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Word coming out of West Ham is that Josh Cullen may well replace club captain Mark Noble for this evening's fixture against Arsenal at the Emirates, Noble has a toe injury which prevented him from playing in the 3-0 victory over Charlton in the EFL cup and meant he missed training.

Noble has apparently recovered from the toe injury, but he is still 'feeling' a bit sore and David Moyes has intimated that he might do 'something different' for the Arsenal game in order to put last weekend's dreadful display in the 2-0 defeat by Newcastle firmly in the past.

With most fans hoping and praying that the rumoured take over bid for West Ham has more legs on it than Hammers' troubled defence, there is one acutely 'painful' reality that has to be faced, namely that all the billy big bollocks clap trap about moving to another higher level has failed to materialise since leaving the Boleyn Ground four years ago, in fact in most observers opinions the only 'other' level the club is potentially going is down.

Yesterday we alluded to the fact that there are alarming similarities between this season and the seasons before regarding Hammers bidding low for 'unattainable' players for a protracted period of time before the owners turn round and say "We tried our best but couldn't get the deal over the line".

Some people infer that we are over zealous in our criticism and overly sceptical when it comes to West Ham United's hierarchy, this may be explained by the fact that in the 20 years the Org has been running we have seen little evidence to convince us otherwise, and it is not only the unholy trinity currently in possession of the club, but the bunch of criminals who preceded them and in turn the bunch of cowboys who oversaw the pillaging of the club's assets back in the Brown and Cearns era!

West Ham: Randolph, Johnson, Balbuena (c), Diop, Masuaku, Cullen, Yarmolenko, Lanzini, Snodgrass, Haller Subs: Martin (GK), Ashby, Alese, Coventry, Fornals, Bowen, Xande Silva
Charlton: Amos, Purrington,Oshilaba, Willaims, Bonney, Pratley, Doughty, Otzuma, Levitt, Lapsie, Barker Subs: TBC

Every one and his dog has been 'jumping on' the troubles currently being experienced by West Ham United, poor recruitment, stingy owners and a Stadium not fit to play in, Barclays Premier League survival is the best that fans can hope for, or is it? Firstly with the addition of a couple of full backs, a central defender and a spare striker David Moyes could have a very impressive first team, and more importantly strength in depth for crucial areas.

Even before Saturdays lamentable 2-0 defeat at home to Newcastle, the signs of tension surrounding West Ham United's lack of positive transfer activity were palpable with a collective 'fear' regarding the future. Even a blind man can see the urgent need for at least one new full back, preferably two, but it seems the 'obsession' with regards to the proposed signing of James Tarkowski has blinded the necessary vision required for the future.

Being tolerant of under achieving players is part of the West Ham way, if you want to see 'perfection' go and support Liverpool or whoever tops the Barclays Premier League. If you choose to continue supporting West Ham then you have to accept certain unpleasant characteristics, namely there has never for years been a properly balanced squad either at the Boleyn Ground or at The London Stadium, consequently players are often played out of position resulting in inept performances.

West Ham: Fabianski, Fredericks, Ogbonna, Diop, Cresswell, Noble, Rice, Soucek, Fornals, Bowen, Antonio. Subs: Randolph, Balbuena, Yarmolenko, Anderson, Lanzini, Haller, Johnson.
Newcastle: Darlow, Manquillo, Fernandez, Lascelles, Lewis, Shelvey, Hendrick, Hayden, Saint-Maximin, Carroll, Wilson. Subs: Gillespie, Joelinton, Ritchie, Krafth, Fraser, Almirom, S. Longstaff.

West Ham United's pursuit of James Tarkowski is going the way of many 'big ticket' deals as both parties jockey for position with offer and counter offer, and now it appears a compromise might be reached on the selling club's asking price. Mindful that Tarkowski's £50 Million release clause will not be met by ANY club, Burnley have opted for the best they can get in the current Covid-19 affected market, with prices up to 40% down compared to last year