West Ham United - Season Overview 2021-2022
★ = Dublin Hammers Meeting (Shown Live on television).
✈ = Dublin Hammers Trip.
LP = League Position.
PRE-SEASON NEWS 2021
Jesse Lingard returns to Manchester Utd after his loan spell in East London.
Oladapo Afolayan has completed a permanent transfer to Bolton Wanderers.
David Moyes signs 3 year contract extention.
Fabian Balbuena leaves the club on a free transfer.
Promising young forward Armstrong Oko-Flex joins from Celtic.
Felipe Anderson goes back to Lazio who pay West Ham £4m for his signature - quite the difference to the £36m we paid!
Goalkeeper Nathan Trott joins French side Nancy on a season long loan.
West Ham United complete the loan signing of 2018 FIFA World Cup winning goalkeeper Alphonse Areola from PSG.
Youngster Nathan Holland returns to Oxford Utd on loan.
Frederick Alves joins Sunderland on a season long loan.
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES 2021
JULY 2021
09th Dundee (a). 2-2. Baptiste, Bowen (p).
13th Leyton Orient (a). 0-0.
13th Northampton Town (a). 2-1. Coventry, og.
21st Reading (a). 3-0. OG, Coventry, Johnson.
24th Celtic (a). 6-2. Antonio x2, Noble (p), Benrahma, Bowen, Oko-Flex.
31st Brentford (a). 1-0. Benrahma.
AUGUST 2021
07th Atalanta. Betway Cup (h). 2-0. Antonio, Fornals.
PREMIER LEAGUE/FA CUP/CARABAO CUP/EUROPA LEAGUE 2021-2022
AUGUST 2021
★ 15th Newcastle Utd (a). 4-2. Cresswell, Antonio, Soucek, Benrahma.
Trailing 1-2 at HT, the team went up a gear with star 2nd half performances from Bowen, Antonio and Benrahma, ably supported by the majestic Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek. Benrahma leveled from Antonios cross and then with the scores level we were awarded a (soft, it should be said) penalty, Antonio's kick was saved but Soucek despatched the rebound with relish. Minutes later it was all over after a stunning counter involving Bowen and Benrahma, and finished in spectatcular fashion by Antonio! Great game and win to start the new season.
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Soucek celebrates his goal, Newcastle (a) |
Antonio shoots to score, Newcastle (a) |
Celebrations, Newcastle (a) |
★ 23rd Leicester City (h). 4-1. Antonio x2, Fornals, Benrahma.
The rocking full house back at the London Stadium see West Ham blow Leicester away. Fantastic performance, with Rice, Fornals, Bowen and Benrahma all outstanding. The star of the show was Antonio, unplayable on the night and with his 2 goals overtakes DiCanio to become West Ham's highest ever goalscorer in the Premier League. Great night!
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Antonio scores his second, Leicester (h) |
Fornals celebrates, Leicester (h) |
Antonio scores. Palace (h) |
★ 28th Crystal Palace (h). 2-2. Antonio, Fornals.
Played relatively well first half and scored through a lovely passing move, finished off by Fornals. The failure to make the most of our chances cost us in the 2nd half as Palace rallied strongly and equalised. Then against the run of play Antonio put us 2-1 up with a thunderous finish. Minutes later 2-2 Gallagher rinsed Dawson to equalise. A good few players were below par today, the draw a fair result!
31st TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY:
West Ham complete the signing of France international central defender Kurt Zouma from Chelsea.
Croatia international attacker Nikola Vlašić joins from CSK Moscow.
Mipo Odubeko joins Huddersfield Town on a season loan.
Conor Coventry joins Peterborough on season long loan.
Striker Xande Silva departs West Ham United for Nottingham Forest.
Czech Republic international midfielder Alex Král joins from Spartak Moscow on a season long loan with an option to buy.
SEPTEMBER 2021
★ 11th Southampton (a). 0-0.
Antonio is sent off with a second yellow in a poor game. Rice's goal line clearance late in the game ensures a point.
★ 16th Dinamo Zagreb (a). Europa League Group Stage. 2-0. Antonio, Rice.
The european campaign starts with a strong performance and 'in the end' a comfortable win! Antonio latched onto a poor back pass to finish in the first half and a run and finish from the half-way line from Rice in the second, wrapped up a great win!
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Antonio celebrates. Dinamo Zagreb (a) |
Rice & Fornals. Dinamo Zagreb (a) |
Lanzini dumps Man.Utd out of the cup! |
★ 19th Manchester Utd (h). 1-2. Benrahma.
