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Despite losing 1-0 on the night, West Ham United reached the next round of the Europa League qualifiers where they will meet Astra Giurgiu courtesy of a 5-3 penalty shoot out against plucky FC Birkirkara, but they were made to pay. James Tomkins became the latest West Ham player to be red carded as the wheels nearly came of the club's 'European adventure' before it had started properly. Quite what Tomkins thought he was doing only he knows, but it plain to see that Hammer's are totally naive when it comes to European competition.

West Ham have completed the signing of Argentinean attacking midfielder Manuel Lanzini from Al Jazira, he has already undergone a medical at Hammer's private medical facility, and is hoped to be a replacement for Stewart Downing. David Gold confirmed the move today, tweeting that the midfielder – nicknamed ‘the jewel’ – has signed for the club from Al Jazira. The move has been confirmed on the O/S as well.

Colchester:Parish, Briggs, Edwards, Wynter, Wright, Gllbey, Porter, Moncur, Massey, Eastman, Vincent-Young subs Lewington, James, Olufemi, Kent, Lawrence, Szmodics, Bonne, Lapslie, Sembie-Ferris, Curtis, Holman
West Ham: Spiegel (GK), Westley, Page, Cullen, Pask, Oxford, Mavila, Nasha, Cole (son of Andy Cole), Brown, Makasi. Subs: Knoyle, Howes (GK), Onariase, Neufville, Browne, Hector-Ingram, Powell

Southend United : Bentley (GK), White (C), Coker, Wordsworth, Prosser, Mooney, Payne, Weston, Hurst, Bolger, Deegan. Subs: T. Smith, P. Smith, Matsuzaka, Worall, Timlin, Atkinson, A. Trialist, B. Trialist, Leonard, Cotton, Barrett, Williams, Bridge.
West Ham United XI: Randolph, Pike, Collins, Ogbonna, Hendrie, Poyet, Kouyate, Samuelson, Parfitt-Williams, Payet, Sakho. Subs: Spiegel , Oxford, Cullen, Nasha, Page, Pask, Mavila, Maiga.

Stewart Downing has joined his boyhood club Middlesbrough on a four year deal for a fee believed to be £5.5 Million, rising to as much as £8 Million should the Championship team attain promotion to the Barclays Premier League. Not a bad bit of business for both clubs, Downing is 31 years old next week, so to have recouped their initial outlay and remove a large earner of the books, Hammers seem to have done rather well.

West Ham United: Adrian, Reid, Cresswell, Nolan (c), Tomkins, Jarvis, Zarate, Noble, O'Brien, Maiga, Amalfitano
Subs: Randolph, Collins, Poyet, Hendrie, Samuelsen, Lee, Pike

Birkirkara FC: Haber, Mazzetti, Fenech (c), Miccoli, Vukanac, Murga, Liliu, J.Zerafa, Z. Muscat, R.Muscat
Subs: Sciberras, Agius, Plut, Akpan, D.Zerafa, Zammir, Aquilina

Hammers line up looks a little like a shop window!

Raheem Sterling's transfer from Liverpool to Manchester City will net QPR around £9 Million as a result of the 20% sell on fee that was negotiated at the time of his transfer from the west London club to Anfield. This massive cash bonus will enable QPR to maintain their stance over Austin's £15 Million valuation, not good news for those clubs, including West Ham, who were hoping to take advantage of QPR's relegation and financial plight.

Peterborough: Alnwick, Smith, Ntlhe, Anderson, Zakuani, Santos, Bostwick, Gormley, Washington, Maddison, Taylor
Subs: Edwards, Rowling, Brisley, Ferdinand, Lopes, Anderson, Payne and two un named trialists
West Ham : Adrian, Alex Pike, Winston Reid, James Collins , Aaron Cresswell, Pedro Obiang, Martin Samuelsen, Mark Noble , Kevin Nolan, Diafra Sakho, Modibo Maiga
Subs: Doneil Henry Sam Howes, Stephen Hendrie, Djair Parfitt-Williams, Josh Pask, Nathan Mavila, Jaanai Gordon, Moses Makasi, Amos Nasha, Kyle Knoyle .

The signing of Angelo Ogbonna along with that of Dmitri Payet and Pedro Obiang by West Ham United represents a significant upping of the ante with regards to the club's aspirations and future recruitment frame work. Gone are the days of signing past it has beens looking for a final pay day, or of getting loan players who will never be played by the manager because their face or their agent doesn't fit! So, happy days, but hasn't the club overstretched itself a little?

West Ham starting XI: Randolph, O'Brien, Tomkins, Burke, Page, Amalfitano, Poyet, Cullen, Jarvis, Lee, Sakho. Subs: Spiegel, S Westley, Knoyle, Oxford, Nasha, Parfitt-Williams, Brown. Mauro Zarate probably would have played but picked up an injury in the first tie at the Boleyn, it is a pity for Zarate because he seemed to impress Salven Billic with his work rate, however his loss is Lee's gain. Elliot Lee has threatened to do well, tonight he has the start he so cherishes, this is not an FA or League Cup tie where he is being thrown in at the deep end, more a rigorous work out.