We Are West Ham Podcast

Despite the impressive start to the season, a trip to newly promoted Luton Town is by no means a formality for West Ham.

It's Luton's first Premier League game at Kenilworth Road after having to play their opening two games of the season away from home due to improvements being made to the ground, meaning the atmosphere is likely to be bouncing under the lights on Friday night.

We know all too well what an atmosphere like that can do to the occasion, don't we? Last season we were Nottingham Forest's first opponents at the City Ground after a 23-year absence from Premier League football and there is no doubt the atmosphere that day led to a frustrating afternoon as we eventually lost 1-0, missing a penalty and having two goals disallowed by VAR in the process.

But our start to the season in comparison to last season has been encouraging. Wins against Chelsea and Brighton mean we have momentum and confidence heading into this one. Luton have lost their opening two games by an aggregate scoreline of 7-1, so it's fair to say they're still finding their feet at this level, but we must not take this one for granted.

Joining us this week for the very first time is huge Luton Town fan, Steve Blackwell, who has given us the full lowdown on his beloved Hatters. From style of play to season expectations to Kenilworth Road, Steve gives us a proper education in what we and the rest of the Premier League can expect from the newcomers this term.

This one is well worth a listen ahead of Friday night's trip to Bedfordshire.

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WE'VE FINALLY BEATEN BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION FOOTBALL CLUB IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE!

At the 13th time of asking, we've managed to finally take three points from Brighton in the top-flight. What a feeling, and what a result after a thoroughly impressive performance from the team at the AMEX. Three really well taken goals ensured we took all three points back to Stratford and went top of the Premier League!

After all the negativity before the season began AND after the opening weekend draw at Bournemouth, it's crazy what a couple of big results can do for confidence amongst the fanbase. We've gone from dreading the season ahead to anticipating a really exciting season once again. Only at West Ham, eh!?

On this week's show...

But don't worry! We haven't scrapped the popular Opposition View segment, we're just going to trial releasing that as a separate episode for the foreseeable future. You can expect that as a standalone podcast release a bit later this week!

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No one saw that coming, did they?

Our 3-1 victory over Chelsea came as a bit of a surprise, especially as it ensured both James and Will were left with egg on their faces after the full-time whistle. James has been very vocal about his lack of trust in Alphonse Areola to save penalties, but he duly delivered against the Blues. Similarly, Will has always struggled to warm to Michail Antonio and was not entirely convinced by the signing of James Ward-Prowse. A goal and two assists between them shut him up for at least another week...

Also on this week's show...

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A 1-1 draw to kick-off the new season wasn't entirely unexpected, but it was still hugely underwhelming just a few months after thrashing Bournemouth 4-0 on the same patch of grass and, of course, winning the Conference League.

Some might see it as two points dropped, others will see it as a good point away from home. Either way, we've got a long way to go if we're to return to the standards that had is in the conversation for a top-four finish just a couple of seasons ago.

Also on this week's pod, Will catches up with social media comedian and massive West Ham fan, Rob Morgan, before getting the thoughts of friend of the show and huge Chelsea podcaster, Stamford Chidge ahead of the weekend's visit of the Blues in Stratford.

The lads also discuss their Betway charity bets for the weekend, as well as give their overall views on Bournemouth, Areola finally forcing his way into the number one spot in goal, the signing of James Ward-Prowse and so much more!

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We're back!

After a summer off, in which we did do a few little bits from Down Under (including a live show in Adelaide), James and Will are back for yet another season of the We Are West Ham Podcast.

This week we discuss the summer transfer window, which has been simply unacceptable from West Ham's point of view, the recent rumours and then preview Saturday's trip to Bournemouth for our first Premier League game of the new season.

Also this week, the first Opposition View of the campaign comes via Graham Nickless, who covers Bournemouth for The Sun, as he gives us his view on what we should expect from the Cherries at the weekend and for the season ahead.

And finally, in what is arguably the biggest news coming out of the podcast right now, the BETWAY CHARITY BETS are back, thanks to Betway agreeing to bring back our fundraising efforts in aid of the DT38 Foundation and the Bobby Moore Fund for the entirety of the 23/24 season. After a year off, we're delighted to be able to raise money for two fantastic charities once again, and that's all thanks to Betway for the generosity.

