Daily WHUFC News - 21st September 2015

From the Boardroom - David Sullivan
WHUFC.com

It was a fantastic win for the Club over Manchester City and we have to remember that they had not conceded a goal in the league this season so for us to score two goals was very impressive. We are now the highest scorers in the league alongside Leicester City and if we keep scoring two goals in every game, we are going to pick up a lot of victories this season. We must accept that we played the best team in the league this season and rode our luck a bit. Our wins over Liverpool and Arsenal were decisive, but this was a very marginal victory. The key is now to build on this and improve our home form. That said and done, we fear nobody and know we are capable of beating anybody. This could be a very special season.

I know the players didn't have much time to celebrate as we are now preparing for the Capital One Cup game against Leicester on Tuesday night and we then come back to the Boleyn Ground for the Premier League game against Norwich next Saturday. As always I want to thank the fans for their magnificent support at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and you also played a big part in the victory.

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Antonio hails Bilic influence
WHUFC.com

Michail Antonio was one of the second-half heroes of West Ham United's victory at the Etihad Stadium, but he says it's the Hammers manager who deserves the credit for the Club's away success‎ this season. West Ham became the first Club since 2004 to record away victories at ‎Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City, and the speedy winger says Slaven Bilic has been the architect of that success. "No-one's done it for ten years, so it has to be put down to him", said the powerful winger. "He's told us our shape, he told us what we need to do to stay compact, what we need to do to counteract what they do, cos they're quality players and they move the ball sharply, but we've managed to come out and do it."

Antonio came on to replace Victor Moses on the hour mark, and admitted it was daunting making his debut for West Ham in such circumstances. The deadline day signing from Nottingham Forest said: "I thought I'd get thrown in at the Newcastle game and get warmed up to it. But I was thrown in at the deep end. "To be honest all my career I've done that. My first ever league debut was at Elland Road. My first game for Sheffield Wednesday was the Steel City derby. So I kind of get thrown in to the big games all the time."

Antonio played his part in a stirring second half display as the Hammers withstood everything Manchester City could throw at them. "I didn't manage to get forward as much I'd have liked to," he said, "but I managed to put in a shift for the team, and we managed to get the three points." He rejected the idea that Man City were unfortunate not to win the game. "It's now how City didn't win the game, it's about how we set up and how we performed. We didn't make it easy for them, we were hard to break down. They had opportunities because we stayed deep to defend the lead."

Antonio explained the secret of West Ham's success away from home this season at some of the Premier League's biggest teams: "We've got our own game plan and we don't worry about the team that we're playing. We understand that they're good, big teams but we come out and we set our own tone. "It doesn't matter where we are, we go out to win. And we showed that at Liverpool, City and Arsenal. "We know what we've got to do and we've got to put it on the pitch, and we have in those games. However, despite West Ham rising to second in the table, the 25-year old says the players are keeping their feet on the ground. "We're not going to get excited and say we're going to win the league. We're just going to come out and take every game as it goes. "Our next game is Norwich in the league, and we're going to go out and try and get three points there. "I'm not a person to speculate and see the future. I'm a person who says: next game, concentrate on that, and once you've done that, you worry about the next game." And after making his first appearance at the Etihad Stadium from the bench, Antonio said he will keep pushing for a first team place. "We've got quality forwards", he said. "It's a challenge, and I love a challenge. So hopefully I can keep pushing them, keep knocking on the door, and hopefully my opportunity will come." For now, however, Antonio is content to bask in a famous victory with his fellow team-mates. "Everyone is celebrating, everyone is buzzing . Literally we can't believe what we've done the last three games. "Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City away. Before the season, you would not think of getting three points at those three grounds. But we've done it now and all we need to do now is push on."

