Daily WHUFC News - 3rd February 2016

West Ham United 2 Aston Villa 0
WHUFC.com

Michail Antonio and Cheikhou Kouyate were among the scorers as the Hammers
extended their impressive unbeaten run at the Boleyn Ground to eleven games
as the Hammers secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Aston Villa. Slaven
Bilic's side have made Upton Park a fortress this season and have not been
beaten at home since the defeat against Bournemouth back in August. The
Hammers played the majority of the game with an extra man after Jordan Ayew
was shown a straight red card early in the first half. And the result was
never in doubt after Antonio opened the scoring with an impressive header on
58 minutes and Kouyate finished the job with a well taken finish at the end
of the game. West Ham maintained their position in the top six and will be
full of confidence as they prepare to face Southampton on Saturday. The home
side started brightly and could have opened the scoring after just two
minutes. Dimitri Payet weaved his way into the box and saw his shot strike
Antonio and the ball fell inches past the post. Villa, who were desperate
for the points also had their chances and Carles Gil saw his shot from
25-yards on ten minutes comfortably saved by Adrian in the West Ham goal.
The away side were demanding a penalty just sixty seconds later after they
claimed Gabriel Agbonlahor's cross had struck the arm of Antonio, but
referee Jonathan Moss waved for play to continue.

Things got even worse for the struggling away team when they were reduced to
ten-men on 17 minutes after Ayew was shown a straight red card after he
elbowed Cresswell in the face. The Hammers were determined to make the extra
man count and Antonio could have got his name on the scoresheet a lot
earlier when he was picked out in the box by Payet on 23 minutes and flicked
a header just wide of the goal. The home side came close again on 31 minutes
when Aaron Cresswell's cross eventually fell to James Tomkins who saw his
fierce shot towards goal flicked over the bar by Enner Valencia. The best
chance of the first half fell to Valencia on the stroke of half-time when he
struck a free-kick from 30-yards which flew inches past the post. Villa were
clearly putting ten-men behind the ball and it was hard for the Hammers to
break them down, but they were throwing everything at the Villa goal.

Mark Noble's cross on 50 minutes fell perfectly to James Collins who
directed a header towards goal, but Micah Richards produced a great piece of
skill to clear the ball off the line. Just moments later we could have seen
one of the goals of the season at the Boleyn Ground after Payet's corner
picked out Noble on the edge of the box and he saw his volley superbly saved
by Mark Bunn diving away to his left hand side. The Hammers were then denied
by the woodwork on 54 minutes after Payet saw his curling free-kick from a
tight angle strike the post. It was a question of time before the deadlock
would be broken and the Hammers finally opened the scoring on 58 minutes.

Noble's cross-field ball superbly picked out Antonio who produced a great
header from close-range and the ball flew past Bunn into the corner of the
net. Cresswell almost grabbed a second in spectacular fashion on 75 minutes
as he took the ball down inside the box and fired a right-foot shot which
flew inches past the post. The Hammers were rewarded for their second half
dominance when they added a second on 85 minutes and secured all three
points. Valencia burst clear into the Villa half before playing the perfect
through ball to Kouyate and he made no mistake firing the ball into the roof
of the net.

West Ham: Adrian, Tomkins, Reid, Collins, Cresswell, Song, Kouyate (Obiang
90mins), Antonio (Jelavic 88mins), Noble, Payet, Valencia (Moses 86mins)
Subs not used: Randolph, O'Brien, Oxford, Cullen.
Bookings: Collins, Song, Noble

Aston Villa: Bunn, Richards, Okore, Bacuna, Gana-Gueye, Agbonlahor (Sinclair
80mins), Lescott, Veretout, Ayew, Gil (Richardson 70mins), Cissokho
Red Card: Ayew
Subs not used: Guzan, Clark, Lyden, Grealish, Mason

Attendance: 34,914

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Westley outlines Academy plans
WHUFC.com

Mail Online deputy sports editor Matty Lawless talks to Academy Director and
Head of Coaching and Player Development Terry Westley...

When Terry Westley arrived at West Ham 18 months ago he put his 'neck on the
block'.

He had to. Following the man who had manufactured a production line of
England internationals spanning across four decades was never going to be an
easy feat.

Westley knew there would be immediate questions. For instance: 'Where's the
next Rio Ferdinand?'