A hum-dinger of a game, full of incident and drama. The Ronaldo circus came to town and he got his goal-a-game to equalise after Benrahma had put us into the lead. Lingard comes on to a standing ovation, then inevitably scores a great goal very late on. We are awarded a penalty in injury time, Moyes brings on Noble to take it... De Gea saves! Disappointing end to a cracking game.
★ 22nd Manchester Utd (a). Carabao Cup 3rd Rd. 1-0. Lanzini.
A game between the fringe players of both teams saw the Hammers come away with a win against the odds. After Lanzini's early goal, it was 'backs to the wall' with the whole team leaving everything on the pitch! Noble was lucky to get away with a foul on Lingard in the penalty area. Yarmo hits the post and Noble shot straight at Henderson late in the game.
★ 25th Leeds Utd (a). 2-1. Antonio, OG.
Full bloodied game played in a racous atmosphere. Leeds took the lead after a poor pass from Soucek, Fornals should of equalised late the first half when Antonio put him clean through. A Moyes rocket at half time saw a much better showing in the second half. Bowens shot went in off a Leeds defender and in the last minute Rice released Antonio who nudged it past the defender and slotted home the winner, sending the travelling support into raptures!
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Bowen enjoys his deflected goal. Leeds (a) |
Antonio's late winner! Leeds (a) |
The captain's celebrate. Rapid Vienna (h) |
★ 30th Rapid Vienna (h). Europa League Group Stage. 2-0. Rice, Benrahma.
A 'did what we had to do' performance, hitting the post twice before Rice swept the ball into the net after good work from Antonio. That sparked crowd unrest as the Rapid Ultras pelted the home fans with an array of items, these were returned with gusto! Rapid huffed and puffed with lots of possesion, without really making any scoring opportunities. Benrahma sealed all 3 points late on.
OCTOBER 2021
★ 03rd Brentford (h). 1-2. Bowen. LP:9th.
Frustrating game, a slow start for the hammers saw Brentford take the lead after 20 minutes, then do everything possible to break up play. The ref didn't help, awful performance from him. Bowen scored the equaliser with a thumping volley with 10 minutes to go, only for Brentford to steal all 3 points late into injury time!
★ 17th Everton (a). 1-0. Ogbonna. LP:7th.
Controlled the game for large periods without fashioning many real clear cut chances. The winner came in the second half from a set piece, Ogbonna heading in from a corner after pressure from Antonio on the Everton keeper. Declan Rice oustanding. Soucek goes off after what looked like an intentional studs to the face incident with Rondon.
★ 21st Genk (h). Europa League Group Stage. 3-0. Dawson, Diop, Bowen.
Moyes made five changes to the starting line-up in a game against the best of the 3 european teams we have played so far. They caused us problems and had a goal disallowed for a marginal off-side. Dawson scored from a corner in the final minutes of the 1st half. The game was over early in the 2nd with 2 goals in a minute from Diop (another set-piece) and Bowen. Top of the Europa League group after 3 games with a 6pt lead!
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Ogbonna celebrates. Everton (a) |
Rice congratulates Dawson. Genk (h) |
Anotinio's backstroke celebration. Spurs (h) |
★ 24th Tottenham (h). 1-0. Antonio. LP:4th.
A rocking London Stadium saw the Hammers gain a hard fought win against those great 'delusions of grandeur'. The winner coming as Antonio poked in from Cresswell's corner, thus ensuing mass celebrations... Tottenham get battered everywhere they go, Tottenham get battered everywhere they gooooo, everywhere they gooooo!
★ 27th Manchester City (h). Carabao Cup 4th Rd. 0-0. West Ham win 5-3 on pens.
Five changes from the team that beat Spurs held a strong City team over 90 minutes. City controlled the game for long periods but failed to finish the chances they made. Soucek missing 2 good chances for the Hammers late in the 2nd half. So 0-0 at full time, no extra time, straight to the penalty shoot-out... Noble scores our first... Foden misses in reply... after that both teams scoring until it fell to Benrahma to take our last penalty to finish it. Up he stepped and buried the ball into the back of the net! City go out!
★ 31st Aston Villa (a). 4-1. Johnson, Rice, Fornals, Bowen. LP:4th.
A long range season opener from Johnson early on set the tone, Villa equalised, but Rice scored with another long range shot to have us ahead at HT. Villa had a player sent off for fouling Bowen when he was away, but for me the red card should have been shown to another for a fore-arm smash on Fornals moments before. Villa rallied with 10 men with Fabba pulling off a great save. Lanzini came on to restore some calm and in the later stages we run riot with super goals from Fornals and Bowen!
