://madaboutepl.net/2022/10/team-news-predicted-4-2-3-1-west-ham-united-lineup-vs-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

There's Only One F In Stratford: West Ham Entertain The Cottagers At The London Stadium

Two wins, two clean sheets and the luxury of selection dilemmas might finally put a smile on David Moyes face

A week is a long time in football. Two wins and two clean sheets in five days have transformed David Moyes demeanour and medium term outlook beyond his wildest expectations. Gone was the startled Scooby Doo look of panic that was a constant during his time at Sunderland, to be replaced by the smug satisfaction of a man who had just found a can of Irn-Bru in the mini-bar of his Brussels hotel room.

Having made nine changes to his side for the midweek game at Anderlecht, the Hammers put in a professional performance to take control of the game, even if needed the introduction of Declan Rice, Gianluca Scamacca and Lucas Paqueta to finally seal the victory. An impressive trinity to be able to summon from the bench.

I'm already viewing the title of Group B champions as a done deal, and have started to look at which teams could potentially block the path to the final. Of those in the Conference itself, Villareal pose the greatest threat, followed by Koln and Fiorentina, though neither have made impressive starts in their respective groups. More of a problem are the clubs dropping down from the Europa League. Clearly, we wouldn't want to face either of the English clubs – given previous inferiority complexes shown against Arsenal and Manchester United – and thankfully neither are likely to end up eliminated. Of the sides currently sitting third in their Europa groups, Roma and Lazio would be the greatest worries and best avoided. I'm all in favour of the clearest and easiest route possible to the final in Prague.

Standing in the way on back-to-back West Ham Premier League wins this weekend are newly promoted Fulham. The Cottagers have made a decent start back in the top flight and currently sit in ninth place with eleven points – having recorded wins at home to Brentford and Brighton and away at Forest. But a home victory today would lift the Hammers to within a single point of the visitors.

The Fulham gig has seen the resurrection of Portuguese manager, Marco Silva. Once the rising star among young Premier League coaches, Silva floundered, as many have before and since, in the graveyard of managerial ambitions that is Goodison Park. Eyebrows were raised when he replaced Scott Parker at Craven Cottage, but a barnstorming run to last season's Championship title has represented a remarkable rebound in his stock.

A large part of Fulham's resurgence has been to contribution and goals of Mitrovic. This time around he has offered far more than the typical blunt instrument impact of previous campaigns. Fortunately for West Ham, the Serb is a highly probable non-starter today.

The visitors were soundly beaten by Newcastle at Craven Cottage last time out when the early dismissal of Chalobah did little to help their cause. Chalobah's ensuing suspension may herald an interesting return of Issa Diop to the London Stadium.

Moyes has a handful of selection dilemmas for the game which will test his loyalty to the established order. Has Alphonse Areola finally earned the inevitable upgrade to number one, Number One status? Who gets the nod between Emerson and Aaron Cresswell for the problematic left-back slot? Has Flynn Downes done enough to show he can be a Premier League starter in preference to Tomas Soucek?

I can't see Moyes leaving out either Lukasz Fabianski or Soucek. Both had decent enough games last weekend against Wolves meaning the midweek heroics of Areola and Downes will likley go unrewarded. Fabianski will need either injury or serious howlers to lose his place.

It is ridiculous that Downes has just one minute (and no touches) of Premier League football to his name – in the season opener against Manchester City. The value of committed, no-nonsense players like Downes and Craig Dawson who make a real nuisance of themselves is hugley under-rated. If Downes doesn't get a start he must be given at least twenty minutes or so to demonstrate he can cut it at this level.

It's a toss-up for me at left back as I've yet to be convinced by Emerson's defensive prowess. The problem with Cresswell's rapidly waning powers, however, is that his presence almost guarantees the inclusion of the under-performing Pablo Fornals to baby-sit as a supplementary full-back. It's the structural problem with the way that Moyes sets up in that our wide attacking players are given way too much defensive responsibility (well beyond the need to track back in response to an emerging threat). The consequuence is that out-ball options once possession is regained are severely limited.

Far better if the more advanced players are deployed further up the pitch to launch offensive actions and ensure the main striker does not get isolated. It was once said that it requires surgery to get a joke into a Scotsman's head. Possibly harsh, but a similar procedure might be necessary if Moyes is to be persuaded that Scamacca and Michail Antonio can prosper together in the same side.

Scamacca is now the clear and obvious first choice frontman. He has demonstrated a predatory nose for goal and there are signs of promising understandings developing with both Jarrod Bowen and Paqueta. But Antonio still has much to offer – he is our leading all-time Premier League scorer after all. But as a striker, he gravitates towards the wings too much anyway, so why not play him there in a reprise of his earlier days at the club?

West Ham can boast an excellent record against Fulham over the years and in recent history with the Hammers having won three and drawn one of the last four meetings. Even so, both games in the 2020/21 Fulham relegation season were close run things and but for Lookman's comical last minute penalty would have ended all square.

The absence of Mitrovic would be a huge blow to the visitors. Despite their promising start to the season they still have one of the worst defensive records in the divion. But West Ham's profligacy in front of goal must improve if they are to advantage. A 2-0 win for the home side. COYI!



https://westhamway.net/2022/10/09/theres-only-one-f-in-flynn-west-ham-entertain-the-cottagers-at-the-london-stadium/