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West Ham face financial rescue mission

 

Nayef Aguerd-West Ham-Saudi_Hammers defender is on the way out

West Ham face financial rescue mission

West Ham United might be facing a financial rescue mission this summer, and that brings Saudi Arabia into the picture. Here’s why:

West Ham face financial rescue mission

David Moyes has his work cut out for him this summer. While he’s made some stellar signings like Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus, some haven’t panned out as well. Nayef Aguerd, in particular, has been a major concern.

West Ham shelled out a hefty £30 million for Aguerd in 2022, but the Moroccan defender has struggled to adapt to the Premier League‘s intensity.  His lack of concentration, positional awareness, and physicality have exposed the Hammers’ backline.

West Ham are keen to offload Aguerd, but recouping the £30 million seems improbable. Premier League clubs likely won’t be interested, and a return to Ligue 1 might only fetch around £15 million.

Here’s where things get interesting. Saudi clubs have been aggressively investing in players, and their vast wealth could be West Ham’s saving grace.

If a Saudi club comes knocking with a decent offer, it would be a golden opportunity for West Ham. They could recoup their investment and free up funds for Moyes to bolster the squad in other areas. The manager would be off the hook for a potentially costly mistake.

West Ham’s summer transfer window hinges on Aguerd’s exit. While a return on investment seems unlikely through traditional channels, Saudi Arabian interest could provide a surprising solution. Whether it’s a happy ending for all parties remains to be seen.

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Loss of top midfielder could prove costly

Loss of top midfielder may have seriously harmed Hammers Euro bid

West Ham have been dealt a significant blow with key midfielder Edson Alvarez facing a fresh ban, side-lining him for three out of the next four games across all competitions.

Alvarez has become a crucial figure in David Moyes’ squad since his arrival last summer, will be sorely missed during this critical phase of the season. In many respects, he has been one of the teams most consistent performers this season.

His absence raises concerns, particularly as the team’s midfield performance often hinge on his presence, much like the attack’s reliance on Lucas Paqueta.

Alvarez’s accumulation of ten yellow cards in the Premier League, including one during the recent 1-1 draw against Aston Villa, triggers a two-match domestic suspension. Additionally, his booking in the 5-0 victory over Freiburg in midweek incited criticism toward Moyes for not substituting him earlier in the game, considering the comfortable lead.

Loss of top midfielder could prove costly in West Ham's Euro push

Loss of top midfielder Alvarez could prove costly in West Ham’s Euro push

That being said, I do believe that Alvarez himself must take most of the blame for his dual suspension. Both cards were completely avoidable and the player himself would have been acutely aware of their consequence.

This yellow card also results in a one-game European ban, effectively ruling him out for three of West Ham’s upcoming four fixtures in all competitions.

The absence of Alvarez will be felt keenly, especially during crucial Premier League encounters against Newcastle United and Tottenham following the international break. These matches could prove pivotal in West Ham’s pursuit of securing a Europa League berth, making Alvarez’s suspension particularly untimely.

I guess it will finally give Kalvin Phillips a run of games to step up . . . but he has big boots to fill.

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West Ham and VAR dramas

The West Ham vs. Aston Villa clash at the London Stadium served as a microcosm of the ongoing debate surrounding VAR (Video Assistant Referee). While the technology aims to rectify on-field refereeing errors, the match exposed concerns about its impact on the game’s flow and excitement.

WEST HAM AND VAR DRAMAS

West Ham twice had goals ruled out due to VAR intervention, both for handball violations. While adhering to the letter of the law, the lengthy review times (over five minutes each) significantly dampened the celebratory atmosphere.

The first decision, involving Michail Antonio, lacked a conclusive angle, further fuelling debate about the need for definitive evidence before interrupting the game’s rhythm.

Some experts suggest that referees and VAR officials might be taking an excessively cautious approach due to a fear of making mistakes under the current leadership at PGMOL.

This cautiousness, while understandable, comes at a cost. The stop-start nature of the reviews disrupts the game’s momentum, leaving players and fans frustrated.