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Penalty shoot-out cup win! Man City (h) |
Bowen leaps for joy. Villa (a) |
Ben Johnson celebrates. Villa (a) |
NOVEMBER 2021
★ 04th Genk (a). Europa League GS. 2-2. Benrahma x2.
A slow start from West Ham saw Genk take the lead, we slowly improve coming close a couple of times, but the reality was that we were lucky not to be losing by more come HT. However things improved dramatically in the 2nd half with 3 subtitutions. From then on Genk were on the back foot as we made chance after chance. Benrahma scored twice in what was surely his best game for the Hammers so far! Things were looking good until late into the game when a cross came over which Soucek inadvertantly headed into his own net!
★ 07th Liverpool (h). 3-2. OG, Fornals, Zouma. LP:3rd.
A great game saw the Hammers take an early lead as Alison flapped at a corner, putting it into his own net, VAR tried its best to rule the goal out, but replays showed Alison was not touched! It was no surprise when Salah dived on the edge of our area, Trent-Alexander scored from the resulting free-kick. Second half saw us defend well and counter attack with intent, it was from one of these attacks that Fornals scored after a run from Bowen, leaving 5 scousers in his wake! 7 minutes later Zouma put us 3-1 up as he headed in a well worked corner. Liverpool pulled one back late on. It was also no surprise Klopp whined about the refereeing decisions that went out way, but 'didn't see' Jota elbowing Ogbonna or Salah's pathetic dive. A sweet victory.
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Kurt Zouma. Liverpool (h) |
Fornals celebrates. Liverpool (h) |
Benrahma scores his second. Genk (a) |
Ogbonna out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury.
★ 20th Wolves (a). 0-1. LP:4th.
Poor all round today, everyone, even Rice. We did have brief spells early in the first and late in the second half, but truth is we were second best all game. Looking for a reaction on Thursday.
★ 25th Rapid Vienna (a). Europa League Group Stage. 2-0. Yarmolenko, Noble (p).
Game was played behind closed doors as Austria went into COVID lockdown, but it didn't seem to bother the Hammers who put in a solid performance, scoring 2 goals in the final minutes of the first half. Could and should of had more goals, with Bowen missing a couple of golden opportunities. Might have been a dream debut for youngster Sonny Perkins who made his debut in the final minutes, forcing the keeper to make a save from his header.
Europa League Update: West Ham finish as group winners with a game to spare and are into the last 16.
★ 28th Manchester City (a). 1-2. Lanzini. LP:4th.
Always a difficult fixture, the Hammers put in a resolute performance against City's relentless passing game, we did have our moments, but poor final passes let us down whenever we did break. Didn't help that the back end of the first half was played in a snow blizzard which seemed to suit City better and they scored during this period. We had a go in the second half, but went two down to a counter attack as we pushed for the equaliser. Lanzini scored a peach of a consolation goal in injury time, a goal reminiscent of that famous equaliser against Spurs last season. The highlight of the game for us! Cresswell went off with a back injury after sliding into the goalpost.
DECEMBER 2021
★ 01st Brighton Hove Albion (h). 1-1. Soucek.
Another tired looking performance. Soucek put us one up with a glancing header from a set-piece, we did have the ball in the net for a second time only for VAR to rule it out. We conceded long periods of possession to Brighton, who deservedly equalised late on. The brighton hoodoo continues!
★ 04th Chelsea (h). 3-2. Lanzini, Bowen, Masuaku. LP:4th.
Who saw this coming? Chelsea rocked up to the LS full of swagger, going one up early on, but we kept at them and Bowen won a peno which Lanzini finished in style. They took the lead again just before HT and with Lukaku coming on for the 2nd half it looked like it was only heading in one direction. However, West Ham came out revitalised and it wasn't long before Bowen, who was outstanding (and deservedly won MOTM) put us level. End to end after that with both sides coming close. With minutes to go Masuaku scored the winner with a cross that surprised everyone and swerved into the top corner, sending the LS into raptures. Cracking game!
Zouma and Johnson both go off with injuries, Zouma out until next February, Johnson for a couple of weeks. Could losing both our first choice centre backs impact how our season pans out?
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The snow falls. Man.City (a) |
Bowen equalises. Chelsea (h) |
The winner from Masuaku! Chelsea (h) |
09th Dinamo Zagreb (h). Europa League Group Stage. 0-1.