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Reid warns 'We won't get carried away'
WHUFC.com

After an immense performance in West Ham United's ‎victory away to Manchester City, Winston Reid says the Hammers players are keeping their feet firmly on the ground. The New Zealand international was chosen as the BBC's Man of the Match as he led the rearguard against City's second half onslaught, ably supported by Adrian's stunning performance in goal. Reid made 20 clearances over the course of the match, the most by a single player in the Premier League this season, as well as five interceptions and four brave blocks. But speaking afterwards, the centre-half attributed the victory to the 'work ethic of the whole group'. "We had to put on a great team performance", he said. "I thought we defended well, we had to defend well. It was difficult at times. But we pressed the ball, got the goals, and got the win."
He said the players were aware beforehand that they faced a daunting task against the most expensively assembled starting XI in Premier League history. "To come here to Man City, who are flying, haven't conceded any goals, won all their games, that's a tough assignment defensively."

Reid and his team-mates rose to the challenge superbly, and West Ham manager Slaven Bilic was quick to praise his central defender after the game: "Winston Reid was...it was like a couple of twins on the pitch, like two Reid brothers. He was always at the right place, he was a leader at the back today - he was really good."

Reid himself attributed the victory to West Ham's defensive unity, and a little bit of good fortune. "Don't get me wrong", he said. "Obviously in these games you need a bit of luck on your side. But we've been really good away from home so far this season. "Obviously there have been a lot of new players coming into the team, and a new manager, and it takes time to gel. But we've gelled pretty quickly."
But asked how high the team were setting their sights for the rest of the season, Reid insisted they were thinking no further than next weekend and the visit of newly-promoted Norwich City. "Every single game in the Premier League is very difficult", he said, "and we'll just concentrate on our next home game against Norwich." "Everyone's keeping their feet on the ground. We're working hard every single day in training. The boss makes sure we do that."

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U18s give Chelsea the blues
WHUFC.com

West Ham United's youngsters set the stage for a fine weekend by scoring their first Barclays U18 Premier League victory of the season on Saturday – a 2-0 win over Chelsea.

Former Chelsea schoolboy Declan Rice put the Hammers ahead midway through the first half with a composed finish, before winger Joe Powell spurned a chance from the penalty spot to double the lead minutes later.

However, Powell's miss was not costly as the Hammers did double their lead just before half-time when striker Idris Kanu cut inside the final Chelsea defender and curled a fantastic effort past Blues goalkeeper Nathan Baxter.

The home side made four changes to the starting XI that narrowly lost 1-0 away to Arsenal a week previous. Goalkeeper Tim Brown, defender Tunji Akinola and midfielders George Dobson and Marcus Browne all made way for Jake Eggleton, Sam Howes, Josh Pask and Vashon Neufville.

Straight from kick-off, the Hammers were buzzing. After full-back Eggleton got a tackle in, Kanu showed fantastic speed to find space on the right wing, before crossing for Grady Diangana to volley straight at Baxter.

The hosts continued to press and Chelsea were lucky to keep eleven men on the pitch when Oscar Borg latched onto a Howes' goal kick behind the visitors backline, before Joseph Colley brought the tricky winger down. The referee awarded a free-kick but failed to punish the Chelsea man, with Blues keeper Baxter just turning Matty Carter's effort around the post.

On 24 minutes, West Ham took the lead. After Chelsea conceded another free-kick in Carter territory, the midfielder's shot deflected off the wall and was poked towards goal by Kanu. Luckily for the Hammers, Baxter's reaction save fell straight to the feet of Rice, who calmly dispatched the ball into the back of the net.

It took until the half-hour mark for Chelsea to have a meaningful effort on target and it came through West Ham right-back Eggleton. As the visitors swung a cross into the box, Eggleton's defensive header flew off the top of his head towards the top corner, but Howes acrobatically kept the ball out of his net.

Just three minutes later, West Ham were awarded a penalty. After Borg won back possession deep inside the Chelsea half, Kanu attempted to force his way into the penalty box and was taken down between the two visiting centre-halves. Fortunately for Chelsea, Baxter made a fantastic save from Powell's spot-kick.