Fortunately, within three months of taking over as Academy Director in 2014,
Westley had discovered the answer to that.

The heir to Tony Carr's guardianship had found 'the one'.

The one who would restore the club's proud reputation as 'The Academy'.

The one? Reece Oxford.

"From experience, you need just one to kick it off," says Westley. "When I
arrived, I put my head on the block with Reece and said I'm having him."

Oxford was just a schoolboy at the time who hadn't even taken his GCSEs. Yet
he was being courted by some of the best clubs in the country, all desperate
to steal his signature.

Westley knew he nor West Ham could afford to take the risk of losing 'the
one'. And so, Oxford was fast-tracked into the Development Squad and handed
the captaincy. At 15.

"I took some stick for that," confesses Westley. "Some of it was from the
players who Reece had stepped over, who I knew that when their contracts
were up they were going to leave.

"Yet working with Reece Oxford for three months I just knew that this boy
needed pushing.

"The challenge for him and any elite athlete or great performer is that they
need stimulation. Reece got that by being named my Under-21 captain at just
15.

"The owners, to be fair, backed me right up. When Manchester City, United,
Chelsea and Arsenal came for Reece Oxford at 16, we didn't flinch. He could
see with us he had a chance. And that bared fruit by him playing in the
first game of the season."

Since Oxford's incredible Premier League debut at Arsenal last August, he
hasn't returned to the Development Squad to train. He remains their captain
but his place is with Slaven Bilic's squad, rubbing shoulders with Academy
graduates James Tomkins and Mark Noble; the latter of whom is hosting an
all-star Testimonial match next month in tribute for his service to the
Club.

"Reece can't train in our group because he would take a step backwards,"
Westley explains. "He now has to train with the first team. So every day he
has [James] Collins, he has [Winston] Reid and he has [Mark] Noble all after
him. If he's not doing anything properly, they're coming after him. He can't
afford a bad day. He's taken all of that on board and now moving to another
level.

"When Reece made his debut, he stood in the tunnel at Arsenal and looked
around him. He knew this is where he should be.

"He wanted to be at the Colosseum, standing in front of a full house. He
didn't want to be at a pub singing in some small gig. He wanted the main
event. And that's how he played. And that's what he believes in.

"We have a four-year plan for all of our players. It's like an Olympic plan.
Take Katerina Johnson-Thompson, for instance. She competed at the London
Olympics. But at Rio, four years on, she is expected to win Gold. Her whole
plan is to beat Jessica Ennis-Hill and do that. Nothing else will do.

"And if you went through any young elite athlete, you'd say, 'Well what is
the plan for the next four years?' If you come in the building at 16, by 20
Reece Oxford's gold medal is being a regular in the Premier League. Now you
sit down with Reece Oxford or any other young player – they've all got these
from nine-years of age. It's called an Individual Development Plan – an IDP.
They'll look at what is required.

"As part of that, they might go to a theatre to see an elite show. And he'll
go with his mentor, who will ask: 'See how many mistakes he makes an hour
and a half. He won't trip over his feet, he won't get his words wrong. Yet
your concentration on the pitch is you make too many errors'. So, we open
them up to all of that type of stuff.

"Reece's four-year plan? Well, he'll look at it and say, 'No, no, no. It's
not four years for me, Terry'. He's saying, 'I've got to be in the team next
year. I've got to be a regular'. And he's constantly challenging himself and
breaking boundaries. He always wants more."

So, what is next for the prodigal 17-year-old defender?

"Well, we now need to look at whether for 15 games should we get Reece
playing in the Championship? That's a conversation I have had with Slaven
and his staff.

"Or is Reece better off training every day with the first team and being
around this environment? That is what we discuss as management on a weekly
basis."

Whatever happens, Westley insists West Ham will do everything in their power
to hold onto the boy labelled the 'new Rio' for years to come.

Westley is adamant West Ham will keep the 'predators' away when it comes to
protecting their hottest talent – especially Oxford, the club's highest-ever
paid teenager.

"As soon as top clubs spot a weakness, they try and come in and take them,"
he says. "We've had that already with Reece. So we had to make a real
statement to say, whatever you're throwing at him, we need to keep him more.

"What's the point in doing what we do if you let your very best ones
disappear?"