Having already qualified as group winners and recent defensive injury woes, Moyes took the opportunity to blood 5 of the under 23's squad, with Aji Alese, Harrison Ashby, Emmanuel Longelo, Jamal Baptiste and Sonny Perkins all starting. Going 1-0 down to an early wonder goal, the yongsters all did well, it was the senior players who looked below par with Yarmolenko the worst culprit. Fantastic night for the club's academy.
★ 12th Burnley (a). 0-0. LP:4th.
Tough, physical game as always up there. Sadly we lacked the spark in the final third to finish off our dominance of open play. Nick Pope made a couple of great saves, they had a couple of short spells of pressure. Overall, disappointing. We had a peno shout denied when Dawson was taken out, you can't help but feel if that was Salah, a peno would be given?
★ 15th Arsenal (a). 0-2. LP:5th.
Second best all night and the injuries and players out of form starting to cost us now. Should have been a couple down by HT, but the center backs, especially Dawson were outstanding and made several last ditch tackles, Fabba also made a couple of great saves. Just after HT and in the last minute they scored their goals. Inbetween the ref awarded them a penalty and sent Coufal off, never a pen and never a sending off. Justice was served as Fabba saved the pen, but as Coufal went off for a second yellow card, it can't be appealed, we are now without all first choice defenders. Ashby came on and looked bright. A night to forget!
JANUARY 2022
★ 01st Crystal Palace (a). 3-2. Antonio, Lanzini x2 (p).
We got away with one today. Could have been 2-0 down early on as Palace hit the post and the bar, but we woke up mid way through the first half. Antonio got on the end of Benrahma's cross, minutes later a wonderful peice of skill from Manu and we are 2-0 up. Just before HT a handball and we have a peno, which Lanzini buries! Lack-lustre in the 2nd as we attempt to manage the game, that falls apart as Masuaku comes on for Johnson. Palace put us under increasing pressure, scoring late and again in injury time. Thakfully it proved to be too late as we are saved by the final whistle!
Benrahma heads off to the African Cup of Nations.
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Lanzini wonder goal! Palace (a) |
Another one for Manu. Leeds (h) F |
Rice congratulates Bowen. Norwich (h) |
★ 09th Leeds Utd (h). FA Cup 3rd Rd. 2-0. Lanzini, Bowen.
A stong team selection from Moyes proved to be to much for an injury hit Leeds. Goals at the end of both halves sent the 8,500 travelling fans home unhappy. West Ham dominated the game and with some better choices when in attacking positions we could of added to the goal tally. A good win against potentionally tricky opponents and onto the next round.
12th Norwich City (h). 2-0. Bowen x2. LP:4th.
Another 4-Star performance from Bowen. 2 goals on the night, but he could of had more. In the opening minutes, he controlled the ball in the area, but his shot went straight to the keeper, and then he had the ball in the net only for it to be ruled out by VAR! In the 2nd half he saw his shot rebound off the bar after being put through by Fornals. At 1-0, Norwich had a 15 minute spell where they hit the post, the defence looked nervous, but we regained control when Bowen scored his 2nd. We hit the woodwork twice, we should of had more goals, but 3 points is 3 points, and we are back into 4th!
Cresswell returns from injury, Fornals from COVID!
★ 16th Leeds Utd (h). 2-3. Bowen, Fornals. LP:4th.
The 3rd game in a week and we were second best from the start, never coping with Leeds high pressing game, that coupled with poor ball control and passing had us struggling to build any momentum. Leeds started the game on the front foot and scored early, that woke us up and Bowen equalised from a corner, only for us to concede a second minutes later after sloppy play gave the ball away. Leeds missed a golden opportunity just before HT to make it 3-1. Just after HT, Fornals scored the equaliser and we went at them... then we gave the ball away again and Harrison completed his hat-trick. Both sides then had goals disallowed by VAR. In the final minutes Bowen missed a sitter opting to try and chest the ball into the net instead of heading it! The lack of options off the bench glaringly obvious today. Declan Rice was outstanding as he did his best to carry so many of his team mates.
★ 22nd Manchester Utd (a). 0-1. LP:5th.
A poor game with both sides giving the ball away far too often. The difference between the sides came late on when ManU were able to bring on 3 international quality subs, Moyes only opted for Fredericks. All three of those subs combined to set up Rashford’s injury time winner. Sickener, didn't deserve to win, but didn't deserve to lose.
