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News that Kurt Zouma will be out of contention for between 6-12 weeks, whilst unwelcome came as no surprise to anyone who has played football at ANY level, thankfully Kurt's injury was short of the full ACL that was feared. Nevertheless his lack of availability, in tandem with the loss of Angelo Ogbonna for the entire remainder of the season, has meant that David Moyes HAS had to seriously refocus his January transfer window plans at the last minute.

Hammers have been handed a home tie against Marco Biesla's Leeds United in the Fa Cup 3rd round, the games will be played between the 7th and the 10th of January 2022. Played under the lights at the London Stadium this game could be a cracker, for the neutral!

David Moyes will know by later today the full extent of Kurt Zouma's injury once the centre back has had a scan on his knee which he injured during yesterday's thrilling 3-2 victory over London rivals and European Champions League winners Chelsea.

The ridiculous amount of games ALL clubs are having to play will inevitably cause players to pick up more injuries than would be normal, losing Angelo Ogbonna was massive, that injury was swiftly followed by losing Aaron Cresswell and now Kurt Zouma AS WELL AS young Ben Johnson.

West Ham: Fabiański, Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Zouma, Johnson, Rice (c), Souček, Lanzini, Bowen, Antonio.
Subs: Areola (GK), Ashby, Masuaku, Noble, Král, Benhrama, Vlašić, Yarmolenko, Fornals.

Chelsea: Mendy, Christensen, Silva, Rudiger, James, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Alonso, Mount, Havertz, Ziyech
Subs: Kepa (GK), Azpilicueta, Sarr, Saul, Barkley, Lukaku, Hudson-Odoi, Werner, Pulisic

This article is definitely NOT an I told you so moment, the paucity of Hammers squad is rather historical now, as there is nothing that can be practically done before the January window opens, or is there? The left side of Hammers defence, so long a paragon of meanness, has been dismantled of late, to paraphrase Oscar Wilde “'To lose one may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.”!

West Ham: Fabiański, Coufal, Dawson, Zouma, Johnson, Rice (c), Souček, Fornals, Benrahma, Bowen, Antonio Subs: Areola (GK), Diop, Masuaku, Noble, Král, Lanzini, Vlašić, Yarmolenko, Perkins
Brighton: Sánchez, Veltman, Webster, Dunk (c), Cucurella, Bissouma, Lallana, Moder, Sarmiento, Trossard, Maupay Subs: Steele (GK), Lamptey, Mac Allister, Mwepu, Groß, March, Duffy, Locadia, Burn

Which Moyes Ploy Ahoy?

Hammers take on Brighton and Hove Albion at the London Bowl this evening in a game that they really need to win in order to halt the alarming run of recent defeats, the problem being the Seagulls are the South Coast's 'nemesis' for the Irons and have always proved to be obdurate opposition, particularly when Glenn Murray was still playing for them.

Aaron Cresswell is due to face a late fitness test ahead of the 'must win' game at home to Brighton on early Wednesday evening, the unusual 7:30 PM kick off being part of Amazon, the game's broadcaster's deal that was struck with the Premier league. Cress of course did his best to dismantle one of the goal posts at the Etihad, with his BACK!

Injuries to Said Benrahma ans Aaron Cresswell were the double whammy cost of taking on Manchester City at the Etihad yesterday, the 2-1 loss was Hammers 2nd Premier League defeat in a row. Benrahma injured his ankle but didn't look too uncomfortable when he left the field to be replaced by Manu Lanzini.

Little Old West Ham travelled up to play League Champions Manchester City and got beaten, no surprise in that, but the fact that a club with such slender resources could be beaten by the same score line as that of mega rich PSG, is testament to just how far Hammers have come under the management and of Moyes.