Tough call finding new players good enough for starting X1

Dave Langton’s match verdict

West Ham need new players. This much we know.

David Moyes has said it himself, on multiple occasions, and repeated it after the brilliant 4-2 win over Newcastle on Sunday.

The Hammers have a very thin squad, notably up front and in defence. Mikey Antonio is the only striker at the club and there simply aren’t enough players at centre-back.

BUT. We really will have to go some to buy anyone better than the players we already have in the starting XI!

The game on Sunday was one that went backwards and forwards and had moments of genuine end-to-end play.

At the end of it, though, the Hammers were victorious for a couple of reasons: Antonio, up front, was absolutely superb; Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen dazzled as they repeatedly took on Newcastle defenders; Declan Rice was heroic; Tomas Soucek rediscovered the scoring touch.

Mikey remains one of the most under-rated strikers in England and he is now our joint all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League to boot. He never stopped running, and he never stopped trying to make something happen.

Of course, there were issues. Moyes was disappointed with the two goals that were conceded and rightly so. The second, in particular, came about as a result of a dallying defence.

But the quality in the team shined through in the end.

Moyes has made it clear that he will not buy players for the sake of it; he is not of the mind to bring in a player who he doesn’t feel will improve the starting XI.

On Sunday’s evidence, it is going to be a hard task to find anyone!