The transfer window is coming to a close and it seems we are no closer to signing much needed cover for Antonio, who Moyes has said is tired, but not tired enough to fly half way around the world to play 3 games for Jamacia during the winter break? The lack of squad depth and Moyes refusal to use the bench we have (i.e. Kral) and the cracks have started to show.
Good news is that Benrahma is back from the AFCON.
FEBRUARY 2022
★ 05th Kidderminster Harriers (a). FA Cup 4th Rd. 2-1 AET. Rice, Bowen.
Thank goodness for Declan Rice! If ever there was a game to show that we needed re-inforcements in the transfer window, this was it. Yarmo, Kral, Vlasic, Noble, Johnson all start, but we were totally outplayed by a non-league side! Painful to watch, and it wasn't long before we were one down. Rice comes on at half time and scores the equaliser with a thunderoud shot in the 91st minute. That equaliser knocked the stuffing out of Kidderminster, Yarmo embarassess himself and the club with a pathetic dive. Bowen scores the winner 30 seconds before the ref blew up at the end of extra. We go through, but didn't deserve to. Well done to non-league Kidderminster.
★ 08th Watford (h). 1-0. Bowen.
After extra time 3 days earlier, a rather tired looking West Ham snatch a win with a deflected goal in the 66th minute from in-form Bowen. The goal aside, highlights were few and far between, Benrahma hits the post, a great save from Fabba and then Bowen hitting the post late on, apart from the goal, that was about it. Huge boos resounded around the stadium every time Zouma touched the ball as the cat-gate story broke the morning of the game!
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Rice saves the day. Kidderminster (a) FA Cup |
Bowen scores the only goal. Watford (h) |
Soucek scores. Wolves (h) |
★ 12th Leicester City (a). 2-2. Bowen, Dawson. LP:4th.
Zouma pulls out of the game in the warm-up due to illness. Diop comes in and after a dodgy few games, plays well. We start well, and in-form Bowen puts us one up after 10 minutes, just before HT we concede a soft penalty after a Cresswell handball. That gave Leicester some belief and they went at us with purpose in the 2nd half, scoring twice. Some sustained pressure from us late in the game sees Dawson 'shoulder' the ball into the net for the equaliser one minute into injury time. With other results going for us this weekend, we remain in 4th place!
★ 19th Newcastle Utd (h). 1-1. Dawson. LP:5th.
A game played in torrential rain and another lack-lustre performance from a West Ham team that look tired and devoid of new ideas. Newcastle controlled the game for large periods, but against the run of play we got a free-kick and Dawson headed us into the lead. Newcastle equalised seconds before the break with a goal that just about crossed the line. Second half we huffed and puffed, they tired and resorted to delaying tactics to see the draw out, we just didn't have enough to break them down. Play like this against Wolves next week and any dream of european football next season, I think, is over!
★ 27th Wolves (h). 1-0. Soucek.
A better performance all round saw us get a deserved win. The goal came in the 2nd half after some nice interplay down the left hand side which saw Antonio put the ball across for Soucek to toe poke the ball into the net. Highlights included a lovely shot from outside the area by Rice that cannoned off the post. Should have scored more, but poor pass selection saw us waste some good opportunities, but overall a much needed win and 3 points that keep us in the running for european places. Zouma, Dawson and Rice outstanding.
MARCH 2022
★ 02nd Southampton (a). FA Cup 5th Rd. 1-3. Antonio.
A good start saw us miss a couple of really good chances, then against the run of play they score a wonder goal! We equalise after a spell of pressure and it was game on... however, the ref had other ideas... 2 head injuries to our players were waved play-on, the elbow on Souceks face saw him substituted due to facial bleeding. Fouls, handballs... all waved on by the ref, including the one before Dawsons challenge which resulted in a penalty... was it pen? Didn't think so myself, but after the review... yes, the ref gave it. They make no mistake from the spot. We pushed for an equaliser only for Southampton to score again late after a break away. Poor 2nd half display from us coupled a poor ref and we're out of the FA Cup!
★ 05th Liverpool (a). 0-1. LP:6th.
Traditionally it's always a tall ask to get anything from this fixture. Overall I thought we deserved a draw, but as in the previous game, we let ourselves down with some poor finishing. We conceded a soft goal after weathering early pressure, but thereafter we grew into the game, Antonio had a couple of half chances, Fornals lobbed the goalie only for "Trent" to clear off the line, the best chance fell to Lanzini who somehow managed to shoot over the bar with the goal at his mercy. Noble came on and at the end they were hanging on, defensive substitutions, taking the ball into the corner etc. Disappointed, but pleased with the performance. Bowen goes off injured and is out for the europa game.