To all the returning listeners of the podcast, welcome back, to the new listeners, welcome! We hope you all continue to enjoy listening and watching each week - it really does mean so much to us!

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Will continues his tour of Down Under by chatting to some West Ham fans in Jonny Fox's Bar, Perth.

The lads discuss their love for the club, their favourite ever players, what their hopes are for next season and LOADS MORE!

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After a month off, we're back!

Will is over in Perth for West Ham's pre-season tour Down Under, while James is at home in Sunny Suffolk after a week in an even sunnier Spain, and there's SO much for us to discuss on this week's pod!

Declan Rice has FINALLY finalised his move to north London where, despite saying he wanted to win it all, he almost certainly won't win it all - both James and Will make their feelings very clear about the whole saga on this episode.

Over in Perth, West Ham thrashed Perth Glory 6-2 and Will was at the official fan party before the game where he caught up with Taylor Tombides, brother of Dylan and co-founder of the DT38 foundation, ex-West Ham striker Richard Garcia and a handful of Aussie fans who wanted to say hello and tell their stories behind how and why they've become massive Hammers.

There's loads going on this week, so put the kettle on, sit back and enjoy!

This is one episode not to be missed!

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WE DID IT!

West Ham United have ended their 43-year wait for major silverware and are now the proud holders of a European title following the 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in Prague on Wednesday night.

It was arguably the best possible way to win a final - Jarrod Bowen's 93rd-minute goal right in front of the passionate West Ham faithful will live long in the memory of every single fan who was lucky enough to witness it. Tears. Joy. Elation. Relief. Euphoria. Every single emotion burst out of the fans, players and coaching staff on the final whistle as European glory was secured.

It was the most incredible experience and achievement and one we'll never forget. West Ham United are European champions. Just let that sink in.

James and Will were there and met up in the middle of Prague the day after to record this episode. And they even managed to grab a quick word with Chesney Hawkes, who just happened to be walking past while we were recording.

This is one episode not to be missed!

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So this is it. The last time James and Will sit down to chat before West Ham embark on a first European final for 47 years.

The next time you hear from us, we could either be Europa Conference League champions and looking ahead to another campaign of Europa League football. Or we could be entering a summer of unknown, with key players potentially looking for an exit due to defeat and a lack of continental competition for them to showcase their talents.

Amongst all the excitement, anticipation and nerves, this game does represent something of a crossroads for the club. If we win it further cements our place in Europa and makes us a far more attractive proposition when it comes to summer recruitment. Lose, it there's the risk that we lose a number of key players and slip back into mid-table obscurity.

The latter doesn't bear thinking about right now, because don't forget what we're currently experiencing is exactly what the club promised the fans when they forced us away from Upton Park and relocated us to Stratford. This was the deal. Move away from our spiritual home in return for a better football team regularly competing in Europe and for trophies.

So losing out on the chance to compete again in Europe does come with the risk of us slipping back to a stage where the club stops holding up their side of the deal. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

Also on this week's pod, Lorenzo Lepore from the SpaceViola Fiorentina Podcast joins us to give everyone the full lowdown on what to expect against his beloved Fiorentina on Wednesday night, while James and Will mull over all the headlines in the build-up to the club's biggest game since the 2006 FA Cup final.

The next time you hear from us will be later this week in Prague - we'll be doing a reaction special on Thursday. Hopefully, we'll be celebrating!

It's another brilliant pod, so get your ears around it and get behind the lads for the last few weeks of the season!

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So that's the Premier League season done and dusted, and a 14th-placed finish isn't the worst thing in the world, especially if we go on and win in Prague next week.

West Ham's average Premier League finish is 12th, so it was a slightly below-average league campaign, but all of that becomes irrelevant if we win silverware and qualify for next season's Europa League.

This week, James and Will share how their emotions are stacking up ahead of next Wednesday's final in Prague, answer questions from listeners who sent in their voice notes and consider the starting XI they'd like to see line up against Fiorentina in a weeks' time.

All of that and so much more as the boys try and keep their emotions in check ahead of what could be the best day in the lives of every single West Ham supporter across the land.

It's another brilliant pod, so get your ears around it and get behind the lads for the last few weeks of the season!

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