There’s a growing consensus that VAR needs a clear balance between accuracy and maintaining the flow of the game. Perhaps tighter time constraints for reviews could be implemented, or perhaps a threshold for the significance of the potential error could be established. A faster, more decisive approach could minimise disruption without compromising the technology’s core purpose.

While VAR aims to eliminate human error, some argue that it removes an element of drama and emotional investment from the game. Controversial refereeing decisions, while frustrating, have always been part of football’s history. Removing this entirely might take away from the raw emotion and passion that define the sport.

The West Ham match serves as a wake-up call for the authorities responsible for VAR implementation. Refining the system to minimize disruption while upholding its core function is crucial. Striking a balance between accuracy and entertainment is essential if VAR is to truly become a positive force in football.

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Leverkusen make statement of intent against Freiburg

Leverkusen make statement of intent ahead of Hammers clash 

West Ham got a first-hand look at our upcoming Europa League rivals, Bayer Leverkusen, during the weekend clash against SC Freiburg, the team they faced in the previous Europa League encounter. The Bundesliga match was closely contested, with Florian Wirtz opening the scoring for Leverkusen early on, only to be equalized by Ritsu Doan for Freiburg. Leverkusen secured a two-goal lead through strikes from Adam Hlozek and Patrik Schick before Yannik Keitel grabbed a consolation goal for Freiburg.

This win maintained Xabi Alonso’s team’s commanding 10-point lead at the Bundesliga summit, with Freiburg languishing in ninth place. Whilst the Hammers  triumphed 5-0 over Freiburg in our Europa League meeting, Leverkusen progressed to the quarter-finals with a dramatic 5-4 aggregate victory over Qarabag, courtesy of two injury-time goals from Schick.

Alonso's Leverkusen make statement of intent ahead of Hammers clash by beating SC Freiburg

Alonso’s Leverkusen make statement of intent ahead of Hammers clash

In their latest encounter, Leverkusen mirrored their European form, with Wirtz finding the net early. Despite a response from Doan, Freiburg struggled to create meaningful chances. Defensive errors allowed Hlozek and Schick to extend Leverkusen’s lead, though a late goal from Keitel kept Freiburg in contention.

Leverkusen’s unbeaten run across all competitions this season poses a significant challenge for David Moyes‘ West Ham side. Frimpong’s pace and skill on the wings could trouble the Hammers’ defence in the upcoming clash. Nevertheless, West Ham can draw encouragement from the 3-2 scoreline, knowing that the outcome of the Europa League tie remains uncertain.

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Hammers could renew Maguire pursuit

Hammers could renew Maguire pursuit

West Ham United could reignite their pursuit of Harry Maguire this summer, potentially at a significantly lower price than what was discussed last year.

Despite Dinos Mavropanos’ recent good form, West Ham are arguably in need of another central defender to partner him. The limitations of Kurt Zouma’s mobility, Angelo Ogbonna’s age, and Nayef Aguerd’s inconsistency have all impacted the team negatively.

Hammers could renew Maguire pursuit

The Hammers nearly secured Maguire from Manchester United before the season began, but the £30 million deal fell through. It seemed both clubs and the player himself were hesitant about the move. However, things might change this summer.

While stripped of the captaincy and sometimes used as a scapegoat by Erik ten Hag, Maguire has remained dedicated to Manchester United. He has also shown significant improvement this season. However, The Sun reports that West Ham could now acquire him for just £15-20 million.

This price tag would likely entice manager David Moyes, a long time admirer of Maguire. Signing him for that amount would be considerably better value than the initial proposal, which included a £7 million pay-off for the player. While some might see his age (31) as a drawback, his experience could strengthen the West Ham defence. In today’s market, £15-20 million would be a steal for a player of his calibre.

Whether Maguire is more receptive to a move to London remains unclear. Although still not a guaranteed starter at Old Trafford, he has seen increased playing time and regained some support from the fans. Would he be willing to give up that for a chance at regular first-team football with West Ham?

West Ham’s defensive frailties could lead them back to Maguire. While his age might raise concerns, his experience and potential price tag make him a tempting option. However, Maguire’s own willingness to leave Manchester United for a move to the London Stadium will be a crucial factor in determining the potential transfer

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Frustration at VAR rough justice

Moyes fed up with VAR rough justice

David Moyes expressed frustration after two contentious VAR handball decisions went against West Ham in their 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.