★ 10th Sevilla FC (a). Europa League Last 16 KO. 0-1.
Once again failure to finish our chances means we go into the 2nd leg one down. First half was equal with both sides missing good opportunities to score, the biggest offender was Vlasic who headed straight at the keeper when given a free header. They pressed in the 2nd half and we conceded from a set peice, that unsettled us and we looked dodgy for a period, but regained some composure to press late in the game. Sevilla pulled out 'all the party tricks' to break the game up and frustrate us, Rice got booked for trying to pull up one of their players for feigning injury.
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Vlasic misses a sitter. Sevilla fc (a) |
Goal conceded! Sevilla fc (a) |
Yarmo gets the winner! Villa (h) |
★ 13th Aston Villa (h). 2-1. Yarmolenko, Fornals.
Villa turned up at the London Stadium full of confidence after a good run of form, but from the KO we went at them, causing multiple problems, so much so, they resorted to gamesmanship, going down at every oppportunity, in fact at one stage, the game was bordering on a farce. Worryingly Antonio and Cresswell both went off injured, but on came Yarmolenko, and with the war in Ukraine fresh in everyones mind, "it was written in the stars" when Yarmo scored the opener with a sublime finish, cue an emotional out pouring! And guess what? Villa stopped throwing themselves to the floor. Then Rice skinned McGin, played in Benni who put the ball accross for Fornals to whip into the back of the net. Ramsey scored late on, but it was too late. Justice done for their blatant cheating!
Bowen, Antonio and Cresswell all doubts for the Sevilla game.
★ 17th Sevilla FC (h). Europa League Last 16 KO. 2-0. Soucek, Yarmalenko.
What a night! One nil down from the first leg and all to do. Stratford was rocking 3 hours before kick-off, the pubs were full of song and the atmosphere walking to the stadium and in the concourse was brilliant, everyone was up for it! And the team didn't disappoint. Injury scares Antonio and Cresswell both started and from the off we battled and fought and never gave in, midway through the first half they started to gain some control and Aerola pulled off a world class save to keep us in the game. But from that point on Antonio started to cause them problems, and it was from his cross on the edge of the area that Soucek rose and headed the equaliser. The second half was dull compared to the first, with neither team creating many chances, and so to extra-time. I thought we dominated extra-time, coming close a couple of times, but with minutes remaining Fornals shot was parried into the path of Yarmolenko who stroked the ball into the net sending the London Stadium into raptures! Best atmosphere at the LS so far and a night to remember.
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Team photo. Sevilla fc (h) |
Final whistle. Sevilla fc (h) |
The captains celebrate. Sevilla fc (h) |
★ 20th Tottenham (a). 1-3. Benrahma.
Our 3rd game in 8 days and it was a game too far for our small squad. We went 2 down early on, but rallied and Benrahma scored with a neat finish to keep us in it. Early second half we tried, made a couple of half chances, but thereafter we started to look very 'leggy', the result of thursdays 120 minutes! Son (for once staying on his feet) scored late on. One to forget and after the Seville game, I don't think anyone really gave a damn.
APRIL 2022
★ 03rd Everton (h). 2-0. Cresswell, Bowen.
A close game against Frank Lampard's Everton side who are struggling to remain in the Permier League. The deadlock was broken with a stunning free-kick from Cresswell, after the returning Bowen had been fouled. Everton started the 2nd half brighter and equalised with a deflected shot. That woke the Hammers up, and Antonio was put clean through by Fornals, Pickford made a good save, but could only parry the ball out and there was Bowen, back from injury, to put the ball into the net! Not the best performance, but the 3 points just about keeping us in with a shout of the European football places.
★ 07th Olympique Lyonnais (h). Europa League Quarter Final. 1-1. Bowen.
Another great European night, albeit without the intensity of the Seville return leg. The game was turned on its head late in the first half, when the ref, (who fell for the pathetic play acting from the Lyon players all night) sent Cresswell off, a straight red. Lyon had the majority of possession in the second half, but it was West Ham who took the lead from a breakaway, Bowen scoring after Antonios shot had been saved. They equalised after some intense pressure. Late in the game with West Ham pressing, some idiot ran onto the pitch breaking up any momentum we had. What a twat. Dawson was outstanding in the later minutes of the game with some crunching tackles. So still in the tie after being on the end of an apalling refereeing performance and shit-housery from Lyon. (It turns out that this ref has been done for match fixing, but was allowed to ref again after grassing up the others involved. WTF?). If ever a team derserved some justice it's us in that second leg... COYIs
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Cresswell. Everton (h) |
Bowen. Everton (h) |
Moyes complains to the officials. Lyon (h) |
★ 10th Brentford (a). 0-2.
