lickierambert

We are officially in a relegation battle. Huge game next week

I appreciate the way the club goes about it's recruitment but this cannot be dressed up as anything other that a monumental **** up. I'd probably be most comfortable with Bertrand and Yoshida which is a sorry state of affairs

Will there be a man in the western hemisphere that West Ham are not linked with?

If we're paying him bonuses for walking then that's a bit generous.

Haha. I seem to remember us having trouble getting him back quickly from international duty

West Ham's buying strategy is basically that 'ooh piece of candy' sketch from Family Guy.

A terrible thought has crossed my mind-have we seen the last of VVD in a Saints shirt? These 'three month' injuries have a habit of extending way beyond the initial diagnosis

I know it doesn't feel like it, but Hull are Prem too

Yes but if he holds himself well he'll find another (better) job here soon enough. No-one will pin Hull's relegation on him I still can't quite get over the fact we lost to that shower

The away goals ruling means that even if we're 2-0 down on the night, we're only 1 goal away from being through (after ET). A bit like the Hapoel game but in reverse

I'm yet to see evidence VVD is actually human so don't believe he has broken a foot

I have nothing particularly constructive to add other than to say I can't remember being to a game with that light. It was a weird, vivid white, misty sunshine that made the colours stand out brilliantly. Clearly not the important part of the day but something that stuck with me

Potentially but has Bertrand played CB in a back 4? He was always furthest left in a back 3/5 last year I thought

The issue here for the Liverpool goes beyond simply our best player being out injured. If VVD misses out, Puel will want to protect Yoshi and Stephens by dropping Romeu/Clasie deeper. It means our plan of attack will simply to play on the break and I wonder if Long will play up top to aid this

9 blanks away from home. Not good enough

Excuse my ignorance but how do the Chinese owners expect to make money out of it? English clubs can pay big transfer fees/wages because of TV money and large competition fees/merchandising. Is the expectation to sell loads of Diego Costa branded stuff to the locals and TV packages, or is it simply a play thing for the mega rich?

Thanks for the info. I'm naturally sceptical of friend of friend sources and how 'imminent' the info is. If true, I really hope Kat and the club have done their homework. Chinese owners have not had a good hit rate so far

Good to hear regarding Carberry, and much better options for the upcoming year. Who is the backup keeper if McManus breaks a finger?

There's a story on Cricinfo that we're trying to register Kyle Abbott on a long term kolpak deal, ending his international career. Would be a good signing but what a damning state of affairs for South African cricket

The weather forecast is 8 degrees, dark clouds and the possibility of drizzle. I'm not saying this will be the worst football match of all time but it certainly has the potential

I agree although probably only Forster and VVD will start all three games. It'll then be a 2nd string for the FA cup before our 'best 11' (whoever that is) play vs Liverpool in the semi

We are officially the most boring team to watch in Europe's top 5 leagues. Our game average of 1.89 is the lowest anywhere

It feels like there have been a lot of freak goals scored in our trips there. Either brilliant/wind assisted/deflected. In all five visits both teams have scored. For that to continue, we'll have to actually score away from home which we're not great at

Just started watching the champions league and Europa League draws. I think this is the hardest bit to take of the grieving process

If Boufal's not there then I think we have to play Tadic: Forster Cedric VVD Yoshida McQueen Romeu JWP Clasie Tadic Long Austin Subs: Taylor, Fonte, Bertrand, Hojbjerg, Redmond, Rodriguez, Davis