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West Ham need to test January marketpublished at 14:34 29 January
14:34 29 January
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
West Ham have seen the good and bad side of signing players in the January transfer window.
Kalvin Phillips' loan move from Manchester City last year was a relative disaster. Danny Ings came the year before and has not exactly been a roaring success. And Luizao came at roughly the same time and has never made a first-team appearance.
Yet before that, the Hammers signed Jesse Lingard, Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek, initially on loan, in the winter window.
All three were big successes - and the latter pair remain key components of Graham Potter's squad.
After a turbulent season so far, Potter could do with a bit of a boost.
The striking department is particularly thin, with Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug both on the injured list. Central defence is also a concern.
Whether it is a long-lasting-impact player like Soucek or Bowen, or a sugar-rush short stay like Lingard, West Ham need something to give them a lift and ensure they do not get sucked into relegation trouble.
Time to 'step up and deliver' in transfer windowpublished at 12:37 28 January
12:37 28 January
James Jones Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
We are into the final week of the January transfer window and, as ever, West Ham are leaving it late to complete the business that simply needs to be done.
Graham Potter has done well to navigate the past couple of weeks with barely any attacking players and a makeshift defence. The performance against Aston Villa on Sunday evening was evidence of that. Not only were West Ham the better side for much of the 90 minutes against a Champions League team, it was done with players playing out of position.
Lucas Paqueta was immense playing as a striker at Villa Park and was rightly named player of the match. He held the ball up well and made some dangerous runs into the box. But he is not a striker and we cannot expect him to be a striker for much longer.
It is not sustainable. Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville are close to a return to action, but they will only fix half the problem.
Over the next seven days, it is not only a striker that needs to be signed - we are also desperately short in defence.
Max Kilman was the only centre-back in the starting XI against Villa. Konstantinos Mavropanos was suspended and already has question marks over his ability while Jean-Clair Todibo does not have a timeline on his return from injury.
We managed against Villa but Kilman is going to need help from a trusted centre-back who can be a capable and long-term partner for him.
The club needs to step up this week and deliver the help Potter, Kilman and Paqueta so clearly need. If the right players are brought in and returning players can remain fit, Potter will have the tools available to him to really start making an impact at West Ham.
Gossip: Potter makes Ferguson top targetpublished at 07:51 28 January
07:51 28 January
Brighton and Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson, 20, is the top target of former Seagulls boss Graham Potter, who wants to bring the striker to West Ham, but Everton, Bournemouth and Arsenal are also in the running. (Talksport, external)
Henry: Brilliant Villa performance up until Tyrone Mings' injury. After that, we lacked leadership and purpose. Lucas Digne did his best but was very shaky on the ball. A point in the end is something to be happy with. Villa need a senior centre back replacement as soon as possible to try and save the season as letting Carlos go without getting a replacement centre-back in first seems criminal. Big effort now needed against Celtic on Wednesday!
Ian: Villa fell apart when Mings went off. Usual poor passing and giving the ball away. We need better performances if we are to achieve a European spot. Looks like the normal fade away at the tail end of the season.
Damien: Really disappointing, especially after scoring early instead of conceding early as we have been lately. The attack was so disjointed for most of the game and the players looked weary and hopeless. Boubacar Kamara was the only bright spot again. We seem to suffer a drop off both pre and post-Champions League matches which is worrying.
David: The first 10 minutes showed just how good we can be but it was downhill from there. When Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers went off, our ability to retain the ball up the pitch disappeared. The cameo from Donyell Malen was promising though.
West Ham fans
Ben: Absolutely brilliant second-half performance from a threadbare squad. Lucas Paqueta, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Tomas Soucek and Oliver Scarles were all tremendous. Great point and we deserved more. The wizard is weaving his magic. Front-foot football has returned to West Ham. Keep it up.
Mike: Gritty and determined effort from the boys. Paqueta was different class today - where's that player been all season? Let's hope his injury isn't too bad. We'd have won this by a long way if we hadhad a top-class number nine.
Mark: How Paqueta played up front had shades of Cantona. Wan-Bissaka was man of the match. Ran his socks off - what a player. Encouraging second half!
Barry: We started poorly, way too open. We conceded and was lucky for that to not increase. But, we worked our way back into the game and was well worth the point we got. Paqueta was immense on his own, holding the ball up and bringing players in. It is a good point away to Villa.
Catch up on the Premier League actionpublished at 07:44 27 January
07:44 27 January
Highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.
'Performance maybe deserved more' - Potterpublished at 19:22 26 January
19:22 26 January
Image source, Getty Images
West Ham boss Graham Potter, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I think the performance maybe deserved more. We played well after the first 15 minutes. We tried to win the ball back high.
"It's a process of working day to day and how we improve. We look at the balance of the team. It's a reward for the performance we've got today."
On his wing-backs: "We wanted them to be more aggressive with their movement, which they did. Really pleasing overall that the squad looks ready to fight and play.
"This has been the first week we've had as a training week. We have to keep going, we are at the start."
On Lucas Paqueta's performance: "He was a real handful. You can play into him because he's so strong. Really pleased for him, really good performance and he worked so hard for the team. We've got a few [players to come back which is positive for us. The group wants to work."
Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham: Did you know?published at 18:58 26 January
18:58 26 January
Image source, Getty Images
After his six against Aston Villa, Mohamed Kudus has now completed five or more dribbles on 20 occasions for West Ham in the Premier League.
Since joining the club at the start of last season, he has done so in more different matches than any other player in Europe's top five leagues.
Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham - send us your thoughtspublished at 18:36 26 January
Sutton's predictions: Aston Villa v West Hampublished at 12:30 26 January
12:30 26 January
Aston Villa are eighth in the Premier League and ninth in the Champions League, so their season is hardly a disaster - they just look a little bit flat at times.
Their striker situation is something that Villa boss Unai Emery has got to sort out because he put Jhon Duran on to play with Ollie Watkins in the second half against Monaco, and they are not playing well together
I don't know if that is an ego thing, where both strikers want to be the main man, but they both need to have a think about what benefits the team.
As a former striker myself, I know how other strikers want to be fed, and how to have an understanding to create situations, but that does not seem to be happening - Watkins and Duran are not connecting or clicking, which is a worry.
For a partnership to work, you have got to understand your role in the team and how sometimes one of you has got to sacrifice yourself.
Believe it or not, I was pretty good at realising that, where I was in the pecking order, and how to adapt my game. There are people out there who would say I was unselfish and a team player, and I wouldn't argue with that.
I know there is a different view because I listen to my old strike-partner Alan Shearer speaking to Erling Haaland about how you have to be single-minded in front of goal.
You do, you have to be selfish when it comes to taking chances. But football is a team game and sometimes you have to be prepared to adapt and roll your sleeves up - Shearer always did it - and try to play roles that you don't necessarily want to play, for the good of the team.
When Aston Villa's squad is stretched and a little bit fatigued, Watkins and Duran should be capable enough, and have enough understanding of how to feed each other, because strikers know how to do it.
Not doing it is a bit of a blot on the copybooks of both players. They are both very talented players, but they need to work this out for the good of the team. Maybe Emery needs to whack some Brazilian music on in training to sort them out?
Seriously, though, this is a crucial time in Villa's season and I think they will get past West Ham.
Graham Potter's side were jammy when they beat Fulham last week, but I don't see them being lucky enough to beat Villa.
Earlier, we asked you to name the former West Ham manager from a series of clues.
The answer was Sam Allardyce, who was in charge between 2011 and 2015.
Potter confirms Macaulay appointment published at 15:48 24 January
15:48 24 January
West Ham boss Graham Potter has confirmed the appointment of Kyle Macaulay as head of recruitment.
In Friday's news conference, Potter said he was "delighted" about Macaulay's arrival, adding: "Kyle has been part of my staff since I worked in Sweden. He is a good link between the coach and the club in terms of recruitment.
"In terms of the hours and depths of conversations you have to have around recruitment, it's easier to have with Kyle than with me. I'm on the pitch working with the players.
"I'm really happy with the appointment - it was something that was always going to happen, it was just a case of when. I'm delighted that he's here."
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Potter and Macaulay pictured during their time together at Swansea City
Potter on Bowen's fitness, Todibo and signing a strikerpublished at 14:23 24 January
14:23 24 January
West Ham boss Graham Potter has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Aston Villa (kick-off 16:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Potter says it is yet to be decided if Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville will be available on Sunday, stating: "Bowen has had one or two sessions and we still need to assess him. It's still early - we have another day so we'll see. It's important that we don't rush him in. It's the same with Crysencio [Summerville]."
Potter also confirmed Jean-Clair Todibo will not be available.
The French centre-back has been linked with a move to Juventus but Potter says he expects him to be at West Ham after the transfer window closes, stating: "At this time of year there's a lot of speculation but we just have to ignore the noise, help the players and keep working."
Potter was asked about recruiting a striker and said: "If we're in a position to do business, we'd like to. Our goalscoring in general is OK, but we'd like to do certain things better. We're a bit light but there are a lot of factors to consider."
On Mohammed Kudus filling that role: "We're in a situation where we lost a centre forward and other forwards. Mo has taken every challenge on in a good way. We've tried to use his physicality and it's worked in some ways, but I think he can play in lots of positions. If we can get the balance right, he's a top, top player."
He said it was "really good" to meet Michail Antonio, adding: "He's a top character and fantastic company. He's been through a really traumatic experience, so we have to support him, but he's around the place and putting smiles on faces."
West Ham support 'drives me on' - Lapthornepublished at 11:07 24 January
11:07 24 January
Image source, Getty Images
Tennis player Andy Lapthorne triumphed in the quad-doubles final at the Australian Open alongside Dutch partner Sam Schroder with a 6-1 6-4 victory against the top seeds, Niels Vink of the Netherlands and Israel's Guy Sasson.
Now that he has won his eighth doubles title in Melbourne, attention turns to returning to the UK for an important football match.
Lapthrone is a huge West Ham fan and said he received messages from players in the build-up to his final.
He now hopes to be back in time to watch his side play at Aston Villa on Sunday [KO: 16:30 GMT].