After 18 months in the job, Westley believes things are coming together
nicely.

Unbeaten in their last ten games, the Development Squad is littered with
promising talent. Oxford is just the beginning.

"We've got some very good players. And we have to keep them together…
Keeping the likes Oxford, Anthony Scully, Declan Rice and bringing in the
likes of George Dobson and Martin Samuelsen. There is Vashon Neufville,
Jamal Hector-Ingram, Lewis Page, Josh Cullen. The list goes on.

"Don't forget Reece Burke either. We don't talk about Burke yet he will have
played first-team 50 games by the end of the season.

"Then there is Marcus Browne. The manager can't believe what he has got in
Marcus Browne. I'm not sure Marcus Browne quite believes it either yet what
a talent he could be. Kyle Knoyle too.

"So the constant message here from when I arrived, is that we need to keep
the predators away and show these boys that there is a pathway into the
Olympic Stadium."

Westley has a long way to go before he can emulate Tony Carr's success. But
he is well on the way.

The future for West Ham has never looked brighter.

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From the Newsroom
WHUFC.com

Evening Standard reporter Ken Dyer has been covering West Ham United over
land and sea for more than 40 years and gives his views on the FA Cup draw
with Liverpool and looks ahead to the Aston Villa game on Tuesday night....

It was a fair result on the day against Liverpool. Darren Randolph had to
make a couple of good saves and probably Liverpool had the bulk of
possession. But with West Ham losing a couple of players in the first half,
it disrupted them quite a bit and it was a fair result in the end.
Nobody wants a replay, least of all Liverpool but West Ham must fancy their
chances at home. Let's hope we can carry on in the competition and it will
not be our last ever cup tie at the Boleyn Ground. Before then we switch our
attentions back to the Premier League and start with another important home
game against Aston Villa on Tuesday night. Mark Noble said to me the other
week that he told Slaven Bilic at the start of the season that our most
difficult games would be against teams at the bottom of the table, because
they are all fighting for their lives and Villa are certainly in dire
straits at the moment. The manager needs points badly and I am sure West Ham
will not be complacent. We have been on a great run and it will give them a
lot of confidence. What gives you added confidence is that Carroll and Sakho
are not far away and Emenike will be ready soon. We have been short in that
area for a large part of the season so it is coming together at the right
time. If you have got flair upfront and are solid at the back then you are
on a winner. That is hard to find. History tells you we have had the flair
quite often in the past, but we have not had it at the back. We have been
able to beat anyone on our day, but any team has been able to beat us. We
defend well as a team now, not just as a back four and that has made us hard
to beat. February is a big month and they will not be easy games against
teams who are struggling. Every month is crucial but this is a pivotal month
because if we can stay unbeaten and remain in the FA Cup, then the
excitement grows even more and people will say this could really be our
season.

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West Ham 2-0 Aston Villa: Jordan Ayew red costs Remi Garde's side at Upton
Park
By Simeon Gholam
Last Updated: 02/02/16 10:19pm
SSN

West Ham beat 10-man Aston Villa 2-0 after Jordan Ayew was sent off for an
elbow at Upton Park. The striker was dismissed in the early stages after
catching Aaron Cresswell, before Michail Antonio headed the Hammers in front
after half-time. Cheikhou Kouyate then added the second on the
counter-attack as Villa pushed for a late equaliser. The result leaves Aston
Villa 10 points adrift of safety at the foot of the table while West Ham
stay in sixth, six points off the top four. Micah Richards nearly scored an
own goal inside two minutes when Dimitri Payet's cross deflected off the
Villa defender and just wide of the post, but after that it was the away
side who emerged brighter in the early stages. That was until Ayew's
entirely unnecessary red card after 17 minutes, when he swung his elbow into
the face of Cresswell, even though the West Ham left-back was doing very
little to antagonize him and the ball was halfway up the pitch. Referee Jon
Moss wasted no time in brandishing his red card, and boss Remi Garde
wouldn't even look at his striker as he trudged off the pitch and down the
tunnel.