A European hangover? A really, really poor performance from the whole team. 0-0 at HT, 2nd half we looked tired and lacked any kind of creativity, even with Lanzini back in the side after his car crash. Disappointing, especially as teams around us lost, an opportunity to push for the euro places missed. However, the worst news was the injury to Zouma who left the field in the 1st half, reports suggesting he is out for the rest of the season.
★ 14th Olympique Lyonnais (a). Europa League Quarter Final. 3-0. Dawson, Rice, Bowen.
"Oh What a night" the song says, and it was! After getting through a tricky first 20 minutes in front of a boisterous home crowd we slowly grew into the game. Bowen came close after Antonios cross. Then from a corner Dawson powered in a header at the near post. Minutes later, a Lyon defender cleared a cross and it fell nicely to Rice who finished and sent us all into raptures! Shortly after HT, with the scent of blood in our nostrils, a lovely pass form Fornals sent Bowen free and with the Lyon defenders trailing in his wake he put the ball wide of the keeper and into the back of the net. To see the game out we then pulled out all the tricks they had used in the first leg... cramp, falling over at the slightest touch etc. A stunning performance from all and... Justice done!
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Dawson opens the scoring. Lyon (a) |
Rice scores the second. Lyon (a) |
Bowen adds the third! Lyon (a) |
★ 17th Burnley (h). 1-1. Soucek.
We started slowly, but were building momentum when a nasty injury caused a lengthy stoppage. Upon the restart it was Burnley who took the lead from a corner. Minutes later, as we pushed forward they were awarded a penalty after a breakaway, thankfully it was missed! After HT we wrestled back control of the game and Soucek equalised. We came close to scoring the winner, but two world class saves from the Burnley keeper and a bad miss from Antonio ensured the points were shared. Diop picked up a late injury and reports are he is out for the rest of the season. Another missed opportunity to gain points on those around us.
So, Ogbonna, Zouma and now Diop, all out, leaving Dawson as our only senior center back as we go into four tough fixtures!
★ 24th Chelsea (a). 0-1.
Moyes plays a second string side, resting Rice, Antonio, Lanzini and Bowen ahead of the Europa Semi-Final. Fabianski was our MOM, closely followed by 'Hammer of the Year' contender Dawson. Late in the 2nd half Dawson touched Lukaku on the shoulder and he went down like he'd shot by a sniper, Salah has competition! The ref gave a penalty which they duly missed but Dawson was sent off... last man! In injury time as we pushed to try and get a late winner, they broke and scored the only goal of the game.
With the sending off of Dawson, we will now have none of our 4 central defenders fit to face Arsenal!
★ 28th Eintracht Frankfurt (h). Europa League Semi Final. 1-2. Antonio.
Zouma returns to the line-up, but a hopping London Stadium is stopped in it's tracks after 50 seconds as Frankfurt take the lead! The equaliser came with a much needed goal from Antonio. Bowen then misses a great chance, similar to the one he scored in Lyon. Level at HT. Frankfurt take the lead again after a great ball thru and shot that was well saved by Areola, only for the ball to hit the shin of the a Frankfurt player and bobble into the net! Hammers pushed for an equaliser, Benrahmas curling shot clipped the post, then Frankfurt hit the post in reply and late on, Bowens spectacular overhead kick hit the cross-bar! A tight game against a well organised, skillful Frankfurt team. If we have any chance of making the final we'll need to retrain the ball better and then take our chances in the return leg.
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Antonio equalises. Frankfurt (h) |
Bowen hits the crossbar late on. Frankfurt (h) |
Bowen celebrates. Arsenal (h) |
MAY 2022
★ 01st Arsenal (h). 1-2. Bowen. LP:7th.
Another tight game, West Ham undone by two set peices, mainly due to the lack of height in the defence. Zouma did everything he could, except be in two places at the same time. Arsenal weren't great, and (as in the previous game) we gave away possession too easily with poor passing. They took the lead, Bowen equalised. They took the lead again in the second half, and then produced an impressive display of 'shithousery' that is fast becoming Arteta's trademark. Sadly we were not good enough overcome their blantant cheating. Thank fuck this is ref Mike Deans last season, why he booked Bowen for jumping out of the way as Ramsdale flew at him feet first is a mystery, a free kick all day long and then ignoring the hand ball before the Arsenal winner, a pathetic display of reffing. Disappointing, a draw would have been a fairer result.