It did not take long for the hosts to double their lead, though. On 37 minutes, from a Borg clearance, Kanu found himself through on goal with just one Chelsea defender to beat. He expertly cut inside on his stronger right foot and curled his shot into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Into the second half and the Hammers continued to look the more likely scorers. With just 20 minutes left, West Ham broke forward on a counter attack and almost secured the points with Kanu's second of the game. However, the young striker's low shot trickled wide of the far post.

Jody Morris' Chelsea side never gave up on the game and striker Miro Muheim had his head in his hands when he narrowly headed wide of the target with just eight minutes left on the clock.

It was then Morris' turn to have his head in his hands as he watched from the dugout when St Clair's deep cross was headed straight at Howes by the unmarked Ruben Summut.

West Ham closed the game strongly, though. On two occasions, Powell fired over from close range, before the speedy winger saw a curling effort from 20 yards tipped over the crossbar by Baxter.

West Ham will look to build on their fine win over the Blues when they head to Southampton on Saturday 26 September.

U18s: Howes, Eggleton (Dobson 73), Neufville, Sylvestre (c), Pask, Rice, Powell, Carter, Kanu, Diangana, Borg
Subs not used: Johnson, Boness, Browne

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Man City must concentrate more after West Ham loss - Pellegrini
BBC.co.uk

Manchester City need to improve their concentration, manager Manuel Pellegrini said after his team's 2-1 home defeat by West Ham. City won their opening five matches but have suffered back-to-back defeats by Juventus and the Hammers this week. "In the last two games we didn't play with the concentration or intensity we had shown in the first five games," said the 62-year-old Chilean. "We have 96 points left to play for - there's a long time to go."

City lost their first game of the season when Italian champions Juventus fought back from a goal down to win 2-1 in their Champions League opener on Tuesday. Pellegrini's side were aiming to return to winning ways against a side which had already earned away wins at Arsenal and Liverpool this season. But they missed the chance to move six points clear at the top of the Premier League table, slipping to their first top-flight defeat in 12 matches. "We must concentrate more because two balls decided the result," Pellegrini said.

Hammers loanee Victor Moses drilled in a low 20-yard shot and Diafra Sakho hooked in from six yards, before City's record signing Kevin De Bruyne fired in to halve the deficit. "I'm frustrated as they were three very important points at home," Pellegrini added. "They won their two away games before this game against Arsenal and Liverpool so I knew it would not be easy but we conceded two easy goals and that allowed them to be in front. "We never believed we had won the title after just five games - we just always focus on the next game."

West Ham's perfect Premier League away record after beating Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City is a dream, admits Hammers manager Slaven Bilic. "It is a surprise to us as well that we have beaten Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City," said the 47-year-old Croatian. "Nine points from the first three away games sounds like a dream, not a plan. There's nothing wrong with a dream."

Former West Ham defender Bilic, who replaced Sam Allardyce in the summer, guided his team to a 2-0 win at Arsenal on the opening weekend, then to a 3-0 success at Liverpool. But they recorded arguably the biggest shock by beating a City team which had scored 11 goals, conceding none, in their opening five matches. City dominated the game, controlling 72% of possession and attempting 27 shots at goal, but were unable to find a way past the Hammers who are now three points behind them in second place. "We deserved to win," said Bilic. "City played much better in the second half and it was almost like The Alamo. "But I have told my players to be proud, we deserved it, and we kept the ball when they let us. "When City are losing and start to play faster and apply more pressure, it is hard to cope with. That's why I'm so proud - all credit to my boys."

'There were two Winston Reids'

Hammers centre-back Winston Reid drew praise from Bilic - a former Croatia defender - after being instrumental in helping his team clinch their fourth win of the league season. The New Zealand international, 27, made the most clearances (20) and interceptions (five) during the match, while he also won back possession for his side (nine) more than any other player. "Winston Reid was always in the right place - it was like there were two Reid brothers on the pitch!" said Bilic.