The first half became something of a training exercise for West Ham after
that, but only Enner Valencia came close to scoring, as they lacked their
usual zip going forward. Right-back James Tomkins fired a cross-shot right
into the path of the West Ham striker, but his header from six yards flew
over when it looked been easier to find the back of the net. Slaven Bilic
must have got stuck into his players at half-time, because the Hammers
emerged from the break looking far brighter and it took just 13 minutes for
them to find the lead via Antonio. Mark Noble picked the ball up just inside
Villa's half, before pinging a lovely pass right over the away defence onto
the head of his team-mate, and Antonio used all the power in his neck
muscles to head it past Mark Bunn while on the move.

The goal absolutely flattened Villa after they had worked so hard to stay on
level terms, with Richards in particular doing all he could to keep his side
in with a chance. But, with confidence already so low, there was no way back
after going behind. West Ham dominated the rest of the game and finally
sealed the result with five minutes left to go, breaking away from a Villa
corner before Valencia played it through for Kouyate in the box, and he made
no mistake with the finish to send the home fan into raptures.

Player ratings

West Ham: Adrian (6), Tomkins (7), Reid (6), Collins (6), Cresswell (7),
Song (7), Kouyate (7), Antonio (7), Noble (7), Payet (7), Valencia (7)
Subs: Obiang (n/a), Moses (n/a), Jelavic (n/a)

Aston Villa: Bunn (5), Richards (6), Okore (5), Lescott (5), Cissokho (5),
Bacuna (5), Gueye (5), Veretout (5), Gil (5), Agbonlahor (4), Ayew (1)
Subs: Sinclair (5), Richardson (n/a)

Man of the match: Mark Noble

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West Ham 2-0 Aston Villa: Hammers boost Euro hopes after Ayew madness - 5
things we learned
22:00, 2 FEB 2016 UPDATED 22:07, 2 FEB 2016
BY DARREN LEWIS
The visitors eventually surrendered after Jordan Ayew was sent off for a
ridiculous elbow. Here's what Darren Lewis learned from the game at Upton
Park
The Mirror

West Ham United 2 - 0 Aston Villa
M. Antonio 58
C. Kouyaté 85

West Ham boosted their European hopes with a 2-0 win at Upton Park which
keeps Aston Villa 10 points from safety. The visitors were up against it
from the 17th minute when Jordan Ayew was sent off for a ridiculous elbow on
Aaron Cresswell. However it took the Hammers until the second half to make
the breakthrough, Mikael Antonio glancing a header in off the far post.
Cheikhou Kouyate prodded home to make sure of points for Slaven Bilic's West
Ham side.

Here's what Darren Lewis learned from the game at Upton Park...

1. Villa are finished
Nothing new there but they did threaten a brief revival with a win against
Palace and draws against Leicester (somehow) and West Brom. Once Ayew went
off, though, that was it.

2. West Ham CAN win when Payet isn't playing well
The mercurial Frenchman has been the inspiration for his side's victories so
often this season. Today, however, he was strangely subdued. Even if he did
hit the post from a free-kick.

3. It is easy to see why Remi Garde wanted a new keeper
With hapless Brad Guzan on the bench, Mark Bunn was fumbled to gift Valencia
a free header. He was also slow to react for Antonio's goal.

4. Jordan Ayew deserves whatever punishment he gets
Villa has been the better side and dominating West Ham early on when the
striker lost his mind and needlessly elbowed Cresswell to see red.

5. West Ham have no intention of fading away from the European places
They are strong at home. They can win when they are not playing well and
even with Sakho and Carroll injured and Payet off his game they were too
good here.

Player Ratings:
West Ham
Adrian 6. Not as authoritative as usual. Especially on set-pieces.
Tomkins 6. Shaky defensively but good chance after robbing Gil on 36.
Collins 9. MOTM. Solid, decisive and brave throughout. Justified his place
yet again.
Reid 6. Didn't seen to communicate that well with Collins.
Cresswell 7. Recovered well after elbow on him from Ayew.
Song 5. Decent shift in midfield but struggled to influence. Booked.
Kouyate 8. Well-taken finish to make the game safe.
Noble 8. Sizzling volley saved. Great cornfield ball for Antonio's goal.
Booked.
Payet 6. Strangely subdued. Yet still managed to hit the post from a
free-kick.
Antonio 5. Nice headed finish across goal to open the scoring.
Valencia 6. Should have scored from point-blank range on 30 min.