"My flight, I think, is at 11 pm tomorrow [Saturday]. If I'm not delayed, then I'll get straight in a car and drive up to Villa Park," he said.
"If not, hopefully I've got the week off and maybe go to the training ground and show the trophy off, meet some of the boys.
"I had some messages from [West Ham right-back] Vladimir Coufal last night, which was really nice.
"He just WhatsApped me saying he's watching and good luck. They've been amazing to me.
"It's just really nice to have the support of the fans of the club and the people within the club. It drives me on."
The Hammers are currently 14th in the Premier League table and travel to Villa looking to avenge their FA Cup third-round defeat against Unai Emery's side earlier this month.
Today's trivia challengepublished at 09:07 24 January
09:07 24 January
Name this former West Ham manager from the following clues:
I am a former England manager.
I led the Hammers to promotion from the Championship to the Premier League during my time in charge.
My most recent managerial role was a short spell at Leeds in 2023.
Answer will be revealed at 17:00 GMT
Efficient or ineffective?published at 08:05 24 January
08:05 24 January
This Premier League pursuit becomes a lot easier if you take your chances.
BBC Sport has checked in on some data comparing goals versus expected goals this season.
You can see from the bar graph some teams aren't finding the goals (yellow) to outstrip the expected goals they should score (black).
Tottenham, Manchester City, Arsenal, Brentford, Newcastle, Brighton, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Leicester have all scored more than expected.
Wolves in particular have found the net 32 times from an expected 23.56 - a significant overperformance.
League leaders Liverpool are pretty much bang on in returning what they should, while Arsenal have outperformed, with 43 goals from an expected 37.78.
Bournemouth - 36 goals from an expected 43 - are leaving opportunities on the table.
Gossip: Hammers keen on Silva loan movepublished at 07:11 24 January
07:11 24 January
West Ham want RB Leipzig's Andre Silva on loan for the rest of the season but will turn to Ajax's Netherlands striker Brian Brobbey, 22, if they fail to secure a deal for the 29-year-old Portugal forward. (Florian Plettenberg), external
The Hammers are tracking midfielder Dan Neil but Sunderland are reluctant to let the 23-year-old depart during this window. (Guardian), external
Who 'loves to defend'?published at 17:18 23 January
17:18 23 January
Every so often, a player is described by a pundit as someone who "loves to defend".
Most fans would naturally welcome such a sort in their team, that player who stands tall, lets stuff bounce off him and somehow masters the ability to become a magnet to the ball when it enters the penalty area.
BBC Sport took a look at three metrics this season - headed clearances, blocks and tackles - to see which players seem to relish this kind of thing.
Everton's James Tarkowski leads the way, amassing a total of 131 across the three areas, with Brentford's Nathan Collins second. The two men have made 73 headed clearances each, a stat that proves their value when it comes to defending dead balls.
Murillo - fresh from his contract extension at Nottingham Forest - was highlighted in recent weeks for a no-nonsense display against Liverpool, when he frequently launched clearances into the night. He makes the top three across these metrics and while Brazilian players are so often lauded for their flair, he can proudly carry the 'loves-to-defend' tag.
Gossip: Hammers want Dutch youngster Banzuzipublished at 07:13 23 January
07:13 23 January
West Ham are in negotiations with Belgian club Leuven for 19-year-old Dutch midfielder Ezechiel Banzuzi. (Standard, external)
Meanwhile, Hammers technical director Tim Steidten's future at the club is in doubt after the Hammers finalised a deal to bring in Chelsea recruitment analyst Kyle Macaulay, who has previously worked with manager Graham Potter. (Guardian, external)
Gossip: West Ham to give Potter two signings before deadlinepublished at 07:26 22 January
07:26 22 January
West Ham are keen to back new manager Graham Potter with new additions at centre-back and centre-forward before the transfer deadline on 3 February. (Football Insider, external)
'This is not a call for patience - it is a call for common sense'published at 12:26 21 January
12:26 21 January
James Jones Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Three games into Graham Potter's West Ham reign and despite losing two of them, we have already seen some real positives to cling to as a fanbase.
Things are not perfect - but expecting perfection just three games and less than two weeks into a new manager's appointment would be deluded, not least with an ongoing injury crisis to contend with at the same time.
Saturday's home defeat by Crystal Palace was met with boos, moans and groans in some corners of London Stadium, and I cannot help but wonder what those fans were expecting at this stage.
First, Crysencio Summerville, Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug are all injured. Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta are both being played out of position as a result.
Secondly, after three games in eight days, Potter has probably spent more time travelling to and from games than he has on the training pitch working with his players.
Lastly, this squad - or what is left of it - needs bad habits and bad tactics coaching out of it after six months of poor form and performances under Julen Lopetegui.
This is still Lopetegui's West Ham team and Potter has done his best with what he has inherited.
With a fully fit squad and with some time on the training pitch, I have no doubt performances will vastly improve. That is not the reality of the situation, though, is it?
So this is not a call for patience. It is a call for common sense. Accept the situation as it is and know Potter has barely got started as West Ham boss.
Image source, Getty Images
