Stephen Warnock
Former England and Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

What more do West Ham fans want? Do they feel like they should be competing for Champions League places? Because that is one of the hardest things to do in the Premier League. To finish in a European place again would be progress.

If they can finish in the European places, put up a good fight against Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League and advance to the next round, it is a superb season again, I really do think that.

Blues skies above St James' Park. No pictures of Newcastle fans without their shirts on yet. Plenty of time for that to change though.

Matthew Raisbeck
BBC Newcastle Sport

Image source, Getty Images

I think there are possibly six or seven clubs, Newcastle and West Ham among them, who are trying to get into those final two or three European places. Newcastle do still have a great opportunity of returning to Europe next season, but I think they need to beat West Ham home.

If they can get back into Europe this season, after all of the challenges they've faced, after the highs of last year and with an acceptance from most observers and most fans that it was going to be more difficult this time - and it certainly has been - I would say that's still a highly successful season.

It is far better than anything that pre-dated last year during the decade and a half of the Mike Ashley ownership, apart from the one season when they finished fifth.

They can still get something great out of this season, but it needs to start with West Ham. Then it's Everton and Fulham. It's a good set of fixtures over the next week or so potentially, to really close the gap and get into the European places.

Stephen Warnock
Former England and Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Not matter what David Moyes seems to do at the moment he always seems to be under pressure from a certain section of the West Ham fanbase. In my opinion it is very harsh.

What he is trying to build is a team that can play open, expansive football. But when they do try to play that style of football it can be counteracted very easily, and that is one of the hardest balances to find in football.

It is just about finding the balance between scoring goals and keeping it tight and tidy at the back.

Matty Renton
The Magpie Channel TV

Image source, Getty Images

Beat West Ham and we will narrow that gap from 10th to seventh to one point. It is a pivotal moment in the season to stake our claim in the race for European football.

It will not be the glitz and glamour of Champions League, but it is paramount the club remains in some form of European competition.

Beat the teams around us with favourable, winnable fixtures remaining. Job done.

West Ham United

West Ham boss David Moyes: "Every game now is important, We have nine to play and every game is going to be vitally important to pick up as many points as we can.

"There's a few teams chasing to be in and around the European spots and we're one of them."

West Ham United

Image source, Rex Features

West Ham manager David Moyes speaking to TNT Sports about the importance of Lucas Paqueta: "Since he's come back, we've seen how important he is to how we play. He's liable to make chances and has the ability to do something from nothing.

"He's up against his Brazil team-mate [Bruno] Guimaraes today, it's good you get these level of players playing in the Premier League, but hopefully our man comes out on top."

On picking James Ward-Prowse over Manchester City loanee Kalvin Phillips: "James has played well all season, he's been unfortunate to have missed the last couple of games. We decided against Freiburg we needed another attacker. He's been unlucky.

"Kalvin [Phillips] is just beginning to get his form back and we will give him as many minutes as possible, but he needs to keep knocking at the door and hopefully his opportunity will come."

On playing at St James' Park: "At this time of the season it's incredibly tough [to play here].

"Newcastle started season so well and they were so good in Champions League.

"Probably them more than anybody have suffered with injuries. They've done a great job and are a good team.

"St James' Park is up there with Anfield in difficult places to come."

David, Newcastle fan: My biggest gripe so far this season is all the moaners and negativity. We massively overachieved last season. Injuries and a squad that isn’t quite at the level we need, coupled with FFP restrictions are biting hard. When you’ve been supporting Newcastle as long as I have stay the course. Consistency around the top six awaits.

Newcastle United

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, speaking to TNT Sports: "We're looking forward to the last 10 games. We know it's a big part of our season and there's still a lot to play for.

"We are confident in ourselves but we need to win to get to where we want to be."

On team selection: "Mixed injury news, we hoped Kieran [Trippier] would make it but he's a bit further back.

"Harvey [Barnes] - he's a big player for us - and Tino [Livramento] starts, so that is good."

On Anthony Gordon's mood after making his England debut: "He's definitely come back with a smile and a confidence.