The Hammers were denied a stoppage-time winner when a lengthy five-minute, 37-second VAR check – the longest in Premier League history – concluded that Tomas Soucek had handled the ball before it crossed the line. To be frank, on initial inspection it wasn’t clear whether Soucek, Jarrod Bowen, or Konstantinos Mavropanos was responsible for the disallowed goal.

However, the prolonged decision-making process felt like the video referee was seeking a reason to disallow the goal, leaving Manager David Moyes visibly unimpressed.

Moyes feels VAR rough justice has hit West Ham again

Moyes feels VAR rough justice has hit West Ham again

Earlier, we had a goal ruled out by another VAR review which determined that the ball had brushed Michail Antonio’s arm when he scored at the beginning of the second half. Once again, the process seemed to be scrutinizing for fault, even though the ball could have easily been deemed to have bounced off his chest.

Moyes also highlighted more handball decisions not given for his team, referencing incidents against Burnley last weekend and Freiburg in the Europa League first leg.

“I’ve got nothing to say on VAR, contact Howard Webb yourself,” was Moyes’ initial terse response.

But he added: “Burnley last week, Freiburg, and now two today have gone against us. It’s hard to take.

“If VAR thinks it’s right, it must be right. I think football people see things differently. We’ve had two hit people’s arms in the last week, and not one went for us.”

With the game poised at 1-1 and West Ham seemingly having substituted most of their attacking players, few would have expected the late drama.

Late drama as VAR rules against Irons AGAIN

Then, in the fifth minute of seven added on, Konstantinos Mavropanos, up for a free-kick, scooped the ball towards the net. It was pure pinball as the ball deflected everywhere before eventually ending up in the net. Nothing about the goal was clear, even on closer inspection. Certainly, if the ball had touched someone’s arm, they would never have known, given that Bowen and Soucek were both on the floor.

After more than five minutes of video analysis, Gillett was summoned to the pitchside TV screen and decided that the Czech midfielder had used an arm, disallowing the goal amidst a chorus of boos and earning an earful from Moyes after the final whistle.

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Moyes claims draw was a fair result

David Moyes speaks with referee Jarred Gillett after the Hammers had a late goal disallowed against Aston Villa

Moyes claims draw was a fair result

According to David Moyes the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa was a fair result,

He saw the team go in front  take the lead before seeing two ‘goals’ disallowed, concede a late equaliser, then see a third ‘goal’ ruled out which added five minutes in added time via VAR review.

West Ham  had Michail Antonio’s diving header from Vladimír Coufal’s cross – his seventh Premier League assist of the season – to show for their efforts as Mohammed Kudus had a second ruled out.

Unai Emery had made four substitutions, Villa improved and equalised through sub Nicolò Zaniolo.

Zaniolo himself then escaped being shown a second yellow card for throwing the ball away, before the Irons had a third and final ‘goal’ ruled out ten minutes into added time with  Tomáš Souček  adjudged to have handled as he bundled the ball in.

Speaking to West Ham TV after a game in which his team created as many goal attempts, 13, and shots on target, five, as their fourth-placed opponents, despite having just 30% possession, Moyes felt the overall result was a fair one.

Moyes claims draw was a fair result

He said: “I’m really pleased with the performance – certainly in the first 40 or 50 minutes I thought we did very well.

I thought we played great in the first half, actually. I thought there was some really good stuff, but we only had one goal to show for it.

When we got what we thought was the second goal disallowed just after half-time, it sort of changed and I thought Villa showed why they are such a good team and they made a couple of changes at half-time which improved them.

We found it more difficult, but we hung in, stuck at it and in the end we came really close to winning the game.

Mick has played 70 minutes in midweek and another 60-odd today, so we’re trying to manage it.

We’ve also got other people with fresh legs who we want to get on the pitch and give them minutes as well, but I thought it was just the right time to see if we could freshen it up.

They were the better team at the time and we couldn’t keep the ball and weren’t getting up the pitch too quickly, so trying to find other ways of doing it was what we tried to do, but he did a good job for us, Mick, and scored a really good goal.

