Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IT’S HAMMER TIME
Fourth place in the Prem, plans to expand their ground and beating City in the Carabao Cup... West Ham are changing the face of London football
BY PAUL BROWN
WEST HAM are changing the face of London football.
The Hammers could soon be playing in the capital’s biggest club stadium and are on course for their first trophy in over 40 years.
No wonder skipper Mark Noble reckons it is a great time to be a fan.
That will wind up hardcore supporters still protesting about the club’s board – though a potential new owner has emerged in Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky – and their controversial decision to move to London Stadium.
But after following up their Carabao Cup victory over Manchester United by dumping holders Manchester City out of the competition on penalties, all is rosy on the pitch. The credit for that goes to David Moyes, who has worked absolute wonders since his return to West Ham. Written off even by some of the club’s own fans as a dinosaur, out of step with the modern game, the Scot has proved his critics wrong.
Moyes was at it again on Wednesday, masterminding a night to remember in front of a sellout crowd, as City lost a League Cup tie for the first time in five years (Said Benrahma celebrates scoring the decisive spot-kick with team-mates,
below).
And you can see these players love playing for him, and for each other.
They are a band of brothers who are also fourth in the Premier League, just five points adrift of leaders Chelsea.
Moyes had them doing quiz nights, and building towers with uncooked spaghetti and marshmallows during lockdown, and all that team bonding has worked.
West Ham have not won a trophy since they beat Arsenal in the 1980 FA Cup final. They were heading towards relegation before Moyes returned, but almost qualified for the Champions League last season.
They have left the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham far behind, transforming the landscape of London football, with only Chelsea now clearly stronger in the capital.
And they are into the last eight of the Carabao Cup with belief they can go all the way. Boyhood Hammers fan Noble said: “What a story to be able to give the fans a special moment in the club’s history, which is what we’re doing now – it’s a good time to be a West Ham fan.”
Noble, 34, is retiring after this season, but insists the club’s future is bright. West Ham were this week granted permission to raise capacity to 62,500 at London
Stadium, which was full of younger fans enjoying a half-term treat.
Ultimately, the aim is to reach 67,000, which would give the Hammers the biggest Premier League ground in London.
Noble, whose wife and kids were there to see him erase the memory of his penalty miss against Manchester United by scoring in the shootout against City, added: “You could hear there were so many kids. They want to see the best players in the world, the Man Citys. We’ve got some too, but you know what kids are like!
“It was a fantastic night. When you beat City on penalties, it’s extra-special.
“The boys who stepped up to take penalties showed massive character because I know what it’s like and it’s not easy.
“It was a great win and there could be many more to come.”