News Flash: injury update for West Ham United vs. Crystal Palace……

Canning Town Len is not just a skilled artist and veteran of the advertising world, but he’s also a rather

sharp critic of all things West Ham. I believe Len gave the most insightful metaphorical description of

West Ham’s current situation under David Moyes last week on ‘Moore Than Just A Podcast’. Whether

over a pint or in a WhatsApp group, the argument about our manager’s worth always appears to be at the

centre of our conversations. Len likened the whole thing to food, which is a topic close to my heart and

professionally.

A grilled white flesh chicken piece paired with a serving of steaming veggies or a salad makes some

individuals very happy. For them, eating is only a means to an end. It is fuel to keep our engine operating

as long as possible and as efficiently as possible. Pleasure comes second. Some view their meals as

occasions to celebrate and relish. It’s seen to be a modest price to pay to improve life on this blue orb,

even if the butter, steak, and cheese dish at the conclusion negatively affects them. In a vacuum, neither

of these two methods is incorrect. It all boils down to personal choice. Since Crystal Palace was in town

today, there were two managers on

West Ham didn’t have a sustained period of possession until the eighth minute, and even then, it was

fleeting as Palace controlled the most of the game’s first few minutes of play. When Ward-Prowse was

penalised for a hand ball thirty yards from goal in the eleventh minute, they went dangerously near.

Anderson was there to head the free kick back to Edouard after Olise put it into the area, but his shot

missed the mark.

Coufal’s previous season was thought to have been subpar. Okay, so few players had a bad season, but

our right back was singled out more than the others for his decline. But he’s seemed more like the little

engine that could down the right side this season. He timed a run down the right to grab a brilliant ball

from Ward-Prowse in the thirteenth minute. He perfectly timed a ball into Kudus’s path, and the

Ghanaian striker ran his run to perfection as well, sending a low shot past Johnstone’s hands. I don’t care

that the goalie could have done better.

With some strong attacking play, the visitors attempted to respond to the first goal. If Aguerd hadn’t

blocked, there may have been an equaliser as Edouard and Ayew attempted to create a give and go within

the West Ham eighteen-yard area. Aguerd predicted Bowen’s run, and a minute later, West Ham had a

chance of their own. The long ball from the defender went between the two centre backs for Palace, and

Bowen was quick to react. However, he made a fast shot, and Johnstone easily made the save.

I don’t usually remark on a referee’s decisions unless there is an obvious infraction. But Oliver made me

think of an ice hockey referee who never questions anything that doesn’t require an autopsy. However, he

awarded Palace a free kick from directly outside the West Ham penalty area in the 36th minute after

ruling that Ayew had been challenged in a pretty harmless manner. Anderson took a step to accept it. His

effort nearly found the back of the net after striking Alvarez in the back. Even though West Ham won the

subse

quent corner, Palace had been the superior team up until that moment.

In the fortyth minute, West Ham gained their first corner of the afternoon, and with Ward-Prowse in

control, there was an opportunity for magic. Johnstone got together

In the first few seconds of the second half, Kudus curled in a shot from the right side at an angle that

looked impossible, almost giving the Hammers a two goal lead. Even though Soucek was offside, the goal

may have stood if he had simply remained still instead of trying to make contact. After five minutes,

Palace got a free kick from around forty yards out. Edouard’s header from just in front of goal flew over

the bar, and to be honest, I was surprised they didn’t score. However, he quickly atoned for it when

Mavropanos made a terrible mistake on a back ball, which the Palace striker quickly grabbed hold of and

slipped past Areola. Following his mistake at Brentford, Moyes’s

The error seemed to ignite a fire beneath West Ham. They kept going, and when Ayew fouled Kudus, they

were awarded a free kick in Ward-Prowse area. However, the ball rebounded off the Palace wall, which

completed its job. Shortly after, Alvarez conceded a long pass, causing West Ham’s unsteady backline

play to resurface. It was a terribly poor job, but the Hammers tracked back and neutralised the threat.

The 64th minute offered West Ham a very good chance to retake the lead when Paqueta sent a pass over

the top for Emerson, but the left back’s diving shot went high over the bar. It had to be considered a

wasted opportunity in a game where the home team had relatively few opportunities.

The game might go in either direction as it neared its finish. Both managers dislike losing games towards

the end when they are down a point, and neither club appeared to have a very potent offensive line. It

was difficult to see how either team could take the lead and maybe win because both goals had errors

associated with them. In the 75th minute, West Ham won a corner but accomplished nothing with it.

Mavropanos met a cross from Kudus with a header that bounced harmlessly wide.

Once Coufal fouled Ayew, which resulted in Oliver showing him a yellow card, Palace was awarded a free

kick from the left side of the West Ham eighteen yard box. Although West Ham cleared the delivery, they

immediately lost possession.

When the fourth official announced an additional six minutes of time, I must admit that my main

concern was to finish the match quickly. I didn’t see us winning, and my natural pessimism told me that

we would replicate Palace’s past trips with a late loss. My opinion did not change despite a very late

corner for Palace, but West Ham managed to clear. In the 94th minute, Fornals fired a cross into the box

and Bowen managed to make contact, giving the Hammers an opportunity to make me regret what I had

said. However, his header was flimsy and undefined.