Subs: Moses (Valencia 86), Jelavic (Antonio 89), Obiang (Kouyate 93)

Aston Villa
Bunn 5. Slow to react for Antonio's header across him.
Richards 6. Good 50th-minute clearance from Collins header to prevent a
certain goal.
Lescott 5. Focused first half but found it hard second.
Okore 5. Struggled to cope as West Ham turned the screw.
Cissokho 5. Antonio ghosted past him to open the scoring.
Bacuna 6. Rolled his sleeves up to work hard after Ayew saw red.
Gueye 5. Decent battle in midfield first half. Faded second.
Veretout 6. Tried to take the game to West Ham before Ayew dismissal.
Ayew 4. Rightly sent off for elbowing Cresswell. Brainless.
Gil 5. Lucky that Tomkins didn't score after robbing him on 36 min.
Agbonlahor 4. Struggled to make any real impact throughout

Subs: Richardson (Gil 71), Sinclair (Agbonlahor 80)

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West Ham WOULD have gambled on Charlie Austin transfer at £4m insists
co-owner David Sullivan
20:30, 2 FEB 2016 UPDATED 21:01, 2 FEB 2016
BY DARREN LEWIS
Hammers chief slammed last summer for saying Southampton's then-QPR striker
was too big an injury risk clarifies that all happened when the fee was £12m
The Mirror

West Ham chief David Sullivan has revealed he would have bought Charlie
Austin if he had known he was available for just £4million. Then-QPR striker
Austin agreed a shock switch to Southampton last month for that bargain fee,
then headed their winner against Manchester United at Old Trafford on his
debut. He is now set to face Sullivan's Hammers on Saturday. Co-chairman
Sullivan was criticised by the 26-year-old marksman last August for
revealing the player had failed a medical when set to join Hull and would be
a "big risk" at £12m. Sullivan has now moved to clarify his comments,
writing in the match programme ahead of Tuesday night's game against Aston
Villa. He said: "Our next league game is away at Southampton and I just want
to clarify my views on the Charlie Austin situation. "Contrary to reports,
he is a player I have always greatly admired and his climb through the
divisions is inspiring. "I once said at £12million he was a gamble, with his
injury record. However, if his financial demands are reasonable, Southampton
have got fantastic value at £4m. "Had I known he was available at that
price, I would have taken the gamble myself — and I am sure half the Premier
League clubs would have as well."

* TEENAGE West Ham defender Reece Oxford is a target for Southend. The loan
window opens next week and boss Phil Brown hopes to lure the 17-year-old to
his League One promotion chasers.

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Slav praises our professionalism and patience
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Slaven Bilic praised his team's professionalism as we recorded yet another
Boleyn victory. The manager declared that after a great start Villa
controlled the game until a crazy incident when Ayew threw elbow into the
face of Aaron Cresswell and was red carded . And Bilic said: "I wouldn't say
the red card decided the match but it obviously affected it particularly in
the second half when we were very professional and patient.
"We didn't rush the final ball but tried to find the solution and eventually
broke them down but even then we didn't lose our composure and shape.
"It was a very good goal from Michail Antonio and after that we controlled
the game and played good football. However, you are always nervous until the
second goal but when we got it we deserved it."

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Marvelous Noble sets up precious win
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Magnificent Mark Noble picked up a thoroughly deserved man of the match
award as the Irons finally shoved Villa out of the way to pick up three more
invaluable points.

Once again the Hammers were slowly away in the first half which saw Ayew
sent off for the most disgusting elbow in the face of Aaron Cresswell after
17 minutes.

The Irons just couldn't get on their game during a depressing first half but
it changed dramatically in the second as Noble ran every blade of grass and
finally set up Antonio for the opener.

He picked out a magnificent diagonal ball for Antonio to fire in a fabulous
header from some distance which curled into the far corner.

And as the bottom of the table outfit faded and tired Kouyate smashed home
the second when from a counter attack he and Valencia ran from their own box
to make it 2-0 at the other end after a Villa corner.

Noble revelled in a more forward midfield role which had been allowed with
Song sitting deeper at the back and although Dimi Payet was not at his
outstanding best the Hammers always had too much after the manager had
clearly got into them at the break.

It means we remain unbeaten at Upton Park since August and now move on to a
clash with Southampton at the weekend followed by the FA Cup replay against
Liverpool.

We have maintained sixth place, five points ahead of Saints and one behind
Manchester United – the story goes on.

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