I think Villa had a lot of the ball and we sat deep, but not by design. We wanted to try and press as high as we did. A couple of changes they made changed it and a couple of quick players that they brought on in Zaniolo and Diaby gave us a bit of a problem in the positions they played.

We tried to solve it and the game was tight and obviously if we could have had another half-dozen chances to break away and score, we might have done so because we had a couple, but we just couldn’t get the three points.

As the game wore on, we saw we were going to start fatiguing a little bit, but we had our better players on and we wanted to see if we could get them to get us the goals and make us the chances, but, in the end, we just couldn’t quite hang onto it.

We have to be positive.We had a handball decision against Burnley which didn’t go our way and we had a couple today which didn’t go our way, so we’re starting to feel as if we’re not doing enough here to get the results which we could maybe do.

I feel as if we’ve dropped some points, and I felt today we were going to get the three when we got the second goal, but we weren’t.

It was still a really good point against Aston Villa, so we’ll keep hanging in there. We’ve got some really big games coming up and unfortunately we’ve got some suspensions coming up, which are going to have an effect on us.

(2) CLARETANDHUGH | Facebook

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Cowardly Moyes so fortunate!

Cowardly Moyes so fortunate!

by CandH Facebook follower Daniel Hill

Cowardly  David Moyes can count himself fortunate that the majority of fans and pundits were distracted by yet another VAR controversy at the end of the game, having again demonstrated why he is not the man to take our club forward.

Our first half display capitalised on a sluggish Villa side who struggled to deal with the indomitable Coufal time and again marauding down our right flank.

His crossing was superb and, perhaps if he’d not had a sulk over being ignored moments earlier, would have scored his first for the club when the ball broke loose on the edge of the area. His shot was vicious; his follow-up, typical. Bless!

All looked good going into half time, with a refreshing and perfectly reasonable blend of high press, low block and attacking flair, giving Villa a perplexing conundrum to resolve.

But, like all good managers,  Emery did, by making two substitutions at half time in a bid to address the deficiencies in his side.

Moyes parks the bus and Hammers are beaten

And it worked, with Coufal quietened and Villa reminded of their capabilities and ambition. As the half wore on, it became increasingly clear that the Hammers had lost their sense of adventure. As we’ve seen so often this season, we shrunk, regressed, and invited a highly capable Villa front line to attack.

It’s standard from a team who, despite possessing a potent attack of our own, decide to allow all the pressure to fall onto our defence and an erratic Alvarez and a clumsy Soucek. Words fail me.

As a side note, someone needs to have a word with Alvarez about his conduct. He picks up too many unnecessary yellows for stupid challenges and petulant reactions. Now he’s out for our next two. It should be docked wages and the naughty step for the young man.

And how does Moyes react to Villa’s changing fortunes? He returns to type; failing to protect our lead by opting to dismantle our front line and defend at all costs. He replaced a revitalised Antonio, who again had been a powerful focal point in an exciting front four, with… Ings? Nope… Mubama then?

Wrong again. With Ben Johnson, a defender, who entered the field with a spray can and promptly added the standard writing on the wall: “Attack & you shall score!”

There was only one outcome and it was duly realised when yet another swift, cutting Villa attack ended in a well worked slick Zaniolo goal. Unlike Ward-Prowse’s later effort, there was no-one available on the penalty spot to block it.

Emery – a coach I admire greatly – made well thought out attacking substitutions and, despite being the AWAY team, throws everyone forward in search of a winner having equalised, pinning us in and empowering his charges to actually play football.

And yes, I know we could’ve won it at the end, but it would’ve been a ‘snatch and grab’, and I’m just not sure that’s the way I want us to win a home game against a team who, on paper, should be our equal. I’m envious of Villa fans.

It yet again highlights what we’re missing. A coach with vision, guile, endeavour and smarts.

And it’s all such a shame. Yet another false dawn. Yet another opportunity for Moyes to show that perhaps he listens. Perhaps he can change, especially off the back of our emphatic midweek win.