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WINS AT THE EMIRATES, ANFIELD AND THE ETIHAD
By Zaman Siddiqui 20 Sep 2015 at 08:00
WTID

Note from Iain: This is Zaman Siddiqui's first post for the site. He will be writing a regular Sunday column. Please make him welcome

Glancing at the fixture list before the start of the season, not many would've backed us to finish within the top half after six games. The highest position we can finish is at the end of Week 6 is 2nd, whilst the lowest position we can end in is 4th. Slaven Bilic will be most pleased with the stunning away victories, not least because no team in the last ten years has won at the Emirates, Anfield and Etihad in the same season. What will stun most is that the only two goals conceded by Manchester City this season have been scored by us. It's safe to say that not many could have expected City to go under the Hammer: most bookmakers were very optimistic the Citizens would win this match comfortably. We have broken so many records recently that I can almost envisage David Gold do a Delia Smith next week against the Canaries.

There were some similarities that were playing on my mind before the match between this evening's match and the one played at Upton Park in October. Firstly, Manchester City had to play midweek against CSKA Moscow – they drew 2-2. This meant that City were mentally fatigued, as they didn't get an expected win, and had another match short after. This gave us a psychological boost, as we didn't expect City to be on top form. We ended up as the victors that day with a 2-1 victory. The Sky Blues lost to Juventus 2-1 midweek, much to City's dismay, given their fabulous league record. A small air of confidence, a feeling of debonair if you will, must have been throughout the West Ham camp, though we know we can't rest on our laurels. Secondly, we won our last two games before playing City winning a third, so form was building. Likewise, our form has been strong winning our previous two matches against Liverpool and Newcastle. We needed sheer determination and enthusiasm within our squad if we were to win. Thankfully, we only needed to look back at our matches this season under Bilic to find a source of inspiration. Even as I write, I have a feeling we will be high-flyers for at least the first half of the season.


Both clubs have spent quite a lot of money by their standards to try and reach their targets. City have bought the two most expensive players who are currently playing in the BPL (Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling), as well as the two most expensive CB's in Otamendi and Mangala. The squad rotation they have is amongst the best in the league with quality and quantity. The term "Squad Rotation" didn't have much meaning in the Sam Allardyce era (unless you remember that 5-0 thrashing against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup with those youngsters). With the acquisitions of Obiang, Payet, Ogbonna, Lanzini, and the foursome we signed on Deadline Day which had Jim White in hysterics as ever, we can alter our style of play to be able to deal with injuries more proficiently. The recruitment as ever has been amazing this season. Bilic didn't think we would have been able to sign Payet, not to mention Lanzini and Obiang who are 22 and 23 respectively with bags of potential.

Going into the match, Payet was unsurprisingly the 5th best in the league, with Kouyate in second position for the club according to the BPL Player Performance Index. A Kouyate injury was most unwelcome news considering we have never won at the Ethiad Stadium in the Premier League. The Senegalese midfielder was allegedly approached with a £15M bid from Daniel Levy after missing out on Victor Wanyama. Obiang was a good replacement for him. David Silva injured himself during warm-up, which prompted the return of Jesús Navas back in. This was one of the reasons why the Citizens weren't able to perform at their best: Navas was the worst player in the box, failing to create any good chances. Silva scored a wonderful goal in the box last season turning and scoring from a fairly tight angle back at Upton Park. His inclusion ensured an easier match. Nonetheless, nothing better than our best would have won us the game this evening. Having Adrián back in the squad was of massive importance, as City were bound to score and get a few one-on-one's which he dealt with like a fierce lion. All the plaudits shouldn't go the Spaniard, as Reid kept a solid line of defence. There were a few fortunate ricochets and admirable clearances which slowed Man City down to regroup. The pick of the lot was a one-handed punch away from Adrián in the dying embers of the game. Pellegrini said his side played "too fast" at times. He is not wrong: City had by far most of the possession. They should have utilised it much better. Our 4 wins have come in the matches with very little possession.

