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A number of West Ham fans have been showering Ben Johnson with praise after his performance against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The Hammers picked up a sweet win against Spurs at the London Stadium, prevailing 1-0. Michail Antonio was on the scoresheet, and the Irons have now moved up to fourth place in the Premier League table. David Moyes and co will surely be confident of improving on their sixth-place finish last season after this result.

Johnson was included in the starting line-up for his third league outing of the campaign (Transfermarkt) as he continued to deputise for the injured Vladimir Coufal. Once again, the 21-year-old helped the Irons keep a clean sheet as he kept the likes of Heung-Min Son and Sergio Reguilon quiet down his right flank, and lots of fans were absolutely delighted with what the youngster had to offer.

West Ham have not conceded a goal whenever he has been on the pitch this season (Transfermarkt), with Johnson starring as he won all seven of his duels and made five tackles in a tremendous defensive display (Sofascore).

These Hammers fans took to social media platform Twitter in their droves to share their thoughts on Johnson’s “class” performance.

Let’s see what these fans had to say about Johnson

“Ben Johnson has been wonderful this season. 5 games he has started in he has kept a clean sheet in every single one of them. Still a few things to work on going forward but he kept Son quiet expertly today, his awareness and urgency is superb.”

Credit: @AzamWHUFC

“Ben Johnson was immense today.”

Credit: @aldredtj

“Ben Johnson ain’t put a foot wrong defensively yet, been class”

Credit: @DraigCawson

“Remember when we were all fuming when we let Ngakia go? Moyes got it spot on once again. Ben Johnson unreal talent”

Credit: @antonymmartin84

“How amazing has Ben Johnson been by since he has come into the side the way!? I thought he was so good yesterday. Never thought I’d say this but Coufal might not even get back in straight away”

Credit: @W_Bellow

“Ben Johnson was superb – but can’t underestimate how the arrival of Zouma has improved confidence and skill of whole back line”

Credit: @Tony_McNulty

In other news, many West Ham United fans loved this Jesse Lingard news

Ipswich struggled throughout the month of August as they attempted to pull together their raft of new additions in League One, with Paul Cook’s side currently sat in the relegation zone during the first international break.

The Tractor Boys have picked up just three points from five matches and are still searching for their first league win of the campaign. They lost to Burton and Cheltenham whilst drawing with Morecambe, MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon.

In a month with few positives, one player stole the show during August – academy product Luke Wolfenden. The 22-year-old was a standout at centre-back and was able to outperform his defensive colleagues who let him down.

With an average SofaScore rating of 6.88, Wolfenden was the highest-rated Ipswich player outside of the forwards, showing that he was a class above the rest on the defensive side of the game throughout the month.

He played in all five League One fixtures and made zero errors leading to shots or goals, conceding zero penalties. This shows that he did not make any major mistakes at the back and was not to blame for Ipswich’s string of poor results, as he did not struggle individually.

As per SofaScore, the 6 foot 1 colossus made 12 interceptions, six tackles and 20 clearances in his five appearances, whilst only being dribbled past once. He won 65% of his duels on the pitch, winning 30 in total during August as he showcased his defensive skills for the Tractor Boys.

The centre-back was also assured in possession. He completed 83% of his passes (51 per game) and had 375 touches overall. This shows that he was composed on the ball and did not make consistent errors with his distribution, another reason why he was a standout performer for Ipswich in spite of their troubled start.

Cook must now be hoping that the defender can keep up this impressive form throughout the rest of the campaign and that the players around him start to match his levels. The key to having a good defence is having a solid unit, as it only takes a mistake from one individual to cost a goal, which is why the players around Wolfenden need to take note of his displays and hold themselves to that standard.

AND in other news, Reason Ipswich missed out on “incredibly dynamic” beast revealed, Cook will be fuming…

Liverpool are still reportedly eyeing up West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen with a view to a transfer in summer 2022.

The Lowdown: Bowen linked with Liverpool move

The 24-year-old has enjoyed an impressive season for the Hammers so far, playing his part in his side excelling in the Premier League.

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Bowen has scored three goals and registered four assists in the competition, including a superb strike in last weekend’s 3-2 win at home to Chelsea.

As such, Liverpool have been linked with a move for the Englishman, with Jurgen Klopp even commenting on his admiration for the player, and it is seemingly a rumour that is refusing to go away.