But no. Despite having proven against Brentford, in the second half against Burley and against Freiburg that we’re better at attacking than defending, the old leopard shows there is just no changing his spots.

A bit like our lead, Moyes’s decisions today were indefensible and it is an opportunity wasted to prove that our recent progress isn’t a flash in the pan.

Moyesball has its place. He has undoubtedly moved us to a different level and I’ll always be grateful to him for that. But if we want to move on, and not regress, it’s time for change.

Players, 8/10. Moyes (and his clearly cowardly backroom team), 3/10.

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Hammers win denied by VAR

West Ham win denied by VAR

The Hammers were denied a win by VAR

We were left frustrated at the London Stadium after conceding a late equalizer and having two goals controversially ruled out by VAR in their 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.

Hammers win denied by VAR

West Ham started the match brightly with Michail Antonio leading the attack alongside Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus. Both Bowen and Lucas Paqueta had early opportunities, but an offside call and a deflection denied them the opening goal writes Michael Talbot.

The home side’s persistence paid off on the half-hour mark. Vladimir Coufal sent in a superb cross from the right, which Antonio met with a powerful header to score his first Premier League goal since August.

West Ham thought they had doubled their lead early in the second half. Antonio found the net again, but their celebrations were short-lived. A VAR review deemed there was a handball in the build-up, and the goal was chalked off.

Aston Villa applied significant pressure in the second half and eventually equalized with ten minutes remaining. Substitute Moussa Diaby raced down the flank and delivered a perfect cross for fellow substitute Nicolò Zaniolo, who slotted home the equalizer.

West Ham thought they had snatched a dramatic winner in the dying moments. James Ward-Prowse whipped in a trademark cross, and Tomas Soucek bundled the ball into the net in a goalmouth scramble. However, VAR intervened once again, disallowing the goal for a foul in the build-up.

A Point Gained, But Two Points Lost:

While West Ham secured a point, the feeling will be one of disappointment after surrendering the lead and having two goals ruled out. The controversial VAR decisions and their inability to hold onto the lead leave the Hammers with a missed opportunity to close the gap on the top six in the Premier League table.


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West Ham 1 Aston Villa 1: Player ratings

West Ham 1 Aston Villa 1

Areola:6 Made a smart save from Watkins on 12 mins. Good save on 68 mins as West Ham invited Villa to attack. Incredible save on 74 mins. Not loads to do.

Coufal:9 Got forward well and provided the assist for Antonio’s opener with an impressive cross. Had an excellent game.

Mavropanos:8 Good anticipation when moving out of defence to win the ball early. A Greek colossus.

Zouma:6 Oddly, Villa made no attempt to press him despite having two fast strikers.

Emerson:7 Quiet in attack by his standards but one tackle on Baily early in the second half was excellent. Won his individual battle against a tricky opponent.

Alvarez:7 Bossed the midfield but pressure eventually told as West Ham invited attack after attack. Stupidly got another booking which rules him out for Newcastle & Tottenham games.

Soucek:6 His first touch let him down and he failed to capitalise on a goalkeeping error. Further up the pitch than I expected. Covered for Alvarez really well and always looked for Coufal’s overlaps. VAR deemed him to have handled the ball to stop a 2-1 injury time win.

West Ham v Aston Villa: Antonio stoops to put the Hammers 1-0 ahead

West Ham v Aston Villa: Antonio stoops to put the Hammers 1-0 ahead

Paqueta:7 Saw a shot deflected wide early in the first half. Heavily involved and up to his usual party tricks. I’d be interested to know how many tackles and interceptions he did.

Bowen:5 Really good deliveries from corners. Put in a shift but not really his game.

Kudus:6 Looked to be really up for the game and had a couple of long range chances despite not being in his favoured position. Great run at the end of the game set up Ward Prowse

Antonio:7 Opened the scoring with an excellent stooping header. Was unlucky to have a second called chalked off by VAR for handball.

Substitutes

Johnson: 65th min sub for Antonio and made a tackle 1 minute after his introduction.

Ward Prowse: 83rd min sub for Paqueta. Missed a really good chance to win the game.

Cresswell: 83rd min sub for Emerson as Moyes looked to protect the point and Emersons injury.