"He had a good time with England, I'm really pleased for him, but now he's back with Newcastle and we need big performance from him. We need positive results."

On facing West Ham: "It's a difficult game, they are stubborn and have attacking players that can hurt us.

"We need a big performance today and need to get all the little details right.

"When you play the teams above, and we are chasing West Ham, we need to get three points but there's not extra pressure because they are thinking the same."

Mike: Excited for the run in and looking forward to the title race as well as the race to beat the drop. American sports could learn much from the football league structure and practice. Nearly every game is something to play for.

Matty Renton
The Magpie Channel TV

Image source, Getty Images

Our fast track to the top four last season was built on the solid defence. This year has been the polar opposite - conceding goals for fun and looking constantly vulnerable.

This problem may have become more difficult with Sven Botman ruled out, although it gives a chance for club captain Jamaal Lascelles to step in.

Hopefully we see the return of Nick Pope as soon as possible too. The England goalkeeper has been a gigantic miss that looks to have had a knock-on effect on the whole backline.

This has been something of a freak season for Newcastle in terms of injuries, with around £250m of talent receiving treatment or suspended.

They could certainly have done with Sandro Tonali being available.

The Italy midfielder, who is already serving a 10-month ban for breaking betting regulations in Italy, has been charged by the Football Association for alleged breaches of betting rules.

"The news that there was an FA charge, that illness didn't stop when he moved to England," said Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.

"That illness was there and people should look at it that way - not let's throw the book at him and punish him even further because I don't think that gets to the root of the problem.

"We need to protect all our players. This is something that's open to everybody and becoming a bigger problem in society. This isn't just a problem for Sandro."

Read more: Eddie Howe hopes Newcastle midfielder avoids further consequences.

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Iain: As a West Ham fan for more than 50 years, I am slightly fed up with all those fans calling for Moyes to be sacked! He's been our best manager since John Lyall and apart from some negativity in certain home matches against the lower-placed teams, has the team balanced and playing generally well. Give Moyes a break, West Ham fans.

James Jones
We Are West Ham podcast

Whatever happens between now and the end of the season will help address the speculation surrounding David Moyes' future. Sections want him out, others recognise just how far he has taken us since he returned in December 2019.

To keep his job, he will have to either win the Europa League or qualify for Europe again. The latter may not even be enough for him to stay, but it will be the club's aim at the very least.

The relationship between Moyes and fans has been fractured over the past 18 months, but if European qualification and a continued run in the Europa League is to happen this season, then we all need to pull together to get us over the line. As one.

Once the final ball has been kicked, the debate can continue.

Until then, we need to stick together.

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West Ham will go level on points with sixth-placed Manchester United with a win and have two mouth-watering games against Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen to look forward to in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

And still there is a debate about the future of manager David Moyes.

West Ham United

This is West Ham's 43rd game of the season. If all goes to plan their season will end in Dublin on 22 May in the Europa League final at the Aviva Stadium, a stone's throw away from the family home of the Kinsellas.

#Kin

Michael Brown
Former Man City midfielder to BBC Sport

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David Moyes needs to try and find a way of fitting both James Ward-Prowse and Kalvin Phillips into the team.

Phillips will get going but he needs games and he needs to relax. He has been dealt the blow of not being in the England squad and that was a concern of mine when he made the move.

Moyes can move things around, but there seems to be a lot of uncertainty at West Ham because of the managerial situation that is still lingering on.

I would not want to play either - I would want to play both.

Newcastle United

A big few days for Newcastle who will be eyeing six points from back-to-back home games against West Ham today and Everton on Tuesday.

With a favourable run-in, will Eddie Howe's side salvage a European place from an injury-ravaged season?

The Magpies have had around £250m worth of talent out injured or suspended but will climb to eighth with a win today.

"If we can come through this season with a positive finish, I think we'll look back on a season that's really helped us grow and I think we'll be better for it in every sense," said Howe.

"But of course, we have to have that positive ending and that's what we're desperate for."

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