The Latest: Liverpool ‘monitoring’

According to The Liverpool Echo, the 5 foot 9 Bowen remains on the Reds’ radar, with the Merseysiders ‘continuing to monitor’ him.

It is stated that Liverpool are ‘unlikely to make an official approach’ next month, however, potentially waiting until next summer to get their man.

Bowen’s current Hammers deal expires in the summer of 2025, meaning the £27million-rated wide man shouldn’t be allowed to leave on the cheap in the near future.

The Verdict: Potential big loss

Bowen has been a key cog in the machine for David Moyes, dovetailing beautifully with the likes of Pablo Fornals, Said Benrahma and Michail Antonio in attack.

He would be a big loss as an all-round player, with the former Hull City man possessing quality on the ball but also working extremely hard for the team off it.

Bowen has averaged 1.3 key passes and 1.9 dribbles per game in the league this season – no West Ham player has more in the latter – and has also chipped in with 1.3 tackles per match, highlighting his worth to David Moyes on the other side of the ball.

In other news, a reliable reporter has made a key claim regarding one West Ham target. Find out who it is here.

With the EFL discussing ending the current tv blackout of 3pm kick offs, I wonder how long it will take for the Premier League to also start looking at tv options and the constant fixture changes?

With the world at a standstill not long back, with lockdowns and restrictions to attending live games, the football world illustrated perfectly it was able to screen all games to keep us football fans happy and connected to our clubs.

I think there are those amongst us now, who would prefer to slow down, and watch some of the games at the more traditional Saturday 3pm instead of scrambling around for all the different kick off times.  As Simon Jordan said   in his TalkSport show , ‘Live is live’ and those who enjoy getting to the game, will still do exactly that.  But for those that have responded to the slow down during the pandemic, surely it is time for sport to look again as to how people consume the game and how best to cater for it?

Fans of Sky Sports Soccer Saturday will no doubt be aware that, after 25 years presenting the show, Jeff Stelling is stepping down at the end of the season and he has partnered with Abbot Ale to introduce a new pint drinking concept to British pub culture.

Football is amongst the top ten activities we like to do, when not working – and with the UK being amongst the worst in Europe for long working hours, it does look like there is an appetite for having a re-think over work to life priorities.

Abbot Ale revealed that Brits expect to be able to slow down at the age of 43 – after living a ‘fast paced’ life for 25 years.  They questioned 2000 people and almost half agreed the slower pace during lockdown was enjoyable.

That is why Abbot Ale is on a mission to get the nation to slow down and savour.

Jeff Stelling is set to spread the slow down message, explaining;

“As I get a little older, I am trying to slow down! Life is still so frantic but I want to enjoy pleasures like a dog walk, a round of golf or especially a good pint! I say cheers to those who have the option of slowing down that bit sooner than me!”

 And after 25 years fronting Soccer Saturday, no one can disagree that Jeff deserves some time to slow down and chill.

TOP 10 ACTIVITIES BRITS DO – WHEN THEY SLOW DOWN:

Go for a walk Enjoy nature Read a book Listen to music Going for a meal Do some gardening Cook something nice Have a beer or wine Watch sport Going to the pub

And some work together very nicely don’t they?  I like to walk to a pub, have a pint, a meal, watch the football, then walk home….!

According to a report by Football Insider, West Ham United have ‘made it clear’ they want to sign Jesse Lingard on a permanent deal but they may have to offer him a big pay rise.

The Lowdown: Lingard hunted by Hammers…

The Englishman enjoyed a very successful 2020/2021 season on loan at West Ham United and played a big role in helping to secure their qualification for the Europa League group stages.

Indeed, Lingard racked up an impressive nine goals and four assists in 16 Premier League starts under manager David Moyes and briefly put himself in contention for a Euro 2020 call up.

Club insider Claret & Hugh say that securing him on a permanent deal is one of three top priorities for Moyes this summer window, alongside the acquisition of a new centre-back and star striker.

The Latest: West Ham make it clear…

As per Football Insider, sharing an update on the situation, West Ham have ‘made it clear’ they want to land him indefinitely at the London Stadium.

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They explain that the 28-year-old is keen to join the Irons full time but Lingard ‘wants an upgrade’ on his terms at current club Manchester United.

Indeed, West Ham may have to offer a ‘big pay rise’ and make him their top club earner if a deal is to be struck this summer.

