1. Moyes’ fitting finale
David Moyes received the send-off he deserved at London Stadium.
After four-and-a-half years in charge – five if you count his first spell, too – the Scot will depart West Ham United at the end of his contract this summer.
The announcement was made last Monday, meaning the Claret and Blue Army could thank the manager for his work in person at Saturday’s Premier League fixture with Luton Town.
That work included three top-ten finishes in four seasons, three deep runs in UEFA competitions, memorable wins over all the Premier League’s big guns and, of course, the historic Europa Conference League triumph in Prague in June 2023.
Before the game, Moyes met supporters pitchside, taking photographs and signing autographs, smiling and relaxed in the warm sunshine.
Then, as his team took control of the game in the second half, the home supporters broke into a chorus of ‘We’ve got super David Moyes!’.
After the final whistle had been blown on West Ham’s 3-1 win, Moyes joined his players for a lap of thanks, waving to the crowd who he has brought so much joy and pride over the past half-decade.
It was a fitting finale to a period in the Club’s history that no supporter will ever forget.
2. Earthy and Casey's unforgettable day
Saturday 11 May 2024 is a date neither George Earthy nor Kaelan Casey will ever forget.
The pair first met as six-year-old schoolboys at the Academy of Football, forming a strong friendship as they moved up through the age groups together.
A year on from both scoring in the U18s’ FA Youth Cup final win over Arsenal, Earthy and Casey both enjoyed an unforgettable day at the weekend.
A fortnight after leaving the pitch on a stretcher after suffering a concussion, Earthy returned to London Stadium and left the pitch with a huge smile on his face, having scored his first senior goal for the Club he joined 14 years ago.
The 19-year-old showed why he has produced such a prolific season for Steve Potts’ development team by making a perfectly-timed run to lose Luton defenders Reece Burke and Teden Mengi before firing first-time past Thomas Kaminski.
Mohammed Kudus, whose cross he converted, then invited Earthy to join him in sitting on the advertising boards for his trademark celebration.
In scoring, Earthy became the 14th different West Ham player to score in the Premier League this season,
Then, in added time, 19-year-old Casey was introduced as a substitute for his Premier League debut, replacing the 35-year-old Angelo Ogbonna in a poignant moment that was recognised by the Claret and Blue Army.
After the game, both players were joined by their loved ones on the pitch, marking their proud day by posing for a joint family photograph.
3. Seven-up for No7
James Ward-Prowse had been left out of the starting XI for the previous two Premier League matches against Liverpool and Chelsea, and the England midfielder was eager for a chance to show his quality again on Saturday.
And he did just that, producing a fine all-round performance capped by his seventh top-flight goal of his debut season for West Ham United.
The 29-year-old typically covered every blade of grass at London Stadium, was seemingly always available to receive the ball, and was also heavily involved in two of West Ham’s three goals.
First, Ward-Prowse fired the Irons level with a well-taken, accurate low finish after the ball broke to him inside the Luton Town penalty area. It was the No7’s seventh Premier League goal of the season, to go with seven top-flight assists.
Then, eleven minutes later, it was his panic-inducing right-wing cross that was headed out only as far as Tomáš Souček, who blasted it into the Hatters' net with a left-foot volley.
4. The Helicopter flies again!
Talking of Tomáš Souček, the big Czech midfielder reached ten goals for the season in all competitions with a superb strike to rival his outside-of-the-foot effort at Everton in March.
The No28 is best known for his headers or arriving late into the box to score from close-range, but this was very different.
James Ward-Prowse curled in a dipping delivery from the right flank and, when the ball was headed out to the edge of the penalty area by Luton Town defender Teden Mengi, Souček caught the dropping ball flush on the volley with his left foot.
It flew through a crowd of players and past Luton’s outstanding goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski before the Belgian could move, into the net to give West Ham the lead.
The 29-year-old span away, launching into his mystery ‘Helicopter’ celebration, before leaping high into the air in celebration of another special strike!