★ 05th Eintracht Frankfurt (a). Europa League Semi Final. 0-1.
The end of the Europa dream! In front of a raucous home crowd, a nervy West Ham were just starting to get into the game when Cresswell was sent off in a carbon copy of the Lyon home game. Down to 10 men and then 5 minutes later they scored. From that point it was all over, we had a few half chances, but nothing went for us and as the game came to a close, they went down at every opportunity. Moyes was shown a red card as frustrations got the better of him. A very disappointing night.
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Final whistle. Frankfurt (a) |
Moyes red carded. Frankfurt (a) |
Benrahma's second. Norwich (a) |
★ 08th Norwich City (a). 4-0. Benrahma x2, Antonio, Lanzini (p).
A trip to already relegated Norwich, just what we needed after the disappointing cup exit! We captilised as Norwich gave us way too much time and space on the ball. Benrahmas second the best of the goals and the last a peno for Lanzini. Knocks to Antonio, Dawson and Benrahma meant all 3 had to go off. A worry before the City game. A much needed win and performance.
✈ 15th Manchester City (h). 2-2. Bowen x2. LP:7th.
An emotional day and a great football match! City rolled into town on the verge of winning the title, and enjoyed large spells of possession coming close to scoring a number of times, but it was the Hammers who took the lead, Bowen rounding the keeper and finishing from a tight angle. Then just before HT we went 2-0 up, Bowen again, his shot going through the defenders legs. The LS was in raptures! The 2nd half started and it didn't take City long to get back into the game with a deflected shot. We did have 2 good chances to score from breakaways, but it was mainly backs-to-the-wall stuff as we repelled wave after wave of City attacks. The equaliser came with a Coufal OG. Noble came on to rapturous applause. Late in the game City were awarded a penalty... Faba saved! After the game Mark Nobles career was celebrated with 57,000 fellas trying to keep it together during his emotional speech. A legend.
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A brace for Bowen. Man.City (h) |
End of an era for Noble. Man.City (h) |
So near, yet so far, Rice at Brighton (a) |
We go into the last game of the season still fighting for a Europa League place. We win and Manchester United lose, we get 6th place. Manure are away to Palace, we haven't beaten Brighton for a while, bit of a bogey side for us... but you never know?
★ 22nd Brighton Hove Albion (a). 1-2. Antonio.
Classic West Ham... Man. Utd Losing... we are 1-0 up at half-time, to a stunning strike from Antonio... only to then fall apart in the second with a tired looking display. Disappointing we couldn't pip ManUre to the Europa League place. On the bright side, a memorable season and Euorpean qualification for the second season in a row, all-be-it the new Europa Conference League.
I can't help but feel that failure to strenghten in the January transfer window was a huge mistake. The rigours of European Thursday/Sunday football, to my mind, showed towards the later stages of the season as fatigue set-in amoung our small squad. Kral or Vlasic were added at the start of the season, both barely played? An opportunity missed. With those teams around us sure to strengthen in the close season, it's important the board and Moyes don't make the same mistake again.
WEST HAM GOALSCORERS - 2021-2022
| Name | PL | CC | FA | EL | TL |
| Michail Antonio | 10 | - | 1 | 2 | 13 |
| Said Benrahma | 8 | - | - | 3 | 11 |
| Jerrod Bowen | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 18 |
| Aaron Cresswell | 2 | - | - | - | 2 |
| Craig Dawson | 2 | - | - | 2 | 4 |
| Issa Diop | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Pablo Fornals | 6 | - | - | - | 6 |
| Ben Johnson | 1 | - | - | - | 1 |
| Manuel Lanzini | 5 | 1 | 1 | - | 7 |
| Arthur Masuaku | 1 | - | - | - | 1 |
| Mark Noble | 1 | - | - | 1 | 2 |
| Angelo Ogbonna | 1 | - | - | - | 1 |
| Declan Rice | 1 | - | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Tomas Soucek | 5 | - | - | 1 | 6 |
| Andre Yarmolenko | 1 | - | - | 2 | 3 |
| Kurt Zouma | 1 | - | - | - | 1 |
| Nikola Vlasic | 1 | - | - | - | 1 |
| Own Goals | 2 | - | - | - | 2 |
| Totals | 60 | 2 | 5 | 17 | 84 |