The Verdict: Worth every penny…

Lingard marked himself out as, arguably, West Ham’s most threatening player when he signed on loan in January 2021.

The bright attacker managed to rack up more efforts on goal per 90 than any Hammers player in the Premier League last season (WhoScored), leaving little wonder why he is a priority signing for the club.

Making Lingard a top earner is a small price to pay if West Ham want to inject some much-needed attacking flair in the final third.

Lauded as ‘sensational’ for his form at the club by former Irons defender Nigel Winterburn (via the Sun), we believe West Ham should put everything on the table to get a deal done.

In other news: West Ham player now vying to leave, Cottee dubbed him ‘absolutely fantastic’…find out more here.

After picking up two points from a possible nine in the opening weeks of the new Premier League campaign, Crystal Palace host Tottenham Hotspur in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off over the weekend.

The Eagles recovered from a 3-0 opening day defeat at the hand of European champions Chelsea to hold both Brentford and West Ham United to draws, showing signs of promise under new manager Patrick Vieira.

However, the Frenchman may be concerned about his side’s lack of goals before the international break, despite their improved performances.

A 1-0 loss to Watford in the Carabao Cup second round meant that the Eagles failed to score in their first three outings under Vieira in all competitions before a Conor Gallagher brace against the Hammers broke their duck.

Nevertheless, the lack of clearcut opportunities that Palace are creating will still be cause for concern for the former New York City and Nice coach.

As per SofaScore, the Eagles have only created 1.3 big chances per game so far in 2021/22 and have averaged just five shots per game, highlighting their struggles in the final third of the pitch.

The solution to their struggles could be a rather simple one, though. Former Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard arrived at Selhurst Park on transfer deadline day in a deal which could be worth up to £18.5m.

During his time in Scottish football, the £70,000-per-week magician established himself as one of the most promising young strikers in European football, and his underlying numbers for this season indicate that he could have a huge impact at Palace.

Edouard averaged 3.3 shots and 2.3 key passes per league game for Celtic in the early weeks of the current campaign before making the switch to Palace, while also creating three big chances.

The highly-rated 23-year-old also continued to demonstrate his fantastic end product to go with his skill, bagging two goals and providing one assist for the Hoops in his last four league appearances for the club.

Therefore, Vieira must start his compatriot against Spurs on Saturday, providing his charges with the natural goalscorer and cutting edge they so desperately require in the final third.

In other news… Journalist reveals exciting Crystal Palace transfer update which will have fans buzzing

Nottingham Forest have been handed a double injury boost ahead of their upcoming Championship fixture.

What’s the latest?

According to a report by Nottinghamshire Live, both Loic Mbe Soh and Jordi Osei-Tutu could be in contention for the visit of Cardiff City this Saturday, as both defenders have made good progress in their respective recoveries from injury.

Mbe Soh has been out of action since he picked up a groin injury in Forest’s season-opening defeat against Coventry City, while Arsenal loanee Osei-Tutu has missed the club’s last three fixtures due to a hamstring injury sustained against Blackburn Rovers.

However, the report by Nottinghamshire Live claims that Osei-Tutu’s targeted return date is Wednesday, while Mbe Soh’s is Saturday.

Hughton will be buzzing

While Chris Hughton did secure the signings of defenders Max Lowe, Mohamed Drager, Djed Spence and Rodrigo Ely in recent weeks in order to prove him with greater depth across the various positions at the back, the return of both Mbe Soh and Osei-Tutu will nevertheless have left the 62-year-old manager buzzing.

Indeed, while Mbe Soh only managed 45 minutes on the pitch against Coventry prior to his injury, the 20-year-old centre-back highly impressed for Forest, playing the ball to Brennan Johnson to create the Reds’ opening goal, as well as making one tackle, one interception and two clearances.

Meanwhile, the return of the 22-year-old versatile full-back Osei-Tutu provides Hughton with another option on either the left or right-hand side of his defence, something that will not only be extremely useful for the Forest manager in the Cardiff clash but also over the course of the club’s Championship campaign.

As such, with it looking as if the 62-year-old could have a full squad to chose from for the fixture at the City Ground on Saturday, Hughton will certainly be hoping that his side can finally pick up their first win of the Championship season against the Bluebirds.

In other news: Reliable journo sheds light on Forest’s deadline day disaster, Murphy will be gutted

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Southampton vice-chairman Les Reed has said signing Graziano Pelle in the 2014 summer transfer window was a “no-brainer”.