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Irons send van Gaal a warning!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on September 20, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Speculation that Aaron Cresswell could be on his way to Old Trafford in the next transfer window has been laughed off by West Ham sources.
The horror leg break suffered by Luke Shaw has apparently thrown the focus on Cressie as a £15 million replacement when the transfer window reopens. Shaw could miss the rest of the season after fracturing the tibia and fibula in his right leg against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday night. And various sources are claiming that last season's Hammer of the Year is the man Louis van Gaal has lined up as a possible replacement. He has already been linked with both Chelsea and Manchester City but the Hammers are in absolutely no mood to listen to the new rounds of stories concerning their left back.

A well placed source said: "This is predictable but Cresswell signed a new five year contract in June and you have seen in the transfer window that we are building a top squad. We aren't a selling club anymore.

Cressie is seriously ecited with what is happening here and will play on a totally different stage next season – he doesn't want to leave and we have no interest in selling him.

"United will get the same sort of response as we got when trying to take Javier Hernandez in the summer – no chance!"

Ouch!

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Slaven's next big challenge
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on September 20, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Slaven Bilic was absolutely right to single out Diafra Sakho for special praise this morning and we had all better hope the lad stays fit for he is the key to everything that the Hammers are doing at the moment. He showed yesterday against the best team in the and – a side that hadn't conceded all season – that he can occupy and take defenders out of position to create the space for us to make our new way of playing really pay. That Slaven should mention it only bears out what I've been saying for a while now – the guy is a tremendous player and as an old centre forward I truly appreciate him. He's a diamond who also does a magnificent job chasing back and defending. No praise is high enough. Should we need to bring Andy Carroll back into the team we are going to see Slaven presented with a new challenge – can he fit them into another way of playing? I am totally convinced he will because we are looking at a great manager. It's early days STILL but this is a man with quality written through him. We absolutely deserve to be in second place and what impressed me so much yesterday was that even when we were totally under the cos, when we did get possession we still carried a terrific threat and 'Sak' could have easily had another in the second half Yesterday's win was monumental and I am incredibly proud. This is all happening with a brand of football we haven't seen from the team for years. The old days are back – the West Ham Way is back and we should be loud and proud. We are living through a period of our history we though would never return. And it's absolutely glorious.

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Awesome Reid on "fantastic" victory
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on September 20, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Winston Reid could hardly be more thrilled at the Etihad victory. The central defender who dragged his feet before deciding to remain at the club has come out on Twitter explaining the mood among the squad after the famous win over Manchester City. The Kiwi was a clear man of the match in an amazing second half rearguard performance. It may even have been his finest match in the claret and blue – along with that of goalkeeper Adrian's, returning to the team after a three match ban for his red card against Leicester City. Winston rarely comments on the social network but was moved to declare: "And another away win last night what a great night it was everyone was fantastic #COYI" He was joined by co chairman David Gold who was thrilled to bits with the team's stunning performance as he declared: "Well done Slaven, great result today. The fans were magnificent and the players gave everything." So now we move on to Leicester City and the Capital One Cup this week – no problem…it's an away fixture!

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Exclusive: Sullivan hails "AMAZING" victory
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on September 20, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

David Sullivan has hailed the team's magnificent performance as the Irons played, battled and scrapped their way past the league leaders.
Slaven Bilic's men now sit proudly in second spot behind them after three of the most incredible away victories in the club's history.
The size of this extraordinary achievement cannot be overstated with the manager's " we parked the bus but hand the handbrake off" now right up there in the gallery of great all time footballing quotes. The co chairman – speaking exclusively to ClaretandHugh for the first time after the brilliant victory – was unsurprisingly in exuberant mood. To put things in their proper perspective we are 11 places above Chelsea and have collected five points more than Jose Mourinho's outfit. And Sullivan said: "It was an AMAZING victory. Remember Man City hadn't conceded a goal in the league this season and we scored TWO! "If you score over two goals a game, you are going to win a lot of games and we are now the highest scorers in the league with Leicester City. "However, I'm a realist and in contrast to the Liverpool and Arsenal -whom we beat well – we needed a bit of luck but it remains an AMAZING win. "There were 14 passes for the first goal – WE ARE BACK TO PLAYING THE WEST HAM WAY !"

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