Pelle was brought to the club by Ronald Koeman, reunited with his manager at Feyenoord. And looking at his goalscoring record at the Dutch outfit, it was no surprise that Koeman was so keen on a reunion.

In 66 appearances, Pelle scored 55 goals. And given his height and stature, something Koeman spoke about upon his arrival, the Italian looked like the perfect Premier League striker.

Ultimately, for Reed, Southampton had no choice but to sign him as they looked to replace Rickie Lambert, who had left for Liverpool the same summer.

“We wanted to replace Rickie Lambert,” Reed exclusively told FFC. “Ronald had worked with Graziano at Feyenoord. Graziano had a similar style, you know, scoring record etc.

“So it was a no-brainer out of three choices of strikers to go with Graziano because the the manager knew him, trusted him, knew how to handle him and so on.”

Pelle went on to make 80 appearances for Southampton, scoring 30 goals during his two-year stint at St. Mary’s.

During that time, he also had a key role in the Italy national team, a member of the squad highly appreciated by Premier League title winner Antonio Conte.

Tottenham Hotspur officials have travelled to Portugal this week as the club, and by extension manager Antonio Conte, allegedly eye one of the division’s top players.

The Lowdown: Lilywhites eye Nunes move?

Sporting Lisbon midfielder and star man Matheus Nunes, as per a plethora of reports, is a transfer target for Tottenham as Conte plots a major summer rebuild.

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The Telegraph claim that Spurs’ head coach wants as many as six major signings, including two new midfielders, with many Portuguese sources claiming Nunes is a man firmly on their radar.

O Jogo (via Sport Witness), back in March, stated that the Lilywhites have already made contact with Sporting over the 23-year-old pre-summer.

Meanwhile, Jornal de Notícias (via Sport Witness), more recently relayed that Nunes is still attracting real interest from Spurs managing director Fabio Paratici and Conte.

The Latest: Tottenham officials dispatched…

Now, another Portuguese newspaper in A Bola (via Sport Witness) spotted that Tottenham officials were at the Estadio do Dragão on Thursday for Sporting’s big cup clash with FC Porto.

While this report doesn’t state who Spurs employees were there to run the rule over, this midweek mission comes amid heavy links to Nunes with Conte allegedly eyeing the midfield ace.

The Verdict: Make a move?

With the rising star likely to still be on Tottenham’s radar, we believe he would seriously upgrade Conte’s options in the middle and Paratici should spare no expense in bringing him to the Premier League.

Man City boss Pep Guardiola, after his Sky Blues side thrashed Sporting in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie earlier this season, branded Nunes ‘one of the best players in the world’ – serious praise from such an elite coach.

His numbers back up this theory, as WhoScored reveal, with the starlet ranking as one of manager Ruben Amorim’s top five performers in the league going by average match rating (7.07).

He also completes more successful take-ons per 90 (2.4) than any Sporting star, attracting the joint-most fouls and proving to be a real nightmare to play against (WhoScored).

Valued at around €40 million (£33m) by the Portuguese giants and called ‘unbelievable’ by former teammate Goncalo Santos, he certainly stands at as a realistic and quality target from a Spurs perspective.

In other news: Paratici advancing: Tottenham line up fresh bid money bid after personal Conte request! Find out more here.

West Ham can find someone better in the transfer market than Ryan Bertrand, former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer has told Football FanCast.

Bertrand has agreed to join Leicester City after leaving Southampton as a free agent last month. However, according to the Evening Standard’s Jack Rosser, West Ham turned down the chance to sign the left-back before his decision to sign for Leicester.

In recent seasons, the Hammers have had issues in that left-back position, with both Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku succumbing to injury problems.

Still, Palmer does not think West Ham will go on to have too many regrets about passing up the opportunity to sign Bertrand, believing there are better options out there for the east London club.

“Listen, I think Bertrand’s not a bad player at all,” the ex-Leeds United player said. “I think looking at the way West Ham finished last season, looking at Bertrand’s age, looking at what he’s done in recent years, I think you can get better.

“I’m sure that’s what would be in David Moyes’ mind.” 

Given Cresswell and Masuaku’s injury records, and the fact that the latter sometimes plays further forward, West Ham probably could do with signing a new left-back.

At 31, Bertrand is one who would have brought a lot of experience to this West Ham side. But perhaps Moyes is keen on adding a more long-term option to his squad.